The Texas Rangers are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Arlington, Texas. They play in the American League West division. From 1961 to 1971, the team played in Washington, D.C., as the Washington Senators, one of three different major league teams to use the name. The franchise relocated to Arlington as the Rangers in 1972. The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starting pitcher is an honor which is 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. The Rangers have used 37 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 60 seasons.
The Senators' first Opening Day game was played against the Chicago White Sox at Griffith Stadium in Washington, on April 10, 1961. Dick Donovan was their starting pitcher that day; he took the decision in a game the Senators lost, 4–3. In 1962, the team moved to District of Columbia Stadium (renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 1969). Opening Day starter Bennie Daniels earned the win in a 4–1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on April 9. Through their 11 years in Washington, the Senators started every Opening Day game at home. Their final Opening Day game in Washington was an 8–0 win over the Oakland Athletics on April 5, 1971, with starter Dick Bosman being credited with the win.
The team moved to Texas in 1972, and played their home games at Arlington Stadium. Their 1972 season opener was played on the road, but they played their first Opening Day game in Arlington on April 7, 1973, with Bosman taking the loss in a 3–1 loss to the White Sox. The Rangers' final Opening Day at Arlington Stadium occurred on April 8, 1991, when starter Nolan Ryan was handed the loss by the Milwaukee Brewers, 5–4. They moved into The Ballpark in Arlington in 1994, but did not host their first Opening Day at new facility until 1996. In the game, starting pitcher Ken Hill got the win in a 5–3 defeat of the Boston Red Sox. The stadium was subsequently renamed Ameriquest Field in Arlington (2004–2006), Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (2007–2013), and Globe Life Park in Arlington (2014–2019). Starter Mike Minor took the loss in Globe Life Park's final Opening Day game against the Chicago Cubs on March 28, 2019, a 12–4 loss. The Rangers played their first Opening Day game at their current ballpark, Globe Life Field, on July 24, 2020. Earning the win was starter Lance Lynn, as Texas beat the Colorado Rockies, 1–0.
The Rangers' Opening Day starting pitchers have a combined Opening Day record of 20 wins, 30 losses and 10 no decisions. In Washington, they had a record of 2 wins and 9 losses in 11 Opening Day starts. In Texas, they have 18 wins, 21 losses, and 10 no decisions in 49 Opening Day starts. They have an aggregate record of 15 wins, 19 losses, and 6 no decisions in 40 Opening Day starts at home. Texas starters have a record of 5 wins, 11 losses, and 4 no decisions in 20 Opening Day starts on the road.
Charlie Hough has the most Opening Day starts for the Rangers, with six, followed by Dick Bosman and Kevin Millwood (4); Jon Matlack, Kenny Rogers, and Nolan Ryan (3); and Cole Hamels, Rick Helling, Ken Hill, Ferguson Jenkins, Camilo Pascual, and Pete Richert (2). Bosman (1970–1973) and Millwood (2006–2009) made four consecutive Opening Day starts. Hough (1987–1989) and Ryan (1990–1992) made three consecutive starts, while Hill (1996–1997), Hough (1984–1985), Matlack (1980–1981), Pascual (1968–1969), and Richert (1966–1967) made back-to-back starts.
