Best Opening Days in Cubs History, #1: The Professor Welcomes Us Back to Class

[Andrew Wright]

The year 2020 was an absolute whirlwind in every aspect of life. The COVID-19 pandemic took away not only sports moments such as the NCAA Tournament and Opening Day of the MLB season, but lives were changed for the worse. The world became an uncertain and scary place for a while. They say nothing brings people together quite like sports do, and that is exactly what happened in the summer of the life-changing year that was 2020.

Image courtesy of Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The MLB season did not begin until July 24th, 2020, due to the ongoing pandemic. The return of sports to televisions around the world brought folks back together and took our minds off all the negatives around us, even if it was just for a couple of hours. The games did look weird though, as there were no fans in attendance. That, however, gave fans the chance to sit in the comfort of their own home and enjoy the natural sounds of the game. What veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks did that day gave us the best Opening Day in Chicago Cubs history.

The Cubs welcomed in the division rival Milwaukee Brewers to Wrigley Field to begin the season. Hendricks was given the nod for Opening Day by first-year manager David Ross. Ross was extremely familiar with Hendricks, as the two were World Series champions together in 2016. Brandon Woodruff was tabbed as the Opening Day starter for Milwaukee by current Cubs manager Craig Counsell.

After two-and-a-half scoreless innings, Ian Happ launched a 422-foot blast to center field to give the Cubs an early 2-0 lead. The home run for Happ was the second of his career on Opening Day, with the first coming in Miami in 2018, when he led off not only the Cubs vs. Marlins game, but the entire MLB season with a home run. Happ's blast would give Hendricks more than enough run support and the professor went to work.

Hendricks threw a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits, walking none and striking out nine batters. All three hits allowed were singles and Milwaukee never took an at-bat with a runner in scoring position. Outside of his 2016 NLCS Game 6 start and his 81-pitch complete game shutout against the Cardinals, it was the most dominant start of Hendricks' career, and it got Chicago off to an excellent start to begin the season.

Chicago would win the game 3-0 and off to the races they went, winning the division before losing a gut-wrenching playoff series to the Miami Marlins. That playoff series, along with that whole pandemic-fueled haze in real life, was extremely forgettable, but one thing many Cubs fans won't forget was the way they all came together that July day to watch one of the best pitchers in franchise history go to work on the mound and carve up a lineup like only he could.

So, there you have it. The best Opening Day performances in Cubs history. Did we miss any notable ones? Let us know your thoughts down below!

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