# List of New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers

The New York Yankees are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in The Bronx, New York City, New York. They play in the American League East division. 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 Yankees have used 58 different Opening Day starting pitchers in their 110 seasons. Since the franchise's beginning in 1901, the 58 starters have a combined Opening Day record of 58 wins, 36 losses, 1 tie (57–36–1), and 18 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. Although in modern baseball, ties are rare due to extra innings, in 1910, New York's Opening Game against the Boston Red Sox was declared a tie due to darkness – at the time, Hilltop Park had lacked adequate lighting.
Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, and Mel Stottlemyre hold the Yankees record for most Opening Day starts with seven. The other pitchers with three or more Opening Day starts for New York are CC Sabathia (6), Lefty Gomez (6), Red Ruffing (5), Jack Chesbro (4), Roger Clemens (4), Bob Shawkey (4), Masahiro Tanaka (4), Ray Caldwell (3), Jimmy Key (3), Vic Raschi (3), and most recently Gerrit Cole (3). Jimmy Key holds the Yankee record for best Opening Day record with a perfect 3–0.
On Opening Day, Yankee pitchers have a combined record of 35–12–1 when playing at home. Of those games, pitchers have a 1–0 record at Oriole Park, a 3–1–1 record at Hilltop Park, a 2–3 record from Polo Grounds, a 28–8 record at Yankee Stadium, and a 1–0 record at Shea Stadium. When on the road for Opening Day, Yankee pitchers have a combined record of 28–27.
During the 1901 and 1902 seasons, the franchise played in Baltimore as the "Baltimore Orioles". The franchise has Opening Day record of 1–1 as Baltimore. After their move to New York in 1903, the franchise was known as the New York Highlanders until 1912. As the Highlanders, they had a 6–3–1 Opening Day record. For seasons in which New York would later win the World Series, the starting pitchers have a 16–8 record.

## Key

| Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Yankees season. |
| W | Win |
| L | Loss |
| ND (W) | No decision by starting pitcher; Yankees won game |
| ND (L) | No decision by starting pitcher; Yankees lost game |
| T | Tie |
| Pitcher (#) | Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Yankees |
| * | Advanced to the post-season |
| ** | American League champions |
| † | World Series champions |

