Yankees/Red Sox Independence Day 1965

‘Twas a Sunday and I will list the nine starters (the designated hitter was 8 years away and in fact, it was in a Yankees at Red Sox tilt that Ron Blomberg of the Yankees became the first), none in the Baseball Hall, two that were/are, Mickey Mantle and Carl Yastrzemski, not in or at least starting that day, ditto regarding Roger Maris, who now even 38 plus years after his death, is denied entry.

The position players and pitchers, visiting Yankees then home, Red Sox: First base: Joe Pepitone and Tony Horton (think beyond baseball for these two fine players), second base: Bobby Richardson and Chuck Schilling, shortstop Tony Kubek (is he in as a broadcaster?) and Ed Bressoud (as Jerry Coleman “relayed” Bressoud’s length of remaining time as Boston SS depended on the development of one Americo “Rico” Petrocelli, who certainly did “develop,” third base an all time great fielder, Clete Boyer and Dalton Jones, who 2 plus years later was a platoon starter on the 1967 “Impossible Dream” A.L. Champion, Red Sox.

To the outfield and left to right for the Yankees, Tom Tresh (he of the many big World Series home runs), Roger Repoz and Hector Lopez, who caught a Vada Pinson fly ball for the clinching last out as the ’61 Yankees, among baseball’s greatest teams clinched the crown.

The Red Sox outfield left to right was Lee Thomas, who at least on first batter Kubek’s hit off the famed wall in left, was “Yaz like” and held Tony to a single, Felix Mantilla (Felix was days earlier voted the A.L. starting second baseman in the July 13th at Minnesota All Star Game) and just 20, already with impressive HR figures, Tony Conigliaro.

The batteries: Jim “Bulldog” Bouton and 2 years later a big help to the ’67 Red Sox, an under rated excellent catcher, Elston Howard while Bill Monbouquette and the “ever ready–forgive it, please) Bob Tillman behind the plate, completing the Bo Sox battery.

I have stories, I recall “what might have beens,” however choose a positive regarding Tony Conigliaro’s (pictured above) sad story (essentially, being hit by a pitch curtailed a potentially great career).

Al Davis, the late maverick Raiders’ owner, paid Tony C’s hospital bills and gave great time and effort to their friendship.