If there's any time to think big, it's opening day. And that's what the Kansas City Royals were doing.

"We're on a mission . . . Take no prisoners!!" declared a handwritten sign in the Royals' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.

Never mind that Kansas City, out of the playoffs since 1985, wound up losing 7-3 Monday to Roger Clemens and the three-time defending World Series champion New York Yankees.

Optimism and cheers filled ballparks, along with home runs and a bit of history.

The Philadelphia Phillies, who tied the Cubs for the most losses in the majors last year, gave new manager Larry Bowa a 6-5 victory over Florida in 13 innings.

As the Phillies walked off the field at Pro Player Stadium, winning pitcher Amaury Telemaco handed Bowa the game ball.

"Telly gave me the ball. That's special. That means a lot to me," Bowa said.

"He said, 'Give me the ball,"' Telemaco said. "It was important to him."

The festivities at 10 stadiums came a day after Toronto started the major league season by beating Texas 8-1 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Clemens added to his Hall of Fame resume, breaking the AL career strikeout record held by Walter Johnson with No. 3,509. None of them, by the way, came on those high strikes that umpires plan to call.

At Coors Field, Colorado newcomer Mike Hampton got off to a sterling start. Trying to prove a pitcher can survive at the hitter-friendly field, he shut out Mark McGwire and the St. Louis Cardinals for 8 1/3 innings in an 8-0 victory.

Baltimore star Cal Ripken, at 40, got a warm reception from his home fans at Camden Yards as the Orioles played Boston.

San Diego star Tony Gwynn received a standing ovation from San Francisco fans during pregame introductions. Also 40, he made his 18th straight opening day start.

Gwynn later was nailed at the plate by Barry Bonds, who also hit his 495th career home run in the Giants' 3-2 win.

Even Gary Sheffield managed to hear the cheers. Loudly booed by the sellout crowd of 53,154 at Dodger Stadium for most of the day — a reaction to his spring-training contract demand and trade request — he was saluted after his home run lifted Los Angeles over Milwaukee 1-0.

At Safeco Field, seven-time Japanese batting champion Ichiro Suzuki got a rousing ovation from the home Seattle crowd when he ran onto the field for the first time.

At Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Willie Mays hoisted the Giants' NL West banner before the opener against San Diego.

At Jacobs Field in Cleveland, David Wells and Juan Gonzalez made neat debuts for new teams. Wells was the winning pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in a 7-4 victory, while Gonzalez homered twice for the Indians.

Home runs also ruled at reconfigured Cinergy Field in Cincinnati, where four cleared the pulled-in fences and two smacked off them. The new dimensions also caused a bit of confusion.

In the fifth inning, Atlanta's Javy Lopez hit a drive toward the 40-foot wall in dead center field. The ball hit the black plywood above the green padding that extends 14 feet, and second base umpire Bill Miller twirled his finger — home run.

Only one problem — the entire wall is in play. New Reds manager Bob Boone rushed from the dugout and crew chief Jim Joyce corrected the call, without argument, and Lopez was sent back to second with a double.

There was an ejection, however, at Wrigley Field. Montreal catcher Michael Barrett became the first player to be tossed this season, thrown out for arguing with plate umpire Rick Reed after a checked-swing by Joe Girardi of the Cubs.

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Most everywhere, spirits were high.

At Yankee Stadium, a couple of Cooperstown residents — Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto — helped raised the Yankees' flag.

White Sox catcher Sandy Alomar got a huge ovation when he returned to Jacobs Field. The All-Star who spent 11 seasons with the Indians was treated to video highlights of his time in Cleveland on a jumbo scoreboard in center field.

"The fans were wonderful," Alomar said. "Very classy. I wasn't expecting the video. That is something that will stay in my heart for the rest of my life."

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