Chapter 28: Opening Day

Tue, Apr 7, 1970

We got back to Riding around Central Park with our Central Perk Bike Club. Sure I stole the Name from Friends, but we had it 1st. Huh?

B-G had made a Lightweight Trailer, that I pulled behind my Bike. It was close to the Ground, allowing Red & Blue, my Pug Puppies, to jump On & Off. They would Run all over, being a big hit with the Kids. When they tuckered out, they hopped on. Then a split second later, they would see a Squirrel, & tear out after it, full of energy.

If you want to Develop great Soccar Foot Skills, kick a Tennis Ball around with 2 Pug Puppies. They are perfect Shortstops too. Few Balls get past them.

I’m gonna Feature one of my NY Yankees each Day, Young & Old.

Today, I Rode Bikes with Roger Maris, 35yo (Sep 10, 1934—Dec 14, 1985 @ 51yo)

Roger was Born in Hibbing, MN. He, 1st Played for the Cleveland Indians, during the 1957 & 1958 Seasons. He then spent 1959 in Kansas City, with the “A’s.”

He was a NY Yankee for the 1960-1966 Seasons. He then Played with the St Louis Cardinals, for the 1967 & 1968 Seasons.

While a Yankee, during the 1961 Season, Roger Hit Greatness, literally.

Roger Left the Yankees though, & you don’t do that. I didn’t give a shit about that. I was Officially Inviting him Back into the Fold, Retiring his #9, today, Opening Day of the 1970 NY Yankee Season.

George Steinbrenner finally did Roger Maris right, by Retiring his #9, Jul 22, 1984. That was due to Roger Maris dying of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He would Retire, Physically, Dec 14, 1985.

I was going to see if I could get him a Fix, ASAP. If anything, he’d be back with the Yankees, from 1970 on.

“Baseball is 90% Mental

The other 1/2 is Physical”

-Yogi Berra

Regular Season, Game-1, Home vs BOS, at 3:06pm. We Won 8-4. Ticket’s were:

Box Seats, $4

General Admission, $2.50

Bleacher Seats, $1.50

SRO, Free to da yutes

It was going to be a Sellout, with over 67,000 Loyal NY Yankee Fanatics In-House. We had Standing-Room-Only, by inviting the Youth of the Bronx, those who lived near Yankee Stadium.

In Ralf’s time, the Attendance was only 21,379 for Game-1. I think we were changing Reality pretty fast, as we were Bursting at the Seams inside Yankee Stadium. Think it was due to our New Players on the Team?

During Batting Practice, we had a Home-Run Derby, Between Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris. It reminded everyone of their classic 1961 Duel, to become the Home Run Champ, breaking the Record, held by Babe Ruth, dating from 1927.

After Mickey & Roger Hit a few Into the Stands, the Rest of my 1st 8, Hit a few too. It really riled up the Crowd. We would do the same, before every Home Game, from now on. We would buy Baseballs by the Gross.

Reggie Jackson & Dick Allen hit the most HR. Reggie hit 6, & Dick, 5. All had 10 Pitches lobbed at them by Whitey Ford, as we WANTED them to hit a Homer, as opposed to vice-versa in a Game.

Before the Game, I Announced that Roger Maris’ #9, was being Retired. It would join other #’s Retired, starting with Babe Ruth’s #3.

The entire 1961 NY Yankee Team was surrounding Roger Maris & I, at Home Plate. The 67,000+ that were lucky enough to get a Ticket, went nuts cheering for their beloved Maris.

Babe Ruth had Hit, 60 Home Runs, in 1927, as a NY Yankee. Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s, Single-Season Home Run Record, in 1961, also as a NY Yankee.

In 1961, there were 2, NY Yankees, that were trying to Break Babe Ruth’s Record, after years of others trying & failing.

Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris were egging each other on, all Season. It helped that the American League had just went from a 154-Game Season, to today’s 162-Game Schedule. That gave Mickey & Roger a few more Games to go for the Record.

Mickey Mantle ended 1961, with 54 Home Runs, a hell of a Season.

Roger Maris finally Broke Babe Ruth’s Record, on Oct 1, 1961, the Last Day of the Season. He Hit his 61st that day, Breaking a Record that had lasted for 34 years.

Roger Maris’ Home-Run Record was finally Broken, Sep 8, 1998, by Mark McGwire. That was 37 years, between 1961 & 1998.

Roger Maris, Left the Yankees in 1966 though, finishing his Career elsewhere. That pissed off Yankee Management, causing them to shun him, never Retiring his #9.

