Back to Roger inducted

On Saturday 10/4/80 Mohawk Valley area baseball fans flocked to Yankee Stadium in numbers to see St. Johnsville’s Roger Weaver makes his first start in the Yankee Stadium as a major leaguer pitcher with the Detroit Tigers. 

It was an important game for the Yankees – they were bidding to clinch their fourth American League East title in five years. 

• The Yankees take a 1-0 lead in the first inning
• Weaver gets out of the inning without additional trouble
• The Tiger’s tie it up in the third
• Roger was giving the local fans an outstanding performance
• Then the Tiger’s go ahead in the fourth
• Roger has the home town team swinging fruitlessly at his fast ball and slider
• Then comes the fifth inning
• There are two outs
• And two men on base
• Up comes Mr. October (Reggie Jackson) to bat
• Roger throws 2 balls
• Then Roger throws a strike  
• Roger throws another ball
• The count is 3-1
• Then Roger hung a curve ball high
• And Reggie swings………………………………
• It’s a three run homer
• Yankees win the 1980 American League East Title

LOCAL BOY MAKES HISTORY – ON A VISIT TO HIS HOME TOWN ST. JOHNSVILLE  SHORTLY AFTER THE 10/4 EPISODE.  HIS HOMETOWN FANS FONDLY  PRESENTED HIM WITH “REGGIE” CANDY BARS! 

AFTER THE GAME DETROIT MANAGER SPARKY ANDERSON INDICATED THAT ROGER WILL BE IN THE STARTING ROTATION AS A MEMBER OF THE TIGER MOUND STAFF IN 1981.