Amazing stuff. The original Yankee stadium with the 3 monuments. In today's era the 70 Yanks would have been a wild card playoff team. And also great to see rookie of the year Thurman Munson, the Captain.
A 30 year old Yaz, pitchers hitting, the old park...simple perfection. This is 4 months before I was born. Never saw the original configuration, but saw no less than 200 games at the refurb. Thank you for uploading this!
Wow,...I saw over 100 at the old stadium....and finally visiting the new one later this season!...(saw the deciding WS games there for the Reds ('76), Dodgers ('81), and Yanks 2X ('77 & 99)
Man did I love this team as a 9 year old. Munson, Mercer and white but also a great year for fritz Peterson and lindy McDaniel. And John Ellis was going to be the next great home run hitter. Thankfully the trade with Cleveland happened. Thanks so much for the post.
Me too. The Yankees of 1968 - 1970 were a wonderfully colorful, fun group who began the long road back to a championship during those years. The turn around began in '68 when Roy White was in his 2nd full season and lead the team in hitting with a .267 ba , 17 hrs and 20 sb's. He was the first piece of the puzzle that would eventually become the championship squad of the late 70s.
miss The Scooter & The Old Stadium so much. Growing up watching Yanks in late '60s & '70s was awesome. Loved watching Abbott & Costello and This Week In Baseball with Mel Allen before Sunday afternoon games. All the family used to gather at our house after church, because my mom used to cook enough food to feed an army.
Went there twice...’71 vs the A’s and VIDA BLUE, who was the best pitcher in baseball at the time....’72 vs the Orioles and MIKE CUELLAR...lost both times...but will NEVER forget being at THE STADIUM..
@@willdrucker4291 We went to a lot of games back between 68-73. Used to always sit in the right field bleachers along the fence separating the bleachers from the Yankee bullpen. You can see it in one of the shots here, when Blefary is fumbling around in the outfield. We used to try to talk to the guys in the bullpen, but they pretty much ignored us. We were just dumb little kids. Later on they roped off that section of seats so you couldn't sit along the fence. Maybe that was just in the last season, 73. But we were there for every cap day, ball day, bat day and old timer's day. If they were giving away something, we were there. One year on old timer's day they gave away records of the Mickey Mantle Day number retirement ceremony. I got one of them, but it disappeared many years ago.
@@RRaquello Oh man, the memories. I got to sit in the right field stands too sometime during that period and was immediately warned about their friendly pigeons dropping presents.
This is great footage! I was there that day. From about 1965 until around 1985 or so I attended every Opening Day. The footage in the original Stadium (I never personally considered it the same place after 1973 and this new place to me is really Yankee Stadium III) is spectacular. The scoreboard is priceless; they should have replicated it for the new building along with the dimensions (original). But the part I miss the most is how the tv and radio announcers are today. I really miss the "swapping" (not the Fritz Peterson/Mike Kekich kind, lol) between the radio booth and the tv booth. I used to pity the poor guy (usually White or Messer) that got stuck with Scooter in the 7th 8th and 9th. Bridge traffic you know. Great times!
I don't think MLB would have allowed the Yanks to return the dimensions in the new Yankee Stadium that were in the old one (before remodeling). I believe in fact the Yanks were required by MLB to make the changes they did when it was renovated.
No doubt the Stadium looked different after remodeling and capacity was reduced partially because the seats were wider. But because much of the original steel frame was used (and infamously, a piece of it fell on a seat in 1998), the configuration was basically the same. Below the stands, the clubhouses and press rooms were pretty much alike, just redecorated a couple of times. You can see some of that in the movie "Bang The Drum Slowly," which was filmed at both Yankee and Shea Stadiums, featuring below-decks views of each. Clubhouse scenes were filmed in an auxiliary clubhouse at the original Stadium, which looked very much like it did post-remodel. Easily identifiable to those familiar with it. How do I know this stuff? Been covering the Yankees and Mets as a reporter since 1996 and have been in the clubhouses of old and new ballparks.
@@msquaretheoriginal I have seen "Bang The Drum Slowly" a few times and its notable for being I believe the last major motion picture to be filmed in the old Yankee Stadium before the remodeling (which again, I think was insisted on by MLB to have the fences in right field pushed back with the wall higher and to take the monuments out of play).
I remember my Dad & I watching ('76-'81) the games on WPIX Channel 11 and hearing Rizzuto letting us know he was headed back to Jersey late in the game. The first time I heard that my dad got a good chuckle about it. At first I didn't get it. Then my Dad explained it to me. Rest in Peace Poppa.
Ahhh the good ol’ days of my childhood...New York Yankee baseball on WPIX CH 11...that beautiful stadium...a young Yankee club on the way up...and my favorite all time Yankee announcers....Bill White, Frank Messer, and “The Scooter”, Phil Rizzuto...
Bill White didn't join the broadcast team until the following season, but I agree those were always great to listen to. Scooter was in a class by himself ... truly unique and always with great enthusiasm for the game!
THANK YOU for posting..these were "MY"Yankees..the teams that I grew up loving. BOBBY MURCER , my favorite player of all time...I wish to someday see a complete Yankee game from 1969-1973..if you can find one PLEASE POST...THANKS AGAIN.....GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Unfortunately a Yankee telecast with the Yankee announcers complete from this era isn't likely because I have read that a LOT of video material ended up getting tossed out during the time of the Stadium renovation. This particular upload I must confess is the result of taking video from a clip reel of the Red Sox announcers and because I had a home recording of the complete TV audio of this game I took out the Red Sox announcers voices and substituted the Yankee announcer voices at the points where I had extant video. There is a lot clip material of the Red Sox from this era, but Yankee television network stuff we'd have to hope someone had an early U-Matic or Cartridgevision machine. By contrast, there are HUNDREDS of Yankee radio broadcasts available from this era (the most for any local team announcers).
@@epaddon Ok, that explains it. I was wondering why video, with Yankee announcers, showed up. I've seen those Red Sox clips from a bunch of games from this era.
This is a touch before my time. My first Yankee game was 1971 but I was too young to remember. I do remember Bobby Murcer big # 1 on his back and the Yankee poles. (This was the original Yankee stadium) I did not follow them though till 1973. Graig Nettles and Roy White were my favorites starting in 1973 and beyond..Thank's for showing Thurman Munson batting too.
This is wonderful. The first base coach is former catcher Elston Howard. One of the classiest gentlemen ever to wear the pinstripes. Not only was he the first-ever black man to play for the Yankees, he also invented the batting doughnut!
Years later, Elston Howard was also the "barrier" between Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson in the dugout during their argument after Martin pulled Jackson off the field at Fenway Park.
Elston spent a much longer time in the minor leagues than he deserved. Yankees should have brought him up sooner and his career stats would have been better. As Sparky Lyle was to say, Elston belongs in the HOF. Great hitter, and great catcher. A true Yankee.
@@merccadoosis8847 True, Jackie Robinson was 28 when he broke in, Howard was 25 and he had the unfortunate luck of being a catcher while Yogi was there but he played both corner outfields and 1st base.
@@tomb4575 Yogi spent time playing the outfield as well at the back end of his time. After all it was Yogi at left field chasing after Maz's home run ball to end the 1960 World Series on a walk off.
I'm feeling so intrigued and nostalgic as I'm watching the footage of this game that was played five years before I was born. 1970 was even my mom's first full year living in New York. By the way, I always been so fascinated by those old Yankees greats as well as the franchises rich history and success. It's too bad that the Yankees lost the opening day game against Boston that day. Thank you for sharing this post. LET'S GO YANKEES!
Hearing Bob Shepard calling the lineup while “The Scooter” Phil Rizzuto call the play-by-play will always be remembered. So iconic figures in Yankees history.
THANK YOU sooo much for this....my favorite all time Yankee, ROY WHITE, and some rookie catcher named, THURMAN MUNSON...and of course, that beautiful stadium with the short fences, huge scoreboard, and the monuments in center...please post more if you can....👍👍👍👍
Oh.....I miss the days of watching baseball games on tv when the behind the plate camera was used. I'll never understand why todays televised games utilize the center field camera for 99% of the pitches thrown. The behind the plate camera angle should be used-especially-when runners are on base. Also great to hear the excitement that Phil Rizzuto brought to the broadcasts. Talk about an announcer who was into the game!
