Two American League baseball franchises have borne the name "Washington Senators". The first franchise was one of the teams that was originally part of the American League when it became a Major League in 1901. That franchise moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season, becoming the Minnesota Twins. It was replaced by a new Washington Senators franchise in 1961. That franchise moved to Arlington, Texas after the 1971 season, becoming the Texas Rangers. The Washington Senators played in three home ball parks over their history. They started in American League Park and moved to American League Park II in 1903. In 1911, they moved to Griffith Stadium, where they remained until 1961. 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.
The 1901-1960 franchise won 32 Opening Day games against 28 losses. The 1901-1960 franchise had a record in Opening Day games at home of 26 wins and 21 losses. On the road, they had an Opening Day record of six wins and seven losses.
The 1901-1960 franchise used 32 Opening Day starting pitchers in their 60 seasons in Washington. One pitcher made Opening Day starts for both franchises. Camilo Pascual made two Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise, in 1956 and 1960, and later made two Opening Day starts for the 1961-1971 franchise.
Walter Johnson holds the record for most Opening Day starts for either franchise, with 14 Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise between 1910 and 1926, including ten consecutive Opening Day starts from 1912 through 1921. Dutch Leonard made four Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise between 1940 and 1945. Bob Porterfield made three Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise between 1952 and 1955. Other pitchers with multiple Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise are Al Orth, Long Tom Hughes, Charlie Smith, George Mogridge, Alvin Crowder, Earl Whitehill, Early Wynn, Pedro Ramos and Pascual, with two apiece.
The Senators won three American League championships in their history, all by the 1901-1960 franchise. Their championships were won in , and . They won the World Series in 1924, but lost in 1925 and 1933. The Senators' Opening Day starters in their American League championship years were Johnson in 1924, Mogridge in 1925 and Crowder in 1933.
Key SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Senators season.WWinLLossND (W)No decision by starting pitcher; Senators won gameND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Senators lost game(W)Senators won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision(L)Senators lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decisionFinal ScoreGame score with Senators runs listed first LocationStadium in italics for home gameNumber of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Senators**American League Champions†World Series Champions
1901 through 1960 franchise
SeasonPitcherDecisionFinalScoreOpponentLocationReferences1901(W)Philadelphia AthleticsColumbia Park1902(W)Boston Red SoxAmerican League Park1903 (W)New York YankeesAmerican League Park II1904(L)Philadelphia AthleticsAmerican League Park II1905(L)New York YankeesAmerican League Park II1906(L)Philadelphia AthleticsAmerican League Park II1907 (L)New York YankeesAmerican League Park II1908(L)Boston Red SoxHuntington Avenue Baseball Grounds1909 (W)New York YankeesAmerican League Park II1910(W)Philadelphia AthleticsAmerican League Park II1911(W)Boston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1912 (L)Philadelphia AthleticsShibe Park1913 (W)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1914 (W)Boston Red SoxFenway Park1915 (W)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1916 (W)New York YankeesPolo Grounds1917 (W)Philadelphia AthleticsShibe Park1918 (L)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium 1919 (W)Philadelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1920 (L)Boston Red SoxFenway Park1921 LBoston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1922WNew York YankeesGriffith Stadium1923 LPhiladelphia AthleticsShibe Park1924† WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1925** LNew York YankeesYankee Stadium1926 WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1927WBoston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1928(L)Boston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1929(L)Philadelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1930(L)Boston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1931(L)Philadelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1932WBoston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1933** WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1934ND (W)Boston Red SoxFenway Park1935 WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1936WNew York YankeesGriffith Stadium1937(L)Philadelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1938WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1939(L)Philadelphia AthleticsShibe Park1940(L)Boston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1941 (L)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1942(L)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1943 ND (W)Philadelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1944(L)Philadelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1945 WPhiladelphia AthleticsShibe Park1946(L)Boston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1947(L)Boston Red SoxFenway Park1948 (L)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1949WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1950 WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1951WPhiladelphia AthleticsGriffith Stadium1952(L)Boston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1953 (L)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1954ND (W)New York YankeesGriffith Stadium1955 WBaltimore OriolesGriffith Stadium1956LNew York YankeesGriffith Stadium1957ND (L)Baltimore OriolesGriffith Stadium1958WBoston Red SoxGriffith Stadium1959 WBaltimore OriolesGriffith Stadium1960 WBoston Red SoxGriffith Stadium
Footnotes Camilo Pascual had two Opening Day starts for the 1901-1960 franchise in 1956 and 1960 and two Opening Day starts for the 1961-1971 franchise in 1968 and 1969. He also received the decision as a relief pitcher on Opening Day 1957 for the 1901-1960 franchise.
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