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List of Oakland Athletics Opening Day starting pitchers

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List of Oakland Athletics Opening Day starting pitchers
Summary

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The Oakland Athletics were a Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California. They played in the American League West division. The club was founded in Philadelphia in 1901, moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1955 and relocated to Oakland in 1968. 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.

During their time in Oakland, the A's home field was the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, a multi-purpose stadium that has also been used for football, and soccer games. Commonly referred to as The Oakland Coliseum, or simply The Coliseum, it was formerly known as Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (1966–1998, 2008–2011, 2016–2019, 2020, 2023–present), Network Associates Coliseum (1998–2004), McAfee Coliseum (2004–2008), Overstock.com Coliseum (2011), O.co Coliseum (2011–2016), and RingCentral Coliseum (2019–2020, 2020–2023) The A's played their 1996 Opening Day game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada while repairs at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum were being completed, the first time in 39 years that a major league team played in a minor-league ballpark.

In Oakland, the A's used 36 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 57 seasons. The 36 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 16 wins, 22 losses and 19 no decisions. No decisions are only awarded to the starting pitcher if the game is won or lost after the starting pitcher has left the game or if the starting pitcher pitches fewer than five innings. Of the 19 no decisions, the A's went on to win nine and lose ten of those games, for a team record on Opening Day of 25 wins and 32 losses.

The team played 41 of their Opening Day games at home: 37 at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, 3 in Tokyo, and once in Las Vegas. Of the 37 games played in Oakland, the A's starting pitchers have a record of 12 wins, 11 losses and 14 no decisions (the team won nine and lost five of these no decisions). The 1996 game at Las Vegas' Cashman Field was a loss for starter Carlos Reyes. The 2008 game in the Tokyo Dome was a no decision for starter Joe Blanton that ended in an A's loss. The 2012 Tokyo Dome game resulted in a no decision for starter Brandon McCarthy and a loss for the team. Mike Fiers took the loss in the 2019 Tokyo Dome opener. Overall, the team's starting pitchers' record in home games is 12–13 (with 16 no decisions).

The A's advanced to the playoffs 21 times while in Oakland, winning the American League Championship Series six times and going on to win the World Series in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1989. In the 21 seasons that the A's advanced to the playoffs, the team's Opening Day starting pitchers have had a record of eight wins, five losses and eight no decisions; the team ultimately won five and lost three of the no decisions. The team's starters won four and lost one Opening Day game in the six seasons they advanced to the World Series.

Catfish Hunter was the team's first Opening Day starter after the team moved to Oakland, taking a 3–1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium in 1968.

The list will also include Opening Day starting pitchers for the Athletics in West Sacramento, California. The franchise played temporarily at Sutter Health Park between 2025 and 2027 before relocating to Las Vegas in 2028. During this period, the team was known simply as the Athletics.

Key

[[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]], home of the Athletics from 1968 to 2024.
[[Sutter Health Park]] served as the temporary home of the Athletics from 2025 to 2027.

Opening Day results

[[Pat Dobson]], the 1970 Opening Day starting pitcher
[[Eric Show]], the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1989
[[Andy Benes]], the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1993, 1994, and 1995

