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If you're a fan of Major League Baseball, you've likely got two questions on your mind. Firstly, "when do pitchers and catchers report?" and secondly, "when does the next season start?"
We won't waste your time. The answers to those questions are February 15th, 2023, and March 30th, 2023.
We repeat, MLB Opening Day 2023 is March 30th.
Aren't you glad we saved you some time and didn't make you scroll through 10 pages of nonsense before giving you the answer? No need to thank us. But while you're here, why not learn a bit more about the history of Opening Day and what to look forward to for this coming season?
The Major League Baseball season officially kicks off with Opening Day on March 30th 2023. For the first time since 1968, all 30 teams will face off on the first day of action. That's right: every team will play on Opening Day. If 15 baseball games in one day aren't enough, we're not sure what will satisfy you.
The league implemented what's known as the MLB balanced schedule in 2013. It's the current scheduling format used for the regular season, replacing the previous scheduling format, which had been in place since 2001.
One of the goals of the MLB balanced schedule is to increase the level of competition between division opponents. By playing more games against divisional opponents, teams have a greater chance to establish rivalries and build up more intense and exciting games throughout the season.
This year, though, the league introduced an even more balanced schedule. For the first time, each team will play at least one series against every other team.
This scheduling format ensures that each team in the league has an equal opportunity to make the playoffs, regardless of their division's strength. Playing a balanced schedule inside and outside their division can identify the best teams by their performance.
As we already mentioned, every team is scheduled to play their first game on the same day this year. Here's a breakdown of the matchups:
This year's Opening Day is sure to feature some great games. Keep an eye on the defending World Series champion Houston Astros face-off against the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees hosting the San Francisco Giants.
Some other highlights later in the year that baseball fans can look forward to, given the new schedule: Mookie Betts' return to Boston for a three-game series against the Red Sox and Mike Trout playing against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Betts hasn't played against his former team since being traded in February 2020. Trout has only visited the Phillies three times—the team closest to his hometown of Millville, New Jersey.
The 2023 regular season ends on October 1st, so look forward to an exciting wild card race come early fall as teams battle down the stretch to make a playoff appearance.
Opening Day is a long-standing baseball tradition dating back to the sport's early days. Over the years, the opening day of the MLB season has become an important event eagerly anticipated by fans, players, and teams alike.
The first recorded opening day of the MLB season dates back to 1876 when the National League was established. That year, the Boston Red Stockings (now the Atlanta Braves, not the Boston Red Sox—confusing, right?) played against the Philadelphia Athletics in the first official game of the season. The game was played on April 22nd, and the Red Stockings won 6-5. From that point on, the opening day became a yearly event that marked the beginning of the baseball season.
In the early days of MLB, opening day was just like any other game day. However, as the popularity of baseball grew, so did the importance of opening day. And not just because fans were impatient for the off-season to end, which—believe us, we can understand! As the first half of the 20th century progressed, opening day became a major event, with teams holding parades and other festivities to celebrate the start of the season.
One of the most memorable opening days in MLB history occurred in 1910 when President William Howard Taft threw out the first pitch at a game between the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics. Taft's appearance at the game helped to cement opening day as a national event, and it became a tradition for presidents to throw out the first pitch on opening day.
Another major milestone in the history of MLB opening day came in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first African American player to play in the major leagues. Robinson made his debut on opening day that year, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His appearance on the field was met with applause and jeers, but it marked a turning point in the sport's history and paved the way for greater racial integration in baseball and American society.
Jackie Robinson Day is now celebrated shortly after the season begins each year. Opening Day varies from season to season, but Jackie Robinson Day occurs on April 15th. Also, watch out for two other important baseball occasions: Lou Gehrig Day on June 2nd and Roberto Clemente Day on September 15th.
In the years that followed, opening day continued to grow in importance. Teams began scheduling their best pitchers to start on opening day, and many players viewed it as a chance to set the tone for the rest of the season. Fans also began to look forward to opening day, with many teams selling out their stadiums and holding pre-game ceremonies to honor their past achievements and celebrate the start of a new season.
Today, opening day remains a major event in the MLB calendar. While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the traditional start of the 2020 season, with the majority of teams playing without fans, the 2021 season saw a return to normalcy, with opening-day games being played in front of fans in most ballparks.
We hope you're as excited about the new season as we are. However, if you intend to watch the games, don't forget to dress the part. Allegiant Goods has a full collection of awesome vintage baseball shirts made of high-quality cotton designed to last the entire 162-game schedule.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab one of our tees and look hotter than a 102-mph four-seamer!
