List of Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day starting pitchers

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the National League Central division. Originally known as the Alleghenys, they played in the American Association from 1882 through 1886, and have played in the National League since 1887. 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, though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. The Pirates have used 71 Opening Day starting pitchers since they began to play as a Major League team in 1882. The Pirates have a record of 69 wins and 60 losses in their Opening Day games.

The Pirates have played in several different home ball parks. Between 1882 and 1909 they played in two parks called Exposition Park and in Recreation Park. They played in Forbes Field from 1909 to 1970 and Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 to 2000 and they have played in their current stadium, PNC Park, since 2001. They had a record of no wins and one loss in the first Exposition Park, four wins and no losses in Recreation Park and no wins and two losses in the second Exposition Park. They had a record of four wins and two losses at Forbes Field and a record of five wins and eight losses at Three Rivers Stadium. Through 2010, they have a record of two wins and one loss at PNC Park. That gives the Pirates an overall Opening Day record of 15 wins and 14 losses at home. They have a record of 54 wins and 46 losses in Opening Day games on the road.

Bob Friend has made the most Opening Day starts for the Pirates, with seven. Babe Adams and Frank Killen each made five Opening Day starts for the Pirates, and Deacon Phillippe, Howie Camnitz, Cy Blanton and Bob Veale each made four Opening Day starts. Ed Morris, Pud Galvin, Wilbur Cooper, Ray Kremer, Rip Sewell, Steve Blass, Dock Ellis, Rick Rhoden, Doug Drabek and Francisco Liriano all made three Opening Day starts for the Pirates. Several Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day starting pitchers have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Galvin, Burleigh Grimes, Waite Hoyt, Jim Bunning, and Bert Blyleven. Bunning was elected as both a United States congressman and senator from Kentucky after retiring from baseball.

The Pirates have won nine National League titles, in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960, 1971 and 1979. They went on to win the World Series in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979 (the modern World Series began in 1903). Sam Leever was the Pirates Opening Day starting pitcher in 1901, Phillippe was the Opening Day starting pitcher in both 1902 and 1903, Camnitz was the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1909, Emil Yde in 1925, Kremer in 1927, Friend in 1960, Ellis in 1971 and Blyleven in 1979.

Key

Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Pirates season.
Pitcher (#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Pirates
W Win
L Loss
T Tie
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Pirates won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Pirates lost game
(W) Pirates won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
(L) Pirates lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
* Advanced to the post-season
** NL Champions
asterism World Series Champions