@@samuelbarrett5648I believe for the 1971 or '72 season. On national games before that I believe NBC used a centerfield camera though the Yankees and a few other teams frowned on its use because former Commissioner Ford Frick refused to allow such as I remember fearing people at home would see them and not come to the ballpark. There is an Angels-Yankees game (with Dick Enberg, then the voice of the Angels calling it) from 1972 where the centerfield camera was used.
Wow- color tv footage of the pre- renovated Yankee Stadium. Very rare! The tv announcers were Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer and Bob Gamere. Fantastic to see players like Bill Lee, Carl Yaztremski, Roy White, Thurman Munson early in their careers.
Great to see games between Yanks-Sox before all the bad blood. I tried to explain to my son that there was a time when a Yankee-Red Sox game didn't draw any more fans than any other game. In fact, I remember that the team that me and my Yankee friends hated the most was the Baltimore Orioles as they kicked Yankee butt big time from '65 through the early 70's
I'm watching this video again, and it's always great to see Thurman Munson ! All the memories come back like opening up a flood gate. I can still feel the strong sadness when hearing about the fatal plane crash. I cried like he was a close family member.
I saw a double header in 1970 at Yankee Stadium.....Yanks and Indians. Always grateful to my dad for taking me. ( It was Roy White postcard day...still have it )
@@Salvatore1268 The folly floater game, I believe was a doubleheader. I think that was the day that Murcer hit home runs in 4 consecutive at bats. Last time up in the first game and 3 in the second. I remember the second game not being televised.
@@lancer3412 Yes, that's the game and I saw it all. God was giving me a real treat to be able to be a kid and witness that. I lived in Connecticut and didn't get to see many games, but somehow was able to be there that day with my mom and dad. BTW, I still have a box full of slides from all the pictures I took.
They did. They brought back the facade from the original park and even those field-level scoreboards WPIX showed at the end of every half-inning. The current park is meant to look more like the original park than the second one.
Totally agree! The current stadium has all the charm of an airport terminal. They had a chance to re-create one of the greatest stadiums in history and blew it...
@@msquaretheoriginal besides the facade and field level scoreboard and outward grand entrance exterior the current Yankee Stadium looks nothing like the 1923-1973 version.
@@israymervalentin-arias6313 it was never meant to be a direct copy. It was meant to feel like the old park. In some ways it does and in other ways it doesn’t.
@@msquaretheoriginal Right, but I think he was referring to the dimensions. I doubt MLB would have allowed the monuments to be in play in the new stadium like they were in the original nor would they have been allowed to have the super-short porch in right field the old stadium had with the bullpens set up as they were.
This is not gold. This film is far more precious, especially to me, since 1970 was the first year that I went to the stadium and followed every game whether on WPIX or on the radio.
I remember this team so well.Even though People say Spring Training means nothing, this team had an incredible Spring record that followed right into the Season. Munson was named top Rookie in the Spring. The Yankees finished with 90 wins but finished 2nd to the Powerful Orioles who were looking for redemption from losing to the Mets. The only disappointment was a Player named Curt Blefary who was suppose to bring power to the lineup...which he didn't.
Don't sell the '70 Yankees short. They won 93 games that season against 69 losses. That was their best record since 1964, their last pennant-winning year before '76. The last-mentioned squad won 97 games. In the era of division play, 93 games was good enough many (maybe not most, though) to win the division.
@@eddielester3589 93 would all but guarantee a postseason slot nowadays. Actually, the 2006 Cardinals won the NL Central with an 83-78 record, so that division was weak that year. They had to win some postseason games on the road that year just to get to the World Series, but they did win it 4 games to 1 over Detroit, making them the worst team ever to win a World Series. I know it won't happen, but honestly, I'd like to see the regular season expanded (no divisions) and whoever has the best record in their league go to the World Series and alternate home field each year. If the NL has it in even-numbered years, the AL gets it in odd-numbered, or vice-versa. As far as I'm concerned, 1947 (when MLB was integrated) to 1968 was the best era for MLB.
ABSOLUTELY GREAT POST. How I miss the days when REAL baseball was played. Today's baseball is a complete joke. Thank you for your time and effort for posting.
Rico Petrocelli was my favorite player when I was a small boy. Later I went to Mike Andrews and Jerry Moses Baseball Camp, and met Petrocelli, Yastrzemski, Moses, and Johnny Pesky.
I struck out Rico’s nephew at Marine Park in 76 to finish the only complete game that I ever pitched in Little/Senior(13-16) League. 46 years later, it’s my great sporting moment. Go Yankees!
I remember that. I didn't remember there were all within 30 days, but I did remember him doing it multiple times that season. Trying to remember the pitchers. I believe one was Joe Niekro in Detroit. The same series where Denny Mclain made his 1970 debut after being suspended.
I remember Horace Clarke participating in 3 double plays during a 30 day stretch! LOL! Yankees had a lot of 6-3 DPs those days. Thank God for 'Stick' Michael. Horace couldn't turn 'em in the clutch.
i don't think i've ever seen color film of this much of a game at the pre-renovation yankee stadium. i know it was falling apart at the end. but it was gorgeous.
The 1970 Yankees were the best Yankee team of the “Horace Clarke” years. They wound up with 93 wins and had the 4th best record in MLB that year. I thought at the time, that they had finally turned the corner. But they regressed the next year, and didn’t become serious contenders until 1976 when they finally broke through to win the pennant.
No, they were serious contenders in 1974. Weren't eliminated until the last couple days. And, in 1972, they were in it into September. Definitely not until the end, though.
Yahhh...I have an old program from the ‘72 season....Yanks vs Orioles at THE STADIUM....whole pages dedicated to Mickey Mantle and Celerino Sanchez...good fielder...not so good hitter...was replaced the next season by some guy named GRAIG NETTLES...what memories
Jerry Moses was being ambitious for a big, slow catcher, getting thrown out on the bases twice in the same game. A couple of years later he ended up playing for the Yankees. Without having to look it up, I was able to pick out Ron Hansen as one of the pinch hitters, but couldn't guess who the other was (#25, Pepitone's old number). Turns out it was Pete Ward, who was a very good player in his White Sox days, but pretty much through when the Yankees got him. He was Canadian and his father played professional hockey in the NHL for the Montreal Maroons & Canadiens in the 30's & 40's. Roy White was one of the Yankees' best players in those days, but even as a young guy he had a weak arm, and the Sox take advantage of it here.
Here is what I remember about Pete Ward his play on the 1970 Yankees. A game against the A.s and a triple he hit. Reggie Jackson threw the ball, from the 407 sign in right-center, on one hop to third base. Ward was safe, but just an unbelievable throw. 15-20 years ago I got the radio broadcast of that game. The way they described it on radio was the way I remembered seeing it in 1970, Not the entire play, but definitely the throw. Rizzuto, on radio, was like, wow.
@1:42 a young child could have hurdled the right field fence. I was fortunate to have been to the "original" Yankee Stadium once as a child before the move to Shea in '74 and then the renovation. Such a great stadium with so much character. The thing I remember most were the free telephone gizmos in the hallways where you could have picked up the receiver and heard past Yankee greats tell stories of their career in pinstripes.
Nice memory. It was actually called the Yankee Telephonic Hall of Fame located in lower deck section 23. Half the time the recordings didn't even work but it was fun listening and hanging up the phones.
I think in one of the shots I spotted among the audience a General Electric PE-250 camera - which WPIX used both at "the Stadium" and at their own studios from 1966-67 to c.1976.
I was there, 161st and River, with my dad. A cool breezy April day in the Bronx. Tickets $2 each. Hot dogs 25 cents. Played hooky from 2nd grade. Great day. Got Joe Dimmagio to sign my glove. He was in the legend seats with Marilyn Monroe. Rip.
I would have been just coming home from school around 3 30 from the 6th grade and I am sure that I watched the game when I got home but I do not specifically remember but I was a big Yankee fan and I never missed a game on TV back then.
If there had been wild card then, the Yanks would have been in the postseason and likely playing the Orioles in the ALCS if they won their an ALDS series first.
