April 20, 1912
The 1912 Boston Red Sox couldn't have picked a better way to christen their new ballpark.
Built on his own land in the Fenway section of Boston, John Taylor, moved his Boston Red Sox from the Huntington Avenue Grounds, which they leased, to Fenway Park in 1912. The new stadium was built specifically for the Red Sox.
The season opener was delayed two days by rain and when the New York Highlanders (who later became known as the Yankees in 1913) touched up starter Buck O'Brien for three runs in the top of the first, the "Fenway Faithful" numbering 27,000 must have been praying for more rain that Saturday afternoon. But the Home Town Team didn't disappoint their fans as they cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom half of the first.
The Highlanders got to O'Brien again in the third inning for two more runs improving their lead to 5-1. But the Sox wouldn't quit. As O'Brien was replaced by Charley Hall in the fourth, the Sox started to heat up. They tagged New York for three runs in the fourth, added another in the sixth and traded runs in the eighth.
The game was knotted at six after nine innings.
Second baseman Steve Yerkes, who put up an impressive 5-for-6 performance batting No. 2, got into scoring position in the 11th inning. Tris Speaker ended the three hour and 20 minute game by knocking in Yerkes for a 7-6 victory. The big win was kept off the front page due to the sinking of the Titanic.
The 1912 Red Sox went on to post their best record ever: 105-47, (a mark which stands today). They also beat the New York Giants that year in the first true World Series match of the National and American League champions.
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