Pitchers

U.S. Senator Jim Bunning was the Pirates' Opening Day starting pitcher in 1968.
Hall of Famer Pud Galvin made three Opening Day starts for the Pirates.
Ed Morris made three Opening Day starts for the Pirates.
Howie Camnitz made four Opening Day starts for the Pirates.
Season Pitcher Decision Final
score
Opponent Location Ref(s)
1882 Jack Leary (W) 10–9 Cincinnati Red Stockings Bank Street Grounds
1883 Denny Driscoll (L) 0–4 Philadelphia Athletics Exposition Park I
1884 John Fox (L) 2–9 Philadelphia Athletics Recreation Park
1885 Ed Morris (W) 7–0 St. Louis Browns Sportsman's Park
1886 Ed Morris (2) (L) 4–8 St. Louis Browns Sportsman's Park
1887 Pud Galvin (W) 6–2 Chicago White Stockings Recreation Park
1888 Ed Morris (3) (W) 5–2 Detroit Wolverines Recreation Park
1889 Pud Galvin (2) (W) 8–5 Chicago White Stockings Recreation Park
1890 Pete Daniels (W) 3–2 Cleveland Spiders Recreation Park
1891 Pud Galvin (3) (L) 6–7 Chicago Colts Exposition Park III
1892 Mark Baldwin (W) 7–5 Cincinnati Reds League Park
1893 Frank Killen (L) 2–7 Cleveland Spiders Exposition Park III
1894 Frank Killen (2) (L) 3–11 St. Louis Browns Robison Field
1895 Frank Killen (3) (L) 2–11 Louisville Colonels Eclipse Park
1896 Pink Hawley (W) 9–1 Cincinnati Reds League Park
1897 Frank Killen (4) (W) 4–1 St. Louis Browns Robison Field
1898 Frank Killen (5) (L) 3–10 Louisville Colonels Eclipse Park
1899 Jesse Tannehill (W) 5–2 Cincinnati Reds League Park
1900 Sam Leever (L) 0–3 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1901** Sam Leever (2) (W) 4–2 Cincinnati Reds League Park
1902** Deacon Phillippe (W) 1–0 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1903** Deacon Phillippe (2) (W) 7–1 Cincinnati Reds Palace of the Fans
1904 Deacon Phillippe (3) (W) 5–4 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1905 Patsy Flaherty (W) 9–4 Cincinnati Reds Palace of the Fans
1906 Vic Willis (W) 2–1 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1907 Deacon Phillippe (4) (L) 3–4 Cincinnati Reds Palace of the Fans
1908 Howie Camnitz (W) 3–1 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1909asterism Howie Camnitz (2) (W) 3–0 Cincinnati Reds Palace of the Fans
1910 Howie Camnitz (3) (W) 5–1 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1911 Babe Adams W 14–0 Cincinnati Reds Palace of the Fans
1912 Howie Camnitz (4) (L) 0–7 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1913 Babe Adams (2) (W) 9–2 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1914 Babe Adams (3) (L) 1–2 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1915 George McQuillan (W) 9–2 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1916 Erv Kantlehner (L) 1–2 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1917 Elmer Jacobs (L) 3–5 Chicago Cubs Weeghman Park
1918 Wilbur Cooper (L) 0–2 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1919 Wilbur Cooper (2) (L) 1–5 Chicago Cubs Weeghman Park
1920 Babe Adams (4) W 5–4 St. Louis Cardinals Robison Field
1921 Babe Adams (5) L 3–5 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1922 Wilbur Cooper (3) L 1–10 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1923 Johnny Morrison W 3–2 Chicago Cubs Cubs Park
1924 Johnny Morrison (2) ND (L) 5–6 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1925asterism Emil Yde L 2–8 Chicago Cubs Cubs Park
1926 Vic Aldridge L 6–7 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1927** Ray Kremer W 2–1 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1928 Ray Kremer (2) L 7–14 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1929 Burleigh Grimes W 4–3 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1930 Ray Kremer (3) ND (W) 7–6 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1931 Larry French (L) 2–6 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1932 Larry French (2) (L) 2–10 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1933 Bill Swift W 4–1 Cincinnati Reds Redland Field
1934 Heinie Meine (L) 1–7 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1935 Waite Hoyt W 12–6 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1936 Cy Blanton ND (W) 8–6 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1937 Cy Blanton (2) W 5–0 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1938 Cy Blanton (3) ND (W) 4–3 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1939 Cy Blanton (4) W 7–5 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1940 Bob Klinger W 6–4 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1941 Bob Klinger (2) (L) 4–7 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1942 Max Butcher W 4–2 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1943 Rip Sewell W 6–0 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1944 Preacher Roe (L) 0–2 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1945 Fritz Ostermueller (L) 6–7 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1946 Fritz Ostermueller (2) ND (W) 6–4 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1947 Rip Sewell (2) W 1–0 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1948 Hal Gregg (L) 1–4 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1949 Rip Sewell (3) W 1–0 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1950 Bob Chesnes (L) 2–4 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1951 Cliff Chambers W 4–3 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1952 Murry Dickson L 2–3 St. Louis Cardinals Sportsman's Park
