PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1249 E . BURV I LLE RD . , SUI TE 2 CRETE , I L 60417
WWW. RE I D- PEDERSON . COM | ( 708 ) 365 - 4314
OUR HI STORY WHY CHAR I T I ES HATE SPR ING- CLEANING INSIDE THIS ISSUE TEAM MEMBER SPOTL IGHT A DRAINAGE HORROR STORY EVERYTHING POPCORN 3 GREAT OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL
1 2
3
4
THE BEST OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL HI STORY PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS
Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. A NEW BEGINNING On April 15, 1947, an African-American man stepped up to the plate on opening day and
up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.” With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. Just four days later, on April 8, 1974, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, sending a high fastball from Dodgers’ pitcher Al Downing out of the park, prompting a ten- minute long celebration at the stadium and mobs of teammates, friends and family congratulating him at home plate.
changed the course of major league baseball forever. Donning a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American starter in a major league baseball game, erasing 60 years of racial discrimination in the sport. Mr.
Robinson went on to have a very successful career, playing 10 seasons with the Dodgers that included appearances in six World Series and six All-Star Games. However, his greatest impact was off the field, as his legacy created a new beginning for major league baseball and future African-American ballplayers everywhere. LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8–3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make
4 | ( 708 ) 365 - 4314
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog