A record opening day crowd of 53,563 at Briggs Stadium sees the Detroit Tigers chalk up their third straight win, 6 – 5, against the Chicago White Sox. Recently-acquired Rocky Colavito blasts a home run in his first at-bat with Detroit, and Eddie Yost adds a home run in the 5th inning.

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A record opening day crowd of 53,563 at Briggs Stadium sees the Detroit Tigers chalk up their third straight win, 6 – 5, against the Chicago White Sox. Recently-acquired Rocky Colavito blasts a home run in his first at-bat with Detroit, and Eddie Yost adds a home run in the 5th inning.

Frank Viola

Frank Viola Stats & Facts

ByThis Day in Baseball

  VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA Vintage Baseball Memorabilia Frank Viola Position: PitcherBats: Left  •  Throws: Left6-4, 200lb (193cm, 90kg)Born: April 19, 1960  in Hempstead, NYDraft: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 16th round of the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft from East Meadow HS (East Meadow, NY) and the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft from St. John’s University (Queens, NY).High School: East Meadow HS (East Meadow, NY)School: St….

Making his debut in pinstripes, Roger Maris goes 4-for-5 batting leadoff in the Yankees lineup

Making his debut in pinstripes, Roger Maris goes 4-for-5 batting leadoff in the Yankees lineup

ByTom

Making his debut in pinstripes, Roger Maris goes 4-for-5 batting leadoff in the Yankees lineup. The right-fielder’s 11 total bases, including two home runs and a double, contribute to the Bronx Bombers’ Opening Day 8-4 victory over Boston at Fenway Park.

A record Opening Day crowd at Chicago’s Comiskey Park enthusiastically greets their American League champs, and the patrons warmly welcome the return of Minnie Minoso to the team after his three-year exile to Cleveland. The 34 year-old outfielder doesn’t disappoint the South Side fans when, in addition to hitting a grand slam in the fourth, he blasts a ninth inning walk-off home run, giving the White Sox a 10-9 victory over Kansas City.

ByTom

A record Opening Day crowd at Chicago’s Comiskey Park enthusiastically greets their American League champs, and the patrons warmly welcome the return of Minnie Minoso to the team after his three-year exile to Cleveland. The 34 year-old outfielder doesn’t disappoint the South Side fans when, in addition to hitting a grand slam in the fourth, he blasts a ninth inning walk-off home run, giving the White Sox a 10-9 victory over Kansas City.

Ted Williams becomes the first major leaguer to homer in four different decades 

Ted Williams becomes the first major leaguer to homer in four different decades 

ByThis Day in Baseball

Ted Williams becomes the first major leaguer to homer in four different decades when he blasts a pitch from Senators’ right-hander Camilo Pascual 500 feet over the center field wall for the only run in the Red Sox’s 10-1 Opening Day loss at Griffith Stadium. In 1939, the then 20 year-old ‘Kid’ hit the first of his 521 career round-trippers, a first-inning two-run shot off Philadelphia’s Bud Thomas at Fenway Park.

Andre Rodgers becomes the first Bahamian to play in the major leagues when he grounds into a 6-4 force play facing Bob Friend in the top of the second inning of the Giants’ 9-2 loss in Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. The 22 year-old shortstop’s roommate and fellow Caribbean, Valmy Thomas, entering the game in the sixth to replace catcher Wes Westrum, also becomes the first native of the Virgin Islands to play in a big league game.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Andre Rodgers becomes the first Bahamian to play in the major leagues when he grounds into a 6-4 force play facing Bob Friend in the top of the second inning of the Giants’ 9-2 loss in Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. The 22 year-old shortstop’s roommate and fellow Caribbean, Valmy Thomas, entering the game in the sixth to replace catcher Wes Westrum, also becomes the first native of the Virgin Islands to play in a big league game.

Roberto Clemente celebrates opening day with a 410-footer followed by a 445-footer. Unfortunately, this is Forbes Field, so neither of the long drives leaves the park. According to the Uniontown Evening Standard: “Clemente starched the ball all four times he was at the plate… In the 2nd inning Clemente lined a shot off the wall at the 406 mark. In the 5th he lashed a drive to the deepest part of centerfield …” The latter shot is characterized by Pirates beat writer Les Biederman as “one of the longest outs possible at Forbes Field. He chased Vada Pinson to the batting cage in deep center with three on for his 445-foot fly ball that turned into a sacrifice fly.”

ByThis Day in Baseball

Roberto Clemente celebrates opening day with a 410-footer followed by a 445-footer. Unfortunately, this is Forbes Field, so neither of the long drives leaves the park. According to the Uniontown Evening Standard: “Clemente starched the ball all four times he was at the plate… In the 2nd inning Clemente lined a shot off the wall at the 406 mark. In the 5th he lashed a drive to the deepest part of centerfield …” The latter shot is characterized by Pirates beat writer Les Biederman as “one of the longest outs possible at Forbes Field. He chased Vada Pinson to the batting cage in deep center with three on for his 445-foot fly ball that turned into a sacrifice fly.”

Chuck Essegian’s 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs, 3 – 2

Chuck Essegian’s 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs, 3 – 2

ByThis Day in Baseball

Chuck Essegian’s 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs, 3 – 2, before a record Opening Day crowd (67,550) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The home run is Essegian’s third straight as a pinch hitter, including two in the 1959 World Series. Don Drysdale pitches a complete game for the Dodgers, striking out 14 Cubs.