NY sports history: April 5, 1913

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Friday, April 9, 1999

Yogi's homecoming

Yogi Berra returned to Yankee Stadium to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. His return ended a 14-year exile that began when he was fired as Yankees manager by George Steinbrenner just 16 games into the 1985 season. The death of Joe DiMaggio, who was scheduled to throw the first pitch until he passed away in early March, left a vacancy that Steinbrenner helped fill by meeting with Berra to apologize. Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius homered in the third inning and Chili Davis, who went 4-for-4, hit a fourth-inning grand slam as the Yankees defeated the Tigers, 12-3.