Every baseball season brings anticipation and excitement, marked by the tradition of Opening Day. It’s a special occasion where teams send their aces to the mound to set the tone for the long journey ahead. In this article, we’ll delve into the elite fraternity of pitchers who have consistently earned the honor of being Opening Day starers. From seasoned veterans to modern-day stars, these hurlers have etched their names in baseball history through their dominance on the mound when the season kicks off.
Known as “Tom Terrific,” Seaver was a cornerstone of pitching excellence throughout his illustrious career. With 16 Opening Day starts under his belt, he solidified his status as a perennial ace and a reliable rotation anchor. Eleven of his Opening Day starts were with the New York Mets. Seaver also started on Opening Day for the Reds, and White Sox. He had a record of 7-2 on Opening Day.
The Big Train made his first Opening Day start on April 14, 1920 and his final Opening start almost exactly 16 years later on April 13, 1926. He was 9-5 in his Opening Day starts. All of Johnson’s openers were for the Washington Nationals who became the Senators and eventually the Minnesota Twins. Walter Johnson was literally a first ballot Hall of Famer, being elected in the first Hall of Fame class in 1936.
Left-handed ace Steve Carlton dominated opposing hitters with his overpowering stuff and fierce competitive spirit. His 14 Opening Day starts reflect his importance to the Phillies. However brilliant a pitcher Carlton was, he did not do his best work on Opening Day, only achieving a 3-9 record in openers.
A clutch performer in big-game situations, Morris earned the nod for Opening Day on 14 occasions during his storied career with a record of 8-6. Morris took the hill first for Detroit in 1980 and pitched on Opening Day for 13 consectutive seasons including his time with the Twins and the Blue Jays. His gritty demeanor and postseason heroics further cemented his reputation as a premier pitcher of his era.
The “Big Unit” struck fear into the hearts of batters with his imposing stature and blistering fastball. Johnson’s 14 Opening Day starts underscore his status as one of the most dominant pitchers of the modern era, capable of delivering masterful performances on baseball’s grandest stage. Johnson made Opening Day starts for the Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Yankees. He was 7-2 in his Opening Day starts.
A workhorse pitcher known for his durability and consistency, Roberts was a mainstay on Opening Day rotations throughout his esteemed career. His 13 Opening Day starts are a testament to his reliability and effectiveness on the mound. He made 11 consectutive Opening Day starts for the Phillies from 1950-1961. His final opener was with the Houston Astros in 1966. He only managed a 5-7 record in openers. One opening start of note was in 1957 when Roberts took the loss when he pitched a 12 inning complete game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Clemens took the ball first for his teams thirteen times throughout his storied career. Not only did he start 13 openers, Clemens won a record 7 Cy Young awards. He had a record of 6-3 on Opening Day. His first 8 openers were with the Boston Red Sox. He also had one with Toronto and four with the Yankees.
Alexander made Opening Day starts for the Phillies, Cubs, and Cardinals in his 20 year MLB career. He had a 8-4 record on Opening Day.
The consumate stat accumulator. The Flying Dutchman debuted for the Twins at the age of 19, in 1970 and continued to pitch at the Major League level until 1992 at the age of 41. His first Opening Day start was at the tender age of 21. Along with his 6 openers for the Twins, he also took the ball first for Texas, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and the Angels. He had a 3-3 record on Opening Day.
A true competitor on the mound, and the only active player on this list, Verlander has consistently delivered standout performances on baseball’s grandest stage, earning 12 Opening Day starts over the course of his illustrious career. Most recently in 2020 for the Astros. Verlander’s first 9 openers were for the Tigers and the last 3 were with Houston. He is 5-1 on Opening Day.
There are three notable starters tied with 11 Opening Day starts. Fergie Jenkins made starts for the Cubs, Rangers, and Red Sox over a 19 year career. Dennis Martinez took the ball in the opener for Baltimore, Montreal, and Cleveland, winning 2 and losing 5 of those games. CC Sabathia was another Opening Day stalwart for Cleveland and the Yankees. And last but certainly not least is the King, Felix Hernandez, who made 11 Opening Day starts, with 10 consectutive openers for the Mariners spanning from 2009-2018.
In the pantheon of baseball greats, the pitchers who have earned the honor of starting on Opening Day occupy a special place of distinction. From Tom Seaver’s unparalleled longevity to the modern-day dominance of Justin Verlander, these hurlers have left an indelible mark on the sport with their skill, resilience, and competitive fire. As fans eagerly await the start of each new season, they can take comfort in knowing that these elite pitchers will continue to set the tone for the timeless drama that unfolds on the diamond.
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