4/7/1970 Opening Day, 3pm start, Stadium shadows between home plate and pitchers mound during first few innings, Yankees lost 4 to 3 Bobby Murcer and Roy White would be the Hitting Stars that year, The Yankees would win 93 games and finish in 2nd place in the East, 15 games back of Baltimore who won 108 games and the W/S that year, Curt Blefary would come to the Yankees from the Houston Astros in a trade that sent Joe Pepitone to Houston after the 69 season. Blefary was the 1965 AL rookie of the year with Baltimore. The Yankees did have 3 annoucers that year Rizzuto, Messer and Bob Guemere, who replaced Jerry Coleman who left and went to the Padres who dtd there games for nearly 40 years, Guemere would be gone after 1 season and was replace by Bill White who announced Yankee games for the next 18 seasons, then became the President of the NL .and then the Hall of Fame Commity.
A funny story in one of Bill Maddens book about Bill White's first appearance in the booth. After being introduced by Ford, the first words sopken by the first NY african american baseball broadcaster had been"Thanks Whitey."
Actually, I have an audio cassette of the Yankees Old Timers Day in 1970, with all the introductions. It must be TV audio because the announcer sometimes says, "as you can see in the forefront of your picture," which wouldn't be appropriate to say on radio. At the beginning there is intro music (late 60s/early 70s sounding), but I have no idea what is happening visually while the music was playing.
@@torrjpct I'm just seeing your reply for the 1st time from 3 years ago ! Sorry I missed it back then. Love to hear the audio if you ever post it. The video that went with it for the intro was pretty neat, with some of that "flower power" vibe. At least I thought it was cool when I was a kid.
@@jimdep6542 My cassette player has decided not to play cassettes, but can rewind and fast forward, so I think the cassette is ok but my player won't play it. I'll see what I can do. Are you interested in just the WPIX intro, or would it be a good idea to just record and publish the entire OTD ceremony? I have recorded and published on TH-cam the Stengel interview from that.
uh....well, some people call this era " The Horace Clark Era" and not meant to be a compliment. Horace never had a high average, but he sure was quick on the bases. During 1970, with the addition of Jerry Kenny, the Yankees promo people were hyping the transition of Yankee power to Yankee speed, which didn't go over with the Yankee fans very well.
Yeah the field was magnificent with the auxiliary scoreboards and the monuments on the field. The seats were another story. Stadium was old with pillars in front of too many seats. Obstructed views in upper deck. But very glad to be old enough to have gone to old Yankee Stadium
@@WaltGekko I've always wondered why Bat Day was discontinued. Was it because somebody hit someone with a bat in the parking lot? Or did the owners decide to cut costs?
I remember him having 20-game win seasons, but he would lose almost as many games every time. Mel was the starting pitcher for the only game I ever saw at Yankee Stadium ... Aug 9, 1972.
Yes, Bill Lee had a cup of coffee in Boston in '69. Was there to stay in '70. I remember that night when Nettles and Mickey Rivers brawled with Lee and separated his shoulder. Did you notice how slim George Scott was in this clip? And to think Dick Williams was all over him for his weight. He did get heavier... remember when the Sox reacquired him from Milwaukee around '76 or '77? (for Cecil Cooper who flourished with the Brewers!)
These were some mighty lean years for the Bombers, right? Danny Cater was equally clumsy at 1st, 3rd and the outfield. Blefary? Sheesh what a disappointment.
Dan Cater was a good hitter, poor fielder. If Gamere was announcing and Cater got a game winning hit, Gamere would exclaim, "Danny Cater and see ya later!" New York fans had some fun with that.
@@epaddon Just curious, do you know the origin of these clips? I always wonder, the little stuff from this era that is out there, why was that saved. This is like some of the Red Sox games from this era that are clipped. 5 or 10 minutes of individual clips. Notice how little the centerfield camera angle is used. Compare that to the 1977 game clips you just posted where it's pretty much the only angle. Someone mentioned Whitey Ford, This was the first year that I really follow baseball. I distinctly remember that he did some of the games. Maybe most of the home Friday games? Also, the one year of Bob Gamere. I remember a really high scoring game. After it was over he said, if you think I'm giving you a complete recap of this game then you're crazy. Whatever, next year he was gone and Bill White was in.
There's a complicated story that explains where I got this and how it's possible for the Yankee version of this game to be available but I can't reveal it publicly.
Ah, he killed me too ... but after he was traded to the Red Sox! Who did the Yankees get for him? Take a guess, then look below... Sparky Lyle. Dominant relief pitcher. One of the worst trades the Red Sox ever made.
Does anyone remember the big fight between games of a doubleheader with the Indians? Johnny Ellis was a one man wrecking crew literally throwing Indians players through the air. Boy he was strong!
Did you see Curt Blefary in right field? He misplayed two balls in this short clip. Couldn't catch a cold! Blefary & Joe Pepitone were overrated! Blefary: 2900 AB's & 11.0 WAR; Pepi: 5100 ABS's, 210 HR & only a 9.8 WAR. UGH!
Wow this is great footage! Old Yankee Stadium in its glory. CBS years not much footage from that era. Observations- Danny Cater plating 3rd was traded to Red Sox for Sparky Lyle. John Ellis playing first- right handed power hitter hurt by Yankee Stadium dimensions. Curt Blefary only season with Yankees after being traded for Joe Pepitone.
From 1965 until the Yankees traded for him, Curt Blefary was known as a Yankee killer...pretty ordinary player but against the Yanks he was Lou Gehrig. I think that was the big reason that the Yanks acquired him, but he was past his prime playing on a lousy team.
fscap811 The 1970 Yankees were not a lousy team. They won 93 games that season. This really was the year the Yankees became contenders again after a drought of five seasons. They were not as good as Baltimore.
rockintetster yes that was their best season since 1964 but 15 games behind the powerful Orioles team. Slid back to 500 or slightly under following season.
@@rockintetster Believe me, I know the Yankees of the 70s. I live in NY and suffered through a lot of bad teams and you are correct...the 1970 Yanks were a pretty good team, unfortunately Baltimore won 108 games that year.
@@fscap811 Too bad the American League didn't adopt the Designated Hitter in 1968 or 1969 instead of 1973. The 93-69 1970 New York Yankees might have benefited from a certain retired switch-hitter who was still only 38 in 1970 and by far still the best player on the team despite his decline...
I recently made an observation that I’m 99% sure that I’m correct about. I concluded that 1970 was the last time that two announcers were heard on television for the Yankees without at least one being a former player. On games when Whitey Ford wasn’t there and during the innings when Phil Rizzuto was working his three innings on radio, that left Frank Messer and Bob Gamere as the two on TV for that portion of the game. Neither were former players. I looked over all the possible combinations of announcers who could have worked together during parts of games on any of the TV networks that carried the Yankees over the years, and there would always have been at least one former player on. It would be like YES having Michael Kay and Ryan Ruocco be the two working a series (YES uses a different combination of two or three of their several announcers during each series throughout the season, for those not familiar) They would be the only two on, and neither are former players. I don’t think that that ever happens.
He was an average fielder, wasn't a bad average hitter, but not much power. Interestingly, Cater supposedly could hit the ball and figure out his batting average on the way to first base. At least, that's what the Yankee announcers would say.
As I remember him, he was more a 1B than 3B. I don't even remember him playing 3B for the Yankees. Their regular 3B around that time was Jerry Kenney, who wasn't exactly Mike Schmidt with the bat. Before that it was Bobby Cox. Until they got Nettles, 3B was a lost cause for the Yankees in those years.
@@RRaquello as well as murcer's short stint (check his 1969 baseball card) and mike ferraro. celerino sanchez(who claim to fame was the 1st mexican to homer as a DH) also- great pick up in Nettles!
Hey I noticed Horace Clark not wearing batting helmet in field that I remember him wearing. Cold day at Yankee Stadium judging by heavy coats worn in Yankees bullpen
It was chilly. 3:05 PM first pitch, temp of 53 at game time getting to 55 but with winds around 15 MPH making for a wind chill in the 40s. Typical early season weather.
And that I think underscores why the old Stadium needed a renovation. It was really in bad shape by then and the team wasn't drawing well, especially one year after the Mets championship.
Teams in general didn't draw sellouts for opening day at that time. Yanks also had been bad for a few years. It really wasn't until the 1980's that teams began selling out opening day.
