On April 6, 1973 at Wrigley Field on opening day Tony Larussa appeared in his only one game for the Chicago Cubs. He was used as a pinch runner for Ron Santo in the ninth inning after a Glenn Beckett walk, Mike Marshall will enter the game and walk 2 of next 4 batters the…
1973 – Cesar Cedeno doubles home Tommy Helms with the winning run in the 13th for a 2-1 Opening Day triumph in Atlanta. It was Cedeno’s third extra-base hit of the game. Jim Wynn’s homer tied it in the sixth.
At the Oakland Coliseum, Tony Oliva becomes the first designated hitter ever to homer. The Twins DH’s first inning two-run round-tripper off future Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter helps to defeat the A’s, 8-3.
Richard Nixon becomes the first president to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day in a contest held outside of Washington, D.C. The Commander in Chief does the honors before Nolan Ryan and the Angels beat the Royals at Anaheim Stadium, 3-2.
The Pittsburgh Pirates retire Roberto Clemente’s uniform number 21 in a moving pre-game ceremony before 51,695 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. The 38-year-old Clemente died in a plane crash the previous New Year’s Eve. The Pirates then beat St. Louis‚ 7 – 5‚ with a 9th-inning rally.
At Baltimore‚ Dave McNally fires a three-hitter as the Orioles roll over the Brewers‚ 10 – 0. Don Baylor has three doubles‚ a homer‚ and 4 RBIs‚ while Brooks Robinson bangs two homers for 4 RBIs.
On April 6, 1973, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees becomes the first designated hitter in major league history. In his first plate appearance, Blomberg walks with the bases loaded. He will end up with one hit in three at-bats as the Yankees lose to the Boston Red Sox, 15-5.
On April 6, 1973, the Pittsburgh Pirates retire Roberto Clemente’s uniform No. 21 in a moving pre-game ceremony before 51,695 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. The 38-year-old Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve, 1972.
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