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Cubs' Opening Day pitchers

Joe Maddon announced recently that Jon Lester will be the Cubs’ starting pitcher on Opening Day.

When Lester steps on the mound March 28 against the Rangers in Texas, it will be his fourth Opening Day start for the Cubs, as he previously started the season’s first game in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

I wondered where that ranked Lester among all Cubs pitchers on Opening Day.

Between the data available at baseball-reference.com and the digital versions of the Chicago Tribune at newspapers.com, I was able to determine who started for the Cubs, and how he fared, in each season opener from 1901 through 2018.

With his fourth start, Lester will tie 5 previous Cubs pitchers who started on Opening Day 4 times.

Those 5 are:

Orval Overall, 1907-10

Lon Warneke, 1933-36

Bob Rush, 1953 and 1955-7

Larry Jackson, 1963-66

Rick Reuschel, 1978-81

Five other Cubs pitchers had 5 or more Opening Day starts:

Ferguson Jenkins, 6 in 1967 and 1969-73

Carlos Zambrano, 6 in 2005-10

Grover Cleveland Alexander, 5, in 1918, 1920-22 and 1925

Charlie Root, 5, in 1927-29 and 1931-32

Rick Sutcliffe, 5, in 1985-89

Four more made 3 Opening Day starts:

John Taylor, 1901-03

Hippo Vaughn, 1915, 1917 and 1919

Claude Passeau, 1941-42 and 1946

Jon Lieber, 2000-2002

Eleven made 2 Opening Day starts:

Carl Lundgren, 1905-06

Bill Lee, 1939-40

Paul Derringer, 1943 and 1945

Paul Miner, 1952 and 1954

Bob Anderson, 1959-60

Bill Bonham, 1974-75

Ray Burris, 1976-77

Mike Morgan, 1993-94

Kerry Wood, 2003-04

Ryan Dempster, 2011-12

Jeff Samardzija, 2013-14

And 33 were the Opening Day starter only once. Here are all 33, in alphabetical order:

Vic Aldridge, 1924

Jake Arrieta, 2016

Mike Bielecki, 1990

Doug Bird, 1982

Sheriff Blake, 1930

Hank Borowy, 1947

Jim Brosnan, 1958

Clay Bryant, 1938

Jim Bullinger, 1995

Don Cardwell, 1962

Larry Cheney, 1914

King Cole, 1912

Wilbur Cooper, 1926

Larry French, 1937

Frank Hiller, 1951

Glen Hobbie, 1961

Danny Jackson, 1991

Jimmy Lavender, 1913

Dutch Leonard, 1949

Greg Maddux, 1992

George McConnell, 1916

Russ Meyer, 1948

Terry Mulholland, 1997

Jaime Navarro, 1996

Joe Niekro, 1968

Tiny Osborne, 1923

Ed Reulbach, 1911

Dick Ruthven, 1983

Johnny Schmitz, 1950

Kevin Tappani, 1998

Steve Traschel, 1999

Jake Weimer, 1904

Hank Wyse, 1944

That is a total of 59 different pitchers who have started at least once on Opening Day.

Zambrano is the only one who started 6 consecutive season openers.

Jenkins and Sutcliffe started 5 in a row; Jackson, Overall, Reuschel and Warneke, 4 in a row.

Lester will join Alexander, Lieber, Root, Rush and Taylor with 3 in a row.

Warneke won all 4 of his Opening Day starts and is the only Cubs pitcher with 4 Opening Day wins.

He did so in a very peculiar fashion.

In his first season-opening start, on Wednesday, April 12, 1933, he pitched a 4-hit shutout at St. Louis as the Cubs won, 3-0. He struck out 6 and walked 2. It was the Cubs’ first complete-game shutout on Opening Day in the years starting with 1901.

A year later, in a 6-0 win at Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 17, Warneke had a no-hitter until he allowed a single with 1 out in the 9th inning. He then retired the last 2 batters to complete the game, in which he walked 2 and struck out 13.

(Only one other Cubs pitcher has reached double figures in strikeouts in an Opening Day start. Ryan Dempster struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings in a 2-1 loss at home to Washington in 2012. Four have had 9 strikeouts: Bob Anderson (1960), Ferguson Jenkins (1969), Bill Bonham (1974), Jeff Samardzija (2013))

Warneke, after yielding only 5 hits in 18 innings on Opening Days of 1933 and 1934, gave up 12 hits at home against St. Louis on Tuesday, April 16, 1935. But he went the distance again in the Cubs’ 4-3 victory, with 1 of the 3 runs unearned, as the Cardinals hit into 3 double plays and had a runner caught stealing. Warneke walked 1 and struck out 5.

