Apr. 9, 1963 - Amid considerable fanfare and a bright display of color, the Athletics, resplendent in their new uniforms of Tulane gold and Kelly green, made a noble effort to bring victory to Kansas City today in the American League opener before a crowd of 30,976 which included former President Harry S. Truman. Unfortunately, on occasions such as this, the New York Yankees bring their own fireworks and, behind a heavy bombardment that included 3 home runs, Ralph Houk’s world champions sank the A’s, 8-2. So, it was a sad debut for Eddie Lopat, the former Yankee mound star who is the new manager of the A’s. Brooklyn-born Joe Pepitone, slated to make Bronx fans forget all about Moose Skowron this year, celebrated his debut as the Yankees’ regular first baseman by clouting two homers. He also unloaded a double that scored another run. Elston Howard hit the other homer. The Yankees, who had all their regulars in the lineup except the injured Roger Maris, blazed away with 13 hits. Behind this, Ralph Terry, last year’s 23-game winner for the Bombers, nailed down victory No. 1 of 1963 with a 6-hitter.
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