List of San Francisco Giants Opening Day starting pitchers explained

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball franchise based in San Francisco, California. They moved to San Francisco from New York City in 1958.[1] They play in the National League West 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,[2] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.[3] Through 2016, the Giants have used 30 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 58 seasons since moving to San Francisco. The 30 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 27 wins, 16 losses and 16 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.[4]

The first Opening Day game for the San Francisco Giants was played against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 15, 1958 at Seals Stadium, the Giants' first home ball park in San Francisco. Rubén Gómez was the Giants' Opening Day starting pitcher that day, in a game the Giants lost 8–0. That was the Giants' only Opening Day game at Seals Stadium. They also played in two other home parks in San Francisco: Candlestick Park from 1960 to 1999, and Oracle Park, previously called PacBell Park, SBC Park and AT&T Park, since 2000.[5] The Giants' Opening Day starting pitchers had a record of seven wins, three losses and seven no decisions at Candlestick Park and have a record of two wins, one loss and one no decision at AT&T Park. That gives the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day starting pitchers a total home record of 10 wins, 4 losses and 8 no decisions. Their record in Opening Day road games is 17 wins, 12 losses, and 8 no decisions.

Juan Marichal holds the San Francisco Giants' record for most Opening Day starts, with 10.[6] Marichal had a record in Opening Day starts of six wins, two losses and two no decisions. Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner each made four Opening Day starts for the Giants, and John Montefusco, Mike Krukow, John Burkett and Liván Hernández each made three Opening Day starts. Sam Jones, Vida Blue, Rick Reuschel, Mark Gardner, Kirk Rueter, Jason Schmidt and Barry Zito have each made two Opening Day starts for the Giants.[6] Marichal has the most wins in Opening Day starts for San Francisco, with six. Reuschel and Burkett are the only pitchers to have won more than one Opening Day start for San Francisco without a loss. Both have records in Opening Day starts of two wins and no losses. Burkett also has a no decision. Zito has the worst record for San Francisco in Opening Day starts, with no wins and two losses. Zito and Marichal have the most losses in Opening Day starts, with two apiece.[6] The Giants have played in the World Series six times since moving to San Francisco, in,,,, and, winning in 2010, 2012 and 2014.[7] Their Opening Day starting pitchers in those years were Juan Marichal in 1962, Rick Reuschel in 1989, Liván Hernández in 2002, Tim Lincecum in 2010 and 2012, and Madison Bumgarner in 2014.[6] The Giants' Opening Day starting pitchers won four of their six Opening Day starts in those seasons, with their only loss coming in 2012 and a no decision in 2014.[6]

Key

SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Giants season.
WWin
LLoss
ND (W)No decision by starting pitcher; Giants won game
ND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Giants lost game
LocationStadium in italics for home game
Pitcher Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Giants
Advanced to the post-season
NL Champions
†World Series Champions

Pitchers

SeasonPitcherDecisionFinal
score		OpponentLocationRef(s)
1958WLos Angeles DodgersSeals Stadium[8]
1959WSt. Louis CardinalsSportsman's Park[9]
1960WSt. Louis CardinalsCandlestick Park[10]
1961ND (L)Pittsburgh PiratesCandlestick Park[11]
1962WMilwaukee BravesCandlestick Park[12]
1963WHouston Colt .45'sColt Stadium[13]
1964WMilwaukee BravesCandlestick Park[14]
1965LPittsburgh PiratesForbes Field[15]
1966WChicago CubsCandlestick Park[16]
1967LSt. Louis CardinalsBusch Stadium[17]
1968ND (W)New York MetsCandlestick Park[18]
1969ND (L)Atlanta BravesAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium[19]
1970LHouston AstrosCandlestick Park[20]
1971WSan Diego PadresSan Diego Stadium[21]
1972WHouston AstrosAstrodome[22]
1973WCincinnati RedsRiverfront Stadium[23]
1974WHouston AstrosCandlestick Park[24]
1975WSan Diego PadresSan Diego Stadium[25]
1976WLos Angeles DodgersCandlestick Park[26]
1977LLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[27]
1978ND (L)San Diego PadresCandlestick Park[28]
1979WCincinnati RedsRiverfront Stadium[29]
1980LSan Diego PadresSan Diego Stadium[30]
1981ND (L)San Diego PadresCandlestick Park[31]
1982ND (L)Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[32]
1983LSan Diego PadresCandlestick Park[33]
1984LChicago CubsCandlestick Park[34]
1985ND (W)San Diego PadresCandlestick Park[35]
1986WHouston AstrosAstrodome[36]
1987ND (W)San Diego PadresCandlestick Park[37]
1988WLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[38]
1989WSan Diego PadresJack Murphy Stadium[39]
1990WAtlanta BravesAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium[40]
1991ND (L)San Diego PadresJack Murphy Stadium[41]
1992WLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[42]
1993WSt. Louis CardinalsBusch Stadium[43]
1994WPittsburgh PiratesCandlestick Park[44]
1995LAtlanta BravesAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium[45]
1996LAtlanta BravesAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium[46]
1997ND (L)Pittsburgh PiratesCandlestick Park[47]
1998ND (W)Houston AstrosAstrodome[48]
1999ND (W)Cincinnati RedsRiverfront Stadium[49]
2000LFlorida MarlinsDolphin Stadium[50]
2001WSan Diego PadresPac Bell Park[51]
2002WLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[52] [53]
2003ND (W)San Diego PadresQualcomm Stadium[54] [55]
2004ND (W)Houston AstrosMinute Maid Park[56] [57]
2005WLos Angeles DodgersSBC Park[58] [59]
2006LSan Diego PadresPetco Park[60] [61]
2007LSan Diego PadresAT&T Park[62] [63]
2008LLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[64] [65]
2009ND (W)Milwaukee BrewersAT&T Park[66]
2010†WHouston AstrosMinute Maid Park[67]
2011LLos Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[68]
2012†LArizona DiamondbacksChase Field[69]
2013ND (L)Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[70]
2014†ND (W)Arizona DiamondbacksChase Field[71]
2015WArizona DiamondbacksChase Field[72]
2016WMilwaukee BrewersMiller Park[73]
2017ND (L)Arizona DiamondbacksChase Field[74]
2018W1–0Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[75]
2019L0–2San Diego PadresPetco Park[76]
2020ND (L)1–8Los Angeles DodgersDodger Stadium[77]
2021ND (L)7–8Seattle MarinersT-Mobile Park[78]
2022ND (W)6–5Miami MarlinsOracle Park[79]
2023L0–5New York YankeesYankee Stadium[80]
2024ND (L)4–6San Diego PadresPetco Park[81]