1953 Murry Dickson (2) L 5–8 Brooklyn Dodgers Ebbets Field
1954 Bob Friend ND (W) 4–2 Philadelphia Phillies Forbes Field
1955 Max Surkont L 1–6 Brooklyn Dodgers Ebbets Field
1956 Bob Friend (2) L 3–4 New York Giants Polo Grounds
1957 Bob Friend (3) W 9–2 New York Giants Forbes Field
1958 Bob Friend (4) ND (W) 4–3 Milwaukee Braves County Stadium
1959 Ron Kline L 1–4 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1960asterism Bob Friend (5) ND (L) 3–4 Milwaukee Braves County Stadium
1961 Bob Friend (6) ND (W) 8–7 San Francisco Giants Candlestick Park
1962 Bob Friend (7) W 6–0 Philadelphia Phillies Forbes Field
1963 Earl Francis L 2–5 Cincinnati Reds Crosley Field
1964 Bob Veale ND (L) 8–4 Chicago Cubs Forbes Field
1965 Bob Veale (2) W 1–0 San Francisco Giants Forbes Field
1966 Bob Veale (3) ND (W) 3–2 Atlanta Braves Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
1967 Bob Veale (4) W 6–3 New York Mets Shea Stadium
1968 Jim Bunning ND (L) 4–5 Houston Astros Astrodome
1969 Steve Blass ND (W) 6–2 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
1970* Steve Blass (2) ND (L) 3–5 New York Mets Forbes Field
1971asterism Dock Ellis W 4–2 Philadelphia Phillies Three Rivers Stadium
1972* Dock Ellis (2) L 0–4 New York Mets Shea Stadium
1973 Steve Blass (3) ND (W) 7–5 St. Louis Cardinals Three Rivers Stadium
1974* Jerry Reuss ND (L) 5–6 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
1975* Dock Ellis (3) ND (W) 8–4 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1976 Doc Medich ND (W) 5–4 Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium
1977 Jerry Reuss (2) L 6–12 St. Louis Cardinals Three Rivers Stadium
1978 John Candelaria W 1–0 Chicago Cubs Three Rivers Stadium
1979asterism Bert Blyleven ND (L) 2–3 Montreal Expos Three Rivers Stadium
1980 Bert Blyleven (2) L 0–1 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
1981 Jim Bibby ND (L) 2–6 Montreal Expos Three Rivers Stadium
1982 Rick Rhoden ND (W) 11–7 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
1983 John Candelaria (2) W 7–1 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
1984 Rick Rhoden (2) L 1–5 San Diego Padres Jack Murphy Stadium
1985 Rick Rhoden (3) L 1–2 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
1986 Rick Reuschel L 2–4 New York Mets Three Rivers Stadium
1987 Bob Patterson L 2–3 New York Mets Shea Stadium
1988 Mike Dunne W 5–3 Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium
1989 Bob Walk ND (L) 5–6 Montreal Expos Olympic Stadium
1990* Doug Drabek W 12–3 New York Mets Shea Stadium
1991* Doug Drabek (2) L 0–7 Montreal Expos Three Rivers Stadium
1992* Doug Drabek (3) W 2–0 Montreal Expos Three Rivers Stadium
1993 Tim Wakefield W 9–4 San Diego Padres Three Rivers Stadium
1994 Zane Smith L 0–8 San Francisco Giants Candlestick Park
1995 Jon Lieber L 2–6 Montreal Expos Three Rivers Stadium
1996 Paul Wagner W 4–0 Florida Marlins Joe Robbie Stadium
1997 Jon Lieber (2) ND (W) 5–2 San Francisco Giants Candlestick Park
1998 Francisco Córdova W 4–0 Montreal Expos Olympic Stadium
1999 Francisco Córdova (2) L 2–9 Montreal Expos Three Rivers Stadium
2000 Jason Schmidt L 2–5 Houston Astros Three Rivers Stadium
2001 Todd Ritchie L 2–3 Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park
2002 Ron Villone L 2–6 New York Mets Shea Stadium
2003 Kris Benson W 10–1 Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park
2004 Kip Wells W 2–1 Philadelphia Phillies PNC Park
2005 Óliver Pérez L 2–9 Milwaukee Brewers PNC Park
2006 Óliver Pérez (2) ND (L) 2–5 Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park
2007 Zach Duke ND (W) 4–2 Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
2008 Ian Snell ND (W) 12–11 Atlanta Braves Turner Field
2009 Paul Maholm ND (W) 6–4 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
2010 Zach Duke (2) W 11–5 Los Angeles Dodgers PNC Park
2011 Kevin Correia W 6–3 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
2012 Érik Bédard L 1–0 Philadelphia Phillies PNC Park
2013* A. J. Burnett L 3–1 Chicago Cubs PNC Park
2014* Francisco Liriano ND (W) 1–0 Chicago Cubs PNC Park
2015* Francisco Liriano (2) ND (L) 2–5 Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park
2016 Francisco Liriano (3) W 4–1 St. Louis Cardinals PNC Park
2017 Gerrit Cole L 3–5 Boston Red Sox Fenway Park
2018 Iván Nova ND (W) 13–10 Detroit Tigers Comerica Park
2019 Jameson Taillon L 3–5 Cincinnati Reds Great American Ballpark
2020 Joe Musgrove L 4–5 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
2021 Chad Kuhl ND (W) 5–3 Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
2022 J. T. Brubaker L 0–9 St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium

This page was last updated at 2022-12-14 20:25 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari