Template:Today in Baseball/April 8
From BR Bullpen
January 3: Today's featured birthday is that of Michael Restovich, who turns 46.
- 1966 - The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers play the first major league game ever on artificial turf, developed due to the Astrodome.
- 1968 - Opening Day is cancelled due to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1969 - The Montréal Expos, San Diego Padres, Seattle Pilots and Kansas City Royals debut. The Expos' first homer is hit by pitcher Dan McGinn, who delivers a three-run blast.
- 1974 - Hank Aaron (pictured) becomes Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader, drilling his 715th off Al Downing. Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's mark.
- 1975 - Frank Robinson makes his historic debut as the first black manager of an MLB team. He guides the Indians to a 5-3 win over the Yankees. Robinson, a player-manager, helps his own cause with a home run, setting a new major league record with eight Opening Day homers.
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