List of San Francisco Giants Opening Day starting pitchers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barry Zito was the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2007 and 2008.

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.[4] No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game.[5]

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.[6] Rubén Gómez was the Giants' Opening Day starting pitcher that day, in a game the Giants lost 8–0.[6] 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.[7] 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.[4]

Juan Marichal holds the San Francisco Giants' record for most Opening Day starts, with 10.[4] 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.[4][8][9] 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.[4] The Giants have played in the World Series six times since moving to San Francisco, in 1962, 1989, 2002, 2010, 2012 and 2014, winning in 2010, 2012 and 2014.[10] 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.[4] 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.[4]

Key[edit]

Oracle Park, formerly called Pac Bell Park, SBC Park and AT&T Park, has been the Giants' home field since 2000 and has been the site of three Opening Day games through 2008.
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Giants season.
W Win
L Loss
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Giants won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Giants lost game
Location Stadium 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[edit]

Tim Lincecum was the Giants' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Kirk Rueter was the Giants' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2003 and 2004.
Jason Schmidt was the Giants' Opening Day starting pitcher in 2005 and 2006.
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score
Opponent Location Ref(s)
1958 Rubén Gómez W 8–0 Los Angeles Dodgers Seals Stadium [6]
1959 Johnny Antonelli[a] W 6–5 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park [11]
1960 Sam Jones W 3–1 St. Louis Cardinals Candlestick Park [12]
1961 Sam Jones (2) ND (L) 7–8 Pittsburgh Pirates Candlestick Park [13]
1962** Juan Marichal W 6–0 Milwaukee Braves Candlestick Park [14]
1963 Jack Sanford W 9–2 Houston Colt .45's Colt Stadium [15]
1964 Juan Marichal (2) W 8–4 Milwaukee Braves Candlestick Park [16]
1965 Juan Marichal (3) L 0–1 Pittsburgh Pirates Forbes Field [17]
1966 Juan Marichal (4) W 9–1 Chicago Cubs Candlestick Park [18]
1967 Juan Marichal (5) L 0–6 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium [19]
1968 Juan Marichal (6) ND (W) 5–4 New York Mets Candlestick Park [20]
1969 Juan Marichal (7) ND (L) 4–5 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [21]
1970 Gaylord Perry L 5–8 Houston Astros Candlestick Park [22]
1971* Juan Marichal (8) W 4–0 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [23]
1972 Juan Marichal (9) W 5–0 Houston Astros Astrodome [24]
1973 Juan Marichal (10) W 4–1 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [25]
1974 Tom Bradley W 5–1 Houston Astros Candlestick Park [26]
1975 Jim Barr W 2–0 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [27]
1976 John Montefusco W 4–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Candlestick Park [28]
1977 John Montefusco (2) L 1–5 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [29]
1978 John Montefusco (3) ND (L) 2–3 San Diego Padres Candlestick Park [30]
1979 Vida Blue W 11–5 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [31]
1980 Bob Knepper L 4–6 San Diego Padres San Diego Stadium [32]
1981 Vida Blue (2) ND (L) 1–4 San Diego Padres Candlestick Park [33]
1982 Al Holland ND (L) 3–4 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [34]
1983 Mike Krukow L 13–16 San Diego Padres Candlestick Park [35]
1984 Mark Davis L 3–5 Chicago Cubs Candlestick Park [36]
1985 Atlee Hammaker ND (W) 4–3 San Diego Padres Candlestick Park [37]
1986 Mike Krukow (2) W 8–3 Houston Astros Astrodome [38]
1987* Mike Krukow (3) ND (W) 4–3 San Diego Padres Candlestick Park [39]
1988 Dave Dravecky W 5–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [40]
1989** Rick Reuschel W 5–3 San Diego Padres Jack Murphy Stadium [41]
1990 Rick Reuschel (2) W 8–0 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [42]
1991 John Burkett ND (L) 4–7 San Diego Padres Jack Murphy Stadium [43]
1992 Bill Swift W 8–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [44]
1993 John Burkett (2) W 2–1 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium [45]
1994 John Burkett (3) W 8–0 Pittsburgh Pirates Candlestick Park [46]
1995 Terry Mulholland L 5–12 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [47]
1996 Mark Leiter L 8–10 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium [48]
1997* Mark Gardner ND (L) 2–5 Pittsburgh Pirates Candlestick Park [49]
1998 Shawn Estes ND (W) 9–4 Houston Astros Astrodome [50]
1999 Mark Gardner (2) ND (W) 11–8 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium [51]
2000* Liván Hernández L 4–6 Florida Marlins Dolphin Stadium [52]
2001 Liván Hernández (2) W 3–2 San Diego Padres Pac Bell Park [53]
2002** Liván Hernández (3) W 9–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [54][55]
2003* Kirk Rueter ND (W) 5–2 San Diego Padres Qualcomm Stadium [56][57]
2004 Kirk Rueter (2) ND (W) 5–4 Houston Astros Minute Maid Park [58][59]
2005 Jason Schmidt W 4–2 Los Angeles Dodgers SBC Park [60][61]
2006 Jason Schmidt (2) L 1–6 San Diego Padres Petco Park [62][63]
2007 Barry Zito L 0–7 San Diego Padres AT&T Park [64][65]
2008 Barry Zito (2) L 0–5 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [66][67]
2009 Tim Lincecum ND (W) 10–6 Milwaukee Brewers AT&T Park [8]
2010 Tim Lincecum (2) W 5–2 Houston Astros Minute Maid Park [9]
2011 Tim Lincecum (3) L 1–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [68]
2012 Tim Lincecum (4) L 4–5 Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field [69]
2013 Matt Cain ND (L) 0–4 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [70]
2014 Madison Bumgarner ND (W) 9–8 Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field [71]
2015 Madison Bumgarner (2) W 5–4 Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field [72]
2016* Madison Bumgarner (3) W 12–3 Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park [73]
2017 Madison Bumgarner (4) ND (L) 5–6 Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field [74]
2018 Ty Blach W 1–0 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [75]
2019 Madison Bumgarner (5) L 0–2 San Diego Padres Petco Park [76]
2020 Johnny Cueto ND (L) 1–8 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium [77]
2021 Kevin Gausman ND (L) 7–8 Seattle Mariners T-Mobile Park [78]
2022 Logan Webb ND (W) 6–5 Miami Marlins Oracle Park [79]
2023 Logan Webb (2) L 0–5 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium [80]
2024 Logan Webb (3) ND (L) 4–6 San Diego Padres Petco Park [81]

