The Last Time The Yanks Christened Their Home Field

A flashback, via a Patrick Reusse feature done in July of last year -

The Yankees moved back to a rebuilt Yankee Stadium in 1976. The Twins were the visiting team when the big ballpark in the Bronx was reopened on April 15, a Thursday.

The crowd was announced at 54,010 (52,613 paid). It was the largest opening crowd at the stadium in 30 years.

The only thing the Yankees do better than win championships is hold pregame ceremonies. And this one was an all-timer:

Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle led the procession of all-time Yankees greats. Joe Louis, the greatest heavyweight of all, was there to represent the legendary boxing matches that took place in the stadium. Johnny Lujack, Frank Gifford and Kyle Rote were there to represent the stadium’s football history — particularly as the longtime home of the New York Giants.

The Yankees also broke out the widows of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, as was their custom on special days.

The Twins followed these 45 minutes of pregame ceremonies by taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Rudy May, a lefthander who was a longtime nemesis for Rod Carew and other Twins.

Jerry Terrell drew a four-pitch walk to open the game. May then threw a curveball to Dan Ford, and the right fielder hit a smash that carried out in left-center field.

This was the notorious “Death Valley” of Yankee Stadium. It was 457 feet to deepest left-center before the reconstruction and still was 430 feet for the reopening in 1976.

If Ford listens closely, he still could hear the amazed “ooooh” from Yankees fans as he sent that bolt soaring into the blue afternoon.

“May got me out with curveballs all last season,” Disco Danny said. “I was waiting for this one. But I didn’t believe it was going out.”

The Twins’ 4-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings disappeared by the bottom of the fourth. The Yankees reopened their marvelous home with an 11-4 victory.

The hitting hero was Oscar Gamble, the Yankees’ new right fielder. He was shorn of his famous Afro because of the team’s grooming rules. He went 3-for-4, including a double and a triple, with two runs scored and two RBI.

The original ballpark was nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built.” After the reopener, the St. Paul ball writer said to Gamble:

“Do you realize last time they opened Yankee Stadium, in 1923, the right fielder was Babe Ruth?”

Gamble shook his head and said, “I didn’t even realize he played right field.”

Babe Ruth hit the first homer in the “first” Yankee Stadium. Disco Dan Ford hit the first home in the “last” Yankee Stadium. I wonder who will hit the first homer in the “new” Yankee Stadium? I just hope it’s a Yankee…rather than someone like Victor Martinez.

It’s no knock on Martinez…more so it’s just that it would be nice to see a Yankee do it.

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