Article:Pinstripe Pulse: A Step Back in Time, April, 1966

What's so special about April, 1966, or even 1966 in general? Well, for starters, Indira Gandhi was named Prime Minister of India, Daylight Savings Time was introduced, a court decision in Phoenix, Arizona led to the Miranda Rights, ensuring all arrested suspects were advised of their legal right to due process, and The Beatles played their final concert, on August 29th at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

On April 12, 1966, the United States ran their first B-52 bombing run over North Vietnam, and on April 14th, 1966, future baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux was born. Also on April 12th and 14th, the Detroit Tigers managed to sweep a three game series at Yankee Stadium, a season opening win on the 12th, and following an off day on the 13th, bringing out the brooms with a doubleheader sweep on the 14th. This series marked the last time the Tigers had swept a series of three games or longer in New York until this past week. A span of forty-two years, seventy series and two hundred forty six games. That, my friends, is a long time.

Despite a record of 89-73 in 1965, the Tigers finished in fourth place, thirteen and a half games behind the champion Minnesota Twins. Heading into 1966, the Tigers were confident they were still contenders and made no significant off-season moves, and as Opening Day approached were poised and ready to contend. Conversely, the Yankees were coming off a disappointing 79-83 finish, the first time since 1925 they had finished below .500, and snapping their streak of sixteen pennants in eighteen seasons. The Yankees, too, pretty much stood pat in the off-season, realizing their corp group of players had just won five consecutive American League pennants between 1960-1964, and 1965 was nothing but a fluke.

The 1966 season opened on Tuesday, April 12th, with 40,006 fans enjoying a clear fifty six degree New York afternoon. Opposing pitchers were the Yankees future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford and the Tigers veteran lefty, Mickey Lolich. Both pitchers threw complete game six-hitters in a 2-1 Tigers win. The Tigers bunched together three of their hits in the top of the ninth inning, with a Norm Cash single plating Don Wert with the game winner. The only blemish against Lolich was a fifth inning homer by first baseman [[Joe Pepitone].

Following an off-day on April 13th, the teams again returned early to Yankee Stadium for a not so unusual for the time mid-week doubleheader. This time, just 13,659 managed to find their way into the Stadium, despite the attraction of a two-for-one special. Game One repeated the events of Opening Day, as the Tigers pushed across a run in the top of the ninth inning, winning 3-2. Matchups for the lid-lifter were Mel Stottlemyre for the Yanks and the Tigers countering with 22 year old righthander Denny McLain. The Tigers in the second, and the Yankees in the fourth, scored single runs resulting from force play groundballs. Detroit came right back in the top of the fifth inning on doubles by catcher Bill Freehan and shortstop Dick McAuliffe. The Yanks tied it once again in the bottom half of the eighth inning on a solo homer by third baseman Clete Boyer, but the Tigers once again came right back, this time with the game winner. With Pedro Ramos beginning his second inning of work, Gates Brown drew a one out walk. Brown advanced to second on errand pick-off throw by catcher Elston Howard, with McAuliffe following with a single to right, with Brown stopping at third. Steve Hamilton replaced Ramos at this point, and proceeded to walk Willie Horton. Hamilton induced the next hitter, the dangerous Norm Cash to ground to short, but Ruben Amaro booted the ball, with Brown crossing the plate with the winning run.

Game Two found former Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Bob Friend making his Yankee debut, opposed by former Boston Red Sox Bill Monbouquette, who was making his Tigers debut. The Tigers won, 5-2, with Monbouquette going the distance, allowing six hits, one of which being a two-run homer by Jake Gibbs. The Tigers were led by future Hall of Famer Al Kaline's three hits and two RBI, and two RBI from Willie Horton.

Since April, 1966, both teams have had their shares of ups and downs, both teams have experienced the pinnacle of all sport, winning the ring. Both teams have been well represented by great players and great performances, from Denny McLain's 31 wins in 1968, to Kirk Gibson's magic in the 1984 World Series, from the antics of Mark Fidrych to the opening of Comerica Park. The Yankees as well, from Chris Chambliss' walk-off in 1976 which put the Yankees back in the postseason for the first time in twelve years, to the jaw-dropping, legend inspiring performance by one Mr. October, and to Donnie Baseball.

As the old saying goes, "Every time you go to the ballpark, you have a chance to see something which you have never seen before", so, now is as good a time as any to start a new streak.


 * Kelsdad covers the Yankees Beat for ArmchairGM]]