List of Washington Senators Opening Day starting pitchers explained

Two American League baseball franchises have borne the name "Washington Senators". The first franchise was one of the teams that was originally part of the American League when it became a Major League in 1901. That franchise moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season, becoming the Minnesota Twins. It was replaced by a new Washington Senators franchise in 1961. That franchise moved to Arlington, Texas after the 1971 season, becoming the Texas Rangers. The Washington Senators played in three home ball parks over their history. They started in American League Park and moved to American League Park II in 1903. In 1911, they moved to Griffith Stadium, where they remained until 1961. 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 1901-1960 franchise won 32 Opening Day games against 28 losses. The 1901-1960 franchise had a record in Opening Day games at home of 26 wins and 21 losses. On the road, they had an Opening Day record of six wins and seven losses.

The 1901-1960 franchise used 32 Opening Day starting pitchers in their 60 seasons in Washington. One pitcher made Opening Day starts for both franchises. Camilo Pascual made two Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise, in 1956 and 1960, and later made two Opening Day starts for the 1961-1971 franchise.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Walter Johnson holds the record for most Opening Day starts for either franchise, with 14 Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise between 1910 and 1926, including ten consecutive Opening Day starts from 1912 through 1921. Dutch Leonard made four Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise between 1940 and 1945. Bob Porterfield made three Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise between 1952 and 1955. Other pitchers with multiple Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise are Al Orth, Long Tom Hughes, Charlie Smith, George Mogridge, Alvin Crowder, Earl Whitehill, Early Wynn, Pedro Ramos and Pascual, with two apiece.

The Senators won three American League championships in their history, all by the 1901-1960 franchise. Their championships were won in, and .^[7] They won the World Series in 1924, but lost in 1925 and 1933.^[7] The Senators' Opening Day starters in their American League championship years were Johnson in 1924, Mogridge in 1925 and Crowder in 1933.

Key

Season	Each year is linked to an article about that particular Senators season.
W	Win
L	Loss
ND (W)	No decision by starting pitcher; Senators won game
ND (L)	No decision by starting pitcher; Senators lost game
(W)	Senators won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
(L)	Senators lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
Final Score	Game score with Senators runs listed first
Location	Stadium in italics for home game
	Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Senators
	American League Champions
†	World Series Champions

1901 through 1960 franchise

Season	Pitcher	Decision	Final Score	Opponent	Location	References
1901		(W)		Philadelphia Athletics	Columbia Park	^[8] ^[9]
1902		(W)		Boston Red Sox	American League Park	^[10] ^[11]
1903		(W)		New York Yankees	American League Park II	^[12] ^[13]
1904		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	American League Park II	^[14] ^[15]
1905		(L)		New York Yankees	American League Park II	^[16] ^[17]
1906		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	American League Park II	^[18] ^[19]
1907		(L)		New York Yankees	American League Park II	^[20] ^[21]
1908		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds	^[22] ^[23]
1909		(W)		New York Yankees	American League Park II	^[24] ^[25]
1910		(W)		Philadelphia Athletics	American League Park II	^[26] ^[27]
1911		(W)		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[28] ^[29]
1912		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	Shibe Park	^[30] ^[31]
1913		(W)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[32] ^[33]
1914		(W)		Boston Red Sox	Fenway Park	^[34] ^[35]
1915		(W)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[36] ^[37]
1916		(W)		New York Yankees	Polo Grounds	^[38] ^[39]
1917		(W)		Philadelphia Athletics	Shibe Park	^[40] ^[41]
1918		(L)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[42] ^[43]
1919		(W)		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[44] ^[45]
1920		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Fenway Park	^[46] ^[47]
1921		L		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[48] ^[49]
1922		W		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[50] ^[51]
1923		L		Philadelphia Athletics	Shibe Park	^[52] ^[53]
1924†		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[54] ^[55]
1925		L		New York Yankees	Yankee Stadium	^[56] ^[57]
1926		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[58] ^[59]
1927		W		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[60]
1928		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[61]
1929		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[62]
1930		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[63]
1931		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[64]
1932		W		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[65]
1933		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[66]
1934		ND (W)		Boston Red Sox	Fenway Park	^[67]
1935		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[68]
1936		W		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[69]
1937		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[70]
1938		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[71]
1939		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	Shibe Park	^[72]
1940		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[73]
1941		(L)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[74]
1942		(L)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[75]
1943		ND (W)		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[76]
1944		(L)		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[77]
1945		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Shibe Park	^[78]
1946		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[79]
1947		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Fenway Park	^[80]
1948		(L)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[81]
1949		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[82]
1950		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[83]
1951		W		Philadelphia Athletics	Griffith Stadium	^[84]
1952		(L)		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[85]
1953		(L)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[86]
1954		ND (W)		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[87]
1955		W		Baltimore Orioles	Griffith Stadium	^[88]
1956		L		New York Yankees	Griffith Stadium	^[89]
1957		ND (L)		Baltimore Orioles	Griffith Stadium	^[90]
1958		W		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[91]
1959		W		Baltimore Orioles	Griffith Stadium	^[92]
1960		W		Boston Red Sox	Griffith Stadium	^[93]

Footnotes

• Camilo Pascual had two Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise in 1956 and 1960 and two Opening Day starts for the 1961-1971 franchise in 1968 and 1969. He also received the decision as a relief pitcher on Opening Day 1957 for the 1901-1960 franchise.^{[89] [93] [5] [6] [90]}

References

General

• Web site: Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters and Results. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference. 2009-02-21.

