List of Baltimore Orioles (1882–1899) Opening Day starting pitchers

Sadie McMahon was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher five times.

The Baltimore Orioles were a Major League Baseball team that was based in Baltimore, Maryland and played from 1882 through 1899. They played in the American Association from 1882 through 1891 and in the National League from 1892 through 1899.[1] The Orioles used 10 Opening Day starting pitchers in their 18 years as a Major League Baseball franchise. 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 Orioles had a record of 10 wins and 8 losses in their Opening Day games.

The first game in Orioles' history was played on May 2, 1882 against the Philadelphia Athletics at Oakdale Park in Philadelphia.[4] Tricky Nichols was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher for that game, which the Orioles lost by a score of 10–7.[4] The team's first game as a member of the National League was played on April 12, 1892 against the Brooklyn Bridegrooms at Union Park in Baltimore.[5] Sadie McMahon was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher in a game the Orioles lost be a score of 13–3.[5] The last Opening Day game in Orioles' history was played on April 15, 1899 against the New York Giants at Union Park.[6] Frank Kitson was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher and the Orioles won by a score of 5–3.[6]

Three pitchers made multiple Opening Day starts for the Orioles. McMahon made the most Opening Day starts for the team, five, including four consecutive Opening Day starts from 1891 through 1894.[5][7][8][9][10] Matt Kilroy was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher four times, every year from 1886 to 1889.[11][12][13][14] Hardie Henderson made two Opening Day starts for the Orioles, in 1884 and 1885.[15][16]

The Orioles won the National League championship three times, in 1894, 1895 and 1896.[1] McMahon was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher in two of those championship seasons, in 1894 and 1896.[9][10] Duke Esper was the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher in 1895.[17]

Key

Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Orioles season.
W Win
L Loss
T Tie game
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Orioles won game
ND (L) No decision by starting pitcher; Orioles lost game
(W) Orioles won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
(L) Orioles lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
Final score Game score with Orioles runs listed first
Location Stadium in italics for home game
(#) Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Orioles
** Orioles were National League Champions

Pitchers

Matt Kilroy made four Opening Day starts for the Orioles.
Season Pitcher Decision Final
Score 		Opponent Location (Stadium) References
1882 Tricky Nichols (L) 7–10 Philadelphia Athletics Oakdale Park [4]
1883 John Fox (W) 4–3 New York Metropolitans Oriole Park [18]
1884 Hardie Henderson (W) 5–3 New York Metropolitans Oriole Park [15]
1885 Hardie Henderson (2) (L) 3–7 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Oriole Park [16]
1886 Matt Kilroy (W) 4–1 Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Oriole Park [11]
1887 Matt Kilroy (2) (W) 8–3 Philadelphia Athletics Oriole Park [12]
1888 Matt Kilroy (3) (W) 5–4 Philadelphia Athletics Jefferson Street Grounds [13]
1889 Matt Kilroy (4) (L) 3–13 Columbus Solons Oriole Park [14]
1890 Les German (L) 10–11 St. Louis Browns Oriole Park [19]
1891 Sadie McMahon (W) 11–7 Boston Beaneaters Oriole Park [7]
1892 Sadie McMahon (2) (L) 3–13 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Union Park [5]
1893 Sadie McMahon (3) (L) 5–7 Washington Senators Boundary Field [8]
1894** Sadie McMahon (4) (W) 8–3 New York Giants Union Park [9]
1895** Duke Esper (L) 6–7 Philadelphia Phillies Union Park [17]
1896** Sadie McMahon (5) (L) 5–6 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Union Park [10]
1897 Bill Hoffer (W) 10–5 Boston Beaneaters Union Park [20]
1898 Doc McJames (W) 8–3 Washington Senators Union Park [21]
1899 Frank Kitson (W) 5–3 New York Giants Union Park [6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Baltimore Orioles Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  2. ^ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  3. ^ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "1882 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  5. ^ a b c d "1892 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  6. ^ a b c "1899 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  7. ^ a b "1891 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  8. ^ a b "1893 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  9. ^ a b c "1894 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  10. ^ a b c "1896 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  11. ^ a b "1886 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  12. ^ a b "1887 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  13. ^ a b "1888 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  14. ^ a b "1889 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  15. ^ a b "1884 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  16. ^ a b "1885 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  17. ^ a b "1895 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  18. ^ "1883 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  19. ^ "1890 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  20. ^ "1897 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  21. ^ "1898 Baltimore Orioles Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2012-01-02.