## Pitchers

| Season | Pitcher | Decision | Opponent | Location |
| 1901 | Joe McGinnity | W | Boston Americans | Oriole Park |
| 1902 | Tom Hughes | L | Boston Americans | Huntington Avenue Grounds |
| 1903 | Jack Chesbro | L | Washington Senators | American League Park |
| 1904 | Jack Chesbro (2) | W | Boston Americans | Hilltop Park |
| 1905 | Jack Chesbro (3) | W | Washington Senators | American League Park |
| 1906 | Jack Chesbro (4) | W | Boston Americans | Hilltop Park |
| 1907 | Al Orth | W | Washington Senators | American League Park |
| 1908 | Slow Joe Doyle | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Hilltop Park |
| 1909 | Doc Newton | L | Washington Senators | American League Park |
| 1910 | Hippo Vaughn | T | Boston Red Sox | Hilltop Park |
| 1911 | Hippo Vaughn (2) | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1912 | Ray Caldwell | L | Boston Red Sox | Hilltop Park |
| 1913 | George McConnell | L | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1914 | Marty McHale | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Polo Grounds |
| 1915 | Jack Warhop | L | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1916 | Ray Caldwell (2) | L | Washington Senators | Polo Grounds |
| 1917 | Ray Caldwell (3) | L | Boston Red Sox | Polo Grounds |
| 1918 | George Mogridge | W | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1919 | George Mogridge (2) | L | Boston Red Sox | Polo Grounds |
| 1920 | Bob Shawkey | L | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1921** | Carl Mays | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Polo Grounds |
| 1922** | Sad Sam Jones | L | Philadelphia Athletics | Griffith Stadium |
| 1923$^†$ | Bob Shawkey (2) | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1924 | Bob Shawkey (3) | W | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1925 | Urban Shocker | W | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1926** | Bob Shawkey (4) | W | Boston Red Sox | Griffith Stadium |
| 1927$^†$ | Waite Hoyt | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Yankee Stadium |
| 1928$^†$ | Herb Pennock | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1929 | George Pipgras | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1930 | George Pipgras (2) | L | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1931 | Red Ruffing | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1932$^†$ | Lefty Gomez | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1933 | Lefty Gomez (2) | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1934 | Lefty Gomez (3) | ND (L) | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1935 | Lefty Gomez (4) | L | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1936$^†$ | Lefty Gomez (5) | L | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1937$^†$ | Lefty Gomez (6) | L | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1938$^†$ | Red Ruffing (2) | L | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1939$^†$ | Red Ruffing (3) | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1940 | Red Ruffing (4) | L | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1941$^†$ | Marius Russo | W | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1942** | Red Ruffing (5) | W | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1943$^†$ | Tiny Bonham | ND (W) | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1944 | Hank Borowy | W | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1945 | Atley Donald | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1946 | Spud Chandler | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1947$^†$ | Spud Chandler (2) | L | Philadelphia Athletics | Yankee Stadium |
| 1948 | Allie Reynolds | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Griffith Stadium |
| 1949$^†$ | Ed Lopat | W | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1950$^†$ | Allie Reynolds (2) | ND (W) | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1951$^†$ | Vic Raschi | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1952$^†$ | Vic Raschi (2) | W | Philadelphia Athletics | Shibe Park |
| 1953$^†$ | Vic Raschi (3) | L | Philadelphia Athletics | Yankee Stadium |
| 1954 | Whitey Ford | ND (L) | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1955 | Whitey Ford (2) | W | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1956$^†$ | Don Larsen | W | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1957** | Whitey Ford (3) | W | Washington Senators | Yankee Stadium |
| 1958$^†$ | Don Larsen (2) | W | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1959 | Bob Turley | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1960 | Jim Coates | W | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1961$^†$ | Whitey Ford (4) | L | Minnesota Twins | Yankee Stadium |