--

in Oakland

Oakland Athleticsborder=2}};"SeasonOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"PitcherOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"DecisionOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"Final
scoreOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"OpponentOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"LocationOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"AttendanceOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"Ref.
1968LBaltimore OriolesMemorial Stadium22,050
1969WChicago White SoxOakland–Alameda County Coliseum23,610
1970(2)WKansas City RoyalsMunicipal Stadium18,127
1971*LWashington SenatorsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium45,061
1972***ND (W)Minnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum9,912
1973***(2)LMinnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum38,207
1974***(3)WOakland AthleticsArlington Stadium21,907
1975(2)WChicago White SoxOakland–Alameda County Coliseum17,477
1976WCalifornia AngelsAngel Stadium30,194
1977(2)WMinnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum12,562
1978LCalifornia AngelsAngel Stadium28,194
1979(2)LMinnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum10,387
1980(3)ND (L)Minnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum33,196
1981WMinnesota TwinsMetropolitan Stadium42,658
1982(4)ND (W)(11)California AngelsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum51,513
1983(5)LCleveland IndiansOakland–Alameda County Coliseum34,831
1984ND (W)Milwaukee BrewersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum45,398
1985LSeattle MarinersKingdome37,161
1986(2)LCleveland IndiansOakland–Alameda County Coliseum44,726
1987ND (L)Minnesota TwinsHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome43,548
1988**WSeattle MarinersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum45,333
1989***(2)WSeattle MarinersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum46,163
1990**(3)WMinnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum48,219
1991(4)WMinnesota TwinsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum44,373
1992*(5)ND (W)Kansas City RoyalsOakland–Alameda County Coliseum44,078
1993WDetroit TigersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum43,370
1994ND (L)Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee County Stadium52,012
1995(6)LToronto Blue JaysSkyDome50,426
1996LToronto Blue JaysCashman Field7,294
1997ND (L)Toronto Blue JaysOakland–Alameda County Coliseum41,235
1998LBoston Red SoxOakland–Alameda County Coliseum36,915
1999LDetroit TigersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum46,650
2000*ND (W)New York YankeesOakland–Alameda County Coliseum46,380
2001*ND (L)Seattle MarinersSafeco Field45,911
2002*WTexas RangersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum43,908
2003*(2)WSeattle MarinersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum41,723
2004(3)ND (W)Texas RangersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum45,122
2005LBaltimore OriolesOriole Park at Camden Yards48,271
2006*(2)LNew York YankeesOakland–Alameda County Coliseum35,077
2007LSeattle MarinersSafeco Field46,003
2008ND (L)Boston Red SoxTokyo Dome44,628
2009LLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimAngel Stadium of Anaheim43,220
2010ND (L)Seattle MarinersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum30,686
2011ND (L)Seattle MarinersOakland–Alameda County Coliseum36,067
2012*ND (L)Seattle MarinersTokyo Dome44,227
2013*LSeattle MarinersO.co Coliseum36,067
2014*ND (L)Cleveland IndiansO.co Coliseum36,067
2015(2)WTexas RangersO.co Coliseum36,067
2016LChicago White SoxOakland Coliseum35,067
2017WLos Angeles AngelsOakland Coliseum36,067
2018*(2)ND (W)Los Angeles AngelsOakland Coliseum27,764
2019*LSeattle MarinersTokyo Dome45,787
2020*ND (W)Los Angeles AngelsOakland ColiseumN/AThe 2020 season was played without fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021LHouston AstrosRingCentral Coliseum10,436
2022(2)LPhiladelphia PhilliesCitizens Bank Park44,232
2023ND (W)Los Angeles AngelsRingCentral Coliseum26,805
2024LCleveland GuardiansOakland Coliseum13,522

in West Sacramento

Oakland Athleticsborder=2}};"SeasonOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"PitcherOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"DecisionOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"Final
scoreOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"OpponentOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"LocationOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"AttendanceOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"Ref.
2025ND (L)Seattle MarinersT-Mobile Park42,871

Notes

Pitchers

Opening Day starting pitchers listed in descending order by the number of Opening Day starts for the A's in Oakland and Sacramento:

Oakland Athleticsborder=2}};"PitcherOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"StartsOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"WinsOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"LossesOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"No DecisionsOakland Athleticsborder=2}};"Winning %Oakland Athleticsborder=2}};"Seasons
6411.8001988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995
5032.0001978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983
3120.3331968, 1973, 1974
31021.0002001, 2003, 2004
22001.0001969, 1970
2110.5001971, 1975
22001.0001976, 1977
2020.0001985, 1986
2020.0002005, 2006
2101.5002014, 2015
2101.5002017, 2018
2011.0002020, 2022
1001.0001972
11001.0001981
1001.0001984
1001.0001987
11001.0001993
1001.0001994
1010.0001996
1001.0001997
1010.0001998
1010.0001999
1001.0002000
11001.0002002
1010.0002007
1001.0002008
1010.0002009
1001.0002010
1001.0002011
1001.0002012
1010.0002013
1010.0002016
1010.0002019
1010.0002021
1001.0002023
1010.0002024
1001.0002025

Footnotes

  • Catfish Hunter also had one Opening Day start for the Kansas City Athletics in 1966, giving him a total of four Opening Day starts with the franchise. Hunter got the loss in his Opening Day start in 1966.

