The Philadelphia Athletics moved west before the 1955 season, and the new Kansas City Athletics opened their first-ever season west of the Mississippi at home on April 12, 1955.

The visiting Detroit Tigers came to bat first, but leadoff man Harvey Kuenn flied out to right field against A’s hurler Alex Kellner.

1955 Bowman Fred Hatfield

Next up was second baseman Fred Hatfield, who doubled to right field to become the first man in Major League history to record a regular season hit west of the Mississippi.

Although the A’s went on to win that first game, 6-2, they finished their inaugural season in KC with an abysmal 63-91 record and in sixth place in the American League.