In 1984, George Steinbrenner, finally did the right thing. That was because Roger was dying. Once again, I beat George to the punch, Retiring Rogers #9, on Opening Day, 1970.

When I checked to see if Roger Maris’ #9 had been Retired, I was astounded that many other #’s hadn’t been Retired yet either. I was determined to correct that today.

I Announced to the Opening Day Crowd, that these #’s were being Retired today, #1, #8, #9, #10, #16, #32 & #37. They joined those Retired before: The Players Stepped Forward, one by one, as I Called out their Name, each one to Huge Cheers:

#1, Billy Martin, 42yo (As Ralf, #1 was Retired, Aug 10, 1986) (May 16, 1928—Dec 25, 1989 @ 61yo)?

#3, Babe Ruth (#3 Retired, Jun 13, 1948) (Feb 16, 1895—Aug 16, 1948 @ 53yo)

#4, Lou Gehrig (#4 Retired, Jul 4, 1939) (Jun 19, 1903—Jun 2, 1941 @ 37yo)

#5, Joe DiMaggio, 55yo (#5 Retired, Apr 18, 1952) (Nov 25, 1914—Mar 8, 1999 @ 84yo)

#7, Mickey Mantle, 38yo (#7 Retired, Jun 8, 1969) (Oct 20, 1931—Aug 13, 1995 @ 63yo)

#8, Yogi Berra, 45yo (As Ralf, #8 was Retired, Jul 22, 1972) (May 12, 1925—Sep 22, 2015 @ 90yo)

#9, Roger Maris, 35yo (As Ralf, #9 was Retired, Jul 22, 1984) (Sep 10, 1934—Dec 14, 1985 @ 51yo)

#10, Phil Rizzuto, 52yo (As Ralf, #10 was Retired, Aug 4, 1985) (Sep 25, 1917—Aug 13, 2007 @ 89yo)

#16, Whitey Ford, 41yo (As Ralf, #16 was Retired, Aug 3, 1974) (Oct 21, 1928—Oct 8, 2020 @ 91yo)

#32, Elston Howard, 41yo (As Ralf, #32 was Retired, Jul 22, 1984) (Feb 23, 1929—Dec 14, 1980 @ 51yo)

#37, Casey Stengel, 79yo (As Ralf, #37 was Retired, Aug 8, 1970) (Jul 30, 1890—Sep 29, 1975 @ 85yo)

Game-1 vs the Red Sox finally began.

Billy Martin chose Gaylord Perry to Start Game-1. Tommy John would Start Game-2; with Nolan Ryan or Bill Lee Starting Game-3.

No-one knew how much better my Yankees were than the 1970 Team they would have trotted out there. Let’s do a Side-by-Side. 1st the 1970 b4 Team, then my New Team.

Catcher= same, Thurman Munson

1st Base= Danny Cater vs Dick Allen

2nd Base= Horace Clarke vs Maury Wills

Shortstop= Gene Michael vs Campy

3rd Base= Jerry Kenney vs Aurelio A-Rod Rodriguez

Left-Field= Roy White vs Lou Pinella

Center-Field= Bobby Murcer vs Curt Flood

Right-Field= Curt Blefary vs Reggie Jackson

Pitcher= Mel Stottlemyre vs Gaylord Perry

Pitcher= Stan Bahnsen vs Tommy John

Pitcher= Steve Kline vs Nolan Ryan

Pitcher= Fritz Peterson vs Bill Lee

As Ralf, I had always liked to Wander around each Stadium I was at. It was a totally different experience, watching a Game from behind Home Plate, as opposed to the Bleachers.

Ali, Barbie & her Twin, Bambi, went with me, as we explored Yankee Stadium & all its hidden facets. Everyone greeted me warmly, saying I had just done a great thing, by Retiring the #’s: #1, #8, #9, #10, #16, #32 & #37.

As Ralf, in 2018, I attended a NY Yankees Game vs Boston Red Sox, in new Yankee Stadium. As a 1st Timer at Yankee Stadium, I was given a cool Certificate for my 1st Time at Yankee Stadium. It had my Name printed on it, as well as the Date. I thought it a great touch, that I’d have happen in 1970, if not already doing so. Kids would cherish it, Framing it on their Bedroom wall, as it’s a seminal moment in a Kid’s Life, attending their 1st Ballgame with their Dad.

Gaylord Perry, Struck-Out the Side, in the Top of the 1st. He put them down, 1, 2, 3: Mike Andrews, Reggie Smith & Carl Yastrzemski.

Our Leadoff, Maury Wills, came up to Bat, in the Bottom of the 1st. He Singled, slicing the 1st Pitch between 1st & 2nd.

