July 27, 1963 - Baseball greats of yesteryear took center stage today as the Yankees staged their 17th annual Old-Timers Day. This year’s theme was record-breakers, and 50 of them were honored in a program highlighted by a game between former National and American League stars. The game lasted 2 innings, and the Americans won, 6-0. Joe DiMaggio, the old Yankee Clipper, still trim and handsome at 48, received the most cheers and also got the game’s big hit, a two-run double. DiMaggio also made one of his patented graceful catches in center field. Others present and honored were Jackie Robinson (still recuperating from surgery), Joe Cronin, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Joe McCarthy, George Sisler, Frank Frisch, Carl Hubbell, Bob Feller, Dizzy Dean and, with the special affection of all present, Roy Campanella. Later, the youngster Yankees continued their unstoppable surge toward the pennant. Tom Tresh drove in three runs and Joe Pepitone a pair as each homered in a 5-1 plastering of the Minnesota Twins. Ralph Terry fanned six and didn’t walk a batter. “I threw slow stuff because the day was so hot, and I had a good early lead,” Ralph explained. “I wanted to have something left in case there was trouble later on.” Still, Ralph tried to sneak a fastball past Harmon Killebrew in the ninth and found out there’s harm in Harmon. The Killer drove it into the left-field lower deck for his 23rd round-tripper and took over the league lead from teammate Bob Allison. “I’m getting so I don’t feel natural unless I throw a gopher ball,” Terry kidded afterward. “I tried to get it up tight, but it was too good. I hate to lose a shutout, but he hit it good.” “The story today was Tresh,” Yankee skipper Ralph Houk said afterward. “Last night it was Lopez. It is something how some guy keeps getting hot. Maybe Casey’s Ouija board is around here somewhere. Terry pitched his best game in a month, and we had the hot hitters. But tomorrow may be different. They’ve got their two best going [pitchers Camilo Pascual and Dick Stigman]. I’ll be glad to win one.” The way the Yanks are going these days, it will be a surprise if they lose one.
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