Stanton and Maris: 2 homers in opening day first Yankee game.

In 1960 the Washington Senators started the season a day early with the President of the United States throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, a tradition started in 1910 by William Howard Taft, after whom Willie Mays was named: Willie Howard Mays. In 1960 Dwight Eisenhower was in his eighth and final year as president and Ike threw out the first pitch for the seventh time, having been replaced by Vice President Richard Nixon in 1959. In 1969 Nixon threw out the first pitch in his first year as president with new Senators manager Ted Williams beside him.

In 1960 the Senators hosted the Boston Red Sox in the final season as a player for 42 year old Ted Williams.

Monday, April 18, 1960
Start Time: 1:33 p.m. Local
Attendance: 28,327
Venue: Griffith Stadium
Game Duration: 2:20
Day Game, on grass
Senators 10, Red Sox 1

HR: Ted Williams (1, off Camilo Pascual, 2nd inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep CF).

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	BF	GSc	IR	IS	WPA	aLI	RE24
Camilo Pascual, W (1-0)	9	3	1	1	3	15	1	1.00	33	89			0.118	0.37	3.5

The next day in Boston the Red Sox hosted the New York Yankees. Leading off for the Yankees was their new right fielder, 25 year old Roger Maris. Maris reached base 5 of 6 times: 2 HR, 2B, 1B, BB.

Tuesday, April 19, 1960

Start Time: 1:35 a.m. Local

Attendance: 35,162

Venue: Fenway Park

Game Duration: 3:02

Night Game, on grass

Yankees 8, Red Sox 4

HR: Roger Maris 2 (2, 1 off Tom Brewer, 5th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to RF, 1 off Ted Bowsfield, 8th inn, 0 on, 1 out to RF).

HR: Ted Williams (2, off Jim Coates, 8th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to RF).

The Yankees were leading 2-1 through 4 and scored 4 in the 5th inning. Maris was the second batter in the 5th and he hit a 2 run HR making it 4-1. His second homer in the 8th made it 8-2.

Roger Maris hit 100 home runs in his first two Yankee seasons. He was voted American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) in both those seasons and he broke the season home run record with 61 in 1961.

In 2017 Giancarlo Stanton hit the ninth most home runs in a season: 59 for the Miami Marlins. Stanton was voted National League MVP. During the off season Stanton was traded to the Yankees.

Yesterday the Yankees opened their 2018 season in Toronto Canada, playing the Blue Jays, who held a ceremony for their former pitcher Roy Halladay (1988-2013), who died 11/7/17 in a plane crash. Present were Halladay's widow and children. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays played some incredibly inappropriate and loud music during the Halladay event, as if it were a party.

Stanton made his Yankee debut much as Maris had 59 years before: 3 for 5: 2 HR, 2B. Batting third Stanton hit a two run homer in the top of the first inning to RC. In the 5th Stanton doubled to LC driving in Aaron Judge. In the 9th Stanton hit a long home run to center.

Both Maris and Stanton had 4 RBI. Two homers on opening day in their very first games with the New York Yankees.