Next up, Curt Flood, took the 1st 2 Pitches, then sent a Tall Blooper, just over the Head of the Shortstop, Rico Petrocelli. By the time the Center-Fielder, Reggie Smith was able to get to the Ball, Maury was on 3rd. Curt kept at 1st, happy with a Single.

Dick Allen Batted next. He swung & missed, just missing on the 1st couple Pitches. He then hit a Long Sacrifice Fly, to deep Left, Scoring Maury, sending Curt to 2nd.

Reggie Jackson was Intentionally Walked, putting him on 1st & Curt on 2nd, with 1 Out.

Thurman Munson was up after Reggie. He was nervous, as he was a Rookie, in his 1st Full Season as the Starting Catcher. He swung at an Outside Slider, softly hitting it to the Pitcher, Gary Peters. Gary tossed the Ball to 2nd Baseman Mike Andrews. Mike then quickly threw to 1st Baseman George Scott, ending the Inning. Yankees up 1-0.

Leading off the 2nd, George Scott Flied Out, with Curt Flood showing off his Gold-Glove Skills, as he dove at the last second, barely Catching the Ball, his Glove sliding on the Grass.

Next, Rico Petrocelli, Fouled Off about 10 Pitches off Gaylord, finally connecting, sending a Fastball into Left-Center, with the Ball going over the Fence, dropping into the NYY Bullpen. Game Tied, 1 All, with 1 Out. Gaylord got the next 2 Batters to hit easy Grounders, Tony Conigliaro to A-Rod at 3rd; & Luis Alvarado, a dribble back to Gaylord, with an easy throw to 1st.

Ali, B&B & I stopped in at the WPIX Broadcast Booth. They have been Broadcasting the Yankees since 1951.

We hung there for a few minutes, getting to know the TV Broadcast Crew: Phil Rizzuto, 52yo, Whitey Ford, 41yo, Frank Messer, 44yo, & Bob Gamere, 30yo.

We finally got to my Owners Box Suite. It was OK, with 14 Wide Leather Seats, in NY Yankee Blue. Inside, were a few Rooms, including a Bedroom!

I lost track of the rest of Game-1, as I was Introduced to Roone Arledge. I had asked him to be my Guest. We Won 8-4, with Thurman Munson hitting a 3-Run Homer, in the Bottom of the 8th, clinching the Win. I was glad, as now, the Jitters will be gone for Thurman.

Roone Arledge, 38yo, Queens, NYC, had been with ABC-TV Sports since 1961, as Vice-President, then President. He Invented many Tech Marvels. All these were Developed by Roone, & I wanted him NOW to start ESPN.

1. Slow-Motion

2. Freeze-Frame

3. Instant Replay

4. Split-Screen

5. Hand Held Cameras

6. End Zone Cameras

7. Cameras on Cranes

8. Wide World of Sports

9. Monday Night Football

10. Up Close & Personal

11. Coined the term “The Thrill of Victory, & the Agony of Defeat.”

12. 20/20

Roone was a Master at mixing Sports & Entertainment. That’s what ESPN stood for.

Entertainment & Sports Network, so who better to Run ESPN, than Roone?

Roone was intrigued, especially being part of a Startup as big as we predicted ESPN to become. He said he was onboard, as long as he could stay at ABC-TV Sports, until the Premier of MNF, Mon, Sep 21, 1970. I said of course he could. I understood loyalty.

Roone spent the rest of the Day & Night with me, & by the Concert, he was fully excited & itching to begin. I was as excited, as now we could relax, as we had our Sports Master at work.

We had Bill Graham Running PTR & MTV.

David Geffen was in charge of T-SqFilm&TV & PTR Management.

Barry Diller will Run HBO & Time-Life. He was already Running BS Studios.

Roone Arledge will Run ESPN.

After the Game, I invited the entire Team to join me for a Private Party that evening atop 30 Rock.

After the Party & Dinner, we would Walk directly across 50th Street, to Radio City Music Hall. The Traveling Whart-Hoggs & Ravi Shankar were beginning their 6-Day Engagement there that Night.

I had intended to Ask Ali to Marry Me, in Ft Lauderdale, atop Pier 66’s, Pier Top Lounge, that Rotated every 66 Minutes. I got caught up in Spring Training though, & never got around to it.

Now what? Where would be Super Romantic to Propose to Ali, but in NYC this time?

My Partner, David Rockefeller’s Rainbow Room, atop his 30 Rock, RCA Building, where NBC has it’s HQ, would be nice. David’s Family, built it in 1933, when he was 18yo. David was the Driving Force that Developed Rockefeller Center.