Best Opening Days in Cubs History. #4: A Happ-y Start to the Season

[Andrew Wright]

The Cubs headed into the 2018 season with the sting of a 4-1 series loss to the Dodgers in the 2017 National League Championship Series fresh on their minds. In need of a true leadoff hitter for the season, manager Joe Maddon put Ian Happ in that role in spring training and Happ excelled, hitting seven home runs and taking the job and running away with it.

Ian Happ stepped into the box against the Miami Marlins on Opening Day for not only both teams, but the entire MLB as a whole. At the time, Cubs-Marlins was the only game underway, and all baseball eyes were on it. What happened on the first pitch of the game sent excitement throughout the Marlins stadium (which was taken over by Cubs fans) and got the Cubs out to an early lead.

A leadoff home run on the first pitch of the season was exactly what Chicago needed to wash off the bad mojo from the 2017 season and it got the team off and running. The most incredible part of it all may have been Cubs commentator Jim Deshaies calling Happ's homer, as you can hear in the video. 

Happ wasn't the only Cub to homer in the game, as Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber both added an Opening Day home run of their own. Rizzo's was especially special, as it came just months after the shooting at his high school alma matter, Stoneman Douglas High School. Rizzo dedicated the home run to the victims of the unfortunate tragedy.

The Cubs jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after two innings but allowed Miami to tie it at 4-4 after the third inning. An RBI double from Willson Contreras gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead, Schwarber's homer made it 6-4, and a pinch-hit double from Tommy La Stella drove in two runs and gave Chicago an 8-4 cushion, with that ultimately being the final score.

Happ in the leadoff position did not work out much after Opening Day, as his season average finished at .233, but he did give Cubs fans an Opening Day memory worth cherishing. Perhaps he can do the same in Tokyo this season?

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