NEW YORK (AP) The Who weren’t on first, they were in deep center field, and more than 70,000 people went to Shea Stadium to hear them Tuesday night.

The Who, the acclaimed 18-year-old British rock group currently on an American tour announced as its final one, was playing the first of two concerts on a clear, mild night.

Everyone seemed to feel excitement and fun and, even more, a joyful sense of community and belonging. A great many left reserved seats to join the standees, milling around near home plate or crowding close together nearer the stage.

However, the good feelings were marred somewhat by injuries to 76 people, including three policemen. Eighteen people were taken to hospitals.

The sound system was good. Roger Daltry, wearing what looked like a beige silk suit and white shirt with collar turned up, said, “The Beatles wore a suit so I got a suit.” Then he sang, “Behind Blue Eyes” and the audience sang along.

The audience sang along on several others also, loudest on “Pinball Wizard” and “See Me, Feel Me,” from the rock opera “Tommy,” composed by Who lead guitarist Peter Townshend.

The long show included songs from all phases of the Who’s career, including several from the new album, “It’s Hard.”

Forty-foot high letters, WHO, extended across the outfield. The H, wide like a football field goalpost, made the sides and roof of the stage. Above the crossbar of the H was a screen that looked like the movie screen at a drive-in. From a three-level, lighting structure on the pitcher’s mound, Who members were photographed in close-up. The seconds-delayed video was seen by the audience on the screen.

The Beatles played twice from a little stage on second base at Shea Stadium, in 1965 and 1966. Grand Funk Railroad played on a little stage on the pitcher’s mound, in the rain, in 1971. The last rock group at Shea was Jethro Tull in 1976.

The Who are the first to play Shea two nights in a row and the first to sell tickets for the field.

The evening began, for the 20,000 fans who were already there, with a set by David Johansen Band at 7 p.m. The Clash, the most successful survivor of the British punk rock bands, was the official opening act.

The Who tour began Sept. 22 and runs, after 20 concerts in 16 cities, through Sunday. Then, after a holiday in England, the second leg goes from the day after Thanksgiving through mid-December. Townshend has said that there may be a few concerts in Europe before the Who disbands.

The Rolling Stones didn’t say their 1981 American tour was their last but some fans wanted to see them, thinking it probably would be. The Who says this is its last tour and some think they’ll be back.

Who concerts are selling out — in a year when some well-known rock performers are playing smaller halls and still not selling out. The tour is expected to gross more than the Rolling Stones’ 1981 tour, the biggest money-making tour in rock history.