List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers
The Baltimore Orioles are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland. They play in the American League East division. The Orioles started playing in Baltimore in 1954, after moving from St. Louis, where they were known as the St. Louis Browns.[1] The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starter is an honor, which is often given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season,[2] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[3] The Orioles have used 33 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 60 seasons since moving to Baltimore. The 33 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 22 wins, 18 losses and 17 no decisions.[4][5][6][7] No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.[8]
The first Opening Day for the Orioles was played in Detroit against the Detroit Tigers on April 13, 1954.[5][9] Don Larsen was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher that day, in a game the Orioles lost 3–0.[5][9] Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina have made the most Opening Day starts for the Baltimore Orioles, with six apiece. Palmer has a record of five wins and one loss in his Opening Day starts, and Mussina has a record of three wins, two losses and one no decision. Dave McNally made five Opening Day starts for the Orioles, with a record of three wins and no losses. Other Oriole pitchers who have made multiple Opening Day starts are Steve Barber, Rodrigo López, and Jeremy Guthrie, with three apiece, and Milt Pappas, Dennis Martínez, Mike Flanagan, Mike Boddicker, and Rick Sutcliffe, with two apiece. Flanagan's two Opening Day starts occurred eight years apart, in 1978 and 1986.[4]
Palmer has the most Opening Day wins for the Orioles, with five. McNally's record of three wins and no losses in Opening Day starts gave him a 1.000 winning percentage, the highest in Orioles history. Flanagan's record of no wins and two losses is the lowest winning percentage of any Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher. Flanagan and Mussina are the only pitchers to have two losses for the Orioles in Opening Day starts.[4]
The Orioles have played in two home ballparks. Memorial Stadium was their home park until 1991, and Camden Yards has been their home park since 1992. Orioles' Opening Day starting pitchers had a record of eight wins, eight losses and eight no decisions in 24 Opening Day starts in Memorial Stadium. They have a record of ten wins, four losses and two no decisions in 15 Opening Day starts at Camden Yards. This makes their aggregate record in Opening Day starts at home 18 wins, 12 losses and 10 no decisions. Their record in Opening Day starts on the road is four wins, six losses and seven no decisions, for an aggregate Opening Day record of 22 wins, 18 losses and 16 no decisions.[4][5][6][7][9][10][11] The Orioles played in the World Series in 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979 and 1983, winning in 1966, 1970 and 1983.[12] Their Opening Day starting pitchers in those years were Steve Barber (1966), Dave McNally (1969, 1970 and 1971), Jim Palmer (1979) and Dennis Martínez (1983).[4]
Key
Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Orioles season. |
W | Win |
L | Loss |
ND (W) | No decision by starting pitcher; Orioles won game |
ND (L) | No decision by starting pitcher; Orioles lost game |
Final Score |
Game score with Orioles runs listed first |
Location | Stadium in italics for home game |
Pitcher (#) | Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Orioles |
* | Advanced to the post-season |
** | AL Champions |
† | World Series Champions |
Pitchers
References
- ^ "Orioles Timeline". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starters". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ a b c d e "The 1954 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ a b c "The 1955 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ a b c "Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
- ^ "Official Rules – The Official Scorer". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ a b c d "Baltimore Orioles 1954". BaseballLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ a b "Baltimore Orioles 1955". BaseballLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ a b "Baltimore 10, New York Yankees 5". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Tigers 3 Orioles 0". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ "Senators 12 Orioles 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1956". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1957". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1958". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1959". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1960". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1961". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1962". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1963". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1964". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1965". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1966". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1967". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1968". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1969". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1970". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1971". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1972". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1973". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1974". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1975". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1976". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1977". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1978". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1979". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1980". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1981". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1982". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1983". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1984". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1985". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1986". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1987". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1988". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1989". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1990". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1991". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1992". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1993". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1994". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1995". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1996". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1997". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1998". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 1999". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2000". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2001". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2002". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Orioles 10, Yankees 3". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2003". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Matthews Jr. singles home winning run in 13th". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2004". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Boston's Martinez has poor first outing". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2005". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Sosa with two hits in Orioles debut". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2006". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Homer-happy O's win sixth straight on Opening Day". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2007". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Morneau's bat helps Santana to Opening Day win". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Rays win first season opener in eight years". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-31.