Opening day at the House that Private Ruth Built
On this day in 1923, a newly built Yankee Stadium – nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built” hosted its first game. Over 74,000 fans packed the stands to watch the New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. Taking the field were several military veterans of World War I.
Red Sox leftfielder Joe Harris fought in France with the 320th Infantry Regiment (alongside future Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Johnny “Big Serb” Miljus) and was gassed. Boston shortstop Chick Fewster, who went 0-3 but reached first after being hit by a pitch, served in the Merchant Marine during World War I.
On the mound for the Yankees was “Sailor Bob” Shawkey, who struck out five Red Sox during his nine innings. The hurler served aboard the battleship USS Arkansas and witnessed the surrender of the German fleet. His opponent was Red Sox’ 20-game winner Howard Ehmke, who missed the 1918 season while serving in the Navy on a West Coast submarine base.
Although he didn’t serve during the Great War, Babe Ruth – who hit a homerun and drove in three of the Yankee’s four runs – would join the New York National Guard in 1924, serving in the 104th Field Artillery Division. Centerfielder “Whitey” Witt – 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored – also served in the Army.
Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert – who enlisted in the New York National Guard’s 7th Regiment in 1886, ultimately reaching the rank of colonel and serving as aide-de-camp to the governor – paid for the ballpark himself. Prior to the 1923 season, the Yankees shared the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants, who defeated the Yankees in the last two straight World Series.
Ruppert and former co-owner Tillinghast L’Hommedieu “Cap” Huston bought the Yankees in 1915 for just $480,000. Huston served in the 16th Regiment of Engineers (Railway) as a captain during the Spanish- American War and later as a colonel when the outfit went to France for World War I. Prior to the 1923 season, Huston sold his share of the Yankees to Ruppert for $1.5 million.