Jan. 17, 2013

Army to host New York Yankees in exhibition contest

For the first time since 1986, head coach Joe Sottolano (left) and the Army baseball program will host a Major League team in an exhibition game.

The New York Yankees will travel to West Point to face the Black Knights on Saturday, March 30, at 2 p.m. at Doubleday Field.

Army played 85 exhibition contests against Major League teams between 1914 and 1986. The last exhibition was on May 6, 1986, as the Houston Astros blanked the Black Knights 9-0 behind home runs by Glenn Davis and Phil Garner.

The Yankees faced Army 21 times between 1927 and 1976, winning each meeting. The closest was a 1-0 contest in 1966, with the lone run scoring on a groundout by Mickey Mantle in the first. The first contest featured Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Murderers’ Row. On his final visit to Doubleday Field on June 11, 1934, Ruth launched a 500-foot home run over the right field fence. It is considered the longest ball ever hit at Doubleday Field.

Army will also host Navy in a four-game Patriot League series that weekend, with doubleheaders on March 31 at 1 p.m. and on April 1 at noon.

Doubleday Field is named after Abner Doubleday, an 1842 West Point graduate. He is credited with creating the game of baseball.

(photos courtesy of Army Media Relations Office)