Opening day is a significant date on the MLB calendar. The New York Yankees are known for their play in October, but the club has memorable opening day HRs.
No one has to be reminded of the tremendous void left by the absence of baseball in our lives. But until further notice, it doesn’t seem like the sport is coming back any time soon. However, nothing can stop the fans from crossing out the days on their calendar until opening day occurs. This year will be significant as it will be our country’s rebirth and hopefully a turning point in the fight against this pandemic.
The New York Yankees are more known for how they finish a season than at the start of one. The franchise has won 40 American League pennants and 27 World Series titles, which is more than any other team in major league baseball.
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Still, the Yanks have produced plenty of unforgettable moments on opening day. And not surprising, some of the franchise’s October heroes have shined just as bright by hitting a memorable opening day home run.
Let’s take a closer look at these games:
1923: The House That Ruth Built
April 18, 1923, is the date the doors opened at Yankee Stadium and by the end of the day, it became known as “The House That Ruth Built.” Typically, opening day is a grand extravaganza, but this afternoon had a little more star power than normal. John Philip Sousa and the Seventh Regiment Band performed the national anthem before the game.
It was the largest crowd (74,200) to ever witness a baseball game at that point in our nation’s history as the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-1. And to know one’s surprise, Babe Ruth was the first player to hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium. It was a three-run shot to the short porch in right-field. Granted, Ruth was baseball’s biggest star attraction, but this was the year of the transformation for the Yankees from cellar dwellers to the franchise that dominated the sport for the next five decades.