Opening Day Starters – Some Random Trivia
Opening day in North America is tomorrow, April 4th. As with last week’s opener in Japan, doesn’t seem to be a lot of build-up by MLB. To wit, tomorrow’s debut of the Marlins’ new digs will share attention with 12 pre-season games, including at least one that will likely still be in progress when the first pitch is thrown in Miami.
One of the great rites of the start of the baseball season is the naming of opening day starting pitchers. This year’s roster includes several making their first opening day start, including Brandon McCarthy, Stephen Strasburg, Tommy Hanson, Justin Masterson, Johnny Cueto, John Danks, Colby Lewis, Wandy Rodriguez, Jake Arrieta and Bruce Chen.
Roy Halladay and CC Sabathia (highlighted below) will be moving up the list of pitchers with the most opening day starts, with Halladay moving into a tie for 10th place on that list. Eight of the other 12 pitchers in the top 10 and ties are HOFers with one of the other four a certainty to also make the Hall.
| Rk | Player | #Matching | W | L | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Seaver | 16 | Ind. Games | 7 | 2 | .778 | 3.13 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.2 | 96 | 35 | 8 | 20 | 81 | 1.15 |
| 2 | Jack Morris | 14 | Ind. Games | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3.39 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 106.1 | 99 | 40 | 9 | 39 | 75 | 1.30 |
| 3 | Randy Johnson | 14 | Ind. Games | 7 | 2 | .778 | 2.49 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 97.2 | 75 | 27 | 9 | 38 | 107 | 1.16 |
| 4 | Steve Carlton | 14 | Ind. Games | 3 | 9 | .250 | 4.30 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 92.0 | 92 | 44 | 11 | 29 | 66 | 1.32 |
| 5 | Robin Roberts | 13 | Ind. Games | 5 | 7 | .417 | 4.03 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 105.0 | 101 | 47 | 12 | 23 | 37 | 1.18 |
| 6 | Roger Clemens | 13 | Ind. Games | 6 | 3 | .667 | 4.08 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 88.1 | 71 | 40 | 6 | 37 | 72 | 1.22 |
| 7 | Bert Blyleven | 12 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | .500 | 3.21 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 87.0 | 73 | 31 | 7 | 26 | 57 | 1.14 |
| 8 | Dennis Martinez | 11 | Ind. Games | 2 | 5 | .286 | 3.65 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69.0 | 61 | 28 | 10 | 26 | 48 | 1.26 |
| 9 | Fergie Jenkins | 11 | Ind. Games | 3 | 4 | .429 | 2.58 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 80.1 | 65 | 23 | 7 | 11 | 47 | 0.95 |
| 10 | Warren Spahn | 10 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | .500 | 3.10 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 81.1 | 78 | 28 | 8 | 21 | 38 | 1.22 |
| 11 | Juan Marichal | 10 | Ind. Games | 6 | 2 | .750 | 1.73 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 83.0 | 65 | 16 | 4 | 20 | 57 | 1.02 |
| 12 | Bob Gibson | 10 | Ind. Games | 2 | 2 | .500 | 3.00 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 75.0 | 61 | 25 | 7 | 23 | 61 | 1.12 |
| 13 | Don Sutton | 9 | Ind. Games | 4 | 3 | .571 | 2.63 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 65.0 | 47 | 19 | 9 | 20 | 44 | 1.03 |
| 14 | Rick Sutcliffe | 9 | Ind. Games | 5 | 3 | .625 | 4.71 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 57.1 | 53 | 30 | 8 | 26 | 33 | 1.38 |
| 15 | Nolan Ryan | 9 | Ind. Games | 5 | 3 | .625 | 3.84 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 58.2 | 44 | 25 | 5 | 28 | 59 | 1.23 |
| 16 | Steve Rogers | 9 | Ind. Games | 2 | 4 | .333 | 3.43 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 57.2 | 54 | 22 | 2 | 13 | 37 | 1.16 |
| 17 | Brad Radke | 9 | Ind. Games | 4 | 2 | .667 | 4.25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55.0 | 62 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 36 | 1.25 |
