The last time the Yankees started a pitcher, age 22 or younger, at Fenway Park – where he made it past the fourth inning? That would be June 11, 1984 when Jose Rijo got the call for New York. But, Rijo was also knocked out of the game in the fifth inning.
How long ago was that? Put it this way: Toby Harrah played third for the Yankees that day – and a week after that game, Lou Piniella retired as an active player.
The last time the Yankees started a pitcher, age 22 or younger, at Fenway Park – where he made it past the fifth inning? That would be May 31, 1977 when Gil Patterson got the call for New York. But, Patterson was knocked out of the game in the sixth inning.
How long ago was that? Put it this way: Dwight Evans, who was born a month after Bobby Thomson hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” played right for the Sox that day – and he was only 25-years old at the time.
The last time the Yankees started a pitcher, age 22 or younger, at Fenway Park – where he made it past the sixth inning? That would be September 29, 1970 when Steve Kiline got the call for New York.
That was a tough game. Kline pitched well – heading into the bottom of the ninth with a 4-2 lead…only to blow it…along with the “help” of some bad fielding and relief pitching…on singles by Joe Lahoud and Carl Yastrzemski…losing 5-4 in the end.
How long ago was that? Dude, did you miss the part where I said it was 1970?
Between Kline, Patterson, and Rijo…and today…we’ve seen Phil Hughes, Jake Westbrook, and Al Leiter (twice) have rough days as young Yankees starters on the hill at the Fens.
Lets hope that Joba Chamberlain doesn’t melt at Fenway Park tonight – like these other young Yankees guns did…in fact, check this out…
The last time the Yankees started a pitcher, age 22 or younger, at Fenway Park – where New York won that game? That would be June 22, 1969 when Bill Burbach started for the Yankees.
And, the last time the Yankees started a pitcher, age 22 or younger, at Fenway Park – where New York won that game and the starting pitcher was awarded the win? That would be August 22, 1964 when Mel Stottlemyre threw a six-hit, complete-game, shut-out against the Red Sox. (New York native Jack Lamabe started for Boston that day.)
Nineteen sixty-four!
Now, that’s a real long time ago.
4 Responses to “No Pressure, Joba, Really…”
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July 25th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Well you answered my question eventually – how many times has a 22 or younger Yankee starter gotten the chance to pitch in Fenway?
And the answer is that 3 out of 7 times, a young Yankee starter has done pretty well at the Fens. Kinda what you’d expect – home field advantage gives the Red Sox a slightly better than even chance of knocking around a young Yankee starter.
But when its such a rare event in the first place, your history lesson is a little overwrought, don’t you think? Its not like in between those events, there were plenty of other chances given to a young Yankee starter. Fact is its a rare event in the first place – good performance or bad.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
~~how many times has a 22 or younger Yankee starter gotten the chance to pitch in Fenway?~~
Since 1956, it’s happened 15 times.
Since 1973, it’s happened 6 times.
Then again, since 2004, a pitcher 22 or younger – for any team playing the Sox, has started at Fenway 35 times (to date).
Hey, I never said that Yankees-Sox history was full of these games…I just said that it’s been a long time since a 22-or-younger Yank SP got a W at Fenway. And, that’s a fact, Jack.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
[...] What can you possible say about Joba Chamberlain? How about “Move over Mel Stottlemyre and take 1964 off the board?” [...]
July 26th, 2008 at 2:02 am
[...] This fine note courtesy of Was Watching. [...]