1968 AL Opening Day

April 10, 1968

  There was a full slate of games scheduled for Opening Day in the AL today. 
Some of the day's highlights: The Yankees opened the 1968 season in New York and sent their fans home happy with a come from behind 4-3 victory. New York scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game 3-3, then won it in the 10th on a walk off RBI single by Joe Pepitone. The Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox also battled into extra innings. The hometown White Sox won the game in the 12th inning 5-3, on a walk off 2-run homer by Ken Berry. Washington's Frank Howard(pictured) hit 2 homeruns and drove in 4 to lead the Senators to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins.

NEWSPAPER GAME STORIES FOR 1968 American League                Date: 4/11/1968
 
CALIFORNIA AT NEW YORK
Angels.......... 2 1 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  0 -  3  8  2
Yankees......... 0 0 0  0 0 1  0 0 2  1 -  4  8  0
Win:Peterson(1-0) Loss:Ellis(0-1)
 
Joe Pepitone had 2 base hits at Yankee Stadium as the New York Yankees beat
the California Angels in 10 innings by the count of 4 to 3.
 
The score was knotted at 3 after nine innings.  Finally, New York pulled the
game out in the 10th inning.  Mike Ferraro stroked a single.  Mickey Mantle
was next to the plate, but was promptly struck out.  One out later, Bill
Robinson then drew a walk.  Pepitone was up next and he stroked a base-hit
making New York victorious to the delight of the the home town crowd.  Both
teams finished the game with 8 hits.  
 
The victory was credited to Fritz Peterson(1-0) who went 1 inning, allowing no
runs. Sammy Ellis(0-1) suffered the loss in relief.  He pitched 2/3 of an
inning giving up 2 hits and 1 walk.
 
 
CLEVELAND AT CHICAGO
Indians......... 0 1 0  0 0 0  0 2 0  0 0 0  -  3  9  0
White Sox....... 1 0 0  0 0 2  0 0 0  0 0 2  -  5  7  1
Win:Wilhelm(1-0) Loss:Fisher(0-1)
Homeruns- T.Horton(1st), K.Berry(1st)
 
In a good matchup it was the Chicago White Sox 5, the Cleveland Indians 3 in
12 innings at Comiskey Park.
 
The game was deadlocked at 3 after nine full innings.  Finally, Chicago
prevailed in the 12th inning.  Sandy Alomar led off and started the attack as
he ripped a base-hit.  Alomar got a great jump and stole second easily.  Ken
Berry then cracked a two-run shot resulting in a mighty exciting win for
Chicago and the 3,897 home town fans in attendance.  Chicago rapped out 7
hits for the afternoon.  
 
Hoyt Wilhelm(1-0) went 1 inning allowing no runs for the win. Eddie
Fisher(0-1) was tagged with the loss in relief.  He gave up 2 hits and no
walks without retiring a batter.  
 
 
MINNESOTA AT WASHINGTON
Twins........... 0 0 0  1 0 0  0 0 0  -  1  7  1
Senators........ 3 0 0  0 0 1  0 0    -  4  9  0
Win:Pascual(1-0) Loss:Chance(0-1)
Homeruns- F.Howard-2(2nd)
 
Frank Howard slammed 2 homeruns and had 4 RBI and Camilo Pascual pitched a
complete game as the Washington Senators defeated the Minnesota Twins by the
score of 4 to 1 at D.C. Stadium.
 
Howard made sure the Washington fans enjoyed themselves.  He belted a
three-run homer in the 1st inning and clubbed a solo home run in the 6th
inning.  Washington totaled 9 hits on the afternoon.  
 
Pascual(1-0) allowed 1 run on the game. Dean Chance(0-1) was the loser.  He
surrendered 8 hits and 2 walks in 7 innings.
 
OAKLAND AT BALTIMORE
A's............. 0 2 0  0 0 0  3 0 0  -  5 11  0
Orioles......... 0 0 0  2 0 1  0 1 0  -  4 10  2
Win:Hunter(1-0) Loss:Phoebus(0-1) Save:Segui(1st)
Homeruns- F.Robinson(1st), C.Blefary(1st), D.Johnson(1st)
 
9,679 fans were treated to a fine game at Memorial Stadium as only one run
separated the combatants at game's end.  The Oakland A's won by the slimmest
of margins, 5 to 4.
 
Oakland scored 3 runs in the 7th inning when they came up with 4 base hits.
It was enough scoring to earn the victory.  Baltimore tried unsuccessfully to
come back in the 9th.  
 
The win went to Catfish Hunter(1-0) who allowed 3 runs in 6 innings. Hunter
got help from Diego Segui who was credited with his 1st save.  Tom
Phoebus(0-1) absorbed the loss.  
 
 
BOSTON AT DETROIT
Red Sox......... 0 0 4  3 0 1  1 1 1  - 11 13  2
Tigers.......... 1 0 3  0 1 0  1 0 0  -  6 11  3
Win:Ellsworth(1-0) Loss:Wilson(0-1)
Homeruns- D.Jones(1st), C.Yastrzemski(1st), J.Lahoud(1st), W.Horton(1st)
 
The Boston Red Sox had an easy time of it at Tiger Stadium defeating the
Detroit Tigers by a score of 11 to 6.
 
Boston went ahead for good in the top of the 4th inning as they scored 3 runs
on 3 base hits.  Boston had many opportunities throughout the game and scored
in 6 separate innings.  
 
The winning pitcher was Dick Ellsworth(1-0) who allowed 6 runs in 8 and 1/3
innings. Earl Wilson(0-1) absorbed the loss.  He allowed Boston 7 runs in 3
and 2/3 innings of work.