Apr. 17, 1964 - It was the sort of thing that happens only in dreams — a boy’s dream of unbelievable golden future — a man’s dream of a past that never occurred.
The Mayor was there at Fenway Park, and the Governor and the junior U.S. Senator. Gene Tunney was there, and Jack Dempsey. There was Stan Musial and Fredric March and Carol Channing and the Attorney General of the United States.
The Red Sox and White Sox were all tied at 1-1 in the second inning, and Tony Conigliaro (pictured) — aged 19 years, three months, and 10 days — stepped to the plate for the first time as a major leaguer before 20,213 in his hometown.
It not only was his first time at the plate, it was the first pitch. It was delivered by Chicago’s Joel Horlen. It was a fastball out over the plate, and Conigliaro swung.
There was the boom of the bat, and the ball became a speck that soared in the April sky. It cleared the left-field fence and sailed over the net beyond — and Tony Conigliaro had hit a tie-breaking home run.
Pitcher Jack Lamabe held the lead, and the Red Sox went on to a 4-1 victory over Chicago. And, for the first time in nine long seasons, the Red Sox had won both their openers, both abroad and at home.
“I had no intention of hitting that first pitch,” said Tony after the game, “unless it was a good one. When they throw that first one in there, which he did, I’ll go after it.”
He saw only two fastballs the rest of the afternoon. “I never saw a knuckler like those [Hoyt] Wilhelm throws,” he grinned. “They go everywhere. I couldn’t hit him. I kept waiting for one to straighten out, but it never did.”
Conigliaro’s parents and two brothers were in the grandstand rooting for him, while many of his former school teammates and pals were in the bleachers. “I heard them yelling to me,” he admitted, “but I couldn’t turn around and talk to them.”
Stage and screen star Fredric March threw up his hands in glee when Conigliaro hit his big homer. This was nothing to what it did to Tony’s father, Salvatore, or his mother, Teresa, and his girlfriend, Julie Markarkis of Lynn. Or to Rev. Richard G. Johnson, who used to be athletic director at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn when Tony was a student there.
“Tony’s a good boy,” said Rev. Johnson. “He was gifted by God with a touch of genius for baseball. I see him as another Al Kaline or Harry Agganis.”
After more than two months in spring training and a big home opener, Tony headed home to Swampscott tonight for a big, home-cooked Italian dinner. “Spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli, and chicken,” he said happily.
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