Footnotes

References

GeneralWeb site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day Starters and Results. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-01-04.
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Giants Timeline – 1950s. Major League Baseball. 2009-01-10.
  2. Web site: Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day. Jordan. Bastian. MLB.com. March 22, 2010. September 26, 2010.
  3. Web site: Steve. Dilbeck. Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney. Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2014. February 25, 2014.
  4. Web site: Official Rules – The Official Scorer. Major League Baseball. 2009-01-04.
  5. Web site: Giants Ballparks. Major League Baseball. 2009-01-04.
  6. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day Starting Pitchers. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  7. Web site: San Francisco Giants History & Encyclopedia. Baseball-Reference.com. 2009-01-04.
  8. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1958. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  9. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1959. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  10. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1960. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  11. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1961. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  12. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1962. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  13. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1963. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  14. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1964. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  15. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1965. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  16. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1966. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  17. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1967. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  18. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1968. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  19. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1969. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  20. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1970. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  21. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1971. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  22. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1972. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  23. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1973. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  24. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1974. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  25. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1975. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  26. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1976. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  27. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1977. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  28. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1978. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  29. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1979. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  30. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1980. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  31. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1981. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  32. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1982. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  33. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1983. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  34. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1984. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  35. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1985. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  36. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1986. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  37. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1987. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  38. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1988. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  39. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1989. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  40. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1990. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  41. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1991. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  42. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1992. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  43. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1993. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  44. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1994. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  45. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1995. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  46. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1996. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  47. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1997. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.
  48. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1998. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  49. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1999. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  50. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2000. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  51. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2001. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  52. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2002. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  53. Web site: Giants 9, Dodgers 2. ESPN. 2009-01-04.
  54. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2003. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  55. Web site: Giants' Snow, Santiago homer in ninth inning. https://archive.today/20120721100203/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=230331125. dead. July 21, 2012. ESPN. 2009-01-04.
  56. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2004. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  57. Web site: Snow's sacrifice lifts San Francisco. https://archive.today/20130103020623/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240405118. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2009-01-04.
  58. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2005. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  59. Web site: Giants prevail over rivals even without Bonds. ESPN. 2009-01-04.
  60. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2006. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  61. Web site: Bonds doubles, goes 1-for-4 in Giants' loss to Padres. https://web.archive.org/web/20060410043641/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260403125. dead. April 10, 2006. ESPN. 2009-01-04.
  62. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2007. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  63. Web site: Padres' Peavy gives six shutout innings in opening win. https://web.archive.org/web/20070816085105/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270403126. dead. August 16, 2007. ESPN. 2009-01-04.
  64. Web site: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2008. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  65. Web site: Torre wins Dodgers debut as L.A. roughs up Zito. https://web.archive.org/web/20080406013128/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280331119. dead. April 6, 2008. ESPN. 2008-10-21.
  66. Web site: San Francisco 10, Milwaukee 6 . Yahoo!. 2009-04-07.
  67. Web site: San Francisco 5, Houston 2 . Yahoo!. 2010-04-05.
  68. Web site: LA Dodgers 2, San Francisco 1 . Yahoo!. 2011-04-01.
  69. Web site: Arizona 5, San Francisco 4 . Yahoo!. 2012-04-22.
  70. Web site: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, April 1, 2013. Baseball-Reference.com. 2018-08-05.
  71. Web site: March 31, 2014 San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks . Baseball-Reference.com. 2014-10-30.
  72. Web site: April 6, 2015 San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks . Baseball-Reference.com. 2016-04-02.
  73. Web site: April 4, 2016 San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers. Baseball-Reference.com. 2016-04-05.
  74. Web site: April 2, 2017 San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks. Baseball-Reference.com. 2017-04-03.
  75. Web site: March 29, 2018 San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball-Reference.com. 2018-03-30.
  76. Web site: March 28, 2019 San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres. Baseball-Reference.com. 2019-04-01.
  77. Web site: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, July 23, 2020. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021.
  78. Web site: San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners Box Score, April 1, 2021. Baseball Reference. April 10, 2021.
  79. Web site: Miami Marlins at San Francisco Giants Box Score, April 8, 2022. Baseball Reference. May 29, 2022.
  80. Web site: San Francisco Giants at New York Yankees Box Score, March 30, 2023. Baseball Reference. March 30, 2023.
  81. Web site: San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres Box Score, March 28, 2024. Baseball Reference. March 28, 2024.
  82. Web site: 1955 New York Giants. Baseball Library. 2008-10-22. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154703/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=new_york_giants&year=1955. 2011-06-04.
  83. Web site: New York Giants Opening Day 1956. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-21.
  84. Web site: New York Giants Opening Day 1957. Baseball-Reference.com. 2008-10-20.

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