As of April, 2020, this classic piece of NY videotape will be 50 YEARS OLD!!!!! To know that the post-'64 seasons weren't total clunkers is a good indication of what was to come. Love him or hate him, Steinbrenner made the Yankees relevant after '73. Don't believe me? Try going anywhere in the world without seeing a Yankee cap! I dare ya🇵🇷🇺🇸🤣
I’ve attended many Yankees road games, and you’re right about seeing that interlocking NY in every MLB city at least. Places I didn’t expect it ... Seattle, San Diego, D.C., Denver.
Looking at the field for this game, it shows why many teams had or were about to go to AstroTurf in new stadiums that either just opened or were opening later in 1970 and in '71. Grass fields were often very poorly maintained and it was only when Prescription Athletic Turf came into play in the 1980's did that change. This field looked like patchwork to get into usable shape to begin the 1970 season.
@@df5295 True, but this is opening day. The last previous football game with the Giants was months ago in December 1969. Winter/Spring or not, the field should have been better maintained and in far better shape. Things were different then. Come the late 70s, the fields at both Yankee and Shea stadiums were in appropriate conditions come opening day.
At the 4:45 mark, when the camera tilts down just a little, for a second i forgot the era of the game and expected the other scores to be sliding across the bottom of the screen!..LOL
It would be interesting to see if you can find a WPIX tape of Frank Howard hitting a foul ball [actually a home run] over the left field roof of Yankee Stadium during a game in 1970.
Won't ever happen. WPIX tapes were trashed during the 74 renovation. This is actually a reconstruction from a Red Sox clip reel and because I had full WPIX TV audio from a home recording I was able to replace the Red Sox announcer voices with the Yankee announcer voices in the right places on the video. It frustrates me that all that video of the 50s to late 70s is wiped out but that's sadly the hand we got dealt with and it just a miracle when even fragments manage to turn up.
@@oldiesgeek454 It wasn't my recording, but one I obtained and was able to make use of when the video fragments of this game on the Red Sox clip reel surfaced.
Will the Red Sox ever again wear the red, white, and blue stirrups? I was a kid in Cleveland but always thought those socks were the coolest thing about the Boston Red Sox.
I still have Roy's postcard from " Roy White Postcard Day" but sadly never got to collect Horaces postcard. Why those guys weren't given monuments, I'll never know.
Largely because the CBS owners wanted Joe to trim his long sideburns, get a haircut, and stop bringing his hairdryer into the clubhouse...when he refused, he was gone..
@@willdrucker4291 Probably so. In his book, Bobby Murcer also said that the owners thought Joe was a bad influence on him, which Murcer said was ridiculous.
Amazing stuff. The original Yankee stadium with the 3 monuments. In today's era the 70 Yanks would have been a wild card playoff team. And also great to see rookie of the year Thurman Munson, the Captain.
A 30 year old Yaz, pitchers hitting, the old park...simple perfection. This is 4 months before I was born. Never saw the original configuration, but saw no less than 200 games at the refurb. Thank you for uploading this!
Wow,...I saw over 100 at the old stadium....and finally visiting the new one later this season!...(saw the deciding WS games there for the Reds ('76), Dodgers ('81), and Yanks 2X ('77 & 99)
Man did I love this team as a 9 year old. Munson, Mercer and white but also a great year for fritz Peterson and lindy McDaniel. And John Ellis was going to be the next great home run hitter. Thankfully the trade with Cleveland happened. Thanks so much for the post.
I remember the Yankee announcers always called John Ellis , "BIG John Ellis".
....and Young Steve Kline was going to be the next big pitcher!
Me too. The Yankees of 1968 - 1970 were a wonderfully colorful, fun group who began the long road back to a championship during those years. The turn around began in '68 when Roy White was in his 2nd full season and lead the team in hitting with a .267 ba , 17 hrs and 20 sb's. He was the first piece of the puzzle that would eventually become the championship squad of the late 70s.
miss The Scooter & The Old Stadium so much. Growing up watching Yanks in late '60s & '70s was awesome. Loved watching Abbott & Costello and This Week In Baseball with Mel Allen before Sunday afternoon games. All the family used to gather at our house after church, because my mom used to cook enough food to feed an army.
Yankees were “Tradition” so what do they do? Level all the memories.
This sounds like my family. I grew up in Corona, Queens.
Are we related ? Cause we did same thing here in PA.
This is some of the best footage i've ever seen. Never saw the old Stadium in person, my first game as a kid was mid 80's. Thanks for sharing
Went there twice...’71 vs the A’s and VIDA BLUE, who was the best pitcher in baseball at the time....’72 vs the Orioles and MIKE CUELLAR...lost both times...but will NEVER forget being at THE STADIUM..
@@willdrucker4291
We went to a lot of games back between 68-73. Used to always sit in the right field bleachers along the fence separating the bleachers from the Yankee bullpen. You can see it in one of the shots here, when Blefary is fumbling around in the outfield. We used to try to talk to the guys in the bullpen, but they pretty much ignored us. We were just dumb little kids. Later on they roped off that section of seats so you couldn't sit along the fence. Maybe that was just in the last season, 73. But we were there for every cap day, ball day, bat day and old timer's day. If they were giving away something, we were there. One year on old timer's day they gave away records of the Mickey Mantle Day number retirement ceremony. I got one of them, but it disappeared many years ago.
@@RRaquello Oh man, the memories. I got to sit in the right field stands too sometime during that period and was immediately warned about their friendly pigeons dropping presents.
This is great footage! I was there that day. From about 1965 until around 1985 or so I attended every Opening Day. The footage in the original Stadium (I never personally considered it the same place after 1973 and this new place to me is really Yankee Stadium III) is spectacular. The scoreboard is priceless; they should have replicated it for the new building along with the dimensions (original). But the part I miss the most is how the tv and radio announcers are today. I really miss the "swapping" (not the Fritz Peterson/Mike Kekich kind, lol) between the radio booth and the tv booth. I used to pity the poor guy (usually White or Messer) that got stuck with Scooter in the 7th 8th and 9th. Bridge traffic you know. Great times!
I don't think MLB would have allowed the Yanks to return the dimensions in the new Yankee Stadium that were in the old one (before remodeling). I believe in fact the Yanks were required by MLB to make the changes they did when it was renovated.
No doubt the Stadium looked different after remodeling and capacity was reduced partially because the seats were wider. But because much of the original steel frame was used (and infamously, a piece of it fell on a seat in 1998), the configuration was basically the same. Below the stands, the clubhouses and press rooms were pretty much alike, just redecorated a couple of times.
You can see some of that in the movie "Bang The Drum Slowly," which was filmed at both Yankee and Shea Stadiums, featuring below-decks views of each. Clubhouse scenes were filmed in an auxiliary clubhouse at the original Stadium, which looked very much like it did post-remodel. Easily identifiable to those familiar with it.
How do I know this stuff? Been covering the Yankees and Mets as a reporter since 1996 and have been in the clubhouses of old and new ballparks.
@@msquaretheoriginal I have seen "Bang The Drum Slowly" a few times and its notable for being I believe the last major motion picture to be filmed in the old Yankee Stadium before the remodeling (which again, I think was insisted on by MLB to have the fences in right field pushed back with the wall higher and to take the monuments out of play).
No u didn't where's the proof? 🤔
I remember my Dad & I watching ('76-'81) the games on WPIX Channel 11 and hearing Rizzuto letting us know he was headed back to Jersey late in the game. The first time I heard that my dad got a good chuckle about it. At first I didn't get it. Then my Dad explained it to me. Rest in Peace Poppa.
Thanks for posting! Brings back wonderful memories of the original (and best) Yankee Stadium. Thank you!!
i can't believe how clear this is!!!! this is a great find...thanks for making my year!
Ahhh the good ol’ days of my childhood...New York Yankee baseball on WPIX CH 11...that beautiful stadium...a young Yankee club on the way up...and my favorite all time Yankee announcers....Bill White, Frank Messer, and “The Scooter”, Phil Rizzuto...
Bill White didn't join the broadcast team until the following season, but I agree those were always great to listen to. Scooter was in a class by himself ... truly unique and always with great enthusiasm for the game!
Mel Stottlemyre was my Favorite patches back then He won20 games 3 Times on lousy teams
Did you hear Whitey in there as well?
@@kvernon1Bill White was there in 1970.
@@jimdep6542 No he wasn't. White's first year was 1971 when he replaced Bob Gamere who was fired after just this one season.
