Brian from Canton, Ohio writes:   In one of your photo galleries you have a color shot of what you believe was opening day of the 1961 season and the flag is flying at half staff for an unknown reason. If the dating on your photo is correct, its probably for Cincinnati police officer Donald Martin who was gunned down on March 11, 1961 in the parking lot of the Nabisco Bakery. A 30-day mourning period declared by the mayor would be customary.   OR the answer could be found right on your site! Was if for Powell Crosley?

Also in looking at the crowd, there was a packed house so that would be further evidence of that.

Also in checking the score of that game, the Reds were victorious by a 7-1 score which is the score indicated on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning. Jim O'Toole is the pitcher and Bob Will is the batter. In looking at the scoreboard, it shows Bob Will having a .000 average. As I recall, he was used as a pinch hitter by the Cubs a lot so that would explain that average. You will also notice that Dick Bertell is in the on deck circle. Bob Anderson is notated as the pitcher on the scoreboard for the Cubs.

Also, in looking at the other games on the scoreboard, St. Louis was at Milwaukee, Pittsburgh was at San Francisco, Philadelphia was at Los Angeles, and Cleveland was at Detroit. In checking with www.baseball-almanac.com, all of these teams played each other on this day.

Of course, Jim O'Toole was the winning pitcher in a 7-1 Reds victory. The only run that he allowed was a home run by Andre Rodgers, which was his first at bat as a Cub.