Opening Day....Yankee Stadium 1923....and today

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Let's get back ON TOPIC......

The Good News......

My last attended Opener at Yankee Stadium was in April 1992. Boston was in town; and, the starters were Clemens
for the Red Sox and Scott Sanderson for the Yankees. We were situated in the 3rd deck behind homeplate and sur-
rounded by a huge contingent of Red Sox fans.

In the 1st inning I was distracted when Phil Plantier was at bat. I'll never forget it, I heard one of the sharpest cracks
of the bat as it struck the ball that I have ever heard....as Plantier drove the ball deep into the RF stands. Mo Vaughan
followed with a "back-to-backer" and the Red Sox were up 2-0. The Red Sox fans around us were going wild. Fortunately,
Sanderson settled down and the Sox didn't score anymore off him. I told my buddies not to worry and that the Yankees
would find a way to get to Clemens.

Sure enough, in the bottom of the 6th, Randy Velarde led off with a Single....Don Mattingly, Roberto Kelly and Danny Tar-
tabull followed up with hits and the Yanks were ahead 4-2.

The Yankees won it and a great start for their new Manager, Buck Showalter.


The Bad News

The Red Sox fans around us started a few fights and resorted to actions too nasty to mention here.


TED Z