| 18 | Gaylord Perry | 9 | Ind. Games | 4 | 3 | .571 | 3.82 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 68.1 | 61 | 29 | 7 | 13 | 44 | 1.08 |
| 19 | Phil Niekro | 9 | Ind. Games | 0 | 7 | .000 | 7.31 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44.1 | 53 | 36 | 9 | 16 | 27 | 1.56 |
| 20 | Livan Hernandez | 9 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | .500 | 4.45 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56.2 | 58 | 28 | 5 | 15 | 36 | 1.29 |
| 21 | Roy Halladay | 9 | Ind. Games | 4 | 3 | .571 | 3.75 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60.0 | 61 | 25 | 10 | 12 | 46 | 1.22 |
| 22 | Mark Buehrle | 9 | Ind. Games | 4 | 1 | .800 | 3.68 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51.1 | 46 | 21 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 1.17 |
| 23 | CC Sabathia | 8 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 5.40 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43.1 | 47 | 26 | 4 | 19 | 35 | 1.52 |
| 24 | Roy Oswalt | 8 | Ind. Games | 2 | 4 | .333 | 3.48 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.1 | 55 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 1.20 |
| 25 | Pedro Martinez | 8 | Ind. Games | 3 | 1 | .750 | 2.76 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49.0 | 37 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 64 | 1.00 |
| 26 | Greg Maddux | 8 | Ind. Games | 6 | 1 | .857 | 2.10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55.2 | 48 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 44 | 1.06 |
| 27 | Charlie Hough | 8 | Ind. Games | 4 | 1 | .800 | 3.08 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 52.2 | 40 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 1.20 |
| 28 | Dwight Gooden | 8 | Ind. Games | 6 | 1 | .857 | 3.81 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 54.1 | 56 | 23 | 8 | 12 | 42 | 1.25 |
| 29 | Tom Glavine | 8 | Ind. Games | 5 | 3 | .625 | 3.70 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48.2 | 44 | 20 | 4 | 17 | 31 | 1.25 |
| 30 | Kevin Appier | 8 | Ind. Games | 1 | 5 | .167 | 3.80 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.0 | 45 | 19 | 4 | 24 | 37 | 1.53 |
Of these pitchers, Bert Blyleven (MIN, TEX, PIT, CLE, CAL) and Gaylord Perry (SFG, CLE, TEX, SDP, SEA) have made opening day starts with the most franchises. Livan Hernandez (FLA, SFG, MON-WSN, MIN) is right behind them. Nolan Ryan is the only pitcher with at least 3 opening day starts for each of 3 or more different franchises (CAL, HOU, TEX).
Jeremy Guthrie will start for the Rockies on Friday, missing his birthday by 2 days. These are the only times a pitcher has had an opening day start on his birthday.
| Rk | Player | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | GSc | WPA | RE24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Drese | 2005-04-05 | TEX | LAA | L 2-3 | GS-7 ,L | 7.0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 3.86 | -0.015 | 0.625 | .824 |
| 2 | Jon Lieber | 2001-04-02 | CHC | MON | L 4-5 | GS-7 | 7.0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 56 | 3.86 | -0.048 | -0.508 | .834 |
| 3 | Bert Blyleven | 1979-04-06 | PIT | MON | L 2-3 | GS-7 | 7.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 60 | 2.57 | 0.103 | 1.453 | 1.029 |
| 4 | Catfish Hunter | 1976-04-08 | NYY | MIL | L 0-5 | GS-7 ,L | 7.0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 6.43 | -0.314 | -1.961 | .541 |
| 5 | Bert Blyleven | 1973-04-06 | MIN | OAK | W 8-3 | CG 9 ,W | 9.0 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 62 | 2.00 | 0.135 | 1.087 | .701 |
| 6 | Marty Pattin | 1971-04-06 | MIL | MIN | W 7-2 | CG 9 ,W | 9.0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 63 | 2.00 | 0.291 | 2.006 | .761 |
Bruce Chen joins a group of 52 other pitchers making their first opening day start at the age of 34 or older. Of those 52, only these 16 have had a second opening day start.