Three Texas Rangers Opening Day pitchers—Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, and Nolan Ryan—have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Table key
SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Senators/Rangers season.Pitcher Number indicates multiple appearances as a Rangers Opening Day starterScore Game score with Rangers runs listed first; number of innings in a game that was shorter or longer than 9 innings in parenthesesLocationStadium in italics denotes a Rangers home gameWWinLLossND (W)No decision by starting pitcher; Rangers won gameND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Rangers lost game*Advanced to the postseason**Won the American League Championship Series†Won the World Series
Opening Day results
SeasonPitcherDecisionScoreOpponentLocationAttendance1961LChicago White SoxGriffith Stadium26,7251962WDetroit TigersDistrict of Columbia Stadium44,3831963LBaltimore OriolesDistrict of Columbia Stadium43,0221964LLos Angeles AngelsDistrict of Columbia Stadium40,1451965LBoston Red SoxDistrict of Columbia Stadium43,5541966LCleveland IndiansDistrict of Columbia Stadium44,4681967 (2)LNew York YankeesDistrict of Columbia Stadium44,3821968LMinnesota TwinsDistrict of Columbia Stadium32,0631969 (2)LNew York YankeesRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium45,1131970LDetroit TigersRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium45,0151971 (2)WOakland AthleticsRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium45,0611972 (3)LCalifornia AngelsAnaheim Stadium13,9161973 (4)LChicago White SoxArlington Stadium22,1141974LOakland AthleticsArlington Stadium21,9071975LMinnesota TwinsArlington Stadium28,7871976WMinnesota TwinsArlington Stadium28,9471977WBaltimore OriolesMemorial Stadium31,3071978WNew York YankeesArlington Stadium40,0781979 (2)WDetroit TigersTiger Stadium43,7081980 (2)ND (W)New York YankeesArlington Stadium33,1961981 (3)LNew York YankeesYankee Stadium55,1231982WCleveland IndiansCleveland Stadium62,4431983ND (W)Chicago White SoxArlington Stadium13,1401984 (2)LCleveland IndiansArlington Stadium21,5371985 (3)ND (L)Baltimore OriolesMemorial Stadium50,4021986WToronto Blue JaysArlington Stadium40,6021987 (4)ND (L)Baltimore OriolesMemorial Stadium51,6501988 (5)WCleveland IndiansArlington Stadium37,6131989 (6)WDetroit TigersArlington Stadium40,3751990WToronto Blue JaysArlington Stadium40,9071991 (2)LMilwaukee BrewersArlington Stadium40,5601992 (3)ND (W)Seattle MarinersKingdome55,9181993WBaltimore OriolesOriole Park at Camden Yards46,1451994LNew York YankeesYankee Stadium56,7061995LNew York YankeesYankee Stadium50,5251996*WBoston Red SoxThe Ballpark in Arlington40,4841997 (2)WMilwaukee BrewersThe Ballpark in Arlington45,0981998*LChicago White SoxThe Ballpark in Arlington45,9091999*LDetroit TigersThe Ballpark in Arlington46,6502000 (2)WChicago White SoxThe Ballpark in Arlington49,3322001 (2)LToronto Blue JaysHiram Bithorn Stadium19,8912002LOakland AthleticsNetwork Associates Coliseum43,9082003WAnaheim AngelsAngel Stadium of Anaheim43,5252004 (3)ND (L)Oakland AthleticsNetwork Associates Coliseum45,1222005LLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimAngel Stadium of Anaheim43,5902006LBoston Red SoxAmeriquest Field in Arlington51,5412007 (2)LLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimAngel Stadium of Anaheim43,9062008 (3)LSeattle MarinersSafeco Field46,3342009 (4)WCleveland IndiansRangers Ballpark in Arlington49,9162010**ND (W)Toronto Blue JaysRangers Ballpark in Arlington50,2992011**ND (W)Boston Red SoxRangers Ballpark in Arlington50,1462012*WChicago White SoxRangers Ballpark in Arlington49,0852013LHouston AstrosMinute Maid Park41,3072014ND (L)Philadelphia PhilliesGlobe Life Park in Arlington49,0312015*LOakland AthleticsO.co Coliseum36,0672016*WSeattle MarinersGlobe Life Park in Arlington49,2892017ND (L)Cleveland IndiansGlobe Life Park in Arlington48,3502018 (2)LHouston AstrosGlobe Life Park in Arlington47,2532019LChicago CubsGlobe Life Park in Arlington48,5382020WColorado RockiesGlobe Life Field02021ND (L)Kansas City RoyalsKauffman Stadium9,1552022ND (L)Toronto Blue JaysRogers Centre45,0222023† ND (W) Philadelphia PhilliesGlobe Life Field38,3872024ND (W) Chicago CubsGlobe Life Field42,1302025 (2)ND (L)Boston Red SoxGlobe Life Field37,5872026 (3)LPhiladelphia PhilliesCitizens Bank Park44,610
Pitchers Opening Day starting pitchers are listed in descending order by the number of Opening Day starts for the Senators/Rangers.
PitcherStartsWinsLossesNo decisionsWin %Season(s)63120.7501982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 198941300.2501970, 1971, 1972, 197341300.2502006, 2007, 200830120.0002024, 202531110.5001978, 1980, 198131110.5001995, 2000, 200431110.5001990, 1991, 199222001.0001996, 199721100.5002016, 201821100.5001975, 197920200.0001999, 200120200.0001968, 196920200.0001966, 196711001.000197711001.000196211001.000198611001.000199311001.000201211001.000202011001.000197611001.000200310100.000197410100.000199410100.000199710010.000201710100.000200510100.000196110010.000201010100.000201510100.000201310100.000201910100.000196510100.000196410100.000200210100.000196310010.000202310010.000202110010.000202210010.000201410010.000198310010.0002011
References