Surprisingly, yes—but not in the modern era.

In the very early days of professional baseball, forfeits were more common due to travel issues, disputes, or rule confusion. However, in modern Major League Baseball, an Opening Day forfeit has essentially disappeared.

That said, because Opening Day Memories are so symbolic, league officials go to great lengths to ensure games are played properly. Even when weather threatens the schedule, games are postponed rather than forfeited. Therefore, the spirit of the season remains intact.

In short, while forfeits have occurred in baseball history, an Opening Day forfeit in the modern era would be extraordinarily rare.

Interestingly, the rarest numbers in MLB are often extremely high numbers—especially those above 60.

Traditionally, starting players wore lower numbers, while higher numbers were given to call-ups or less established players. However, over time, some higher numbers have gained recognition.

Even so, certain numbers remain rare simply because few players choose them—or because they were briefly assigned and never made famous.

Additionally, some numbers are permanently retired, which makes them rare in an entirely different way. For example, Jackie Robinson’s #42 is retired across all of MLB, meaning no player may wear it.

Therefore, rarity can come from tradition, retirement, or simple lack of popularity.

The spitball is the most famous banned pitch in Major League Baseball.

Originally, pitchers used saliva, petroleum jelly, or other substances to alter the ball’s movement. However, in 1920, MLB officially banned the spitball because it gave pitchers an unfair advantage and made the ball harder to see.

That said, a small number of pitchers were “grandfathered in” and allowed to continue throwing it for a time.

Today, any foreign substance used to alter a baseball is illegal. Consequently, enforcement has become stricter in recent seasons.

So while creativity has always been part of baseball—and part of many Opening Day memories—certain pitches cross the line into unfair play.

Without question, the rarest pitch in MLB is the eephus pitch.

Unlike traditional fastballs or sliders, the eephus is thrown at an extremely slow speed, often arcing high into the air before dropping into the strike zone. Because it defies expectations, it can confuse hitters completely.

However, because it’s risky and unconventional, very few pitchers use it consistently.

Meanwhile, other rare pitches include the knuckleball, which itself has become increasingly uncommon in recent decades.

Therefore, while baseball is built on tradition, innovation still finds its way into the game—even if only occasionally.

Yes, although it is incredibly rare.

A three-pitch inning occurs when a pitcher records three outs on the first pitch to each batter—resulting in just three pitches thrown in the entire inning.

Because hitters are often selective and modern pitching strategies emphasize strikeouts, this almost never happens. However, a handful of pitchers throughout MLB history have achieved this remarkable efficiency.

Consequently, when it does happen, it becomes an instant highlight.

And although it may not be tied directly to Opening Day Memories, moments like these remind us why baseball continues to surprise us—even after generations of tradition.