Apr. 13, 1962 - Amid flurries of snow, a drizzling rain, and an icy gale that had the thermometer dipping to 36 degrees on the playing field, the Tigers today opened their home season by bringing down the Yankees, 5-3. It was one of the most miserable openers on record. Even so, a crowd of 29,411, which had sat patiently during a delay of one hour and two minutes at the start, stuck it out to the end. Frank Lary (pictured), long a tormentor of the world champions, was the hero of this triumph although he was not around at the finish. With the Tigers trailing, 3-2, in the last of the seventh, Detroit’s ace right-handed pitcher drove in the tying run with a triple. As if conditions weren’t tough enough for the players, a fan in the upper deck in right field tossed a bottle at Roger Maris. Roger picked up the bottle then retired to the Yankee dugout. He finally was induced by Umpire Bob Stewart to return to his position, but not until there had been a sharp exchange of words.
Comments