Posted on 04/18/2018 11:58:43 AM PDT by fugazi
On this day in 1923, a newly built Yankee Stadium – nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built” hosted its first game. Over 74,000 fans packed the stands to watch the New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. Taking the field were several military veterans of World War I.
Red Sox leftfielder Joe Harris fought in France with the 320th Infantry Regiment (alongside future Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Johnny “Big Serb” Miljus) and was gassed. Boston shortstop Chick Fewster, who went 0-3 but reached first after being hit by a pitch, served in the Merchant Marine during World War I.
On the mound for the Yankees was “Sailor Bob” Shawkey, who struck out five Red Sox during his nine innings. The hurler served aboard the battleship USS Arkansas and witnessed the surrender of the German fleet. His opponent was Red Sox’ 20-game winner Howard Ehmke, who missed the 1918 season while serving in the Navy on a West Coast submarine base.
Although he didn’t serve during the Great War, Babe Ruth – who hit a homerun and drove in three of the Yankee’s four runs – would join the New York National Guard in 1924, serving in the 104th Field Artillery Division. Centerfielder “Whitey” Witt – 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored – also served in the Army.
Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert – who enlisted in the New York National Guard’s 7th Regiment in 1886, ultimately reaching the rank of colonel and serving as aide-de-camp to the governor – paid for the ballpark himself. Prior to the 1923 season, the Yankees shared the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants, who defeated the Yankees in
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
Never should have torn it down.
Can’t think of ANY current players named “Whitey”. . . the times, they have changed
“[Bill] Clinton was another president on DiMaggio’s enemies list, Engelberg said. The baseball great detested the president for everything from Whitewater to his affair with Monica Lewinsky, the magazine reported.
Refused to Shake Clinton’s Hand
DiMaggio declined to shake Clinton’s hand when the two were at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 1995 to see Cal Ripken break Lou Gehrig’s streak of consecutive games. And when Clinton called the hospital during DiMaggio’s fatal illness, the call was not put through.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100802&page=1
Ballgames started at 3pm - imagine both Yankees and Giants at the Polo Grounds, someone always home someone away - baseball everyday!
Don’t forget the Dodgers playing at Ebbetts Field.
Fascinating bit about DiMaggio’s dislike for Clinton, the Kennedy’s, and Sinatra. You’ve got to hand it to the guy for sticking to his principles; it would be hard to turn down a handshake or a phone call from the president.
But maybe not if you’re a living legend.
I recall somewhere hearing or reading that he requested that Clinton not be permitted to attend his funeral.
How Bill Clinton Latched Onto the Legacy of Joe DiMaggio, Though Joe DiMaggio Never Liked Bill Clinton
June 28, 2016, Jennifer Jean Miller
From the article I just linked to...
On Jan. 24, 2014 President Bill Clinton received the honor as the inaugural recipient of the Joe DiMaggio American Icon Award. The award is “given to that individual who represents the highest of values for which Joe DiMaggio stood.”
The irony, however, is that during his lifetime, DiMaggio, one of the greatest influences in the history of American Baseball, did everything possible to avoid being seen with Clinton and his wife, Hillary, and even rejected calls from Clinton following surgery from lung cancer.
Then how is it that Clinton was given the award in DiMaggio’s name?
Full story at link...
Fascinating. First time I have heard of a Clinton passing up a massive speaking fee.
I almost could become a Yankees fan, against all my Boston instincts.
I gave up on MLB forever in 1994 though, after leaning that direction for some while.
Now the NFL is also dead to me, but gosh, loving this DiMaggio stuff.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.