Home Opener: Angels vs. Yankees, the Return of Godzilla

 

 

vs. Ervin Santana	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI
Derek Jeter SS	27	0.435	0.519	0.739	2	2
Nick Johnson DH	3	0.500	0.667	0.500	0	1
Mark Teixeira 1B	30	0.261	0.367	0.435	1	7
Alex Rodriguez 3B	24	0.227	0.292	0.500	2	7
Robinson Cano 2B	22	0.250	0.273	0.600	2	5
Jorge Posada C	13	0.222	0.385	0.556	1	3
Curtis Granderson CF	26	0.217	0.308	0.522	2	3
Nick Swisher RF	30	0.148	0.233	0.259	0	0
Brett Gardner LF	3	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Total	178	0.253	0.339	0.494	10	28

Home Opener Facts

• For the first time since 1968, the Yankees will host the Angels in their home opener. In that game played on April 10, the Yankees beat California, as they were know at the time, in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel.
• Since 1901 (including two seasons when the franchise resided in Baltimore), the Yankees are 72-36 (.667) in home openers. Only the Toronto Blue Jays at 25-9 (.735) have a higher winning percentage in their home opener (the Jays lost yesterday’s home opener to the White Sox).
• The Yankees have played the most home openers against the Boston Red Sox (26) and Washington Senators (22).
• The only American League team that the Yankees have never hosted at a home opener is the Seattle Mariners.
• The only team to have a winning record against the Yankees in their home opener is the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have won three of the five openers they have played in New York.
• The most runs scored by the Yankees in their home opener was 19 against the Washington Senators on April 13, 1955.
• The most runs given up by the Yankees in their home opener was 12 against the Detroit Tigers on April 12, 1983.

Individual Yankee Home Opening Day Accomplishments (Since 1920)

• No Yankee has hit 2 or more HRs in the home opener.
  

  Willie Randolph shares the Yankee record for most hits and RBIs in a home opener 9since 1920).

• Most RBIs: 5, accomplished by Tino Martinez (April 10, 1998 vs. Oakland) and Willie Randolph (April 13, 1987 vs. Cleveland).
• Most hits: 4, accomplished by Wade Boggs (April 4, 1994 vs. Texas), Paul O’Neill (April 12, 1993 vs. Kansas City), Willie Randolph (April 13, 1987 vs. Cleveland) and Babe Ruth (April 13, 1921 vs. Philadelphia).
• Most strikeouts by a pitcher: 12, accomplished by David Cone on April 11, 1987 in a loss to Oakland.
• Fewest hits allowed by a pitcher (in a CG): 2, accomplished by Bob Turley (April 12, 1959 vs. Boston) and White Ford (April 13, 1995 vs. Washington).

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There’s No Place Like Home

After months of Spring Training and then a week on the road, the Yankees return home to the Stadium. With the team coming off of its 27^th World Championship, the festivities are expected to be grand.

Yogi and Whitey will help hand out the World Series rings to the players and coaches from the 2009 team. Too bad the Mick can't be there to join them

The centerpiece of the occasion will be the raising of the first championship flag to fly atop the new Yankee Stadium. In a nod to the team’s past, and perhaps what little remains of the old place across the street, the Yankees will also ring the ballpark with the other 26 championship banners that have been accumulated over the years. Talk about a peacock displaying his feathers.

With the Boss looking on, the players and coaches from last year’s team will receive their World Series rings in a pre-game ceremony presided over by Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, who won a combined 16 World Series titles. Bernie Williams, himself a four-time World Series champion, has been tapped for the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Bernie will become the ninth former Yankee player to deliver an Opening Day first pitch. The last two so honored were Reggie Jackson, who threw out the last “first” pitch at the old Stadium, and Yogi Berra, who opened up the new Stadium.

Finally, at the conclusion of the anthem, the Fighter Squadron Composite Twelve (VFC-12), a US Navy Reserve fighter squadron, will execute a fly over. Known as the “Fighting Omars,” the VFC-12 is one of the Navy’s two Reserve Hornet squadrons.

Another fortuitous part of the ceremony will be the presentation of a championship ring to the 2009 World Series MVP. Thanks to the luck of the draw, the Yankee Stadium faithful will get to welcome Hideki Matsui back as a visiting Angel. A long and loud standing ovation should be in order for Matsui, who spent seven classy and productive seasons with the Yankees.

What’s on the Program?

• Gates open –11:00AM
• Championship Flags are unveiled – 12:00PM
• Ring Ceremony begins – 12:15AM
• National Anthem Sung by Emmy and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth
• Flyover By VFC
• Bernie Williams throws out first pitch
• Yankees begin defense of 27^th World Championship – 1:05PM

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