Yankees Opening Day: From Mantle to Jeter The Yankees open this season against the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx on April 1- the same day, and same hour, as the Mets at home. The Yankees have had their share of good and bad moments on opening day, whether at Yankee Stadium or on the road. Share your favorite, or least favorite, Yankees opening day memories in the comments below. APRIL 10, 1962 The Yankees open their 40th season, with Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle homering in a victory against Baltimore. APRIL 16, 1964 Yogi Berra makes his debut as the manager in a loss to Boston at Yankee Stadium. APRIL 12, 1965 Before the Minnesota Twins beat the Yankees in 11 innings, four Twins players, including starting pitcher Jim Kaat, are airlifted by helicopter across the flooding Minnesota River to a parking lot of Municipal Stadium. APRIL 10, 1967 Mantle starts a game at first base for the first time in his career, but he has to leave with an injury in the third inning of a rout over the Senators in Washington. APRIL 6, 1973 Ron Blomberg of the Yankees becomes the first designated hitter (he walks with the bases loaded), but it's the Red Sox who do the hitting, collecting 20 hits in a 15-5 rout in Boston. APRIL 6, 1974 The Yankees open in their temporary home, Shea Stadium, with a victory against Cleveland. APRIL 8, 1976 Hank Aaron, playing in his last season opener, drives in three as the Brewers defeat the Yankees in Milwaukee. APRIL 7, 1977 Reggie Jackson makes his Yankees debut with two singles and two runs in a win over the visiting Brewers. APRIL 3, 1984 Yogi Berra, below right, starts his second tour as Yankees manager in a loss at Kansas City. APRIL 8, 1985 The Yankees lose in Boston as baseball's skinniest pitcher, 145-pound Oil Can Boyd beats baseball's oldest pitcher, 46-year-old Phil Niekro. APRIL 8, 1986 Lou Piniella wins his debut as the manager - the 14th manager in the 14-year ownership of George Steinbrenner. APRIL 4, 1989 Tommy John, pitching in his 26th and final season, leads the Yankees to a victory at Minnesota. APRIL 2, 1996 Derek Jeter hits his first major league home run and David Cone earns the victory against the Indians in Cleveland. APRIL 1, 1998 The Yankees lose to the Angels on the road and are 1-4 after five games, in a season they finish with a 114-48 record. APRIL 2, 2001 Roger Clemens becomes the American League career leader in strikeouts with 3,509 when he strikes out five in a victory over visiting Kansas City. MARCH 30, 2004 Alex Rodriguez makes his Yankees debut as Tampa Bay defeats the Yankees in Japan. Rodriguez goes 1 for 4 with a double and two strikeouts. APRIL 1, 2008 The Yankees beat Toronto to win their final opener at the old Yankee Stadium, as Joe Girardi makes his managerial debut. APRIL 6, 2009 C. C. Sabathia, who takes the loss, and Mark Teixeira, who goes 0 for 4, make their Yankees debut in a loss at Baltimore. Sources: Baseball-Reference.com; The New York Times