| Rk | Player | #Matching | W | L | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie Hough | 8 | Ind. Games | 4 | 1 | .800 | 3.08 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 52.2 | 40 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 1.20 |
| 2 | Jamie Moyer | 4 | Ind. Games | 1 | 2 | .333 | 4.07 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.1 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 1.36 |
| 3 | Jerry Koosman | 4 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 4.71 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28.2 | 31 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 1.33 |
| 4 | David Wells | 3 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 4.41 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.1 | 19 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 1.35 |
| 5 | Rip Sewell | 3 | Ind. Games | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 27.0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.70 |
| 6 | Ray Kremer | 3 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 4.58 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17.2 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1.53 |
| 7 | Woody Williams | 2 | Ind. Games | 0 | 1 | .000 | 9.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 2.33 |
| 8 | Virgil Trucks | 2 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 3.00 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15.0 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 1.00 |
| 9 | Jack Quinn | 2 | Ind. Games | 0 | 2 | .000 | 4.20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1.27 |
| 10 | Fritz Ostermueller | 2 | Ind. Games | 0 | 0 | 10.29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1.86 | |
| 11 | Sal Maglie | 2 | Ind. Games | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15.1 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 1.11 |
| 12 | Sam Jones | 2 | Ind. Games | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 3.86 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14.0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.79 |
| 13 | Mark Gardner | 2 | Ind. Games | 0 | 0 | 4.35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.1 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 1.65 | |
| 14 | Ken Forsch | 2 | Ind. Games | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.56 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17.1 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0.75 |
| 15 | Spud Chandler | 2 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2.35 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15.1 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0.98 |
| 16 | Babe Adams | 2 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | .500 | 4.32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.2 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1.20 |
Among this year’s opening day starters, only Roy Halladay has previously had a hit in an opening day game. Here are the opening day pitchers who have helped their own cause most often, showing the games in which they got a hit.
| Rk | Player | #Matching | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SH | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juan Marichal | 6 | Ind. Games | 19 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | .500 | .529 | .625 | 1.154 | 2 |
| 2 | Livan Hernandez | 5 | Ind. Games | 14 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .462 | .462 | .462 | .923 | 1 |
| 3 | Dwight Gooden | 5 | Ind. Games | 16 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1 |
| 4 | Tom Glavine | 5 | Ind. Games | 13 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .583 | .583 | .667 | 1.250 | 1 |
| 5 | Wes Ferrell | 5 | Ind. Games | 22 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .381 | .409 | .429 | .838 | 0 |
| 6 | Pete Alexander | 5 | Ind. Games | 15 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | .571 | .600 | 1.071 | 1.671 | 0 |
| 7 | Lon Warneke | 4 | Ind. Games | 16 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .267 | .267 | .267 | .533 | 1 |
| 8 | Bob Lemon | 4 | Ind. Games | 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .583 | .917 | 0 |
| 9 | Sad Sam Jones | 4 | Ind. Games | 13 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .667 | .769 | 1.111 | 1.880 | 0 |
| 10 | Don Drysdale | 4 | Ind. Games | 13 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | .364 | .462 | 1.091 | 1.552 | 0 |
Finally, none of this year’s opening day starters are rookies. In fact, it has been a very long time since any pitcher made his career debut as an opening day starter. These are the only ones to do it.
| Rk | Gcar | Player | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | GSc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Al Gerheauser | 1943-04-24 | PHI | BRO | L 4-11 | L | 4.0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 11.25 |
| 2 | 1 | Jim Bagby | 1938-04-18 | BOS | NYY | W 8-4 | W | 6.0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 47 | 4.50 |
| 3 | 1 | Lefty Grove | 1925-04-14 | PHA | BOS | W 9-8 | 3.2 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 9.82 |
For Gerheauser, the last to do this, it would be his only opening day start.
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I believe your lists are limited to 1918 and after (the Play Index game search years). For example, I believe there is some SABR research showing that Walter Johnson started 14 Opening Day games if you include pre-1918 years, and there are probably others as well (Christy Mathewson, Cy Young?). But that doesn’t mean your lists are any less interesting. The birthday list, the old-guy list, the hitting pitchers list — all excellent.
Here’s another for the gang. 35 guys have accomplished something since 1918, including Orlando Cepeda, Ken Boyer, Wally Moon, Will Clark, Earl Averill, Chuck Tanner, Joe Charboneau and Coco Laboy. What is the accomplishment?
Yes, only since 1918.
So, Jack Quinn and Babe Adams may not belong on the old guys list if they had an opening day start before 1918.
Actually, I can confirm that for Babe Adams. He had an opening day start in 1911 at age 28, so doesn’t belong on that list.
Those guys Cepeda, et al.) made their ML debut on an opening day and homered.
Indeed.
I saw Jordan Schafer on that list, saw that he had just 4 career HRs so far, and figured that must be the lowest of the group.
Nope.
On Opening Day 1936, Eddie Morgan of the Cardinals made his ML debut with a pinch-hit 2-run HR off Lon Warneke. He never hit another, in a career that lasted just 39 games.
And two players who debuted in 1945 finished with 3 HRs – Ben Steiner and Joe Mack.
Steiner, by the way, was the only one in the searchable era to add a stolen base along with a HR in his ML debut on opening day.
Eddie Morgan was the first player to debut with a pinch-hit HR.
Continuing the tangent … The only player known to have debuted with a HR on his birthday was Morrie Aderholt. (Not on Opening Day, though.) It was the same game as Early Wynn’s debut – the first of his 244 losses.
Two guys on that list are like copies of each other separated by 10 years. Check out Roy Foster (1970-72) and Joe Charbonneau (1980-82).
- Both were outfielders and played only for Cleveland.
- Both made a splash in their first year, Charbonneau winning RoY (of course) and Foster placing 2nd.
- Both started sliding after that (Charbonneau slid faster) and were done after their 3rd year (Charbonneau was done half-way through his 3rd year)
- Cleveland traded Foster and released Charbonneau, both signed with new clubs but neither ever played another MLB game
- their career lines per 162
Foster: 22 HR, 57 RBI, 53 BB, 70 SO, .253/.336/.438, 112 OPS+
Charbonneau: 23 HR, 92 RBI, 49 BB, 80 SO, .266/.329/.453, 114 OPS+
Talk about deja vu.
More opening day starts (per SABR Baseball List & Record Book):
Walter Johnson 14
Cy Young 14
Pete Alexander 12
George Mullin 10
Thanks, Richard.
Wow, Phil Niekro was pretty awful on opening day.
Steve Carlton, too.
In terms of W-L record, yes. But in terms of ERA, Niekro’s in a league all his own. (and that doesn’t even account for the fact that Niekro also gave up a fair amount of unearned runs in his opening day starts).
I’m guessing old Phil’s knuckleball wasn’t knuckling yet for some reason. maybe too much adrenaline flowing and he was over-throwing.
But Charlie Hough acquitted himself quite well on opening day.
Looks to me like Juan Marichal is the guy you want going for you to start the season.
He not only had the lowest ERA among the leaders for most starts he also managed to hit at a nifty 0.500 pace.
Just for clarity, the numbers shown on the Hitting list are what each pitcher did in the Opening Daya games in which he had a hit (that’s what the # Matching refers to).
Nevertheless, 6 out of 10 games getting a hit is not too shabby. And, it’s 5 out of 9 for Livan.
Wait, won’t Josh Johnson be making the opening day start for the Marlins, not Mark Buehrle? Or are you only counting Thursday’s games?
Gosh, you’re right. I went down the list of Thursday games, and forgot one of them wasn’t an opener. I’ll fix it.
I was completely unaware there’s a game tomorrow. Does anyone know if it’s nationally televised? Knowing Selig’s inability to promote Opening Day correctly, I’m guessing not.
Yes…ESPN…7pm EDT…unlike MLB’s complete butchering of the A’s-Mariners series. Give me back my Monday opening day.
Amen to that. And start it at 11 central, in Cincinnati like they used to. Thanks for the info, JDV.
I think Kyle Lohse is starting for the redbirds against the fish tomorrow night, not Jamie Garcia.
Right you are, Topper. See my reply to #7 above.
Another little tidbit concerning winning on opening day as a rookie. Besides the players mentioned who had their first career game as an opening day starter, these are the rookies with opening day starts.
Eddie Eayrs, Braves – started and won on opening day 1920. It was just the 5th game of his career (3rd as a pitcher), his first of only 3 career starts, and his only career win. Eayrs is the only pitcher to win all his career games as an opening day starter.
Here are some others who had an O.D. start in the first 10 games of their careers. Presumably, all these guys (and more besides) would have been regarded as rookies.
- Rafael Roque, 9 games & starts, 48 IP, before O.D. start in 1999
- David Nied, 6 games, 2 starts, 23 IP, 1993
- Jose Guzman, 5 games & starts, 32.2 IP, 1986
- Mike Smithson, 8 games & starts, 46.2 IP, 1983
- Steve Busby, 5 games & starts, 40 IP, 1973
- Tom Hall, 8 games, 4 starts, 29.2 IP, 1969
- Tom Poholsky, 5 games, 1 start, 14.2 IP, 1951
- Hal Gregg, 5 games, 4 starts, 18.2 IP, 1944
- Preacher Roe, 1 game, 0 starts, 2.2 IP, 1944
- Bill Voiselle, 6 games, 5 starts, 40 IP, 1944
- Eddie Smith, 2 games, 2 starts, 19 IP, 1937
- Carroll Yerkes, 1 game, 0 starts, 1 IP, 1928