So, August 29, 1967, age 10, Yankee Stadium. I sit through the first game and the Yankees one run outburst as they lose the opener of this twi-night doubleheader (remember them?) 2-1 to Jim Lonborg and the Red Sox.
The second game looks like another loss as they go into the bottom of the 11th. I remember thinking that the only games I get to go to the whole year, the games I was looking forward to all summer, staring at those Yankee tickets for weeks would end up in a BoSox sweep. And to make things worse I didn’t even get to see Mickey Mantle, who twisted his ankle a few days before.
So one out, bottom of the 11th, Yankees trail 3-2 and on deck is Steve Whitaker who will always be my first baseball hero. I vividly remember, watching him with my pole obstructed view on the on-deck circle, kneeling on one knee, number 28 across his back, leaning on a couple of bats. What was going through his mind? Did he have any idea how miserable I would be if the Yankees lost the only two games I will get to see the whole year? Now, maybe representing the Yankees and this boys’ last chance to salvage a really disappointing day, he walked to the plate.
So here is the play by play:
YANKEES 11TH: LYLE REPLACED SIEBERN (PITCHING); THOMAS REPLACED
HARRELSON (PLAYING RF); Tresh struck out; Whitaker homered;
Smith lined to Foy; Robinson singled to Yastrzemski; Tillman forced Robinson (Foy to Andrews); 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Red Sox 3, Yankees 3.
The homer was a bullet down the right field line. I stood up, everyone stood up, and then I couldn’t see. All I could do was rely on the crowd reaction and hope for a confirmation of my prayers from my dad. Then I picked up #28 halfway to second in his home run trot and I knew…we are tied. It was euphoria, Christmas morning and the last day of school all in one. They played on and my dad and I left an inning or two later, listened on the way home, and watched an inning or two when we got back home...till I fell asleep. Time of the game: 6:09.
BOS(A)02000000001000000000 3 12 2 (2)
NY(A) 00010010001000000001 4 17 1
WP: Bouton (1-0)
LP: Brandon (5-11)
HRs: Harrelson (10), Whitaker (11)
It’s ironic that it was Sparky Lyle that gave up the game-tying homer. Lyle would later become the Yanks ace closer in the bullpen and save what seemed like a thousand big games for the Bombers. Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson (who homered in the game) was in the lineup having been acquired from the White Sox of few days earlier replacing the disabled Tony Conigliaro who was beaned by a pitch that would ultimately ruin his career, what a shame for Tony.
Also by Frank Santorelli
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Posted November 18, 2003.
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