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day. Jordan. Bastian. MLB.com. March 22, 2010. September 26, 2010.
2. Web site: Steve. Dilbeck. Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney. Los Angeles Times. February 24, 2014. February 25, 2014.
3. Web site: Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters and Results. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference. 2009-02-21.
4. Web site: Texas Rangers Opening Day Starters and Results. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference. 2009-02-21.
5. Web site: Opening Day 1968. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.
6. Web site: Opening Day 1969. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.
7. Web site: Minnesota Twins History & Encyclopedia. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. 2009-02-22.
8. Web site: Opening Day 1901. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
9. Web site: 1901 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018155138/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1901. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
10. Web site: Opening Day 1902. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
11. Web site: 1902 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018155131/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1902. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
12. Web site: Opening Day 1903. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
13. Web site: 1903 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018154918/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1903. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
14. Web site: Opening Day 1904. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
15. Web site: 1904 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018154912/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1904. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
16. Web site: Opening Day 1905. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
17. Web site: 1905 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018154849/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1905. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
18. Web site: Opening Day 1906. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
19. Web site: 1906 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018154842/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1906. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
20. Web site: Opening Day 1907. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
21. Web site: 1907 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018154833/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1907. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
22. Web site: Opening Day 1908. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
23. Web site: 1908 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018154824/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1908. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
24. Web site: Opening Day 1909. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
25. Web site: 1909 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135453/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1909. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
26. Web site: Opening Day 1910. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
27. Web site: 1910 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135440/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1910. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
28. Web site: Opening Day 1911. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
29. Web site: 1911 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135416/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1911. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
30. Web site: Opening Day 1912. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
31. Web site: 1912 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135430/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1912. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
32. Web site: Opening Day 1913. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
33. Web site: 1913 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135410/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1913. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
34. Web site: Opening Day 1914. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
35. Web site: 1914 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135358/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1914. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
36. Web site: Opening Day 1915. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
37. Web site: 1915 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135405/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1915. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
38. Web site: Opening Day 1916. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
39. Web site: 1916 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135347/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1916. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
40. Web site: Opening Day 1917. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
41. Web site: 1917 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135336/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1917. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
42. Web site: Opening Day 1918. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
43. Web site: 1918 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135326/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1918. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
44. Web site: Opening Day 1919. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
45. Web site: 1919 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135318/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1919. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
46. Web site: Opening Day 1920. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
47. Web site: 1920 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135255/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1920. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
48. Web site: Opening Day 1921. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
49. Web site: 1921 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135245/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1921. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
50. Web site: Opening Day 1922. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
51. Web site: 1922 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135237/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1922. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
52. Web site: Opening Day 1923. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
53. Web site: 1923 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20070524021131/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1923. dead. May 24, 2007. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
54. Web site: Opening Day 1924. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
55. Web site: 1924 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135214/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1924. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
56. Web site: Opening Day 1925. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
57. Web site: 1925 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135157/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1925. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
58. Web site: Opening Day 1926. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
59. Web site: 1926 Season. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018135202/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/teams/byyear.php?team=washington_senators_1901&year=1926. dead. October 18, 2012. BaseballLibrary. 2009-02-22.
60. Web site: Opening Day 1927. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
61. Web site: Opening Day 1928. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
62. Web site: Opening Day 1929. Retrosheet. 2009-02-22.
63. Web site: Opening Day 1930. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
64. Web site: Opening Day 1931. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
65. Web site: Opening Day 1932. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
66. Web site: Opening Day 1933. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
67. Web site: Opening Day 1934. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
68. Web site: Opening Day 1935. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
69. Web site: Opening Day 1936. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
70. Web site: Opening Day 1937. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
71. Web site: Opening Day 1938. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
72. Web site: Opening Day 1939. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
73. Web site: Opening Day 1940. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
74. Web site: Opening Day 1941. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
75. Web site: Opening Day 1942. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
76. Web site: Opening Day 1943. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
77. Web site: Opening Day 1944. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
78. Web site: Opening Day 1945. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
79. Web site: Opening Day 1946. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
80. Web site: Opening Day 1947. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
81. Web site: Opening Day 1948. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
82. Web site: Opening Day 1949. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
83. Web site: Opening Day 1950. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
84. Web site: Opening Day 1951. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
85. Web site: Opening Day 1952. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
86. Web site: Opening Day 1953. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
87. Web site: Opening Day 1954. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
88. Web site: Opening Day 1955. Retrosheet. 2009-02-21.
89. Web site: Opening Day 1956. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.
90. Web site: Opening Day 1957. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.
91. Web site: Opening Day 1958. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.
92. Web site: Opening Day 1959. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.
93. Web site: Opening Day 1960. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. 2009-02-21.