In 1989, the Blue Jays' new retractable roofed home, SkyDome, opened in the mid-season. It also marked the beginning of an extremely successful five-year period for the team. In May, management fired manager Jimy Williams and replaced him with Cito Gaston, the team's popular hitting instructor. The club had a 12–24 record at the time of the firing, but went 77–49 under Gaston to win the American League East title by two games. On May 28, 1989, the Blue Jays played their final game at Exhibition Stadium against the Chicago White Sox, who coincidentally were the Blue Jays' opponents in their first game in franchise history, at the same stadium, 12 years earlier; the Blue Jays won, 7–5, in 10 innings. The first game at the new stadium took place on June 5 against the Milwaukee Brewers, which the Jays lost, 5–3. In the 1989 American League Championship Series, Rickey Henderson led the Oakland Athletics to a 4–1 series win.