List of Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers
The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Boston, Massachusetts. They have played in the American League since it was founded in 1901, and the American League East since divisions were introduced in 1969. The first game of each baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, for which being named the starting pitcher is an honor. That honor is often given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season,[1] although there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[2]
Records
Including the result of the team's first 2020 game, the team has had 120 Opening Days. In those Opening Day games:
- The team has used 64 different starting pitchers.
- Roger Clemens holds the team record for most starts with eight. Other pitchers with four or more starts are Pedro Martínez (7), Cy Young (6), Dennis Eckersley (5), Jon Lester (4), Bill Monbouquette (4), and Mel Parnell (4).
- The team has a win–loss record of 59–60–1, which is a winning percentage of .496.
- The one tie occurred in 1910; playing against the New York Highlanders at Hilltop Park in New York City, the game was declared a tie after 14 innings on account of darkness.[3] The first MLB night game would not occur until 1935.
- Starting pitchers have compiled a win–loss record of 48–43, with 29 no decisions.
- The most wins is three, by Roger Clemens, Wes Ferrell, Pedro Martínez, Babe Ruth, and Cy Young. The most losses is three, by Howard Ehmke and Cy Young. The most no decisions is three, by Clemens and Martínez.
Results by decade
Decade | Team W–L–T | Pitchers' W–L (ND) | New starters |
---|---|---|---|
1900s | 4–5 | 4–5 | 4 (Kellum, Young, Winter, Arellanes) |
1910s | 5–4–1 | 5–4 (1) | 6 (Cicotte, Wood, Collins, Shore, Ruth, Mays) |
1920s | 3–7 | 3–6 (1) | 8 (Russell, Jones, Quinn, Ehmke, Ferguson, Harriss, Harriss, Ruffing) |
1930s | 5–5 | 4–4 (2) | 6 (Moore, Andrews, Rhodes, Ferrell, Bagby, Grove) |
1940s | 6–4 | 4–4 (2) | 6 (Wilson, Newsome, Hughson, Terry, Cecil, Dobson) |
1950s | 5–5 | 4–4 (2) | 4 (Parnell, Wright, Sullivan, Brewer) |
1960s | 5–5 | 3–4 (3) | 6 (Sturdivant, Monbouquette, Schwall, Wilson, Lonborg, Ellsworth) |
1970s | 6–4 | 5–2 (3) | 7 (Peters, Culp, Pattin, Tiant, Jenkins, Torrez, Eckersley) |
1980s | 2–8 | 2–3 (5) | 4 (Hurst, Boyd, Stanley, Clemens) |
1990s | 8–2 | 6–2 (2) | 3 (Sele, Gordon, Martinez) |
2000s | 4–6 | 3–3 (4) | 4 (Wells, Schilling, Matsuzaka, Beckett) |
2010s | 5–5 | 4–2 (4) | 5 (Lester, Buchholz, Price, Porcello, Sale) |
2020s | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1 (Eovaldi) |
TOTALS | 59–60–1 | 48–43 (29) | 64 |
1900s spans nine seasons, as 1901 was the team's first season.
Number (and names) of pitchers making their first Opening Day start for the Red Sox franchise.
Pitchers
Key
Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Red Sox season. |
W | Win |
L | Loss |
T | Tie |
ND (X) | No decision by starting pitcher; (X) indicates game outcome for Red Sox |
Pitcher (#) | Number of Opening Day starts for the Red Sox, if more than one |
* | Team advanced to the post-season |
** | American League (AL) Champions |
*** | World Series Champions |
List
References
- 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.
- "25,000 See Yankees Play Red Sox to a Tie" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- "The 1901 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- Murnane, T. H. (April 27, 1901). "Box score". The Boston Globe. p. 8. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "The 1902 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- Murnane, T. H. (April 20, 1902). "Box Score". The Boston Globe. p. 4. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "The 1903 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- Murnane, T. H. (April 21, 1903). "Box Score". The Boston Globe. p. 4. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "The 1904 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- O'Connell, Fred P. (April 15, 1904). "Box Score". The Boston Post. p. 4. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "The 1905 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- "Box Score". The Boston Globe. April 15, 1905. p. 8. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "The 1906 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- "Box Score". The Boston Globe. April 15, 1905. p. 8. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "The 1907 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- "Boston Americans 8, Philadelphia Athletics 4". Retrosheet. April 11, 1907. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1908/B04140BOS1908.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1909/B04120PHA1909.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1910/B04140NYA1910.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1911/B04120WS11911.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1912/B04110NYA1912.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1913/B04100BOS1913.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1914/B04140BOS1914.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1915/B04140PHA1915.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1916/B04120BOS1916.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1917/B04110NYA1917.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1918/B04150BOS1918.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1919/B04230NYA1919.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1920/B04150BOS1920.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1921/B04130WS11921.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1922/B04120BOS1922.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1923/B04180NYA1923.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1924/B04150BOS1924.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1925/B04140PHA1925.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1926/B04130BOS1926.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1927/B04120WS11927.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B04100WS11928.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1929/B04180NYA1929.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1930/B04140WS11930.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1931/B04140NYA1931.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1932/B04110WS11932.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B04130NYA1933.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1934/B04170BOS1934.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1935/B04160NYA1935.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1936/B04140BOS1936.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B04200PHA1937.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1938/B04180BOS1938.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1939/B04200NYA1939.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B04160WS11940.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1941/B04150BOS1941.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1942/B04140BOS1942.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1943/B04220PHA1943.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B04180BOS1944.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B04170NYA1945.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B04160WS11946.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1947/B04150BOS1947.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B04191BOS1948.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B04190PHA1949.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1950/B04180BOS1950.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1951/B04170NYA1951.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1952/B04150WS11952.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B04160PHA1953.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/B04130PHA1954.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B04120BAL1955.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1956/B04170BOS1956.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1957/B04160BAL1957.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1958/B04140WS11958.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B04120NYA1959.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1960/B04180WS11960.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1961/B04110BOS1961.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B04100BOS1962.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/B04090LAA1963.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1964/B04160NYA1964.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B04120WS21965.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1966/B04120BOS1966.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B04120BOS1967.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1968/B04100DET1968.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B04080BAL1969.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1970/B04070NYA1970.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1971/B04060BOS1971.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/B04150DET1972.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B04060BOS1973.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1974/B04050MIL1974.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B04080BOS1975.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1976/B04090BAL1976.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B04070BOS1977.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B04070CHA1978.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1979/B04050BOS1979.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B04100MIL1980.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1981/B04100BOS1981.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1982/B04101BAL1982.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1983/B04050BOS1983.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B04020CAL1984.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1985/B04080BOS1985.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1986/B04070DET1986.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1987/B04060MIL1987.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1988/B04040BOS1988.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B04030BAL1989.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/B04090BOS1990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1991/B04080TOR1991.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1992/B04070NYA1992.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B04050KCA1993.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1994/B04040BOS1994.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1995/B04260BOS1995.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B04010TEX1996.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B04020ANA1997.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1998/B04010OAK1998.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B04050KCA1999.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B04040SEA2000.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2001/B04020BAL2001.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2002/B04010BOS2002.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B03310TBA2003.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B04040BAL2004.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/B04030NYA2005.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2006/B04030TEX2006.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/B04020KCA2007.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B03250OAK2008.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B04070BOS2009.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B04040BOS2010.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B04010TEX2011.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2012/B04050DET2012.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2013/B04010NYA2013.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2014/B03310BAL2014.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2015/B04060PHI2015.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2016/B04050CLE2016.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2017/B04030BOS2017.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2018/B03290TBA2018.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2019/B03280SEA2019.htm
- "Orioles vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.