Only thing I can say about Blefary’s fielding is…. he looks good in his uniform
THANK YOU for posting..these were "MY"Yankees..the teams that I grew up loving. BOBBY MURCER , my favorite player of all time...I wish to someday see a complete Yankee game from 1969-1973..if you can find one PLEASE POST...THANKS AGAIN.....GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Maybe someday Steve...maybe someday
Unfortunately a Yankee telecast with the Yankee announcers complete from this era isn't likely because I have read that a LOT of video material ended up getting tossed out during the time of the Stadium renovation. This particular upload I must confess is the result of taking video from a clip reel of the Red Sox announcers and because I had a home recording of the complete TV audio of this game I took out the Red Sox announcers voices and substituted the Yankee announcer voices at the points where I had extant video. There is a lot clip material of the Red Sox from this era, but Yankee television network stuff we'd have to hope someone had an early U-Matic or Cartridgevision machine. By contrast, there are HUNDREDS of Yankee radio broadcasts available from this era (the most for any local team announcers).
@@epaddon Ok, that explains it. I was wondering why video, with Yankee announcers, showed up. I've seen those Red Sox clips from a bunch of games from this era.
Mine too !! (Bobby Ray)
@@epaddon *The construction companies tossed out all of the video materials during the Stadium renovation?*
This is a touch before my time. My first Yankee game was 1971 but I was too young to remember. I do remember Bobby Murcer big # 1 on his back and the Yankee poles. (This was the original Yankee stadium) I did not follow them though till 1973. Graig Nettles and Roy White were my favorites starting in 1973 and beyond..Thank's for showing Thurman Munson batting too.
This is wonderful. The first base coach is former catcher Elston Howard. One of the classiest gentlemen ever to wear the pinstripes. Not only was he the first-ever black man to play for the Yankees, he also invented the batting doughnut!
MiketheBeerGuy I never knew Ellie invented the batting doughnut
Years later, Elston Howard was also the "barrier" between Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson in the dugout during their argument after Martin pulled Jackson off the field at Fenway Park.
Elston spent a much longer time in the minor leagues than he deserved. Yankees should have brought him up sooner and his career stats would have been better. As Sparky Lyle was to say, Elston belongs in the HOF. Great hitter, and great catcher. A true Yankee.
@@merccadoosis8847 True, Jackie Robinson was 28 when he broke in, Howard was 25 and he had the unfortunate luck of being a catcher while Yogi was there but he played both corner outfields and 1st base.
@@tomb4575 Yogi spent time playing the outfield as well at the back end of his time. After all it was Yogi at left field chasing after Maz's home run ball to end the 1960 World Series on a walk off.
I'm feeling so intrigued and nostalgic as I'm watching the footage of this game that was played five years before I was born. 1970 was even my mom's first full year living in New York. By the way, I always been so fascinated by those old Yankees greats as well as the franchises rich history and success. It's too bad that the Yankees lost the opening day game against Boston that day. Thank you for sharing this post. LET'S GO YANKEES!
Hearing Bob Shepard calling the lineup while “The Scooter” Phil Rizzuto call the play-by-play will always be remembered. So iconic figures in Yankees history.
THANK YOU sooo much for this....my favorite all time Yankee, ROY WHITE, and some rookie catcher named, THURMAN MUNSON...and of course, that beautiful stadium with the short fences, huge scoreboard, and the monuments in center...please post more if you can....👍👍👍👍
Roy White... my favorite Yankee also. Bridged the years from Mantle to Reggie. Steady. Clutch. Did it all.
I was happy for White when he finally got to be on a World Series championship team.
Oh.....I miss the days of watching baseball games on tv when the behind the plate camera was used. I'll never understand why todays televised games utilize the center field camera for 99% of the pitches thrown. The behind the plate camera angle should be used-especially-when runners are on base. Also great to hear the excitement that Phil Rizzuto brought to the broadcasts. Talk about an announcer who was into the game!
Casual fans prefer the centerfield camera.
When did the camera change from behind the plate to CF?
So viewers can see the pitch location.
I agree, they should show all thedifferent angles during game just for the sake of variety, and it's always the right side they show.
@@samuelbarrett5648I believe for the 1971 or '72 season. On national games before that I believe NBC used a centerfield camera though the Yankees and a few other teams frowned on its use because former Commissioner Ford Frick refused to allow such as I remember fearing people at home would see them and not come to the ballpark. There is an Angels-Yankees game (with Dick Enberg, then the voice of the Angels calling it) from 1972 where the centerfield camera was used.
Wow- color tv footage of the pre- renovated Yankee Stadium. Very rare! The tv announcers were Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer and Bob Gamere. Fantastic to see players like Bill Lee, Carl Yaztremski, Roy White, Thurman Munson early in their careers.
Whitey Ford is also the color commentator with Rizzuto!
great stuff.
Ford is also heard a little in the late innings with Gamere. @@rockintetster
Great to see games between Yanks-Sox before all the bad blood. I tried to explain to my son that there was a time when a Yankee-Red Sox game didn't draw any more fans than any other game. In fact, I remember that the team that me and my Yankee friends hated the most was the Baltimore Orioles as they kicked Yankee butt big time from '65 through the early 70's
fscap811 good point- I made a comment on another video that the intense RedSox/Yankees rivalry didn’t really begin until the late 70s.
This stuff is priceless!!! Thank you for posting!
I'm watching this video again, and it's always great to see Thurman Munson ! All the memories come back like opening up a flood gate. I can still feel the strong sadness when hearing about the fatal plane crash. I cried like he was a close family member.
I saw a double header in 1970 at Yankee Stadium.....Yanks and Indians. Always grateful to my dad for taking me. ( It was Roy White postcard day...still have it )
Was that the game with the folly floater
@@Salvatore1268 The folly floater game, I believe was a doubleheader. I think that was the day that Murcer hit home runs in 4 consecutive at bats. Last time up in the first game and 3 in the second. I remember the second game not being televised.
@@Salvatore1268Yes it sure was and to see that pitch from the seats we had behind 3rd bass a real thrill.
@@lancer3412 Yes, that's the game and I saw it all. God was giving me a real treat to be able to be a kid and witness that. I lived in Connecticut and didn't get to see many games, but somehow was able to be there that day with my mom and dad. BTW, I still have a box full of slides from all the pictures I took.
God I miss that stadium. I wish they would've made the new stadium look more like that one.
They did. They brought back the facade from the original park and even those field-level scoreboards WPIX showed at the end of every half-inning. The current park is meant to look more like the original park than the second one.
Totally agree! The current stadium has all the charm of an airport terminal. They had a chance to re-create one of the greatest stadiums in history and blew it...
@@msquaretheoriginal besides the facade and field level scoreboard and outward grand entrance exterior the current Yankee Stadium looks nothing like the 1923-1973 version.
@@israymervalentin-arias6313 it was never meant to be a direct copy. It was meant to feel like the old park. In some ways it does and in other ways it doesn’t.
@@msquaretheoriginal Right, but I think he was referring to the dimensions. I doubt MLB would have allowed the monuments to be in play in the new stadium like they were in the original nor would they have been allowed to have the super-short porch in right field the old stadium had with the bullpens set up as they were.
Saw the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in 1969....Best seats in the house = $4 behind the Boston dugout.
Wow ! Great spot ! My dad got us Three dollar box seats by 3rd base in 1970. Still have the ticket stubs and the game day program.
Great post. Many great memories with Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer. ( Bill White would not join the broadcast team until 1971).
The 70 Yankees got me back into the Pinstripes. Murcer. Munson. White. Ellis. Stott. They finished 93-69!
My first year as a Yankee fan! Great footage. Roy White was (and is) my favorite Yankee.
This is not gold. This film is far more precious, especially to me, since 1970 was the first year that I went to the stadium and followed every game whether on WPIX or on the radio.
Same year, Dodgers Stadium 😎 Different world. Ballparks actually had genuine character, unlike the faux semblance of yesteryear.
Same for me. I went to Bat Day and was given a Pete Ward bat. The Yankees lost a double header that day to California
AGREE !
I remember this team so well.Even though People say Spring Training means nothing, this team had an incredible Spring record that followed right into the Season. Munson was named top Rookie in the Spring. The Yankees finished with 90 wins but finished 2nd to the Powerful Orioles who were looking for redemption from losing to the Mets. The only disappointment was a Player named Curt Blefary who was suppose to bring power to the lineup...which he didn't.
