Opening Day 1918
While the Nation was embroiled in World War I, the national pasttime continued. The Oaks' first game of the 1918 season was against the Seals at the San Francisco lot on April 2nd. Before a crowd of 9000 mostly San Francisco fans, Del Howard's Oaks lost that one 5 to 1.
But Oakland fans were waiting for the opening day celebration across the bay two days later. It began with a band concert at City Hall plaza at 2:00 p.m., followed by an automobile parade down Washington Street and out Broadway and San Pablo Avenue at 2:45, arriving at the Oaks' park in Emeryville at 3:15.
Doraldina, the dancing star of Broadway and motion pictures, was on hand in Oaks uniform to participate in the parade and pregame festivities. At the ballpark, she threw out the first pitch to (Cap) Adrian C. "Pop" Anson, the famous captain and manager of the Chicago White Sox, who was later in 1939 elected to the Hall of Fame. The game began at 4:00 p.m.
While in Oakland, Anson appeared on the stage of the Orpheum Theater with his daughters, and Doraldina entertained down the street at the new T&D Theater on 11th at Broadway. The following day, the T&D boasted that "at record breaking speed" it had turned out motion pictures of the Opening Day festivites, and showed the film along with Doraldina's on stage performance.
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