It was April of 1967. The term “March Madness” did not exist. There were two college hoop tournaments, the NCAA and NIT, each involving a couple of dozen teams. You got in not by winning league tournaments (they were still a few years away) but by being selected by tournament reps. Both tourneys were over by late March, and usually only the finals were televised.
Outside of Sox opening day, much of the sports news was about boxing. Cassius Clay (the papers would still not use the Ali name, and the Black Muslims were referred to as a “black supremacy cult”) A proposed title defense against Floyd Patterson had been refused a license by a number of states, most recently Nevada and Pennsylvania. The excuses used by politicians were that “it would not be a good match.” Most Americans, however, knew the real reason was Ali’s upcoming refusal to be inducted into the army
At a pre-opener Sox luncheon at Anthony’s Pier 4 with 250 local businessmen, Dick Williams did the familiar thing- praise everyone. His outfield-Reggie, Tony and Yaz, was the best in the league. He was “lucky to have” coaches Al Lakeman, Bobby Doerr, Ed Popowski, and Sal Maglie. George Scott had “a magic touch with his glove.” GM Dick O’Connell echoed the sentiments: “In all my years with the Red Sox I have never seen a team in such good condition.” Coach Doerr stated that Smith had “a great knack”.
Clif Keane predicted that 20,000 (if good weather) fans would show up But the weather did not cooperate-the opener was postponed because of “cold and spongy ground” and was rescheduled for Thursday the 13th. Only 8500 people were there. If it were today, it could be 20 degrees and light snow and the park would still be full.
In game one, the Sox played like the “new boys”. The game took 3:14, very long for the sixties. It was 46 degrees, sunny, with a wind blowing in. And with a fine team effort, the Townies downed the White Sox, 5-4. Rico Petrocelli (his nickname in those days was Petro) singled in Smith in the second and the following inning smashed one into the net off starter John Buzhardt for a three-run homer and a 4-0 margin. But Jim Lonborg, perhaps because of the cold, would fade. A passed ball by Mike Ryan plated Tommy Agee with a run in the fifth to make it 4-1. The Sox were, as Williams had promised, showing some speed. An inning later, Jose Tartabull beat out a hit, stole second (the team’s third of the day), and scored on a throwing error.
It was now 5-1, but Gentleman Jim couldn’t hold it. After hits by Pete Ward and Ken Berry in the seventh, a misjudged fly by Tony C-right field in April at Fenway can be perilous-plated a pair. Jerry Adair (later a big part of the Impossible Dream) then singled to put the visitors only a run behind. Williams then replaced Lonny with John Wyatt, and it worked. Conig redeemed himself a bit by catching the next two-one in front of the bullpen-to preserve the 5-4 lead. In the eighth, Wyatt would fan Berry and JC Martin with two in scoring position. Don McMahon then set down the White Sox in the ninth with good plays by Conigliaro and Scott and a strikeout to finish it. In today’s terminology, Wyatt would be credited with a “hold” and McMahon a save.
Rico was the offensive star with 3 for 3 and 4 rbi’s, and the Sox infield turned three double plays “Wasn’t that a great finish?” exclaimed Williams.
The series was scheduled to end the next day, with Darrell (Bucky) Brandon starting for Boston. Friday they would travel to New York. Whitey Ford would pitch for the Yankees against a rookie named Billy Rohr.
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