Opening Day Boxscore

1969 was going to be THE year. (Even though the results were not what was expected, many still consider 1969 to be THE year.) Cub players and fans went into the year knowing that it was going to be THE year they took their play to the next level. For 5 months they did.

But this post ain't about a collapse. This is about the thrill and excitement that Opening Day 1969 provided. It was an early arriving crowd that day. Fans lined up early in the morning for tickets(remember the day of game ticket?). A jam packed Wrigley Field (over 40,000 fans) saw the Cubs take on the Phillies on April 8, 1969. They even got to experience free baseball--11 innings worth. Willie Smith and Mr. Banks made sure the faithful went home happy that April afternoon!

Thanks to retrosheet.org, here is the boxscore from what many fans feel was the most exciting Opening Day in Cub history:

Chicago Cubs 7, Philadelphia Phillies 6
DayGame
Played on Tuesday, April 8, 1969 (D)
at Wrigley Field

PHI N 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 - 6 11 2
CHI N 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 7 11 2

BATTING
Philadelphia Phillies AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Hisle cf 5 1 1 0 0 3 2 1
R. Stone lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0
Allen 1b 5 0 0 0 0 1 12 0
D. Johnson 3b 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 2
Taylor 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Callison rf 5 2 3 0 0 0 3 0
Rojas 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 5 2
Money ss 5 2 3 5 0 0 1 5
Ryan c 5 0 0 0 0 2 4 4
Short p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Harmon ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Wilson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Briggs ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lersch p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Totals 43 6 11 6 0 11 31 18

FIELDING -
DP: 1.
E: D. Johnson (1), Money (1).
BATTING -
2B: Money (1,off Regan).
HR: Money 2 (2,7th inning off Jenkins 0 on, 0 out,9th inning off Jenkins 2
on, 0 out).
SH: R. Stone (1,off Jenkins); Rojas (1,off Regan).
Team LOB: 6.

Chicago Cubs AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Kessinger ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 5
Beckert 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 1 2
Williams lf 4 1 1 0 1 2 3 0
Santo 3b 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 1
Banks 1b 5 2 3 5 0 0 12 1
Hundley c 4 1 1 0 0 0 10 1
Hickman rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
W. Smith ph 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
Young cf 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Jenkins p 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Regan p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Totals 38 7 11 7 3 4 33 12

FIELDING -
E: Banks (1), Jenkins (1).
BATTING -
HR: Banks 2 (2,1st inning off Short 2 on, 2 out,3rd inning off Short 1 on,
1 out); W. Smith (1,11th inning off Lersch 1 on, 1 out).
SH: Kessinger (1,off Short).
HBP: Hundley (1,by Short).
Team LOB: 5.
BASERUNNING -
CS: Young (1,2nd base by Wilson/Ryan).

PITCHING
Philadelphia Phillies IP H R ER BB SO HR
Short 4 6 5 5 2 0 2
Wilson 2 1 0 0 1 3 0
Lersch L(0-1) 4.1 4 2 2 0 1 1
Totals 10.1 11 7 7 3 4 3

Chicago Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR
Jenkins 8 9 5 5 0 9 2
Regan W(1-0) 3 2 1 1 0 2 0
Totals 11 11 6 6 0 11 2

HBP: Short (1,Hundley).

Umpires: Tony Venzon, Frank Secory, Paul Pryor, Satch Davidson

Time of Game: 2:41 Attendance: 40,796