Don Weeks
(Nov. 23, 1938 - Mar. 11, 2015)
When my father was born in 1938, the Yankees were finishing up a run of four consecutive world championships. He vividly remembered the teams of the late-'40s/ early-'50s and would regale me with stories of their on-field adventures. Though I began my formative years as a fan of Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine," I was officially converted in 1976 when my father took me to Yankee Stadium for the first time. I still remember the smell of hot dogs and beer, the shouts of refreshment vendors hawking their wares, the row of billboards lining the facade in center field (among them ads for Brut cologne and Marlboro cigarettes). Most of all, I remember my father's passion as he told me about the exceptional men who had worn pinstripes over the years. Though I was only eleven at the time, I left the stadium with a vague notion that the game of baseball is a metaphor for life itself--how some men rise to the occasion while others wilt in the spotlight. Throughout my childhood and into my adult years, my father was one of the heroes. He taught me about courage, perseverance and fair play. He led by example--especially during his twilight months when he endured the loss of his beloved wife (my Mom) while fighting bravely through chemotherapy and radiation. Even as he lay dying, his body ravaged by an insidious disease known as Merkle Cell Cancer, he had a kind word for everyone who entered the room. When words eventually eluded him, he offered smiles instead.
In honor of this great man, I would like to share the boxscore from the first game we attended together.
Game Played on Saturday, June 26, 1976 (D) at Yankee Stadium I
MIL A 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 3 5 0 NY A 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 x - 6 11 2
BATTING
Milwaukee Brewers AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Joshua cf 4 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Money 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Scott 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 7 0 Carbo rf 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 Hegan dh 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Lezcano lf 2 0 0 0 2 1 4 0 Yount ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 Porter c 3 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 Heidemann ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Johnson 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 G. Thomas ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Slaton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Austin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Totals 33 3 5 3 2 3 24 5
FIELDING - DP: 1. Austin-Yount-Scott.
BATTING - HR: Carbo (4,6th inning off Figueroa 1 on 1 out). SH: Carbo (1,off Figueroa). Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING - SB: Lezcano (6,2nd base off Figueroa/Hendricks).
New York Yankees AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Rivers cf 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 White lf 3 1 1 1 0 0 6 0 C. May dh 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 Chambliss 1b 4 0 3 2 0 0 9 0 Nettles 3b 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 Gamble rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 Hendricks c 3 1 1 2 0 1 4 0 Randolph 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 5 Mason ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Velez ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Stanley ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Figueroa p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lyle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 32 6 11 6 2 4 27 7
FIELDING - DP: 1. Chambliss. E: Rivers (4), Randolph (10).
BATTING - 2B: Rivers (15,off Slaton); Chambliss (10,off Slaton). 3B: C. May (1,off Slaton). HR: Hendricks (2,6th inning off Austin 0 on 1 out). SF: Hendricks (1,off Slaton); White (6,off Austin). HBP: C. May (2,by Slaton). GDP: Hendricks (1,off Austin). Team LOB: 7.
PITCHING
Milwaukee Brewers IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Slaton L(8-6) 4.2 5 4 4 2 3 0 22 Austin 3.1 6 2 2 0 1 1 15 Totals 8 11 6 6 2 4 1 37
HBP: Slaton (5,C. May).
New York Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Figueroa W(9-4) 8 5 3 2 2 2 1 33 Lyle SV(13) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Totals 9 5 3 2 2 3 1 36
Umpires: HP - Greg Kosc, 1B - Nestor Chylak, 2B - Jim Evans, 3B - Joe Brinkman
Time of Game: 2:27 Attendance: 29395
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