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,
[1]
though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day.
[2]
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.
[3]
[4]
[5]
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.
[3]
[4]
[5]
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.
[3]
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
.
[6]
Bunning was elected as both a
United States congressman
and
senator
from
Kentucky
after retiring from baseball.
[7]
[8]
The Pirates have won nine National League titles, in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960, 1971 and 1979.
[9]
They went on to win the
World Series
in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979 (the modern World Series began in 1903).
[9]
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.
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
|
?
|
World Series
Champions
|
Pitchers
[
edit
]
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.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010).
"Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
September 26,
2010
.
- ^
Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014).
"Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
February 25,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day Starters and Results"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-27
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 4"
.
Yahoo!
. Retrieved
2009-04-07
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Pirates 11, Dodgers 5"
.
MLB
. Retrieved
2010-04-05
.
- ^
"List of Hall of Famers"
. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from
the original
on April 6, 2009
. Retrieved
2009-05-13
.
- ^
"Jim Bunning U.S. Senator for Kentucky"
. Archived from
the original
on 2009-02-26
. Retrieved
2009-08-27
.
- ^
"BUNNING, James Paul David"
. U.S. Congress
. Retrieved
2009-08-27
.
- ^
a
b
"Pittsburgh Pirates Franchise Encyclopedia"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-27
.
- ^
"The 1882 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-04-07
.
- ^
"The 1883 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
"The 1884 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
"The 1885 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
"The 1886 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
"The 1887 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1888 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1889 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1890 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1891 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1892 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1893 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1894 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1895 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1896 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1897 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1898 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1899 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1900 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1904 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1906 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1907 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1908 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1910 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1911"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1913 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1914 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1915 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1916 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1918 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1919 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1920"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1921"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1922"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1923"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1924"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1925"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1926"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1927"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1928"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1929"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1930"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1931 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1932 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1933 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1935 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1936 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1937 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1939 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-23
.
- ^
"The 1940 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1941 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1942 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1944 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1945 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1948 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1950 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"The 1951 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Game Log"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1952"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1953"
.
Retrosheet
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1954"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1955"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1956"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1957"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1958"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1959"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1960"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1961"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1962"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1963"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1964"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1965"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1966"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1967"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1968"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1969"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1970"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1971"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1972"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1973"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1974"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1975"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1976"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1977"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1978"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1979"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1980"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1981"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1982"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1983"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1984"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1985"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1986"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1987"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1988"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1989"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1990"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1991"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1992"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1993"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1994"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1995"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1996"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1997"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1998"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 1999"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2000"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-22
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2001"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2002"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2003"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2004"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2005"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2006"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2007"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Opening Day 2008"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
2009-08-21
.
- ^
"Pirates 6, Dodgers 3"
.
MLB
. Retrieved
2011-04-08
.
- ^
EndPlay (5 April 2012).
"Philles beat Pirates 1-0 in 2012 season home opener"
.
wpxi.com
.
- ^
"Jeff Samardzija strikes out nine as Cubs hold on to beat Pirates"
. ESPN. April 1, 2013
. Retrieved
May 28,
2013
.
- ^
"Walker's homer lifts Pirates over Cubs 1-0"
. ESPN. March 31, 2014
. Retrieved
April 6,
2014
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 6, 2015"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, April 3, 2016"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Boston Red Sox Box Score, April 3, 2017"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Detroit Tigers Box Score, March 30, 2018"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, March 28, 2019"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, July 24, 2020"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs Box Score, April 1, 2021"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
April 9,
2021
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, April 7, 2022"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
May 29,
2022
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, March 30, 2023"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
March 30,
2023
.
- ^
"Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins Box Score, March 28, 2024"
.
Baseball Reference
. Retrieved
March 28,
2024
.
External links
[
edit
]
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Franchise
| |
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Culture
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Minors
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World Series
Championships (5)
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League pennants (9)
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Seasons (143)
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