One of Boston’s biggest days is almost here—the Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park. Take a look at photos of past years.

Harold Campbell and his son Nicholas, 4, of Quincy showed off their caps on the way to the home opener at Fenway.

Fenway Park opened to its first major league game with an 11th inning 7-6 Boston win over The New York Highlanders (they would be renamed the Yankees the next year). Tris Speaker hit a single to drive home Steve Yerkes from third base.

The World Champion New York Yankees eked out a 10th inning 6-5 victory to spoil the opening day game for 20,000 intrepid rooters at Fenway. The Red Sox had the tying run on third in the bottom of the 10th when Bobby Doerr flied out to end the game.

Twelve year old Bobby Tingle of Cambridge scrambled up the screen behind home plate to retrieve a baseball that had been caught on a wire at the top of the screen. Chief Umpire Bill Haller was waiting for him when he climbed down and turned him over to officials who called his parents to come get him. To make matters worse, Bobby didn't even get the ball. The Red Sox officials took it away.

Early fans lined up for bleacher seats on opening day. Remaining bleacher seats were available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 1968 Red Sox line up for the National Anthem before the start of the game. The final score, Detroit 9, Boston 2 was a disappointment for the crowd of 32,849, the largest in eight years for a Fenway opener.

32,563 fans cheered the Red Sox on to victory over the Baltimore Orioles in their 1956 American League opener. Ted Williams slammed two doubles to left and a single to center to foil the shift put on by the Orioles. Righthander Frank Sullivan fired an 8-hitter to give the Red Sox an 8-1 victory.

Ed Folger of Lancaster threw out the first ball on Opening Day. Folger, who had been a minor leaguer in the Red Sox system had his leg amputated in a farm incident the previous September. This game also marked the inauguration of the "Designated Pinch Hitter." Yankee Rob Blomberg was the first official DH in baseball. He was the sixth hitter to come to bat in the first inning and he walked with the bases loaded against Luis Tiant.

In preparation for the home opener in 1982, all the seats in Fenway Park are painted.

A Fenway crew member attaches bunting on the stands along the third-base line in preparation for the home opener.

Fenway workers paint the stairs in the left-field stands as the park prepares for the home opener.

John Sprague of Weymouth pulls an awning to cover the roof boxes before the home opener.

Earl Wilbur paints the support post under the grandstand in the box seats.

A moment of silence is observed for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, which took place a week prior.

ohn Flynn of South Boston is busy getting things ready for the home opener.

Lynn Driscoll of Dedham wanted to go to Opening Day with such resolve that she paid a scalper $50. She got a seat behind the girder.

Fenway Park’s home opener is reflected in the sunglasses of Red Sox fan Carolyn Carey from Watertown, as she watches from the right-field grandstands.

A banner with 1995’s Red Sox success hangs from the stands inside Fenway Park.

John Gorman, 9, of Plantville, Conn., waits for an autograph before the start of the first home game.

Sly Egidio of Boston sells home-opener programs outside Fenway Park.

Fans in the bleachers at Fenway Park enjoy the home opener against the Seattle Mariners.

Rafael Soriano cleans the seats behind home plate in preparation for the home opener.

Pablo Nunez cleans the seats in Fenway Park.

Marsha Wintringham of Holliston and her son Matthew, left, of Brookline cheer for Carl Everett after his second home run of the day.

Outside Fenway on the day of the home opener.

Jared Costello, 2, from East Boston sits on the infield wall infield as he watches batting practice before the start of the Red Sox-Devil Rays game.

Kyle Langmeyer, 9, (center) hands his baseball down into the Red Sox dugout for an autograph.

Fans wear plastic bags and brave the rain.

Catherine Oppenheim, 2, of Sudbury was held by her mother as they watched a clown juggle outside Fenway before the game.

Jennifer Bellew of Framingham attended 37 games the year before, and she starts off 2002 photo at the home opener.

Governor Mitt Romney tries to get a bite in the rain at his seat near the third-base line on what was going to be the Red Sox home opener—until the game was rained out.

Before the Red Sox game, Patriots lineman Richard Seymour and teammates carry out the Vince Lombardi Trophy they received for winning Super Bowl XXXVIII.

In the midst of exams, students at Northeastern University watch coverage of the Red Sox home opener.

Getting ready for the home opener after the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.

Home-opening day scene around Fenway Park with Chef Ming Tsai of the restaurant Blue Ginger in Wellesley.

A mob of media from all over the world focused on one of the newest Red Sox players, Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Fans surround former Red Sox great Johnny Pesky as they try to get his autograph before the game.

Wall-to-wall fans crowd Yawkey Way before the start of the game.

“I’m faaareeezing,” said Sara Zarrella from East Greenwich, R.I., who had to leave her bleacher seat for a spot underneath the grandstand roof to keep warm with a cup of coffee.