Tom Seaver made eleven Opening Day starts for the Mets.
The New York Mets are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Flushing, Queens , in New York City. They play in the National League East division. 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,[ 1] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[ 2] The New York Mets have used 24 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 54 seasons. The 24 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 28 wins , 12 losses (27–12) and 14 no decisions . No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.
Tom Seaver holds the Mets' record for most Opening Day starts with 11, and has an Opening Day record of 6–0. He also has the most starts in Shea Stadium , the Mets' home ballpark from 1964 through 2008. Seaver and Dwight Gooden hold the Mets' record for most Opening Day wins with six each. Al Jackson and Roger Craig share the worst winning percentage as the Opening Day starting pitcher with a record of 0–2.
From 1968 through 1983, Mets' Opening Day starting pitchers went 16 consecutive years without a loss. During this period, Tom Seaver won six starts with five no decisions, Craig Swan won two starts, and Jerry Koosman , Pat Zachry and Randy Jones won one start apiece. Furthermore, in the 31-year period from 1968 through 1998, Mets' Opening Day starting pitchers only lost two games. During that period, they won 19 games with 10 no decisions. The only losses during this period were by Mike Torrez in 1984 and by Dwight Gooden in 1990.
Overall, Mets Opening Day starting pitchers have a record of 0–1 at the Polo Grounds , a 13–5 record with four no decisions at Shea Stadium and a 2–0 record with two no decisions at Citi Field . In addition, although the Mets were nominally the home team in 2000, the game was played in Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.[ 3] Mike Hampton started the game in Tokyo and lost, making the Mets' Opening Day starting pitchers' combined home record 14–7, and their away record 12–5. The Mets went on to play in the World Series in 1969, 1973, 1986 and 2000, and won the 1969 and 1986 World Series championship games. Tom Seaver (1969 and 1973), Dwight Gooden (1986) and Mike Hampton (2000) were the Opening Day starting pitchers when the Mets played in the World Series, and they had a combined Opening Day record of 2–1.
Season
Each year is linked to an article about that particular Mets season.
W
Win
L
Loss
ND (W)
No decision by starting pitcher; Mets won game
ND (L)
No decision by starting pitcher; Mets lost game
Location
Stadium in italics for home game
Pitcher (#)
Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Mets
*
Advanced to the post-season
**
NL Champions
†
World Series Champions
Pitchers [ edit ]
Dwight Gooden made eight Opening Day starts for the Mets, winning six
References [ edit ]
General
Specific
^ 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 "Box Score Mets vs. Cubs March 29, 2000" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1962" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "New York Mets Opening Day History" . www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 7, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1963" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1964" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1965" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Noble, Marty (April 3, 2008). "Shea sees its share of Amazin' openers" . mlb.com . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1966" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1967" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1968" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1969" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1970" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1971" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1972" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1973" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1974" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1975" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1976" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1977" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1978" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1979" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1980" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1981" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1982" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1983" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1984" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1985" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1986" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Durso, Joseph (April 6, 1987). "Unflappable Ojeda accepts new role for season opener" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1987" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Berkow, Ira (April 5, 1988). "Nouvelle Doc on Opening Day" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1988" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Durso, Joseph (April 4, 1989). "Bands March, Flags Fly and the Mets Beat the Cards" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1989" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Smith, Claire (April 10, 1990). "Rocky Start for Gooden With Signs for Hope" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1990" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Sexton, Joe (April 9, 1991). "Gooden Leaves His Stamp on the Phillies" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1991" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Sexton, Joe (April 6, 1992). "Mets Defense: Armed and Precarious" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1992" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Sexton, Joe (April 6, 1993). "For Openers, Gooden and Key Close Down the Batters" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1993" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Frey, Jennifer (April 5, 1994). "It's a Grand Day for the Yankees and a Windy One for the Mets" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1994" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Frey, Jennifer (April 27, 1995). "This One Has It All, Except Met Victory" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1995" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Willis, George (April 2, 1996). "Determined Mets Climb Out of a 6-0 Hole to Top Cards" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1996" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Olney, Buster (April 2, 1997). "For Openers, Padres' Big-Bang Theory Subdues the Mets" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1997" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Diamos, Jason (April 1, 1998). "It's A Midsummer Classic in March as Mets Nip Phillies" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1998" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Diamos, Jason (April 6, 1999). "It's New Day, But the Mets Are Stranded AT the Gate" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 1999" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Vescey, George (March 30, 2000). "Mets' Start Is Finally Here, Although It's Over There" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ Kepner, Tyler (April 4, 2001). "Playoffs Start Early for Mets and the Braves" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2001" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Hermoso, Rafael (April 2, 2002). "Leiter Looks Like the Ace The Mets Need This Season" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2002" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Hermoso, Rafael (April 1, 2003). "Mets' Chance at Fresh Start Quickly Turns Into 'Disaster' " . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2003" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Jenkins, Lee (April 7, 2004). "Smashing Start For Mets Begins On the First Pitch" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2004" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Noble, Marty (April 4, 2005). "Despite loss, new Mets impress" . mlb.com. Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2005" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Noble, Marty (April 3, 2006). "Nady, Glavine star for Mets in opener" . mlb.com. Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2006" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Borzi, Pat (April 2, 2007). "For Starters, Sturdy Effort and Victory for Glavine" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2007" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ Shpigel, Ben (April 1, 2008). "Santana's Start Helps Mets Forget Finish" . The New York Times . Retrieved September 20, 2008 .
^ "Opening Day 2008" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2008 .
^ "NY Mets 2, Cincinnati 1" . Yahoo! . Retrieved April 6, 2009 .
^ "NY Mets 7, Florida 1" . Yahoo! . Retrieved April 6, 2009 .
^ "NY Mets 7, Florida 1" . Yahoo! . Retrieved April 6, 2009 .
^ "NY Mets 1, Atlanta 0" . Yahoo! . Retrieved May 28, 2012 .
^ "NY Mets 11, San Diego 2" . Yahoo! . Retrieved April 7, 2013 .
^ "Washington 9, NY Mets 7" . Yahoo! . Retrieved April 1, 2014 .
^ "MY Mets 3, Washington 1" . Yahoo! . Retrieved April 6, 2015 .
Franchise
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Key personnel
Rivalries
World Series
Championships (2)
National League
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Division titles (6)
Wild Card (2)
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Seasons (54)
1960s
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New York Mets Opening Day starting pitchers