List of Brooklyn Dodgers Opening Day starting pitchers
From their inception in 1884 through their last year in Brooklyn, 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers (also known as the Trolley Dodgers, Grooms, Bridegrooms, Superbas, and Robins at various times in their history) used 41 different starting pitchers on Opening Day. Brickyard Kennedy made the most Opening Day starts for the Brooklyn Dodgers, with 6 such starts between 1894 and 1900. Nap Rucker made 5 such starts between 1907 and 1913. Carl Erskine made 4 Opening Day starts between 1951 and 1955 and Van Mungo also made 4 Opening Day starts between 1934 and 1938. Five Brooklyn pitchers made 3 Opening Day starts: Leon Cadore, Watty Clark, Don Newcombe, Jesse Petty, Dutch Ruether. 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]
The Dodgers played in the modern World Series nine times before moving to Los Angeles, winning once in 1955, when Carl Esrkine was the Opening Day pitcher. Erskine was also the Opening Day pitcher in 1953 when they played in the World Series but lost to the New York Yankees. Joe Hatten also had two Opening Day starts in World Series years, 1947 and 1949. Other Opening Day starting pitchers in World Series years were Larry Cheney in 1916, Leon Cadore in 1920, Whit Wyatt in 1941, Preacher Roe in 1952, and Don Newcombe in 1956.
Prior to the existence of the modern World Series, the Dodgers won National League championships in 1890, 1899 and 1900. They also won an American Association championship in 1889, when the American Association was considered a Major League. They played in the 19th century version of the World Series in 1889 and 1890. Mickey Hughes was the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1889, Bob Caruthers was the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1890, and Kennedy was the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1899 and 1900.
Don Newcombe was the starting pitcher in 1956, the last Opening Day that the Dodgers played in their longtime home field, Ebbets Field. Newcombe was also the Opening Day starter on Opening Day of the 1957 season, the Dodgers last Opening Day before moving to Los Angeles. Nap Rucker was the Opening Day starting pitcher in the last Opening Day the team (then called the Trolley Dodgers) played at their previous home park, Washington Park, in 1912. Rucker was also the Opening Day pitcher in the first game at Ebbets Field in 1913.
Joe Hatten was the Opening Day starting pitcher in one of the most momentous games in baseball history. That was in 1947, the years of Jackie Robinson's first game in the Major Leagues, ending the racial segregation that had prevailed in Major League Baseball since before 1900. The Joe Hatten started and the Dodgers won Jackie Robinson's first major league game, beating the Boston Braves 5–3 at Ebbets Field.[4]
Key
Year | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Dodgers season. |
W | Win |
L | Loss |
T | Tie Game; no decision to starting pitcher |
ND (W) | No Decision by starting pitcher; Dodgers won game |
ND (L) | No Decision by starting pitcher; Dodgers lost game |
(W) | Dodgers won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision |
(L) | Dodgers lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision |
(#) | Number of appearances as Opening Day starter |
Location | Stadium in italics for home game |
* | American Association champions |
** | National League champions |
# | World Series Champions |
Pitchers
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/81/BrickyardKennedyv3.jpg/170px-BrickyardKennedyv3.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Bob_Caruthers_0560fu.jpg/170px-Bob_Caruthers_0560fu.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Dave_Foutz_1895_N566_Newsboy_Tobacco_Cabinet_Card.jpg/170px-Dave_Foutz_1895_N566_Newsboy_Tobacco_Cabinet_Card.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Rube_Marquard_Baseball.jpg/170px-Rube_Marquard_Baseball.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/GeorgeEarnshawGoudeycard.jpg/170px-GeorgeEarnshawGoudeycard.jpg)
References
- General
- "Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day Starters and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2012-01-05. Covers 1919 through 1957.
- Specific
- ^ "The 1913 Brooklyn Superbas Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ 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 "National Media Downplayed Jackie's Debut". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "The 1884 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1885 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1886 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1887 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ a b "Ballparks: 1862-Present". mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ^ "The 1888 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1891 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1892 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1893 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1894 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1895 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1896 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1897 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1898 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1899 Brooklyn Superbas Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "The 1900 Brooklyn Superbas Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "1901 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1902 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1903 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1904 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1905 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1906 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1907 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1908 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1909 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "1910 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1911 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Boston Rustlers 2, Brooklyn Superbas 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "1912 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1913 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1914 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1915 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1916 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1917 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1918 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "New York Giants 6, Brooklyn Robins 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1919 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 5, Boston Braves 2 (1)". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1920 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 9, Philadelphia Phillies 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1921 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 5, Boston Braves 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1922 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 4, New York Giants 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1923 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "1924 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 3, New York Giants 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1925 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1926 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 3, New York Giants 0". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1927 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Robins 6, Boston Braves 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1928 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 4, Brooklyn Robins 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1929 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Boston Braves 13, Brooklyn Robins 12". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1930 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 1, Brooklyn Robins 0". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1931 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Boston Braves 7, Brooklyn Robins 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1932 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Boston Braves 8, Brooklyn Dodgers 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1933 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 5, Philadelphia Phillies 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1934 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 8, Boston Braves 7". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1935 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 12, Philadelphia Phillies 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1936 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "New York Giants 8, Brooklyn Dodgers 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1937 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "New York Giants 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1938 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 12, Philadelphia Phillies 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1939 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "New York Giants 7, Brooklyn Dodgers 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "1940 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 5, Boston Bees 0". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1941 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "New York Giants 6, Brooklyn Dodgers 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1942 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 7, New York Giants 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1943 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 5, New York Giants 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1944 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1945 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 8, Philadelphia Phillies 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1946 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Boston Braves 5, Brooklyn Dodgers 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1947 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 5, Boston Braves 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1948 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 7, New York Giants 6". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1949 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 10, New York Giants 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1950 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 9, Brooklyn Dodgers 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1951 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 5, Brooklyn Dodgers 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1952 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 3, Boston Braves 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1953 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1954 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
- ^ "Box Score April 13, 1954". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "New York Giants 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1955 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 6, Pittsburgh Pirates 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1956 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 8, Brooklyn Dodgers 6". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "1957 Brooklyn Dodgers". Baseball Library. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 7, Philadelphia Phillies 6". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2011-01-05.