The first and only major league baseball game that my dad ever took me to was in the summer of 1952, the New York Yankers visiting the Detroit Tigers. It was a Saturday afternoon game, July 26th.
Mickey Mantle hit a grand slam home run in the first inning. I'd swear it went way back and up in straight-away centre field, but the information from Baseball Reference says it went to left field. If so, it must have been to the upper deck. I remember people around us groaning and oohing and ahhhing all at the same time. And I seem to recall a sort of resigned look on my dad's face.
After that, Detroit pitcher Ted Gray settled down and allowed only two more Yanker runs the rest of the game. Meanwhile the Tigers hit pretty well and managed to tie up the game by the bottom of the 8th inning.
Neither team scored in the 9th or 10th innings. Detroit had a chance to win it in the bottom of the 10th. The bases were loaded with 2 out and slugger Walt Dropo at the plate, but to the dismay of everyone around us, he fouled out to the shortstop to end the inning.
Ted Gray continued pitching for the Tigers and put the Yankers down 1-2-3 in the top of the 11th. I guess pitchers did things like that back then.
In the bottom of the 11th after Groth grounded out, Mapes walked and then Ginsberg doubled, but Mapes couldn't score to end the game. With runners at 2nd and 3rd, the Yanks issued an intentional pass to Kolloway, presumably to set up a force out at home or maybe a double play. I remember my dad (who must not have had a lot of baseball knowledge, which now surprises me) saying, "Why are they walking him? He's not very good."
Ted Gray was due up next, but the Tigers decided he'd had enough and sent Steve (Bud) Souchock to the plate. He hit a long fly ball that barely cleared the LF fence. Grand Slam!
Even if it hadn't been a home run, the Tigers would have scored, but it was SO exciting to be there, to see the home team (sort of -- I grew up in Michigan and was an early Tiger fan) win. I know my dad was really excited, too.
What a great memory, all spurred by some discussions on FB of Virgil Trucks' pitching two no-hitters for Detroit that season.
Digression: Detroit was horrible that season, winning only 50 and losing over 100 games. Aside from winning the two no-hitters he pitched, Trucks went 3-17 in his remaining decisions.