3/31 in Yankee History
2006: The ball that Babe Ruth hit for his last home run at Yankee Stadium is sold for $86,250 at auction. The ball was hit in a war effort fund-raising exhibition game off Walter Johnson on August 23, 1942.
2004: The Yanks get a win in Tokyo and even their season record at 1-1 with a 12-1 demolition of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Two-run
bombs from Tony Clark and local hero Hideki Matsui followed by the first of two Jorge Posada solo homers, stake Kevin Brown to a 6-1 lead.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B03310TBA2004.htm
2003: In the first of two consecutive Opening Day games played outside the United States, Roger Clemens rides a two-run Robin Ventura blast and an Alfonso Soriano grand slam to an 8-4 Yankee win in Toronto. The victory will come at a price, though, as Derek Jeter suffers a badly damaged shoulder in a collision with the knee pads of Blue Jays catcher Ken Huckaby at third. base. El Capitan will spend six weeks on the bench.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B03310TOR2003.htm
1992: Ken Silvestri, switch-hitting Yankee backup catcher of the ’40s, dies at the age of 75.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/silveke01.shtml
1980: Chien-Ming Wang is born. Happy 32nd to the Wanger, and all the best to a man who has had some tough breaks!
bennybengoughsmitt