His string of complete games on Opening Day ended in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 14, 1935, as he left after 7 innings, in which he gave up 7 runs (4 earned) on 13 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 5. But he earned the win, all the same, as the Cubs collected 18 hits, 14 of them against Dizzy Dean, and rolled to a 12-7 victory.

Hippo Vaughn is the only other Cubs pitcher who has won more than 2 Opening Day games without a loss.

He pitched 3 complete games at home, in 1915 against St. Louis and in 1917 and 1919, both against Pittsburgh.

In those games, he allowed 2 runs on 8 hits; 3 runs on 5 hits; and 1 run on 6 hits, respectively, as the Cubs won those openers by scores of 7-2, 5-3 and 5-1. In the 3 games combined, he allowed 4 earned runs in 27 innings, an ERA of 1.33.

Orval Overall (3-1) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (3-2) are the 2 other Cubs pitchers with 3 season-opening wins.

In 1907, Overall pitched a 4-hitter against St. Louis at home, 6-1, giving up only an unearned run in the final inning.

In 1908, he gave up 5 runs on 7 hits in 8 innings at Cincinnati, but got the win as the Cubs prevailed, 6-5.

And in 1909, at home against St. Louis, he went the distance, allowing 3 hits, in a 3-1 victory.

His loss came in 1910, at Cincinnati, when the Reds scored the game’s only run with 1 out in the 10th inning.

Alexander lost Opening Day starts at St. Louis, 4-2, in 1918, and at Cincinnati, 7-3, in 1920. He pitched 8 innings in each game and surrendered 9 hits to the Cardinals and 12 to the Reds.

But then he beat St. Louis, 5-2, at home in 1921, holding the Cardinals to 4 hits in 7 innings, and scattered 7 hits in a 7-3 complete-game win at Cincinnati in 1922.

His third win came in 1925, at home against Pittsburgh, an 8-2 complete game in which both runs were unearned and he scattered 9 hits.

Seven pitchers have won 2 games on Opening Day:

Carl Lundgren, Claude Passeau and Kerry Wood, all 2-0

Ferguson Jenkins and John Taylor, both 2-1

Charlie Root and Rick Sutcliffe, both 2-2

Lundgren pitched complete games in 1905 and 1906. In 1905, he gave up a single in the first inning, then held the host Cardinals hitless until the ninth and finished with a 3-hitter in a 6-1 win.

Passeau worked around 12 hits to complete a 7-4 win at home against Pittsburgh in 1941, then got the win at St. Louis in 1942 despite lasting only 5 innings, in which he allowed 4 runs. Johnny Schmitz pitched 4 shutout innings to preserve a 5-4 win.

(Schmitz would get an Opening Day win of his own in 1950, going 8 innings while permitting 5runs on 12 his in a 9-6 victory at Cincinnati).

In 1946, at Cincinnati, Passeau left after 5 innings in which he allowed 3 runs, but avoided a loss when the Cubs scored 4 times in the top of the 9th to pull out a 4-3 win.

Wood’s 2 wins both were 5-and-fly performances: 2 runs on 2 hits in a 15-2 romp at New York in 2003 and 4 runs on 5 hits in a 7-4 triumph at Cincinnati in 2004.

Jenkins pitched a 6-hit complete game in a 4-2 win at home against Philadelphia in 1967 and a 10-inning 3-hitter at home against St. Louis in 1971. The Cubs won the latter game, 2-1, on Billy Williams’ walk-off home run.

Taylor’s wins came in 1901 and 1902, and his loss in 1903. He gave up 13 hits at St. Louis in the first game, as the Cubs won, 8-7; 5 hits at Cincinnati in the second game, a 6-1 victory; and 5 again at St. Louis in the third, a 2-1 loss.

Root’s first win was a 7-hit, 10-1 triumph at home against St. Louis in 1927. The starter and loser for the Cardinals that day was Grover Cleveland Alexander, as the Cubs notched 6 runs on 6 hits in 4 innings against their former teammate.

After losses in 1928 at Cincinnati and in 1929 at home against Pittsburgh, Root pitched a complete game, allowing 2 runs on4 hits, in a 6-2 win at home against Pittsburgh in 1931.

