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This Day In Dodgers History: Bill Singer Records First-Ever MLB Save; Frank Sinatra Upholds Promise To Tommy Lasorda By Singing On Opening Day

April 7 is a memorable date in Los Angeles Dodgers history for multiple reasons, including in 1969 when Bill Singer recorded the first ever save in Major League Baseball. The save statistic was officially created during the 1968 Winter Meetings.

Singer made MLB history on Opening Day of the 1969 season, with the Dodgers facing the Cincinnati Reds on the road. It was just one of three games played, which is a far cry from current Opening Day, when essentially every team is in action.

Cincinnati took an early lead on the Dodgers as Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan started the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back home runs off Don Drysdale, who made what was a Dodgers franchise record (now held by Clayton Kershaw) seventh start on Opening Day.