Fansided

Top 25 Opening Day performances of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies fans enjoy festivities outside the ballpark before a game between the Phillies and the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies fans enjoy festivities outside the ballpark before a game between the Phillies and the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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OAKLAND, CA – 1989: George Bell #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings at a pitch during a 1989 game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – 1989: George Bell #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings at a pitch during a 1989 game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

17. George Bell homers three times

Defending AL MVP George Bell opened the 1988 season with the first three-homer Opening Day game in MLB history. His first two homers in the game came against Kansas City Royals ace Brett Saberhagen. Bell was coming off a season with 47 home runs and 134 RBI. Over the first five full seasons of his career, the star left fielder was a .295/.337/.525 hitter with 134 home runs and 441 RBI. Surely, this explosion on Opening Day should have signaled the slugger taking his game to an even higher level.

Alas, 1987 would be the last big season of Bell’s career. The Blue Jays star would actually go 5-for-5 in the second game of the 1988 season, but slumped from there. Bell slashed .269/.304/.446 with 24 homers and 97 RBI. He never hit more than 25 home runs in a season over the final six seasons of his career, but did have two 100-RBI seasons and two All-Star appearances.

Bell’s career ended far short of expectations after his first five seasons. He appeared to be on track to reach the Hall of Fame, but ultimately ended his career with only 265 home runs and 1,002 RBI. Bell still had an outstanding career, and can say he is the first player to go deep three times on Opening Day.

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