# List of Chicago White Sox Opening Day starting pitchers

The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago. They play in the American League Central division. The White Sox have used 62 Opening Day starting pitchers since they were established as a Major League team in 1901. 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 White Sox have a record of 60 wins and 53 losses in their Opening Day games, through the 2013 season.
The White Sox have played in three different home ball parks. They played at South Side Park from 1901 through the middle of 1910, the first Comiskey Park from 1910 through 1990, and have played at the second Comiskey Park, now known as U.S. Cellular Field, since 1991. They had a record of four wins and two losses in Opening Day games at South Side Park, 18 wins and 19 losses at the first Comiskey Park and four wins and one loss at U.S. Cellular Field, for a total home record in Opening Day games of 27 wins and 22 losses. Their record in Opening Day away games is 33 wins and 31 losses.
Mark Buehrle holds the record for making the most Opening Day starts for the White Sox, with nine. Billy Pierce had seven Opening Day starts for the White Sox, Wilbur Wood had five, Tommy Thomas and Jack McDowell each had four, and Frank Smith, Jim Scott, Lefty Williams, Sad Sam Jones, Bill Dietrich, Gary Peters and Tommy John each had three. Several Baseball Hall of Famers have made Opening Day starts for the White Sox, including Ed Walsh, Red Faber, Ted Lyons, Early Wynn and Tom Seaver.
The White Sox have played in the World Series five times. They won in 1906, 1917 and 2005, and lost in 1919 and 1959. Frank Owen was the Opening Day starting pitcher in 1906, Williams in 1917 and 1919, Pierce in 1959 and Buehrle in 2005. The White Sox won all five Opening Day games in those seasons.
In addition to being the White Sox' Opening Day starter in 1917 and 1919, Williams was also the Opening Day starter in 1920. However, he was suspended from the team later in the season and then banned from baseball for life for his role in throwing the 1919 World Series. Ed Cicotte, who had been the White Sox' 1918 Opening Day starter, was also banned from baseball as a result of his actions during the 1919 World Series. Ken Brett's Opening Day start on April 7, 1977, against the Toronto Blue Jays was the first game in Blue Jays' history. The Blue Jays won the game 9–5.