References

References

  1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080128153446/http://athletics.mlb.com/oak/history/year_by_year_results.jsp Oakland Athletics year-by-year results], [[Oakland Athletics]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  2. Bastian, Jordan. (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com.
  3. Dilbeck, Steve. (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times.
  4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080129004909/http://athletics.mlb.com/oak/history/ballparks.jsp Ballparks: 1901 - Present], [[Oakland Athletics]]. Accessed October 24, 2008.
  5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080423224235/http://athletics.mlb.com/oak/ballpark/index.jsp Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum], [[Oakland Athletics]]. Accessed October 24, 2008.
  6. Bay City News Service. [http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_10509375?nclick_check=1 "McAfee Coliseum name reverts to Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum"], ''[[Contra Costa Times]]'', September 19, 2008. Accessed October 24, 2008.
  7. Dahlberg, Tim. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB8299DEDF9AE66&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "A's new `home' is in Las Vegas Renovations forced move for start of season"], ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]'', April 1, 1996. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  8. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/opening.shtml Oakland Athletics Opening Day Starters and Results], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  9. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL196804100.shtml April 10, 1968, Athletics at Orioles Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  10. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK196904080.shtml April 8, 1969, White Sox at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  11. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA197004070.shtml April 7, 1970, Athletics at Royals Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  12. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS2/WS2197104050.shtml April 5, 1971, Athletics at Senators Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  13. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197204150.shtml April 15, 1972, Twins at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  14. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197304060.shtml April 6, 1973, Twins at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  15. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX197404040.shtml April 4, 1974, Athletics at Rangers Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  16. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197504080.shtml April 8, 1975, White Sox at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  17. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197604090.shtml April 9, 1976, Athletics at Angels Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  18. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197704090.shtml April 9, 1977, Twins at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  19. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197804070.shtml April 7, 1978, Athletics at Angels Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  20. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197904060.shtml April 6, 1979, Twins at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  21. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198004100.shtml April 10, 1980, Twins at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  22. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN198104090.shtml April 9, 1981, Athletics at Twins Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  23. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198204060.shtml April 6, 1982, Angels at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  24. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198304040.shtml April 4, 1983, Indians at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  25. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198404030.shtml April 3, 1984, Brewers at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  26. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198504090.shtml April 9, 1985, Athletics at Mariners Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 26, 2008.
  27. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198604080.shtml April 8, 1986, Twins at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 26, 2008.
  28. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN198704070.shtml April 7, 1987, Athletics at Twins Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  29. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198804040.shtml April 4, 1988, Mariners at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  30. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198904030.shtml April 3, 1989, Mariners at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  31. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199004090.shtml April 9, 1990, Twins at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  32. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199104090.shtml April 9, 1991, Twins at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  33. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199204060.shtml April 6, 1992, Royals at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  34. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199304050.shtml April 5, 1993, Tigers at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  35. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL199404050.shtml April 5, 1994, Athletics at Brewers Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  36. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR199504260.shtml April 26, 1995, Athletics at Blue Jays Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  37. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199604010.shtml April 1, 1996, Blue Jays at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  38. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199704020.shtml April 2, 1997, Indians at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  39. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199804010.shtml April 1, 1998, Red Sox at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  40. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX199904050.shtml April 5, 1999, Tigers at Rangers Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  41. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199904050.shtml April 5, 1999, Yankees at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  42. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA200104020.shtml April 2, 2001, Athletics at Mariners Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  43. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200204010.shtml April 1, 2002, Rangers at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  44. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200304010.shtml April 1, 2003, Mariners at Athletics Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  45. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200404050.shtml April 5, 2004, Rangers at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  46. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200504040.shtml April 4, 2005, Athletics at Orioles Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  47. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200604030.shtml April 3, 2006, Yankees at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  48. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA200704020.shtml April 2, 2007, Athletics at Mariners Play by Play and Box Score], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  49. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200803250.shtml March 25, 2008, Red Sox at Athletics Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  50. "LA Angels 3, Oakland 0". [[Yahoo!]].
  51. "Seattle 5, Oakland 3". [[Yahoo!]].
  52. "Seattle 6, Oakland 2". [[Yahoo!]].
  53. "MLB.com Gameday". [[MLB.com]].
  54. "Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics - April 1, 2013". [[MLB.com]].
  55. "Cleveland Indians at Oakland Athletics - March 31, 2014". [[MLB.com]].
  56. "Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics - April 6, 2015". [[MLB.com]].
  57. "CWS vs. OAK - 04/04/2016". [[MLB.com]].
  58. "Angels vs. Athletics - 04/03/2017". [[MLB.com]].
  59. "Angels vs. Athletics Box Score - 03/29/18". [[MLB.com]].
  60. "Mariners vs. Athletics Box Score - 03/20/19". [[MLB.com]].
  61. "Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics Box Score, July 24, 2020".
  62. "Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Box Score, April 1, 2021".
  63. "Oakland Athletics at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score, April 8, 2022".
  64. "Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics Box Score, March 30, 2023".
  65. "Cleveland Guardians at Oakland Athletics Box Score, March 28, 2024".
  66. "Athletics at Seattle Mariners Box Score, March 27, 2025".
  67. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN196604120.shtml April 1, 1966, Athletics at Twins Box Score and Play by Play], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed January 6, 2009.
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