Footnotes[edit]

  • a Johnny Antonelli had one Opening Day start for the San Francisco Giants in 1959. He also had three Opening Day starts for the New York Giants, in 1955, 1956 and 1957, giving him a total of four Opening Day starts for the Giants' franchise.[11][82][83][84]

References[edit]

General

"San Francisco Giants Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.

Specific
  1. ^ "Giants Timeline – 1950s". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  2. ^ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  3. ^ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "San Francisco Giants Opening Day Starting Pitchers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  5. ^ "Official Rules – The Official Scorer". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  6. ^ a b c "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1958". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  7. ^ "Giants Ballparks". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  8. ^ a b "San Francisco 10, Milwaukee 6". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  9. ^ a b "San Francisco 5, Houston 2". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  10. ^ "San Francisco Giants History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  11. ^ a b "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1959". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
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  13. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1961". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  14. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1962". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
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  16. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1964". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  17. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1965". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  18. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1966". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  19. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1967". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  20. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1968". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  21. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1969". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  22. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1970". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  23. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1971". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  24. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1972". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  25. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1973". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  26. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1974". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
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  30. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1978". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  31. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1979". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  32. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1980". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  33. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1981". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  34. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1982". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  35. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1983". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  36. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1984". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  37. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1985". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  38. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1986". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  39. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1987". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  40. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1988". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  41. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1989". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  42. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1990". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  43. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1991". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  44. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1992". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  45. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1993". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  46. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1994". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  47. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1995". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  48. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1996". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  49. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1997". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  50. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1998". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  51. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 1999". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  52. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2000". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  53. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2001". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  54. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2002". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
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  56. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2003". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
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  58. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2004". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  59. ^ "Snow's sacrifice lifts San Francisco". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  60. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2005". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
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  62. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2006". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  63. ^ "Bonds doubles, goes 1-for-4 in Giants' loss to Padres". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  64. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2007". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  65. ^ "Padres' Peavy gives six shutout innings in opening win". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  66. ^ "San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  67. ^ "Torre wins Dodgers debut as L.A. roughs up Zito". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
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  69. ^ "Arizona 5, San Francisco 4". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
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  71. ^ "March 31, 2014 San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  72. ^ "April 6, 2015 San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  73. ^ "April 4, 2016 San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  74. ^ "April 2, 2017 San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
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  76. ^ "March 28, 2019 San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
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  82. ^ "1955 New York Giants". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
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