4/13 in Yankee History
2010: On Opening Day at the Stadium, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth sings the National Anthem and the team collect their 2009 World Series rings, while fan favourite and not quite retired Yankee Bernie Williams throws out the ceremonial first pitch.
In the game that follows, Andy Pettitte earns the win with a strong six-inning stint. David Robertson struggles in a four-run 9th and has to be rescued by Mariano Rivera, who saves the 7-5 victory. Jorge Posada passes Mickey Mantle on the all-time Yankees doubles list in the 7th with his 344th career two-bagger, one of his 3 safeties in the game. In the ‘Promise that will remain unfulfilled’ department, Nick Johnson (who raises eyebrows by selecting the Miley Cyrus hit ‘Party in the USA’ as his coming to bat music) connects for a 1st-inning home run and scores three times. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez drive in two runs apiece.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B04130NYA2010.htm
1999: Jorge makes ‘em pay. After the Yankees take a 3-2 lead against the Orioles on a Tino Martinez 8th-inning double, Baltimore’s Arthur Rhodes intentionally walks Chili Davis to get to the Yankee catcher. Posada fouls off four pitches before powering an opposite-field 3-run homer. Ramiro Mendoza gets the start for the Yanks but leaves after six with the score tied at 2. The Bombers finish on top 6-3, with Jeff Nelson getting the win and Mariano Rivera the save.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B04130NYA1999.htm
1998: A steel joint weighing several hundred pounds falls through a roof panel at Yankee Stadium‚ destroying a seat located between third base and home plate. Luckily‚ the Yankees are scheduled to play a night game‚ and no fans are in the stadium at the time. Emergency inspections are scheduled‚ and the game against the Angels is canceled. The final game of the series will be played at Shea Stadium‚ while next week’s series against the Tigers is switched to Detroit.
1992: The Yankees (5-0) and Blue Jays (6-0)‚ meet‚ marking only the 3rd time this century that 2 unbeaten teams had met so late in the season. The Yanks win by a score of 5-2. Danny Tartabull’s 9th inning home run will put the visiting Bombers ahead to stay.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1992/B04130TOR1992.htm
1988: Melissa ‘Phantom’ Gaisser, stalwart Yankee fan, mathematical nerd, and all-around good egg, is born.
Happy birthday, Melissa! :->
1978: The Yankees defeat the White Sox 4-2 in their home opener on ’Reggie!’ Candy Bar Day. Jackson connects for a 3-run homer in the first inning‚ and the field is showered with candy bars which were given out free to the fans at the game.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B04130NYA1978.htm
1955: In their home opener‚ the Yanks rout the Senators 19-1. Winner Whitey Ford gets 3 hits and only allows 2‚ as he knocks in 4 runs.
Mickey Mantle and Bob Cerv also drive home 4 runs.
Mantle‚ Yogi Berra‚ and Bill Skowron crack homers‚ while Cerv and Andy Carey add triples. Mickey McDermott‚ in 3+ innings of work‚ is the loser‚ as the Yanks register the biggest margin of victory in an opener in MLB history. The most runs in an opener were notched by the Indians in a 21-14 win over the Browns in 1925.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B04130NYA1955.htm
1954: In the presidential opener in Washington‚ President Dwight D. Eisenhower is thrilled by Mickey Vernon’s 10th inning 2-run game-ending homer off Allie Reynolds which beats the Yankees 5-3. Ike skipped last year’s opener‚ which was rained out‚ and the political hue and cry was so great he made sure he tossed out the first ball today.
Chuck Stobbs and Whitey Ford start the game‚ but the winning Nats pitcher is reliever Sonny Dixon. Hank Bauer‚ with two singles‚ drives in all three Yankee runs.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/B04130WS11954.htm
1952:Babe Ruth’s widow Claire unveils the plaque commemorating the Fayetteville, North Carolina site of her late husband’s first professional home run.
1941: In the final pre-season tune-up game with Brooklyn‚ the Yankees win their third in a row at Ebbets Field‚ 3-0‚ on Sunday afternoon. The Dodgers had come into the series with an 11-game winning streak‚ including 4 with the Yanks on the way North.
1933: Delayed a day because of a spring storm‚ the Yankees open against the Red Sox in front of 36‚221 at the Stadium. Lou Gehrig jump-starts the offense with a three-run homer in the first‚ off former Yank Ivy Andrews‚ and the New Yorkers score one more in the 4th to win‚ 4-3. Lefty Gomez is the winner‚ but as in last year’s opener‚ he needs help getting the last out.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B04130NYA1933.htm
1928: At Philadelphia‚ the Yankees edge the Athletics‚ 8-7‚ on a double by Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig hits a long drive off Eddie Rommel that goes through an open window on 20th Street. Cy Moore allows just 2 hits through 5 innings for New York before weakening‚ but picks up the win. Joe Hauser‚ returning to the A’s after a year in the minors‚ collects two homers and a triple.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B04130PHA1928.htm
1926: At a frigid Fenway Park‚ the hitting is hot as the Yankees and Red Sox combine for 29 hits in the Opener. The Yankees score 4 runs in the 1st inning off Howard Ehmke‚ the first of six Boston hurlers. Rudy Sommers‚ making his first ML appearance in 12 years‚ takes over for Ehmke in the 5th. He gives up 3 runs on doubles by Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth‚ and New York stretch their lead to 11-1. A 5-run Boston outburst in the 6th sends New York starter Bob Shawkey to the showers‚ but New York hang on to beat the Red Sox‚ 12-11. Ruth and Joe Dugan have three hits apiece for New York‚ while Ira Flagstead has 4 hits for Boston. Ehmke is the loser for Boston.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1926/B04130BOS1926.htm
1921: In the season opener for the Yankees‚ warm weather and Babe Ruth contribute to 37‚000 fans crowding the Polo Grounds. After New York mayor John Hylan tosses out the first ball‚ the Yankees tear into the A’s‚ beating them 11-1 as every New Yorker scores at least a run. The Yanks lead is only 2-1 into the bottom of the 7th‚ but then they unload against Scott Perry. Bob Hasty gives up the last 6 New York runs. Ruth is 5-for-5‚ with two doubles‚ and Carl Mays collects as many hits -3- as he allows. He has now won 11 straight over the A’s.
1875: Kid Elberfeld is born. Acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on the 10th of June, 1903 (making him the first trade acquisition in franchise history) for Highlander utility infielders Ernie Courtney and Herman Long, he would anchor the New York infield at shortstop for 8 seasons, including 1908, when he also piloted the team. Relieved of managerial duties after the club finished in last place, Elberfeld would play one more year in Manhattan at 3rd base before being sold to the Washington Senators.
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