April 7, 1970: The 1st Yankee Game of My Lifetime.

Still photo from surviving footage by WPIX-Channel 11

April 7, 1970, 50 years ago: Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. This was the 1st Yankee game of my lifetime. It didn't end so well for the Good Guys, as only 21,379 came out to the big ballyard in The Bronx to see Mel Stottlemyre give up an RBI double to opposing starting pitcher Gary Peters. The Yankees lose to the Boston Red Sox, 4-3. Here's the lineup:

20 2B Horace Clarke
15 C Thurman Munson
6 LF Roy White
23 1B John Ellis
10 3B Danny Cater
1 CF Bobby Murcer
13 RF Curt Blefary
17 SS Gene Michael
30 P Mel Stottlemyre (Remember, no Designated Hitter until 1973.)

It could have been worse: The Milwaukee Brewers, the expansion Seattle Pilots in the preceding season, made their debut at Milwaukee County Stadium, and were humiliated by the California Angels, 12-0. Down the lake, at Comiskey Park, the Chicago White Sox also lost, 12-0, to the Minnesota Twins. And the Washington Senators put a 14-4 beatdown on the Detroit Tigers.

The Mets began their defense of the World Championship, and beat the Pittsburgh Pirate,s 5-3, as Donn Clendenon singled home 2 runs in the top of the 11th inning. This would be the Pirates' last opener at Forbes Field.

The Philadelphia Phillies hosted the Chicago Cubs – their last opener at Connie Mack Stadium, they hoped – and won 2-0. The Baltimore Orioles went to Cleveland and beat the Indians, 8-2. The Oakland Athletics returned to Kansas City and beat the Royals, 6-4.

And, out on the Pacific Coast, the Cincinnati Reds -- who were about to make their last opener at Crosley Field -- surprised the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-0; the Houston Astros (no known cheating) beat the San Francisco Giants, 8-5; and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves, 8-3.