Don't sell the '70 Yankees short. They won 93 games that season against 69 losses. That was their best record since 1964, their last pennant-winning year before '76. The last-mentioned squad won 97 games. In the era of division play, 93 games was good enough many (maybe not most, though) to win the division.
@@TheBrooklynbodine yes Gary. Great Season. Too bad their was no wild card then.Only Division winners..uuughh
@@eddielester3589 93 would all but guarantee a postseason slot nowadays. Actually, the 2006 Cardinals won the NL Central with an 83-78 record, so that division was weak that year. They had to win some postseason games on the road that year just to get to the World Series, but they did win it 4 games to 1 over Detroit, making them the worst team ever to win a World Series. I know it won't happen, but honestly, I'd like to see the regular season expanded (no divisions) and whoever has the best record in their league go to the World Series and alternate home field each year. If the NL has it in even-numbered years, the AL gets it in odd-numbered, or vice-versa. As far as I'm concerned, 1947 (when MLB was integrated) to 1968 was the best era for MLB.
@@TheBrooklynbodine agree
@@eddielester3589 I am glad they didn't have the wild card.
Grateful. VERY grateful.
ABSOLUTELY GREAT POST.
How I miss the days when REAL baseball was played.
Today's baseball is a complete joke.
Thank you for your time and effort for posting.
I agree. I don't pay attention to any current sports since 2018. Just enjoy the classic tv and radio broadcasts.
Rico Petrocelli was my favorite player when I was a small boy. Later I went to Mike Andrews and Jerry Moses Baseball Camp, and met Petrocelli, Yastrzemski, Moses, and Johnny Pesky.
I struck out Rico’s nephew at Marine Park in 76 to finish the only complete game that I ever pitched in Little/Senior(13-16) League.
46 years later, it’s my great sporting moment. Go Yankees!
Old Yankee Stadium!!! I wish WPIX/YES had complete games from the pre-renovated stadium. Just to see those monuments in play....
Yes has Don Larsen's perfect game except for the first inning and a half on Yankee Classics.
You never know what they have in those vaults
I also remember Horace Clarke breaking up 3 no hitters in the ninth inning during a 30 day stretch!
I remember that. I didn't remember there were all within 30 days, but I did remember him doing it multiple times that season. Trying to remember the pitchers. I believe one was Joe Niekro in Detroit. The same series where Denny Mclain made his 1970 debut after being suspended.
@@lancer3412 Jim Rooker of the Royals and Sonny Siebert of the Red Sox!!
I remember Horace Clarke participating in 3 double plays during a 30 day stretch! LOL! Yankees had a lot of 6-3 DPs those days. Thank God for 'Stick' Michael. Horace couldn't turn 'em in the clutch.
@@lancer3412 oh yeah he was always noticed for something unusual. Lol...He hung on til 1973...Sandy Alomar replaced him whew!!!lol
Then Willie Randolph took over.
And Space Man Bill Lee makes an appearance
He was a flaky one all right. I think Sparky Lyle made fun of him in his book " The Bronx Zoo".
@@jimdep6542 I'll go one further and say that Bill Lee was an ass.
Thanks for good memories....this was a good Yankees team. I'd love to see a video with Fritz Peterson pitching
i don't think i've ever seen color film of this much of a game at the pre-renovation yankee stadium. i know it was falling apart at the end. but it was gorgeous.
I must echo those sentiments thank you so much for the memories I almost have tears in my eyes watching this
The 1970 Yankees were the best Yankee team of the “Horace Clarke” years. They wound up with 93 wins and had the 4th best record in MLB that year. I thought at the time, that they had finally turned the corner. But they regressed the next year, and didn’t become serious contenders until 1976 when they finally broke through to win the pennant.
No, they were serious contenders in 1974. Weren't eliminated until the last couple days. And, in 1972, they were in it into September. Definitely not until the end, though.
Although in '72 they were in the pennant race into September with Sparky Lyle coming up with some great saves.
Anyone remember a 3rd baseman named Celerino Sanchez?
Yahhh...I have an old program from the ‘72 season....Yanks vs Orioles at THE STADIUM....whole pages dedicated to Mickey Mantle and Celerino Sanchez...good fielder...not so good hitter...was replaced the next season by some guy named GRAIG NETTLES...what memories
@@tomb4575 Yes. He wore #10.
Jerry Moses was being ambitious for a big, slow catcher, getting thrown out on the bases twice in the same game. A couple of years later he ended up playing for the Yankees. Without having to look it up, I was able to pick out Ron Hansen as one of the pinch hitters, but couldn't guess who the other was (#25, Pepitone's old number). Turns out it was Pete Ward, who was a very good player in his White Sox days, but pretty much through when the Yankees got him. He was Canadian and his father played professional hockey in the NHL for the Montreal Maroons & Canadiens in the 30's & 40's. Roy White was one of the Yankees' best players in those days, but even as a young guy he had a weak arm, and the Sox take advantage of it here.
Here is what I remember about Pete Ward his play on the 1970 Yankees. A game against the A.s and a triple he hit. Reggie Jackson threw the ball, from the 407 sign in right-center, on one hop to third base. Ward was safe, but just an unbelievable throw. 15-20 years ago I got the radio broadcast of that game. The way they described it on radio was the way I remembered seeing it in 1970, Not the entire play, but definitely the throw. Rizzuto, on radio, was like, wow.
@1:42 a young child could have hurdled the right field fence. I was fortunate to have been to the "original" Yankee Stadium once as a child before the move to Shea in '74 and then the renovation. Such a great stadium with so much character. The thing I remember most were the free telephone gizmos in the hallways where you could have picked up the receiver and heard past Yankee greats tell stories of their career in pinstripes.
Nice memory. It was actually called the Yankee Telephonic Hall of Fame located in lower deck section 23. Half the time the recordings didn't even work but it was fun listening and hanging up the phones.
R Stefanie Thanks for clarifying. I was only about 6 or 7 at the time; but I remember those phones!
Yankees Red Sox playing each other in daylight hours. Will we ever see that again?
I think in one of the shots I spotted among the audience a General Electric PE-250 camera - which WPIX used both at "the Stadium" and at their own studios from 1966-67 to c.1976.
I was there, 161st and River, with my dad. A cool breezy April day in the Bronx. Tickets $2 each. Hot dogs 25 cents. Played hooky from 2nd grade. Great day. Got Joe Dimmagio to sign my glove. He was in the legend seats with Marilyn Monroe. Rip.
What a GREAT memory ! I didn't get to go to the old stadium until 1970.
Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, this game was 1970. I feel like she probably was not in attendance.
@Noname-ni1dy she was there in spirit.
@@NoName-ge6wc well played!
wow. brings back such memories. I was 10 years old
Great footage and great memories! Did Danny Cater ever field a ground ball? Looks like he was a matador out there lol
2:45 Really bad outfield play. Watch this single get played into a triple.
I would have been just coming home from school around 3 30 from the 6th grade and I am sure that I watched the game when I got home but I do not specifically remember but I was a big Yankee fan and I never missed a game on TV back then.
Afternoon games in NY always started at 2pm back then. No way to record them either !
Only eight minutes, but all the scoring included. Cool beans!
The 1970 Yanks turned out pretty good. 93-69. But the Orioles steamrolled everyone that year.
If there had been wild card then, the Yanks would have been in the postseason and likely playing the Orioles in the ALCS if they won their an ALDS series first.
4/7/1970 Opening Day, 3pm start, Stadium shadows between home plate and pitchers mound during first few innings, Yankees lost 4 to 3 Bobby Murcer and Roy White would be the Hitting Stars that year, The Yankees would win 93 games and finish in 2nd place in the East, 15 games back of Baltimore who won 108 games and the W/S that year, Curt Blefary would come to the Yankees from the Houston Astros in a trade that sent Joe Pepitone to Houston after the 69 season. Blefary was the 1965 AL rookie of the year with Baltimore. The Yankees did have 3 annoucers that year Rizzuto, Messer and Bob Guemere, who replaced Jerry Coleman who left and went to the Padres who dtd there games for nearly 40 years, Guemere would be gone after 1 season and was replace by Bill White who announced Yankee games for the next 18 seasons, then became the President of the NL .and then the Hall of Fame Commity.
Bob Gamere did prison time for child pornography was released May, 2014
A funny story in one of Bill Maddens book about Bill White's first appearance in the booth. After being introduced by Ford, the first words sopken by the first NY african american baseball broadcaster had been"Thanks Whitey."
It got late early that day lol
I wish there was clip of the Yankees intro video from 1970. I remember it being very colorful.
Actually, I have an audio cassette of the Yankees Old Timers Day in 1970, with all the introductions. It must be TV audio because the announcer sometimes says, "as you can see in the forefront of your picture," which wouldn't be appropriate to say on radio. At the beginning there is intro music (late 60s/early 70s sounding), but I have no idea what is happening visually while the music was playing.
@@torrjpct I'm just seeing your reply for the 1st time from 3 years ago ! Sorry I missed it back then. Love to hear the audio if you ever post it. The video that went with it for the intro was pretty neat, with some of that "flower power" vibe. At least I thought it was cool when I was a kid.
@@jimdep6542 My cassette player has decided not to play cassettes, but can rewind and fast forward, so I think the cassette is ok but my player won't play it. I'll see what I can do.
Are you interested in just the WPIX intro, or would it be a good idea to just record and publish the entire OTD ceremony? I have recorded and published on TH-cam the Stengel interview from that.
@@torrjpct Sure , I'd upload all you're comfortable with. I think the OTD ceremony would be a real treat to hear again. Thanks !
@@jimdep6542 Good news, it's now scheduled to premier.
Now the 1970 team was a surprisingly good one. They gave the Orioles a run for their money that season.
Those darned Orioles with their stellar pitching back then. I'm still happy when the Yankees beat the Orioles to this day,lol!
@@GG-sy8ic Join the club.
Roy White played all games in 1970. He batted 296. 22Hr. 94RBI .
Boston pitcher Bill Lee, "The Spaceman".
gold,,,,,brings back memories
Why isn't Horace Clark's number retired?
Technically, it is.
Posada retired it. They didn't retire Bill Robinson's number 11 or Tom Shopay's numuber 27 ?
@@jimdep6542 Yes Bill Robinson had a pretty good extensive career after the Yankees traded him.I wonder how he would have done if they kept him.
@@eddielester3589 The heavy use of astro turf in the National League probably helped.
uh....well, some people call this era " The Horace Clark Era" and not meant to be a compliment. Horace never had a high average, but he sure was quick on the bases. During 1970, with the addition of Jerry Kenny, the Yankees promo people were hyping the transition of Yankee power to Yankee speed, which didn't go over with the Yankee fans very well.
My first of many many Opening Days
I was 15. Remember Celerino Sanchez?🙏🏽 Great video.
I wish I went to the 1st original stadium. Curt blefary, was a wonderful person who I met at a yankees fan festival
Yeah the field was magnificent with the auxiliary scoreboards and the monuments on the field. The seats were another story. Stadium was old with pillars in front of too many seats. Obstructed views in upper deck. But very glad to be old enough to have gone to old Yankee Stadium
My only time in the original stadium was the final Bat Day in 1973.
@@WaltGekko I've always wondered why Bat Day was discontinued. Was it because somebody hit someone with a bat in the parking lot? Or did the owners decide to cut costs?
@@oldiesgeek454 I have no idea.
Is that the late Mel Stottlemyre starting and pitching for the Yankees?
Yes it is.
Thanks.
Yes, that was him. He was getting roughed up a bit at the start wasn't he?
@@naturalthing1 Mel was one of the pitchers that you had to get him early if you had a chance. Great pitcher and classy man.
I remember him having 20-game win seasons, but he would lose almost as many games every time.
Mel was the starting pitcher for the only game I ever saw at Yankee Stadium ... Aug 9, 1972.
That was great....first year as a Yankee fan was 1966 ....the Horace Clarke yrs ...still loved these losers
Mel Stottlemyre was my favorite pitcher He won 20 games 3 tomes on lousy teams
Did whats his face at third base catch anything hit his way?
Did I hear them say it was Bill Lee’s first year in the majors?
Pretty good.
Yes...and several years before Graig Nettles tore up his shoulder at the new stadium
Yes, Bill Lee had a cup of coffee in Boston in '69. Was there to stay in '70. I remember that night when Nettles and Mickey Rivers brawled with Lee and separated his shoulder.
Did you notice how slim George Scott was in this clip? And to think Dick Williams was all over him for his weight. He did get heavier... remember when the Sox reacquired him from Milwaukee around '76 or '77? (for Cecil Cooper who flourished with the Brewers!)
Look at the end where fans are jumping on the field to exit out centerfield. A very different world.
"Past Cater" seems to be said over and over. Thank goodness Graig Nettles showed up a couple of years after.
And thank goodness they got Curt Blefary out of the outfield ~ the man was a living, breathing argument for the DH.
He was later traded to Red Sox for Sparky Lyle, bad trade for the Sox
These were some mighty lean years for the Bombers, right? Danny Cater was equally clumsy at 1st, 3rd and the outfield. Blefary? Sheesh what a disappointment.
@@chasbodaniels1744 wtf kind of a last name is Cater? He seemed like a horrible fielder. Thank heavens Nettles showed up a few years later
Dan Cater was a good hitter, poor fielder. If Gamere was announcing and Cater got a game winning hit, Gamere would exclaim, "Danny Cater and see ya later!" New York fans had some fun with that.
Where's Tony C? In right?
BTW do you have the full game? If you do can you please upload it.😀
I'm afraid not. This is all there is.
Ok thanks for the posting this vintage footage anyways.
@@epaddon Just curious, do you know the origin of these clips? I always wonder, the little stuff from this era that is out there, why was that saved. This is like some of the Red Sox games from this era that are clipped. 5 or 10 minutes of individual clips.
Notice how little the centerfield camera angle is used. Compare that to the 1977 game clips you just posted where it's pretty much the only angle.
Someone mentioned Whitey Ford, This was the first year that I really follow baseball. I distinctly remember that he did some of the games. Maybe most of the home Friday games? Also, the one year of Bob Gamere. I remember a really high scoring game. After it was over he said, if you think I'm giving you a complete recap of this game then you're crazy. Whatever, next year he was gone and Bill White was in.
There's a complicated story that explains where I got this and how it's possible for the Yankee version of this game to be available but I can't reveal it publicly.
@@epaddon Okay I understand.
Danny Cater at 3rd base is killing me.
Cya later Danny Cater was Frank Messer's call of Cater
Decent hitter but limited range at 3B.
merc cadoosis I remember him as a first baseman.
@@jamespicklehead5610
He certainly was a decent enough player. Now at age 80 enjoying a well deserved pension.
Ah, he killed me too ... but after he was traded to the Red Sox! Who did the Yankees get for him? Take a guess, then look below...
Sparky Lyle. Dominant relief pitcher. One of the worst trades the Red Sox ever made.
Does anyone remember the big fight between games of a doubleheader with the Indians? Johnny Ellis was a one man wrecking crew literally throwing Indians players through the air. Boy he was strong!
Horace Clarke and the Stick Gene Michael too.
Both players were better than what they are given credit for.
Stick was the Master of the Hidden Ball Trick
Great to see Bobby Ray again. Boy was Blefary a bust. He KILLED us when he was with Baltimore!!
Did you see Curt Blefary in right field? He misplayed two balls in this short clip. Couldn't catch a cold!
Blefary & Joe Pepitone were overrated! Blefary: 2900 AB's & 11.0 WAR; Pepi: 5100 ABS's, 210 HR & only a 9.8 WAR. UGH!
@@rev.joeobrien6672 I'll still take Pepi!
Wow this is great footage! Old Yankee Stadium in its glory. CBS years not much footage from that era. Observations- Danny Cater plating 3rd was traded to Red Sox for Sparky Lyle. John Ellis playing first- right handed power hitter hurt by Yankee Stadium dimensions. Curt Blefary only season with Yankees after being traded for Joe Pepitone.
From 1965 until the Yankees traded for him, Curt Blefary was known as a Yankee killer...pretty ordinary player but against the Yanks he was Lou Gehrig. I think that was the big reason that the Yanks acquired him, but he was past his prime playing on a lousy team.
fscap811 The 1970 Yankees were not a lousy team. They won 93 games that season. This really was the year the Yankees became contenders again after a drought of five seasons. They were not as good as Baltimore.
rockintetster yes that was their best season since 1964 but 15 games behind the powerful Orioles team. Slid back to 500 or slightly under following season.
