Heck, Tuffy Rhodes' three home runs for the Cubs made the package. But, my favorite Opening Day moment probably wasn't even on the mind of the folks at ESPN.
April 10, 1980. Brewers vs. Red Sox at Milwaukee County Stadium.
JSOnline.com still has something in their Brewer scrapbook about that game.
Lezcano's slam capped emotional opener in 1980
Excitement was already guaranteed because it was opening day for a Milwaukee Brewers team that was coming off two straight seasons with more than 90 victories. The Brewers had become contenders in the American League East under manager George Bamberger, and there were high expectations for "Bambi's Bombers" as 53,313 fans filled the stadium for the game against Boston.
The Bombers didn't disappoint anyone that day. Sixto Lezcano capped things off with a ninth-inning grand slam -- his second home run of the day and the team's fifth -- that gave the Brewers a 9-5 victory.
But there was something missing, too: Bambi himself.
The manager had suffered a heart attack and undergone bypass surgery in March, and he was recuperating at his Florida home as interim manager Buck Rodgers ran the team. But in a poignant prelude to the game, Bamberger appeared on the scoreboard video screen -- making its debut that day -- to assure the Brewers and their fans that he he would be back by June.
"I'd like to thank the fans," the 54-year-old manager said as the crowd fell silent. "I'd like to wish the ballplayers much success. . . . We've got very capable coaches who know their business."
And then, in a classic Bambi moment, he said, "So sit back, enjoy the game and have a beer on me."
I miss Bambi.
The Brewers trailed 3-0 early as the Red Sox knocked Jim Slaton around a bit. But, the Crew tied the game on a solo home run by Ben Oglivie and a two-run homer by Sixto Lezcano. Later in the game, Paul Molitor and Don Money homered and it was 5-3 Brewers. Slaton cruised until the ninth inning.
That was when Carl Yastrzemski and Butch Hobson both homered for the Sox to tie the game 5-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Molitor started out with a walk. Cecil Cooper sacrificed him to second, but with two out Molly was still at second. The Sox chose to walk Oglivie intentionally to get to a Dick Drago vs. Gorman Thomas matchup. Thomas coaxed a walk to set the stage for Lezcano.
"I was just thinking some way, somehow to get that run across the plate," he said. "I was trying to hit the ball where they couldn't catch it, and that's hard."
Not this time. Drago threw a fastball, low and away, and Lezcano belted it deep to right. He was still a couple of strides from first base when he threw his hands up in triumph as the ball sailed over the wall.
"I thought I was going to have a stroke," he said amid the clubhouse celebration. And then he lifted a can of beer and said, "This is for Bambi."
The Opening Day slam was nothing new for Lezcano. He had hit one in 1978 for the Brewers. To this day, I don't think Lezcano has to buy a beer when he visits Milwaukee.
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