In 1973, the Yankees and Red Sox faced off in what was due to be the first game in history with a Designated Hitter. Ron Blomberg, batting sixth, was set to DH for the visiting Yankees while Orlando Cepeda, batting fifth, took the spot for the host Red Sox. In natural order, Tiant should have retired the Yankees in the first and allowed the powerful Red Sox lineup to get Cepeda to the plate as the first DH in history. But Tiant struggled in the first, giving up three runs, and allowing Blomberg to take the honors.
We had a discussion about this at the bar last night, and it was mentioned that Tiant complained about the cold early-season weather in Boston, leading to his bad performance in the first inning. But that can’t be right – Tiant pitched eight more innings that day and allowed only two runs. I speculate that he tanked – pitched poorly to become known as the pitcher who faced the first DH in history. Blomberg walked, by the way. In the first official at-bat as a DH, Cepeda struck out leading off the second.
June 19, 2007 at 1:59 am |
Tanks for the memories.