KFDM COOP Posted April 9, 2007 Report Posted April 9, 2007 ON THIS DATE (April 9) IN BASEBALL HISTORYAPRIL 9, 1912In the first game ever played at Fenway Park, the Red Sox defeat Harvard University in an exhibition game played in a snow storm. APRIL 9, 1953In response to McCarthy Era pressure, the Cincinnati Reds officially change their name to the Redlegs. APRIL 9, 1962President John F. Kennedy throws out the first ball to open the 1962 Baseball season at new District of Columbia Stadium (now known as RFK Stadium). Despite rain, a record Washington crowd of 42,143 shows up to see Bennie Daniels stop Detroit with a 5-hit, 4-1 win in the new park. This is a switch for Daniels, who had lost the last games played at both Ebbets Field, in 1957, and Griffith Stadium, last year. APRIL 9, 1965President Lyndon B. Johnson joins 47,878 fans for the opening of Harris County Domed Stadium (later known as The Astrodome). The Astros win an exhibition with the Yankees 2-1 in 12 innings on a Nellie Fox single. Mickey Mantle hits the first home run in the new park. APRIL 9, 1968Opening Day is postponed because of the funeral today for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., assassinated on April 4th. APRIL 9, 1974In his first home opener as owner of the San Diego Padres, Ray Kroc grabbed the public-address microphone after the eighth inning, when the Padres had blown a bases-loaded opportunity and were down 9-2 to the Astros. "I have good news and bad news," Kroc said. "We drew more people for our home opener than the Dodgers did for theirs. The bad news is I suffer with you. I've never seen such stupid ballplaying in my life." Right then, a streaker hit the field. "Get that man out of here. Arrest him," Kroc said over the microphone. After hearing of the incident, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn makes Kroc apologize to the fans.APRIL 9, 1980The Reds Tom Seaver is scratched from his Opening Day start against the Braves because of the flu, and his replacement, Frank Pastore, tosses a 3-hit shutout. Braves pitcher Phil Niekro is on the short end of the 9-0 decision. George Foster knocks a 2-run double off Niekro in the first inning, and receives credit for the first game-winning RBI, a newly created Major League statistic that will survive till the end of the 1988 season.APRIL 9, 1999Pirates rookie Kris Benson beats the Cubs in his first Major League start. He's just the second #1 draft pick to win his first start; David Clyde was the other -- with the 1973 Texas Rangers.
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