4 Greatest Reds Opening Day Memories

It's become a tradition in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds to officially kick off the regular season. That would've been the case in 2020, but that won't happen this time around, another tradition lost to the coronavirus pandemic, which has suspended the season until further notice.

Given that the Reds have been allowed to play Opening Day from home since the end of the 19th century, they have plenty of fond memories they can look back on. Here are four that stick out.

4. Final Opening Day at Riverfront (2002)

Before the Great American Ball Park, there was Riverfront Stadium. And boy, did the Reds ever make the most of their final ever Opening Day in 2002. The Reds faced the division rival Chicago Cubs, and the game went down to the wire. Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, future New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone hit a fly-out to right field. Luckily for the Reds, shortstop Barry Larkin was standing on third base, and decided to test the arm of Sammy Sosa. That turned out to be a tremendous decision, as Sosa's throw one-hopped towards home plate, allowing Larkin to score and close out the Opening Day festivities at Riverfront with a bang.

3. Ramon Hernandez's Walk-Off Homer (2011)

Cincinnati opened the 2011 season looking to make the postseason for the second consecutive year. While that wasn't ultimately the case, Reds opened up their 2011 campaign in a huge way. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Milwaukee Brewers held a 6-4 lead, but had two runners on base. Ramon Hernandez stepped up to the plate and hit a massive three-run homer to right field to give the Reds the huge walk-off victory.

2. Joe Randa's Cincy Welcome (2005)

The 2005 edition of Opening Day saw the baseball leave Great American Ball Park a lot. Cincinnati engaged in an absolute war with the New York Mets, who boasted Mike Piazza, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran on the roster. The Reds were down 6-4 to the Mets, until Adam Dunn tied the game with a home run of Braden Looper, his second of the game. That is when Joe Randa, making his Reds debut, became a fan favorite. Randa hit a solo home run to deep left field off Looper to secure the Cincinnati walk-off victory, their first ever on Opening Day.

1. Rose's Race Home (1974)

The 1974 edition of Cincinnati's Opening Day is the most memorable in the team's illustrious history. In the very first inning, the Reds surrendered Hank Aaron's 714th career homer, which tied Babe Ruth's all-time record. But the Reds would get the last laugh, thanks to Pete Rose. Tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 11th inning, Rose laced a two-out double off Braves pitcher Buzz Capra. Shortly afterwards, Capra would throw a wild pitch, and "Charlie Hustle" raced home all the way from second base to secure Cincinnati's 7-6 win. This game truly had it all.