April 7, 1977 - Yankees 3, Brewers 0

NEW YORK - Catfish Hunter was brilliant as he shut down the Brewers on three hits over seven innings before giving way to Sparky Lyle who completed the shutout victory. Hunter struck out five, walked none, and spent his down time in the dugout watching his old buddy from the Oakland Athletics, Reggie Jackson, rap out two hits and score two runs in his much-anticipated Yankee debut.

“It’s nice to go into the clubhouse knowing you have some runs; I’d hate to pitch against this club,” said Hunter, who sadly wouldn’t be pitching against anyone for the next month. He left the game only because he was hit on the foot by a line drive, and he would end up going on the disabled list and would be absent until the first week of May.

Both Hunter and Jackson had come up in the A’s organization and were instrumental in Oakland becoming the first team since the 1949-53 Yankees to win at least three world championships in succession, doing so from 1972 thru 1974. But then along came free agency, and A’s owner Charlie Finley could in no way compete with George Steinbrenner, so Hunter became the first big-name player to come to New York under the new system.

Jackson bolted for Baltimore in 1976, but one year in that dumpy park and small market was enough for him, so he made the big splash of 1977, signing what was then a record five-year, $2.96 million (or thereabouts) deal.

Finally, Jackson was on Broadway, right where he always thought he should be. Here's a link to a Daily News story on the signing, and a classic Reggie quote within that story.

“I’ll be in the World Series next year, either as a player or as an announcer for ABC. I don’t think I’ll be announcing.”

This was Jackson’s first game in pinstripes, and whether his new teammates liked him or not - no comment from catcher and captain Thurman Munson - there was no denying Reggie brought a new dimension to New York, and the fans roared with delight when he was introduced in the pre-game ceremonies, and chanted “Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!” throughout the day. “You smile inside,” Jackson said of the reception. “You feel secure, you feel comfortable. With fans like that, all I have to do is keep my cool and pop one in the air and they’ll go crazy."

Another notable debut was that of Jimmy Wynn, the aging designated hitter who had spent his entire career in the National League before coming to the Yankees in the offseason. In his first game, Wynn ripped a mammoth 450-foot home run to dead center off losing pitcher Bill Travers in the second inning, producing the Yankees first run of the season.

“I can’t remember when I won the first game of the season,” Billy Martin said. He actually won season openers in 1972 and 1973 with Detroit, and he won his debut as Yankee manager two-thirds of the way through 1975 when he replaced Bill Virdon. But Martin was expected to win now, especially with this team as all 10 Yankees who started the game had played in at least one All-Star Game. Can money buy a championship? Clearly, Steinbrenner was trying to find out.

The Yankees had a day off April 8, so no blog tomorrow. See you again April 9.

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