Getting older means your memories tend to get a bit foggy.
My favorite opening-day memory growing up was watching former Indians slugger Andre Thornton hit a grand slam at a home opener at old Municipal Stadium.
The year was 1982, 1983 or 1984. I wasn’t sure which season Thunder Thornton — his nickname back in the day — did the deed so I went to the record books.
It never happened. Thornton hit six grand slams in his solid career. In 14 seasons — 10 with the Indians — he hit 253 home runs with 895 RBI.
The thing is, Thornton did hit a grand slam at an Indians game I attended one of those seasons. It just wasn’t at a home opener. It was likely during a game in April. It was likely cold and miserable, similar to April 6 during the Indians’ home opener vs. the Royals. I was certain the Thornton grand slam happened at a home opener. Oh well.
Hey, we’re talking more than 30 years ago. I’ve cut myself some slack.
The best thing about that time in my life as a baseball fan was the start of the season. I was approaching high school in the early 1980s, and baseball consumed my spring and summers. I loved every minute of the game — playing, watching, listening or reading about it.
Especially opening day, and even more special, the home opener.
Getting older as a baseball fan only means the memories start to blend together. My Thornton non-memory is a perfect example. The where remains constant (Progressive Field for most, old Municipal Stadium for others) but the what gets cloudy.
Some of the moments are unforgettable. A sampling:
• In 1994, President Bill Clinton threw out the first pitch for the debut of then-Jacobs Field in 1994, and Wayne Kirby’s walk-off hit beat the Mariners, 4-3, in 11 innings.
• In 2007, then-Mariners manager Mike Hargrove had enough of a steady snowfall as the Indians led, 4-0, in the fifth inning. Hargrove insisted the snow was so severe, his batters couldn’t see the ball. The game was eventually postponed, and so was the entire series because of snow. On April 10, the Indians played their “home opener” in Milwaukee against the Angels, and won 7-6.
• In 1998, Jim Thome hit a walk-off home run off Angels closer Troy Percival in the 10th inning to secure an 8-5 victory.
On April 6 among the announced crowd of 34,720 at Progressive Field, there might have been a few young fans whose lasting memory of an Indians 3-2 home-opener win against the Royals was Michael Brantley’s two-run single in his first at-bat of the season. Or Cody Allen closing it out in the ninth. What’s likely is the young fan will remember how cold it was in downtown Cleveland. But it was baseball, and it was an Indians home opener. Most young fans are happy just to be there.
Just like a pre-teen in the 1980s who marveled at Thornton’s grand slam at old Municipal Stadium at an Indians home opener. ... Oh wait.
The details don’t really matter. An imaginary Thornton grand slam only adds to the mystique of one of baseball’s best traditions.
I was there at whatever Indians home opener it was in the ’80s, and that’s what’s most important.
Still, that Thornton grand slam was pretty cool — whenever it happened.
Contact Podolski at MPodolski@News-Herald.com; On Twitter: @mpodo.
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