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 known as 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
[edit]Including the team's first 2024 game, the team has had 124 Opening Days. In those Opening Day games:
- The team has used 66 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 60–63–1, which is a winning percentage of .488.
- 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 did not occur until 1935.
- Starting pitchers have compiled a win–loss record of 49–45, with 30 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
[edit]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, Wight, 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 | 2–3 | 2–2 (1) | 3 (Eovaldi, Kluber, Bello) |
TOTALS | 60–63–1 | 49–45 (30) | 66 |
‡ 1900s spans nine seasons, as 1901 was the team's first season.
† Number of pitchers making their first Opening Day start for the Red Sox franchise, along with their surnames. Pitchers' full names appear in the below List.
Pitchers
[edit]Key
[edit]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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ "25,000 See Yankees Play Red Sox to a Tie" (PDF). The New York Times. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "The 1901 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ Murnane, T. H. (April 27, 1901). "Box score". The Boston Globe. p. 8. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "The 1902 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ Murnane, T. H. (April 20, 1902). "Box Score". The Boston Globe. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. 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. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "The 1904 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ O'Connell, Fred P. (April 15, 1904). "Box Score". The Boston Post. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "The 1905 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ a b "Box Score". The Boston Globe. April 15, 1905. p. 8. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "The 1906 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ "The 1907 Boston Americans Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ "Boston Americans 8, Philadelphia Athletics 4". Retrosheet. April 11, 1907. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
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- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 12, Boston Red Sox 11". Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Washington Senators 6, Boston Red Sox 2
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Washington Senators 5
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 7, Boston Red Sox 3
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 4, Washington Senators 3". Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 6, Boston Red Sox 3
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Washington Senators 1, Boston Red Sox 0
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 4, Boston Red Sox 3". Archived from the original on 2019-12-22. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Washington Senators 6, Boston Red Sox 5
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 1, New York Yankees 0
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 9, Philadelphia Athletics 4". Archived from the original on 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 11, Philadelphia Athletics 5". Archived from the original on 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 8, New York Yankees 4
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 2, Boston Red Sox 0". Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 1, Washington Senators 0". Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Washington Senators 6". Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 8, Philadelphia Athletics 3
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 1, Philadelphia Athletics 0
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 3, Boston Red Sox 0
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 8, Boston Red Sox 4". Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 6, Washington Senators 3". Archived from the original on 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Washington Senators 6
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Philadelphia Athletics 5, Boston Red Sox 4 (1)
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Philadelphia Athletics 3, Boston Red Sox 2". Archived from the original on 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 15, Boston Red Sox 10". Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 5, Boston Red Sox 0
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 3, Washington Senators 0". Archived from the original on 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 11, Philadelphia Athletics 6". Archived from the original on 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Philadelphia Athletics 6, Boston Red Sox 4
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Baltimore Orioles 1". Archived from the original on 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 8, Baltimore Orioles 1
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 4, Baltimore Orioles 2
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Washington Senators 5, Boston Red Sox 2". Archived from the original on 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 3, Boston Red Sox 2
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Washington Senators 10, Boston Red Sox 1". Archived from the original on 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Kansas City Athletics 5, Boston Red Sox 2". Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Cleveland Indians 4, Boston Red Sox 0
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Los Angeles Angels 4, Boston Red Sox 1
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 4, New York Yankees 3". Archived from the original on 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Washington Senators 2
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 5, Boston Red Sox 4
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 5, Chicago White Sox 4
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Detroit Tigers 3
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 5, Baltimore Orioles 4". Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 4, New York Yankees 3". Archived from the original on 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 3, New York Yankees 1". Archived from the original on 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Detroit Tigers 3, Boston Red Sox 2". Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 15, New York Yankees 5". Archived from the original on 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 9, Milwaukee Brewers 8". Archived from the original on 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 5, Milwaukee Brewers 2
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 1, Boston Red Sox 0". Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Cleveland Indians 5, Boston Red Sox 4". Archived from the original on 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Chicago White Sox 6, Boston Red Sox 5". Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Cleveland Indians 1". Archived from the original on 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Brewers 9, Boston Red Sox 5". Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Chicago White Sox 5, Boston Red Sox 3". Archived from the original on 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 2, Baltimore Orioles 0 (1)
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Toronto Blue Jays 7, Boston Red Sox 1". Archived from the original on 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: California Angels 2, Boston Red Sox 1". Archived from the original on 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 9, New York Yankees 2". Archived from the original on 2020-10-17. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Detroit Tigers 6, Boston Red Sox 5". Archived from the original on 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Brewers 5, Boston Red Sox 1". Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Detroit Tigers 5, Boston Red Sox 3". Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 5, Boston Red Sox 4". Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 5, Detroit Tigers 2". Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 6, Toronto Blue Jays 2". Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 4, Boston Red Sox 3". Archived from the original on 2020-10-17. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 3, Kansas City Royals 1". Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 9, Detroit Tigers 8". Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 9, Minnesota Twins 0
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Texas Rangers 5, Boston Red Sox 3". Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 6, Anaheim Angels 5
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 2, Oakland Athletics 0". Archived from the original on 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 5, Kansas City Royals 3
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 2, Seattle Mariners 0
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 2, Boston Red Sox 1
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Toronto Blue Jays 12, Boston Red Sox 11
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6, Boston Red Sox 4". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 7, Boston Red Sox 2". Archived from the original on 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 9, Boston Red Sox 2
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 7, Texas Rangers 3". Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Kansas City Royals 7, Boston Red Sox 1". Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 6, Oakland Athletics 5". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
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- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 9, New York Yankees 7". Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Texas Rangers 9, Boston Red Sox 5". Archived from the original on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Detroit Tigers 3, Boston Red Sox 2
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 8, New York Yankees 2". Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 2, Boston Red Sox 1". Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 8, Philadelphia Phillies 0". Archived from the original on 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 6, Cleveland Indians 2". Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
- ^ Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Tampa Bay Rays 6, Boston Red Sox 4". Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Seattle Mariners 12, Boston Red Sox 4". Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ^ "Orioles vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Orioles vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Red Sox vs. Yankees". ESPN.com. April 8, 2022. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ "Orioles vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "Red Sox vs. Mariners". ESPN.com. March 28, 2024. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.