The date was April 9, 1965.
The place was the Houston Astrodome (the proclaimed Eighth Wonder of the World).
47,876 excited fans jammed into the Astrodome to watch the fist indoor major league baseball game as the Houston Astros took on Mickey Mantle and the New York Yankees. Yankee manager Johnny Keane gave Mickey Mantle the honor of being the first batter in the game.
In addition to being the first batter, Mickey also had the first hit (single) and the first home run ever hit indoors in a game between two major league teams.
The Astros won the game 2-1 in 11 innings on a two out single by pinch hitter Nellie Fox.
The ‘million dollar’ Astrodome scoreboard errupted with sight and sound when an Astro homered. When an opponent homered, such as Mickey, it displayed TILT!
Every few innings, the Astro grounds crew, dressed as spacemen, ran out onto the infield and dusted the bases and picked up trash. The above cartoon is two frames from the animated cartoon, that ran on the centerfield scoreboard, depicting two such spacemen fencing over a stray piece of trash.
Whenever the Astros started a rally, Chester Charge would appear on the centerfield scoreboard riding an boat, rocket, motorcycle, buffalo or even an elephant as the bugle played and the crowd roared CHARGE!!!
Mickey Mantle was a much loved baseball player, typically humble about his hitting abilities and not the boastful type when it came to claiming records or distance. But one thing is for sure, Mickey Mantle loved to hit the baseball hard and far, and he often did just that.
Even though I was a Dodger fan as a kid in the 50;s, I always pulled for Mickey. Of the four great center fielders at that time – Mickey Mantle, Duke Snider, Willie Mays and Larry Doby – Mickey was my favorite. He always me proud to be an Okie. As did Warren Spahn and, later, Johnny Bench.
Mickey saved me from becoming a juvenile delinquent. I listened to every game I could and lived and died on every swing he took. He was – and still is – my hero.
I Started To Realize Who Mickey Mantle Was Around 1952 Or 1953. I Was Only 4 Or 5 When My Father Told Me About Him. I Went To Many Yankee Games In The 50s And 60s And Saw Mickey Play Many Many Times.I Always Loved Ny Hero The MICK!!. The Greatest Player Of All Time!!
The Yankees and Astros were in different leagues. This was an exhibition game, part of Spring Training. The Astros started their regular season on April 12. I suppose Mickey did hit the first home run there, but does it count since it was not in the regular season?