In Root’s final Opening Day start, at Cincinnati in 1932, he had a 4-1 lead going to the bottom of the ninth, then gave up a single, walk and single to load the bases. Reliever Guy Bush struck out the first batter he faced, then yielded a 2-run ground-rule double to make it 4-3. The next batter was walked intentionally, loading the bases again. Another 2-run ground-rule double then gave the Pirates a 5-4 win.

Sutcliffe earned his 2 wins in the first and last of his 5 straight Opening Day starts.

In 1985, he shut out visiting Pittsburgh until 2 out in eighth and Lee Smith got the final 4 outs for a 2-1 win.

In 1989, he gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 5 2/3 innings as the Cubs won at home against Philadelphia, 5-4.

Walks were Sutcliffe’s nemesis in his other season-opening starts.

In a 2-1 loss at St. Louis in 1986, he walked 4, struck out 7 and gave up just 2 hits in 7 innings.

In a 9-3 loss at home against St. Louis in 1987, he walked 7, yielded 4 hits and was charged with 5 earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings.

In 1988, he left after 4 innings, having walked 3 and allowed 8 hits and 8 runs at home against Atlanta. He did not get a decision in that game, which the Braves won, 10-9, in 13 innings.

Twenty-two pitchers won a single season opener, 17 of them going 1-0; 2, 1-1; and 3, 1-2.

One of those with a 1-2 record is Carlos Zambrano, whose only win came in the fifth of his six Opening Day starts.

Here are Zambrano’s pitching lines in each of his 6 consecutive openers:

--2005 at Arizona (ND):

4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 W, 8 K

(Zambrano was removed with a 9-3 lead after throwing106 pitches. The game had 35 hits, 23 by Cubs, who won, 16-6.)

--2006 at Cincinnati (ND):

4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 W, 5 K

(Zambrano was removed with score 5-5 after throwing 105 pitches. Cubs then scored 7 runs in top of 6th inning and 4 in top of 9th and won, 16-7.)

--2007 at Cincinnati (L):

5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 W, 2 K

(Cubs lost, 5-1)

--2008 vs. Milwaukee (ND)

6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 W, 5 K

(Cubs lost, 4-3 in 10 innings, when the Brewers hit a solo homer in the top of the 10th after Kosuke Fukudome had hit a game-tying 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th.)

--2009 at Houston (W)

6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 W, 6 K

(Cubs won, 4-2)

--2010 at Atlanta (ND)

1.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 W, 1 K

(After Cubs scored 3 runs in top of 1st inning, Braves scored 6 in bottom of 1st and added 2 in the 2nd)

Jeff Samardzija is among those with a 1-0 record.

His win came in 2013, at Pittsburgh, when he pitched 8 shutout innings, allowing a leadoff single in the second and a 2-out double in the sixth; walked 1; and struck out 9, as the Cubs won 3-1.

The next year, again at Pittsburgh, he pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing 5 hits, but got no decision as the Cubs lost, 1-0, in 10 innings.

Rick Reuschel had the least success among all Cubs starters on Opening Day, going 0-4.

In 1978, he gave up 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings but lost at Pittsburgh, 1-0, with the only run coming on a bases-loaded forceout at second base in the sixth inning, when a double-play relay to first was not in time.

In 1979, at home, the Mets reached Reuschel for 6 runs on 8 hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 10-6 Cubs loss.

In 1980, at New York, the Mets beat Reuschel again, 5-2, as he worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed 6 hits.

And in 1981, at home against the Mets, Reuschel lasted 7 innings, giving up 5 hits, but 2 of them were solo homers and the Cubs lost, 2-0.

Ray Burris and Mike Morgan went 0-2 on Opening Day, making them the only Cubs starters other than Reuschel to lose more than once without winning.

Alexander (3-2), Root (2-2), Sutcliffe (2-2), Jackson (1-2), Rush (1-2) and Zambrano (1-2) are the other 2-game losers.

Twenty-three pitchers lost 1 game on Opening Day: Overall (3-1), Jenkins (2-1), Taylor (2-1), Derringer (1-1), Lee (1-1) and 18 who were 0-1.

Five pitchers started at least one season opener and had no decisions.

Collectively, Cubs starters on Opening Day have won 49 games, lost 43 and had 27 no decisions.

