4 Greatest Cubs Opening Day Memories

Usually, this is the time where baseball fans gather to their nearest MLB ballpark or sit in front of their televisions to take in Opening Day action. Unfortunately, life had other plans, as the 2020 regular season is on hold until at least this summer.

The Chicago Cubs were originally set to take on the rival Milwaukee Brewers, but with the baseball world on hold, we figured we'd take a trip down memory lane, and look at the greatest Opening Day moments in Cubs history.

4. Fukudome's Game-Tying Homer (2008)

In the winter of 2007, the Cubs decided to make a big splash on the international market by signing former Nippon Professional Baseball star Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year, $48 million contract. In his very first MLB game, Fukudome endeared himself to the Cubs faithful on Opening Day in 2008. Down 3-0 to the Brewers in the bottom of the ninth inning, Fukudome blasted a game-tying homer to right-center field. Despite his heroics, the Cubs lost 4-3 in 10 innings. But still, Fukudome had probably the most memorable debut in Cubs history.

3. Tuffy's Three-Homer Day (1994)

Back in 1994, nobody had a better Opening Day than Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes. While facing New York Mets ace Dwight Gooden, Rhodes hit three home runs, all to left-center field, in his first three at-bats against "Doc." The Cubs ended up losing 12-8 to the Mets, but Rhodes would etch his name in the history books, as he was the first National League player to hit three dingers on Opening Day. Unfortunately for Rhodes, a little less than half of his homers in 1994 were accounted for that day, as his finished his campaign with eight. Still, nobody can take this moment away from him.

2. Jake Arrieta's Opening Day Gem (2016)

This was the start of something special. After getting swept by the New York Mets in the NLCS in 2015, the Cubs entered the 2016 season with vengeance on their mind. Chicago hit the road to face the Los Angeles Angels, and sent reigning NL Cy Young award winner Jake Arrieta to the mound. In seven innings, Arrieta held the Angels to just two hits, and none of them came from Mike Trout or Albert Pujols. The Cubs went on to win the game 9-0, and by October, the Cubs secured their first World Series title since 1908.

1. Billy Williams Plays Hero Against Bob Gibson (1971)

The American League has the New York Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox, but their National League equivalent in terms of beef comes in the form of the Cubs vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1971, both teams sent out their aces: Ferguson Jenkins (Cubs) and Bob Gibson (Cardinals). Both pitchers allowed just one run entering the 10th inning, with the game tied at one run apiece. That all changed once Billy Williams stepped up to the plate in the bottom frame of the inning. Williams took Gibson's pitch deep to right field to give the Cubs the 2-1 walk-off victory.