| 1962$^†$ | Whitey Ford (5) | ND (W) | Baltimore Orioles | Yankee Stadium |
| 1963** | Ralph Terry | W | Kansas City Athletics | Municipal Stadium |
| 1964** | Whitey Ford (6) | L | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1965 | Jim Bouton | ND (L) | Minnesota Twins | Metropolitan Stadium |
| 1966 | Whitey Ford (7) | L | Detroit Tigers | Yankee Stadium |
| 1967 | Mel Stottlemyre | W | Washington Senators | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| 1968 | Mel Stottlemyre (2) | W | California Angels | Yankee Stadium |
| 1969 | Mel Stottlemyre (3) | W | Washington Senators | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
| 1970 | Mel Stottlemyre (4) | L | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1971 | Stan Bahnsen | L | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1972 | Mel Stottlemyre (5) | L | Baltimore Orioles | Memorial Stadium |
| 1973 | Mel Stottlemyre (6) | L | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1974 | Mel Stottlemyre (7) | W | Cleveland Indians | Shea Stadium |
| 1975 | Doc Medich | L | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1976** | Catfish Hunter | L | Milwaukee Brewers | Milwaukee County Stadium |
| 1977$^†$ | Catfish Hunter (2) | W | Milwaukee Brewers | Yankee Stadium |
| 1978$^†$ | Ron Guidry | ND (L) | Texas Rangers | Arlington Stadium |
| 1979 | Ron Guidry (2) | L | Milwaukee Brewers | Yankee Stadium |
| 1980* | Ron Guidry (3) | ND (L) | Texas Rangers | Arlington Stadium |
| 1981** | Tommy John | W | Texas Rangers | Yankee Stadium |
| 1982 | Ron Guidry (4) | ND (L) | Chicago White Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1983 | Ron Guidry (5) | ND (L) | Seattle Mariners | Kingdome |
| 1984 | Ron Guidry (6) | L | Kansas City Royals | Royals Stadium |
| 1985 | Phil Niekro | L | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1986 | Ron Guidry (7) | W | Kansas City Royals | Yankee Stadium |
| 1987 | Dennis Rasmussen | ND (W) | Detroit Tigers | Tiger Stadium |
| 1988 | Rick Rhoden | W | Minnesota Twins | Yankee Stadium |
| 1989 | Tommy John | W | Minnesota Twins | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 1990 | Dave LaPoint | ND (W) | Cleveland Indians | Yankee Stadium |
| 1991 | Tim Leary | ND (L) | Detroit Tigers | Tiger Stadium |
| 1992 | Scott Sanderson | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 1993 | Jimmy Key | W | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1994 | Jimmy Key (2) | W | Texas Rangers | Yankee Stadium |
| 1995* | Jimmy Key (3) | W | Texas Rangers | Yankee Stadium |
| 1996$^†$ | David Cone | W | Cleveland Indians | Jacobs Field |
| 1997* | David Cone (2) | L | Seattle Mariners | Kingdome |
| 1998$^†$ | Andy Pettitte | L | Anaheim Angels | Edison International Field of Anaheim |
| 1999$^†$ | Roger Clemens | ND (L) | Oakland Athletics | Network Associates Coliseum |
| 2000$^†$ | Orlando Hernandez | W | Anaheim Angels | Edison International Field of Anaheim |
| 2001** | Roger Clemens (2) | W | Kansas City Royals | Yankee Stadium |
| 2002* | Roger Clemens (3) | L | Baltimore Orioles | Oriole Park at Camden Yards |
| 2003** | Roger Clemens (4) | W | Toronto Blue Jays | SkyDome |
| 2004* | Mike Mussina | L | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Tokyo Dome |
| 2005* | Randy Johnson | W | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 2006* | Randy Johnson (2) | W | Oakland Athletics | McAfee Coliseum |
| 2007* | Carl Pavano | ND (W) | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Yankee Stadium |
| 2008 | Chien-Ming Wang | W | Toronto Blue Jays | Yankee Stadium |
| 2009$^†$ | CC Sabathia | L | Baltimore Orioles | Oriole Park at Camden Yards |
| 2010* | CC Sabathia (2) | ND (L) | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 2011* | CC Sabathia (3) | ND (W) | Detroit Tigers | Yankee Stadium |
| 2012* | CC Sabathia (4) | ND (L) | Tampa Bay Rays | Tropicana Field |
| 2013 | CC Sabathia (5) | L | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 2014 | CC Sabathia (6) | L | Houston Astros | Minute Maid Park |
| 2015* | Masahiro Tanaka | L | Toronto Blue Jays | Yankee Stadium |
| 2016 | Masahiro Tanaka (2) | ND (L) | Houston Astros | Yankee Stadium |
| 2017* | Masahiro Tanaka (3) | L | Tampa Bay Rays | Tropicana Field |
| 2018* | Luis Severino | W | Toronto Blue Jays | Rogers Centre |
| 2019* | Masahiro Tanaka (4) | W | Baltimore Orioles | Yankee Stadium |
| 2020* | Gerrit Cole | W | Washington Nationals | Nationals Park |
| 2021* | Gerrit Cole (2) | ND (L) | Toronto Blue Jays | Yankee Stadium |
| 2022* | Gerrit Cole (3) | ND (W) | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium |
| 2023 | Gerrit Cole (4) | W | San Francisco Giants | Yankee Stadium |
| 2024** | Nestor Cortés Jr. | ND (W) | Houston Astros | Minute Maid Park |
| 2025 | Carlos Rodón | | Milwaukee Brewers | Yankee Stadium |