Tales from Opening Day
…many took home some surprising souvenirs.
Bygone baseball by C. Philip Francis
One Cold Day
I haven’t seen too many Opening Days during my many years of baseball interest, but will never forget the last one. It was not only the first game of the season, but also the inaugural game in a new stadium – Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers. Springtime in Michigan is not always good baseball weather, and we knew that April 11, 2000 was going to be cold, but not THAT cold. We sat in 20-degree temperatures, rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, and in almost gale winds that made the day one never forgets. Oh yes, the game was played out in its entirety, and we were two of the few stalwarts who saw the last out, and the Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 5-2.
The Green Paint Caper
Years ago before the Boston Braves became the Milwaukee Braves and then the Atlanta Braves, the team played in Braves Field located at Commonwealth Avenue and Gaffney Street in Boston. By April 1946 the war was over, most of the former ballplayers were back, and the team saw one of the largest crowds in years when 19,483 baseball lovers pushed through the turnstiles.
The park was repainted with green paint during the winter with some touch-ups as late as three days before the first game. Shortly after the first ball was thrown some of the spectators began to notice a greenish tint on their clothing. As the fans began to line up to complain, general manager John Quinn announced that the Boston Braves would pay for all clothing expenses. The following day the Braves management apologized and promised “…to reimburse any of the patrons for any expense for necessary cleaning of clothing as the results of paint damage.”
Over 13,000 claims came in from as far as Florida and California with 5,000 approved. The Braves paid a total of $6,000 with the average cleaning bill of $1.50. The Boston Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey, offered Fenway Park to his Beantown counterpart that was accepted for the month of April.
Baseball and Murder
Baseball and murder seldom mix together. Motel owner and manager Eugene Helton of Chattanooga, Tennessee had been accused of murder with his trial originally scheduled for April 17, 1951. Three weeks earlier, however, Judge L. D. Miller postponed the proceedings when he realized that the local baseball minor league team, the Chattanooga Lookouts, would open their season on that same date. Said Judge Miller, “I’ve always felt it worked a hardship on the lawyers and jury as well as witnesses to try a case on Opening Day.”
Mr. President
Most baseball buffs know that President William Howard Taft began the tradition of throwing out “the first ball” on April 14, 1910, but did you know that Harry Truman surprised the crowd when he threw out two baseballs at the same time, one with each hand?
More Mr. President
It was in the early 1950’s when manager Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s opened the season with New York at Yankee Stadium. One of the many dignitaries on hand was former president, Herbert Hoover, who was chatting with Mack at the presidential box. Shortly before the game began the stadium announcer came on with, “Ladies and Gentlemen, may we direct you to Box Sixteen and tell you that we are honored today with the presence of one of the great Americans of our time.” As members of the Hoover party smiled and looked toward the onetime Chief Executive the speaker continued, “…a man who needs no introduction to the baseball fans of America.” Mr. Hoover was standing up to wave at the audience when he heard, …the one and only - Mr. Connie Mack.”
A Wacky First Day Ceremony
First game ceremonies can become rather wacky and sometimes out of hand. Prior to the initial Cleveland Indians game in 1966 the crowd was to be entertained by four marching bands hidden behind the fence awaiting a certain handkerchief sign. When a program official unthinkingly took out his hanky to demonstrate the signal the majorettes though it was time, and quickly strutted onto the field followed by the four bands. The marching musicians were an hour early, but told to keep playing. Later some of the young performers fell due to exhaustion, and the following year walkie-talkies were used.
Bad News and Good News
Leon Ames of the New York Giants was usually called Red, but might have answered to “Unlucky” on April 14, 1909. That date Red went ten no-hit innings against the Brooklyn Dodgers, however, his team was unable to help. The Dodger pitcher, Irvin “Kaiser” Wilhelm was almost as good as he matched Red inning after inning until the Giants lost 3-0 in the 13th. The first and only pitcher to throw an opening day no-hitter was Bob Feller who twirled his gem on April 16, 1940 when he blanked the White Sox 1-0. In case you wondered, Hall of Famer Rapid Robert went on to chalk up 26 more victories that season as the Indians finished the year only one game behind Detroit. (Note: Baseball does not recognize a losing no-hitter as an official no-hit game.)