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Harvey Frommer is the celebrated author of more than 33 sports books, including the classics Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball, New York City Baseball, as well as The New York Yankee Encyclopedia. He was also a writer at Yankees magazine for 16 years and we at the Pinstripe Press have been fans of his work for quite some time. We are honored to have permission to reprint some of his work here on The Highlander and highly recommend his books to baseball fans everywhere. It was 77 years ago (this month) - April 18, 1923 - that "The House That Ruth Built" opened for business. The New York Yankees' first home opponent was the Boston Red Sox. No one back then was bold enough to predict the fabulous and outstanding moments the future held in store for the brand new American League park. The press release first announcing the new stadium indicated it would be shaped like the Yale Bowl and that it would contain towering battlements enclosing the entire park so that those lacking tickets would not even be able to get a glimpse of the action. Built at a
cost of $2.5 million, "The Yankee Stadium", as it was
originally named, had a brick-lined vault with electronic
equipment under second base, making it possible to have a
boxing ring and press area on the infield.
A massive crowd showed up for the proudest moment in the history of the South Bronx. Many in the huge assemblage wore heavy sweaters, coats and hats. Some sported dinner jackets. The announced attendance was 74,217, later changed to 60,000. More than 25,000 were turned away. They would linger outside in the cold listening to the sounds of music and the roar of the crowd inside the stadium. At game time, the temperature was a nippy 49 degrees. Wind whipped the two Yankee pennants and blew dust from the dirt road that led to the stadium. The dominant sound of the day was the march beat played by the Seventh Regiment Band, directed by John Phillip Sousa. Seated in the celebrity box were Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, New York State Governor Al Smith and Yankee owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert. At 3:25 in
the afternoon, Babe Ruth was presented with an oversized bat
handsomely laid out in a glass case. At 3:30, Governor Smith
threw out the first ball to Yankee catcher Wally Schang. At
3:35, home plate umpire Tommy Connolly bellowed: "Play
ball!"
The huge crowd was on its feet roaring as Ruth crossed the plate, removed his cap, extended it at arm's length in front of him, and waved to the ecstatic assemblage - witnesses to baseball history. The game played out into the lengthening afternoon shadows. "Sailor Bob" Shawkey, sporting a red sweatshirt under his jersey, pitched the Yankees to a 4-1 victory, making the first Opening Day at Yankee Stadium a matter of record.
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How ya' doin? Best sites on 'da 'net! New York Yankees Mighty Yanks The Bombers NY Yankees Downtown.com Fast Facts: Betcha' didn't know "The Old Professor" had a 54-year professional career that led him to become one of the greatest managers that the game has ever seen. Leading the Yankees to 10 pennants and 7 World titles in a 12-year span ranks as the most amazing managerial record of all time. In 1927, New York outscored its opponents by nearly 400 runs and hit .307 as a team. They also set major league records with 975 runs scored, 158 home runs, 908 runs batted in, and a .489 slugging average. "I never had to cheat, I get them with what I got." Dave Winfield Yogi Berra Everyfan.net has taken up the cause of the average NY sports fan who cannot access the Yankees on their cable system. www.everyfan.net Trivia: Mickey Mantle hit for the cycle only once in his career. When? Where? and against Who? Answer In Next Issue Have a trivia question? Email it to us and maybe we'll use it in an upcoming issue. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the brave men and women of our armed forces currently engaged in the conflicts overseas. Thank you for your service to our country and the world. God Bless You. |