Here a few additional Opening Day starts of note:

1911:

Wednesday, April 12

Tied vs. St. Louis, 3-3 (11 innings)

SP: Ed Reulbach (ND)

0.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 W, 0 K

(After Reulbach walked the first 2 batters, he was replaced by Orlie Weaver, who pitched 11 innings, in which he allowed 1 run on 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 5)

1916:

Wednesday, April 12

Won at Cincinnati, 7-2

SP: George McConnell (W)

9.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 W, 5 K

(McConnell’s only Opening Day start)

1924:

Tuesday, April 15

Lost at St. Louis, 6-5

SP: Vic Aldridge (L)

8.1 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 W, 2 K

(Aldridge’s only Opening Day start. He allowed 3 runs in bottom of ninth to suffer the loss)

1940:

Tuesday, April 16

Lost at Cincinnati, 2-1

SP: Bill Lee (L)

8.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 W, 2 K

(Lee gave up solo home runs in 3rd and 8th innings; Cubs' only run also on solo home run)

1947:

Tuesday, April 15

Lost vs. Pittsburgh, 1-0

SP: Hank Borowy (L)

9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 W, 3 K

(Borowy’s only Opening Day start. Only run came on 2-out double in 6th inning by Hank Greenberg)

1949:

Tuesday, April 19

Lost at Pittsburgh, 1-0

SP: Dutch Leonard (L)

9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 W, 2 K

(Leonard’s only Opening Day start. Only run came on 1-out, bases-loaded forceout at second in 9th inning)

1954:

Tuesday, April 13

Won at St. Louis, 13-4

SP: Paul Minner (W)

9.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 W, 2 K

(Miner gave up 2 solo home runs but also hit a 2-run homer)

1958:

Tuesday, April 15

Won at St. Louis, 4-0

SP: Jim Brosnan (W)

6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 7 W, 4 K

(Brosnan’s only Opening Day start. He faced 1 batter in 7th inning. Two relievers each faced 1 batter, then Don Elston pitched 3 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out 2)

1960:

Tuesday, April 12

Lost at Los Angeles, 3-2 (11 innings)

SP: Bob Anderson (ND)

8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 W, 9 K

(Cubs lost on 2-out, pinch-hit solo home run by Chuck Essegian off Don Elston, in 3rd inning of relief)

1965:

Monday, April 12

Tied vs. St. Louis, 10-10 (11 innings)

SP: Larry Jackson (ND)

0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 W, 0 K

(Cubs trailed, 5-0, after top of 1st inning, tied game at 9 with 3 runs in bottom of 9th on 2-out, 3-run home run by Ernie Banks, tied game again with run in bottom of 11th on Ron Santo double, then left bases loaded)

1966:

Tuesday, April 12

Lost at San Francisco, 9-1

SP: Larry Jackson (L)

3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 W, 1 K

(Jackson faced 6 batters in 4th inning: S, HR, W, S, S, S. All 6 runners eventually scored)

1973:

Friday, April 6

Won vs. Montreal, 3-2

SP: Ferguson Jenkins (ND)

8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 W, 6 K

(Cubs scored 2 runs in bottom of 9th inning on S, E4, walk, run-scoring walk, foul pop fly, strikeout, run-scoring walk)

1974:

Tuesday, April 9

Won vs. Philadelphia, 2-0

SP: Bill Bonham (W)

9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 W, 9 K

1990:

Thursday, April 10

Won vs. Philadelphia, 2-1

SP: Mike Bielecki (ND)

6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 W, 1 K

(Bielecki’s only Opening Day start. Only hits were leadoff S and 1-out RBI D in top of 1st inning)

1992:

Tuesday, April 7

Won at Philadelphia, 4-3

SP: Greg Maddux (W)

7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 W, 6 K

(Maddux’s only Opening Day start for Cubs)

1993:

Monday, April 5

Lost vs. Atlanta, 1-0

SP: Mike Morgan (L)

7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 W, 5 K

(only run came on 2-out single in top of 1st inning)

1998:

Tuesday, March 31 (1st March opener)

Lost at Florida, 11-6

SP: Kevin Tappani (L)

2.0 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 W, 1 K

(Tappani’s only Opening Day start. He faced 3 batters in 3rd inning. After Cubs scored 3 runs in top of 1st inning, Marlins scored 6 in bottom on D, W, RBI S, 3-run HR, S, groundout, T, RBI groundout)

2000:

Wednesday, March 29

Won at New York, 5-3 (Game was played in Tokyo, with Mets as home team)

SP: Jon Lieber (W)

7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 W, 2 K

2016:

Monday, April 4

Won at Los Angeles Angels, 9-0

SP: Jake Arrieta (W)

7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 W, 6 K

(Arrieta’s only Opening Day start. Only hits were 1-out single in 2nd inning, leadoff single in 7th)




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