Opening Day is right around the corner. There is no better time to reminisce about some of my favorite White Sox Opening Day moments in recent memory while also discussing this year’s opener.

#5 – 2005

The Sox only scored one run in this game because of an Indians error, but it held up. Mark Buehrle threw eight shutout innings, and Shingo Takatsu nailed it down for the save. It took less than two hours for the game to be completed from start to finish. In hindsight, this game was symbolic of the entire magical 2005 season. It featured unbelievably good pitching and clean defense, essential to the team’s success that season.

#4 – 2010

Paul Konerko and Alex Rios each hit homers in this game, but the offense is not why this Opening Day is memorable to me. It was because of Mark Buehrle’s ridiculous defensive play in the top of the 5th inning. Indians catcher Lou Marson lined a ball right at Buehrle. He deflected it, sprinted to the foul side of the first base line, and flipped the ball with his glove between his legs to Paul Konerko, who caught it barehanded for the out. It was the best defensive play of the season by any player, and it happened on Opening Day. Buehrle threw seven scoreless innings that day to lead the Sox to a win.

#3 – 2011

While the following Opening Day was not one of Buehrle’s best outings, the offense backed him up. Carlos Quentin homered and drove in five, while Adam Dunn also homered and drove in four. Gordon Beckham chipped in three hits of his own, and A.J. Pierzynski also had two hits and two RBI. This Opening Day was an absolute slugfest, as the Sox beat the Indians 15-10. You do not usually see offensive explosions to that degree, especially on Opening Day. This game always stuck out to me for that reason.

#2 – 2023

In a highly anticipated Opening Day matchup against Jose Abreu’s Houston Astros, this game lived up to the hype. Dylan Cease was incredible, striking out ten in 6.1 innings while only allowing a single run. Yasmani Grandal’s home run tied the game in the 8th, and Andrew Vaughn hit the go-ahead two-run double in the 9th. Based on this game, 2023 would be an enjoyable year. Unfortunately, it did not happen that way, and Opening Day was the season’s peak.

#1 – 2018

The Matt Davidson game. That is all that needs to be said. Funny enough, Tim Anderson also hit two homers that day while Jose Abreu chipped in one of his own. But Davidson stole the show. He hit three bombs that day and drove in five, leading the Sox to a 14-7 thrashing of the Royals. The Sox lost 100 games that season, but that opening day is my favorite.

2024 Opening Day

Left-hander Garrett Crochet takes the ball for this year’s Opening Day, while left-hander Tarik Skubal is pitching for Detroit. The Tigers are the favorite to win this game, as they have the advantage in every facet. They have a better offense, a better manager, and a better pitcher. But anything can happen in baseball. That is the beauty of it. Anything can happen on any given day. We have waited all winter for baseball to be officially back, and now it is. Let’s go Sox.