Clearing the yard in Detroit

Ted Williams batting in the seventh inning at Detroit on May 4, 1939

Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams plays his first game at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium 85 years ago today and, in his third at-bat there, becomes the first player to clear the right-field roof there.

That homer is Williams’ second in a game the Red Sox eventually win 7-6 before a Thursday afternoon crowd of 5,550.

The first homer comes in the fourth inning, a two-run shot to right-center off Tigers starter Roxie Lawson to cut Detroit’s early 4-0 lead to 4-2.

Detroit’s Bob Harris

The Red Sox then rally for five runs in the fifth inning with the final three coming on Williams’ second homer.

That one clears the right-field roof and surely strains the neck of Detroit pitcher Bob Harris, who just moments before enters the game in relief of the beleaguered Lawson.

Harris promptly falls behind 3-0 in the count before Williams sends the next pitch, a fastball, up and over Detroit’s upper deck, which rises 120 feet above right field.

Williams nearly accomplishes the feat in his first at-bat, leading off the second inning and pulling one of Lawson’s pitches high and deep down the right-field line before that drive hooks foul. Williams then flies out to Barney McCosky in deep center field.

The homers later off Lawson and Harris are the second and third of the season for Williams, who prior to this game has one homer in his first eight games in the majors.

In the seventh inning, Williams flies out to Pete Fox in right-center to end his final at-bat 85 years ago today.

Williams ends up hitting 521 homers during a Hall of Fame career that lasts until 1961.

The total would be far greater if not for Williams missing three full seasons to serve in World War 2 from 1943-45 and then missing all but 43 games over two more seasons to serve during the Korean War in 1952-53.