Opening Day 1967 - Nez

 People who know me know that I love baseball. Growing up my favorite major league players included Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Whitey Ford, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, Bob Feller, Stan Musial, Don Newcombe, Roberto Clemente, and Roy Campanella plus several more. Of course, my Lyman neighbor, Niles Jordan was my childhood sports hero. He was a lefty and pitched a little for the Phillies and Indians.

I have seen a lot of baseball games, on tv and in person, but I have only been fortunate enough to attend one, just one, Major League Opening Day game. That was on Monday, April 10, 1967, at D.C. Stadium (renamed RFK Stadium). My day was made. The Washington Senators were hosting the New York Yankees. The marquee players for the visiting Yankees were Mickey Mantle, Mel Stottlemyre and Joe Pepitone. The marquee players for the hometown Senators were Frank Howard and uh… that’s pretty much it. Well, Eddie Brinkman …maybe. Nah. Just Frank Howard. The starting pitchers were Mel Stottlemyre for the Yankees and Darold Knowles for the Senators.

I remember several things about that day, but not much about the game. Two days before Opening Day I won two tickets to the game in a drawing at the NCO club. I called my sergeant and got Monday off. I went to the game by myself. Everybody else had to work. But I didn’t care. I was going to see my all-time favorite major leaguer, Mickey Mantle play, even if it was at first base, not in center field. Mickey and Frank Howard chatted and shook hands near home plate during warm-ups before the game. That was thrilling. And then every single player and manager for both teams was introduced.

I was in a mezzanine level box with twelve seats just above first base. Twelve box seats and I was the only occupant. The game finally started. The box to the left of me was empty. Then a tall man in an overcoat suddenly appeared behind me and stated that he was Secret Service and was with the Vice President. I thought, “What!” and I asked if I needed to move. He said, “No you stay where you are Nesmith. Please don’t bother him though.” Huh? “I do possess an Unlimited Security Clearance, that must have been how he knows who I am”. Moments later, while the Yankees were batting, VP Hubert H. Humphrey entered the box next to me. I stood. He made eye contact, smiled and reached out and we shook hands. He sat down just four seats from me, about six feet away and said, “enjoying the game young man?” “Yes, sir,” I smiled and sat down. There was only a metal railing between us. I wondered if he knew who I was. Probably not.

I noticed the VP and his six-man detail all wore dark heavy overcoats. It was a warm, sunny day. I wondered how hot they were and how fast they could draw their weapons in those heavy coats. I thought to myself I would help if they needed me. They didn’t. And I wasn’t armed anyway.

I never spoke another word. In the fourth inning the VP got up and shook my hand again and said, “I have meetings” and wished me “all the best.” Then as he was leaving an announcement was finally made over the PA system that he was there. The game stopped momentarily as the crowd stood and applauded and he waved. Then he was gone. I turned to find that my own Secret Service agent was gone also. So surreal.

Hey, I was a nobody in the Army and the Vice President of the U.S. was sitting with me watching a baseball game. How crazy is that?! This sort of thing just does not happen. It was so, so, so surreal.

Anyhow, back to the game. Stottlemyre pitched a complete game two-hitter. Yankees won 8-0. Mickey got a hit, a walk, scored a run, and didn’t play after the fourth inning. Frank Howard grounded out, flied out and struck out.

It was actually a pretty great day. When they get the chance every baseball fan should attend at least one Opening Day in their life. I hear they’re quite the spectacle. I need to go to Opening Day again. Perhaps a less daunting one.

Talk about surreal!