List of Detroit Tigers Opening Day starting pitchers explained
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Detroit, Michigan. They play in the American League Central division. The first game of the new baseball season is played on Opening Day, and being named the starter that day 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] Since joining the league in 1901, the Tigers have used 57 different Opening Day starting pitchers. The Tigers have a record of 56 wins and 61 losses in their Opening Day games. They also played one tie game, in 1927.[3]
The Tigers have played in three different home ball parks, Bennett Park from 1901 through 1911, Tiger Stadium (also known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) from 1912 to 1999 and Comerica Park since 2000. They had a record of five wins and two losses in Opening Day games at Bennett Park, 19 wins and 22 losses at Tiger Stadium and three wins and four losses at Comerica Park, for a total home record in Opening Day games of 26 wins and 28 losses.[3] Their record in Opening Day away games is 27 wins, 31 losses and one tie.[3]
Jack Morris has the most Opening Day starts for the Tigers, with 11 consecutive starts from 1980 to 1990. Morris had a record of seven wins and four losses in his Opening Day starts. George Mullin had ten Opening Day starts for the Tigers between 1903 and 1913. The Tigers won five of those games and lost the other five. Mickey Lolich had seven Opening Day starts between 1965 and 1974. He had a record of five wins and two losses in those starts. Justin Verlander has also made seven Opening Day starts for the Tigers, between 2008 and 2014. His record in those starts is one win and one loss with five no-decisions. Other Tiger pitchers with at least three Opening Day starts include Hal Newhouser with six, Earl Whitehill and Jim Bunning with four; and Tommy Bridges, Frank Lary and Mike Moore with three.[3]
The first game the Tigers played as a Major League team was on April 25, 1901, against the Milwaukee Brewers. Roscoe Miller was the Tigers Opening Day starting pitcher for that game, which the Tigers won 14–13. The Tigers have played in the World Series eleven times, in 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006, and 2012, with wins in four of those: 1935, 1945, 1968 and 1984.[4] The Tigers Opening Day starting pitchers in those seasons were Mullin (1907 and 1909), Ed Siever (1908), Firpo Marberry (1934), Rowe (1935), Newsom (1940), Newhouser (1945), Earl Wilson (1968), Morris (1984), Kenny Rogers (2006), and Justin Verlander (2012). The Tigers won five of those Opening Day games and lost the other five.[3]
Josh Billings was the Tigers Opening Day starting pitcher in 1928, despite being only 20 years old and having only won five Major League games prior to the season.[5] Bunning, who made four Opening Day starts for the Tigers was later elected to the United States Senate.[6] McLain, who made two Opening Day starts for the Tigers, was later convicted of embezzlement.[7] Bunning and Newhouser have each been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[8]
Key
Pitchers
References
- General
- Specific
Notes and References
- Web site: Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day. Jordan. Bastian. MLB.com. March 22, 2010. September 26, 2010.
- Web site: Steve. Dilbeck. Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney. Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2014. February 25, 2014.
- Web site: Detroit Tigers Opening Day Starters and Results. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Detroit Tigers History & Encyclopedia. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Josh Billings. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Jim Bunning Biography . 2009-03-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090226002801/http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Biography.Biography . 2009-02-26 .
- Web site: The downfall of former pitcher Denny McLain . Baseball Digest . Thomashoff, C. . March 2002 . 2009-03-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090408082931/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_3_61/ai_82472894/ . 2009-04-08 .
- Web site: List of Hall of Famers . National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum . 2009-03-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081228052645/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/components/hofers/HallofFamersList.html . December 28, 2008 .
- Web site: Opening Day 1901. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1902. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1903. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1904. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1905. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1906. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1907. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1908. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1909. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1910. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1911. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1912. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1913. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1914. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1915. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1916. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1917. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1918. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1919. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1920. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1921. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1922. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1923. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1924. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1925. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1926. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1927. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1928. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1929. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1930. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1931. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1932. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1933. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1934. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1935. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1936. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1937. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1938. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1939. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1940. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1941. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1942. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1943. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1944. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1945. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1946. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1947. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1948. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1949. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1950. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1951. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1952. Retrosheet. 2009-03-02.
- Web site: Opening Day 1953. Retrosheet. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1954. Retrosheet. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1955. Retrosheet. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1956. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1957. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1958. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1959. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1960. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1961. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1962. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1963. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1964. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1965. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1966. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1967. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1968. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1969. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1970. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1971. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1972. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1973. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1974. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1975. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1976. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1977. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1978. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1979. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1980. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1981. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1982. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1983. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1984. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1985. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1986. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1987. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1988. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1989. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1990. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1991. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1992. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1993. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1994. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1995. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1996. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1997. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1998. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 1999. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2000. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2001. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2002. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2003. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2004. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2005. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2006. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2007. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Opening Day 2008. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-03-01.
- Web site: Toronto 12, Detroit 5 . Yahoo!. 2009-04-07.
- Web site: Detroit 8, Kansas City 4. Yahoo!. 2010-04-06.
- Web site: NY Yankees 6, Detroit 3 . Yahoo!. 2011-04-02.
- Web site: April 5, 2012 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. 2012-05-19.
- Web site: April 1, 2013 Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. 2014-04-14.
- Web site: March 31, 2014 Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. 2014-04-14.
- Web site: April 6, 2015 Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score. Baseball-Reference.com. 2015-04-06.
- Web site: Opening Day 2016. Baseball-Reference.com. 2016-05-04.
- Web site: Opening Day 2017. Baseball-Reference.com. 2017-04-04.
- Web site: Opening Day 2018. Baseball-Reference.com. 2018-04-28.
- Web site: Opening Day 2019. Baseball-Reference.com. March 28, 2019. March 29, 2019.
- Web site: Opening Day 2020. Baseball-Reference.com. July 24, 2020. July 24, 2020.
- Web site: Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers Box Score, April 1, 2021 . . Baseball Reference . April 2, 2021 .
- Web site: Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers Box Score, April 8, 2022 . . Baseball Reference . April 8, 2022 .
- Web site: Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays Box Score, March 30, 2023 . . Baseball Reference . March 30, 2023 .
- Web site: Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox Box Score, March 28, 2024 . . Baseball Reference . March 28, 2024 .