@@rockintetster Believe me, I know the Yankees of the 70s. I live in NY and suffered through a lot of bad teams and you are correct...the 1970 Yanks were a pretty good team, unfortunately Baltimore won 108 games that year.
@@fscap811 Too bad the American League didn't adopt the Designated Hitter in 1968 or 1969 instead of 1973. The 93-69 1970 New York Yankees might have benefited from a certain retired switch-hitter who was still only 38 in 1970 and by far still the best player on the team despite his decline...
How they didn't have the foresight to preserve these games is beyond me. What's left are little treasures.
It was all about money. A reel of videotape was very expensive.
I recently made an observation that I’m 99% sure that I’m correct about. I concluded that 1970 was the last time that two announcers were heard on television for the Yankees without at least one being a former player. On games when Whitey Ford wasn’t there and during the innings when Phil Rizzuto was working his three innings on radio, that left Frank Messer and Bob Gamere as the two on TV for that portion of the game. Neither were former players. I looked over all the possible combinations of announcers who could have worked together during parts of games on any of the TV networks that carried the Yankees over the years, and there would always have been at least one former player on. It would be like YES having Michael Kay and Ryan Ruocco be the two working a series (YES uses a different combination of two or three of their several announcers during each series throughout the season, for those not familiar) They would be the only two on, and neither are former players. I don’t think that that ever happens.
And conversely, no ex-player has worked a Yankees radio broadcast since Jay Johnstone in 1990.
torrjpct Wasn't Bill White there in 1970?
No, White joined the broadcast crew in 1971.
@@epaddon Murcer and Rizzuto didn't do radio after 1990 ?
No, Rizzuto's last year on radio was 1986 (as was Murcer's). Starting in 1987, the radio crews were separate from TV.
Cater isn’t exactly nettles at third.
He was an average fielder, wasn't a bad average hitter, but not much power. Interestingly, Cater supposedly could hit the ball and figure out his batting average on the way to first base. At least, that's what the Yankee announcers would say.
As I remember him, he was more a 1B than 3B. I don't even remember him playing 3B for the Yankees. Their regular 3B around that time was Jerry Kenney, who wasn't exactly Mike Schmidt with the bat. Before that it was Bobby Cox. Until they got Nettles, 3B was a lost cause for the Yankees in those years.
@@RRaquello as well as murcer's short stint (check his 1969 baseball card) and mike ferraro.
celerino sanchez(who claim to fame was the 1st mexican to homer as a DH) also- great pick up in Nettles!
Having Blefary was a bit costly in the outfield. His drinking was taking over by this time and he was trying too hard.
RRaquello celerino Sanchez.
Hey I noticed Horace Clark not wearing batting helmet in field that I remember him wearing. Cold day at Yankee Stadium judging by heavy coats worn in Yankees bullpen
It was chilly. 3:05 PM first pitch, temp of 53 at game time getting to 55 but with winds around 15 MPH making for a wind chill in the 40s. Typical early season weather.
Great find, Ep! Meager attendance of 21,727 for opening day matinee.
And that I think underscores why the old Stadium needed a renovation. It was really in bad shape by then and the team wasn't drawing well, especially one year after the Mets championship.
Teams in general didn't draw sellouts for opening day at that time. Yanks also had been bad for a few years.
It really wasn't until the 1980's that teams began selling out opening day.
I remember watching this game with my dad
We only had 3 channels with rabbit ears. My dad drank his Narrys or Dawson s beers and we had our root beer
As of April, 2020, this classic piece of NY videotape will be 50 YEARS OLD!!!!! To know that the post-'64 seasons weren't total clunkers is a good indication of what was to come. Love him or hate him, Steinbrenner made the Yankees relevant after '73. Don't believe me? Try going anywhere in the world without seeing a Yankee cap! I dare ya🇵🇷🇺🇸🤣
I’ve attended many Yankees road games, and you’re right about seeing that interlocking NY in every MLB city at least. Places I didn’t expect it ... Seattle, San Diego, D.C., Denver.
Unless I miss my guess the other announcer was Bob Gamere
Fans go on the field at the end of the game: after a loss, on Opening Day? Was this a regular thing in 60s-early 70s?
The voice of Scooter on Ch 11. Love the color quality seen here. This will be 3 years before the Yankees goes into the hands of George Steinbrenner.
Looking at the field for this game, it shows why many teams had or were about to go to AstroTurf in new stadiums that either just opened or were opening later in 1970 and in '71. Grass fields were often very poorly maintained and it was only when Prescription Athletic Turf came into play in the 1980's did that change. This field looked like patchwork to get into usable shape to begin the 1970 season.
A lot of fields also were used for football. In September the grass was always ripped up.
@@df5295 That was the main reason, but fields also were very poorly maintained back then.
@@df5295 True, but this is opening day. The last previous football game with the Giants was months ago in December 1969. Winter/Spring or not, the field should have been better maintained and in far better shape. Things were different then. Come the late 70s, the fields at both Yankee and Shea stadiums were in appropriate conditions come opening day.
At the 4:45 mark, when the camera tilts down just a little, for a second i forgot the era of the game and expected the other scores to be sliding across the bottom of the screen!..LOL
Yeah, we’re so used to slick graphics now.
It would be interesting to see if you can find a WPIX tape of Frank Howard hitting a foul ball [actually a home run] over the left field roof of Yankee Stadium during a game in 1970.
Won't ever happen. WPIX tapes were trashed during the 74 renovation. This is actually a reconstruction from a Red Sox clip reel and because I had full WPIX TV audio from a home recording I was able to replace the Red Sox announcer voices with the Yankee announcer voices in the right places on the video. It frustrates me that all that video of the 50s to late 70s is wiped out but that's sadly the hand we got dealt with and it just a miracle when even fragments manage to turn up.
@@epaddon So you recorded the audio from the TV broadcast using a reel to reel Tape Recorder?
@@oldiesgeek454 It wasn't my recording, but one I obtained and was able to make use of when the video fragments of this game on the Red Sox clip reel surfaced.
how come in those days the pitchers mound to home plate looked wicked close on TV in yankee stadium?
I miss the original stadium.
Is this Yankees Stadium?
The best one that ever existed.
ONLY AN 8 MINUTE VIDEO, GLAD YOU DIDN'T WASTE PART OF IT SHOWING A PITCHING CHANGE
I have no control over how much video survives or not. That's what was left on the clip reel for this particular game.
I understand, I'm sorry@@epaddon
Opening day?? the stadium is empty for christ sake.
i would love to see this full game on video.
very short period when it was like this. 1970 they started to turn things around after 5 bad years
Mel Stottlemyre my favorite pitcher during that era
Yaz busting it down the line. You got a real rarity there! Longtime Red Sox fan and loved Yaz, but he was not fond of running out his ground balls.
HOLY COWWWWWWWWWWW
COOL CHANNEL. ANY FAVORITE BASEBALL PLAYERS?
So odd. Opening Day, Yankees vs Red Sox... and the place looks two thirds empty.
Do you really think they were going to catch Baltimore?
Will the Red Sox ever again wear the red, white, and blue stirrups? I was a kid in Cleveland but always thought those socks were the coolest thing about the Boston Red Sox.
Maybe once Cleveland gets the Indians back.
Is there any recognition of Roy White anywhere in Yankee Stadium? Much less Horace Clarke.
I still have Roy's postcard from " Roy White Postcard Day" but sadly never got to collect Horaces postcard. Why those guys weren't given monuments, I'll never know.
Rico Petrocelli went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run and two RBIs to lead the Red Sox. Attendance was 21,379.
Tough loss but a good game!
I was NOT happy when the Yanks traded away Joe Pepitone before the 1970 season.
Joe Pep was the greatest and funniest Yankee of all time. Period
Largely because the CBS owners wanted Joe to trim his long sideburns, get a haircut, and stop bringing his hairdryer into the clubhouse...when he refused, he was gone..
@@adm712 Agree......the guy was always entertaining. God bless his soul.
@@willdrucker4291 Probably so. In his book, Bobby Murcer also said that the owners thought Joe was a bad influence on him, which Murcer said was ridiculous.