## Key

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

## Pitchers

| Season | Pitcher | Decision | Final score | Opponent | Location |
| 1901** | Roy Patterson | (W) | 8–2 | Cleveland Indians | South Side Park |
| 1902 | Nixey Callahan | (W) | 12–2 | Detroit Tigers | South Side Park |
| 1903 | Patsy Flaherty | (W) | 14–4 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1904 | Frank Owen | (L) | 1–6 | Cleveland Indians | South Side Park |
| 1905 | Frank Smith | (L) | 1–2 | St. Louis Browns | South Side Park |
| 1906† | Frank Owen (2) | (W) | 5–3 | Detroit Tigers | Bennett Park |
| 1907 | Nick Altrock | (L) | 0–1 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1908 | Doc White | (W) | 15–8 | Detroit Tigers | South Side Park |
| 1909 | Frank Smith (2) | (L) | 0–2 | Detroit Tigers | Bennett Park |
| 1910 | Frank Smith (3) | (W) | 3–0 | St. Louis Browns | South Side Park |
| 1911 | Ed Walsh | (L) | 2–4 | Detroit Tigers | Bennett Park |
| 1912 | Ed Walsh (2) | (W) | 6–2 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1913 | Jim Scott | (L) | 1–3 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1914 | Jim Scott (2) | (W) | 5–2 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1915 | Jim Scott (3) | (W) | 7–6 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1916 | Reb Russell | (L) | 0–4 | Detroit Tigers | Comiskey Park |
| 1917† | Lefty Williams | (W) | 7–2 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1918 | Ed Cicotte | (L) | 1–6 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1919** | Lefty Williams (2) | (W) | 13–4 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1920 | Lefty Williams (3) | W | 3–2 | Detroit Tigers | Comiskey Park |
| 1921 | Dickie Kerr | ND (L) | 5–6 | Detroit Tigers | Navin Field |
| 1922 | Red Faber | L | 2–3 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1923 | Red Faber (2) | ND (L) | 5–6 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1924 | Charlie Robertson | W | 3–7 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1925 | Sloppy Thurston | L | 3–4 | Detroit Tigers | Navin Field |
| 1926 | Ted Lyons | W | 5–1 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1927 | Tommy Thomas | (L) | 2–3 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1928 | Ted Lyons (2) | (L) | 2–8 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1929 | Tommy Thomas (2) | (L) | 1–3 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1930 | Tommy Thomas (3) | ND (W) | 8–7 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1931 | Tommy Thomas (4) | (L) | 4–5 | Cleveland Indians | League Park |
| 1932 | Sam Jones | W | 9–2 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1933 | Ed Durham | W | 4–2 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1934 | Sam Jones (2) | (L) | 3–8 | Detroit Tigers | Comiskey Park |
| 1935 | Sam Jones (3) | W | 7–6 | Detroit Tigers | Navin Field |
| 1936 | John Whitehead | W | 7–6 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1937 | Vern Kennedy | (L) | 10–15 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1938 | John Whitehead (2) | W | 4–3 | Detroit Tigers | Comiskey Park |
| 1939 | Johnny Rigney | (L) | 1–6 | Detroit Tigers | Briggs Stadium |
| 1940 | Eddie Smith | (L) | 0–1 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1941 | Bill Dietrich | W | 4–3 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1942 | Johnny Rigney (2) | (L) | 0–3 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1943 | Bill Dietrich (2) | (L) | 0–3 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1944 | Orval Grove | W | 3–1 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1945 | Thornton Lee | W | 5–2 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1946 | Bill Dietrich (3) | (L) | 0–1 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1947 | Ed Lopat | W | 2–0 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1948 | Joe Haynes | (L) | 2–5 | Detroit Tigers | Comiskey Park |
| 1949 | Al Gettel | (L) | 1–5 | Detroit Tigers | Briggs Stadium |
| 1950 | Bill Wight | (L) | 3–5 | St. Louis Browns | Comiskey Park |
| 1951 | Billy Pierce | W | 17–3 | St. Louis Browns | Sportsman's Park |
| 1952 | Billy Pierce (2) | (L) | 2–3 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1953 | Saul Rogovin | (L) | 0–6 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1954 | Billy Pierce (3) | L | 2–8 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1955 | Virgil Trucks | L | 1–5 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1956 | Billy Pierce (4) | W | 2–1 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1957 | Billy Pierce (5) | W | 3–2 | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium |
| 1958 | Billy Pierce (6) | L | 3–4 | Detroit Tigers | Comiskey Park |
| 1959** | Billy Pierce (7) | ND (W) | 9–7 | Detroit Tigers | Briggs Stadium |
| 1960 | Early Wynn | ND (W) | 10–9 | Kansas City Athletics | Comiskey Park |
| 1961 | Early Wynn (2) | ND (W) | 4–3 | Washington Senators | Griffith Stadium |
| 1962 | Juan Pizarro | W | 2–1 | Los Angeles Angels | Comiskey Park |
| 1963 | Ray Herbert | ND (W) | 7–5 | Detroit Tigers | Tiger Stadium |
| 1964 | Gary Peters | ND (L) | 3–5 | Baltimore Orioles | Comiskey Park |
| 1965 | Gary Peters (2) | W | 5–3 | Baltimore Orioles | Memorial Stadium |
| 1966 | Tommy John | ND (W) | 3–2 | California Angels | Comiskey Park |
| 1967 | John Buzhardt | L | 4–5 | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1968 | Joe Horlen | L | 0–9 | Cleveland Indians | Comiskey Park |
| 1969 | Gary Peters (3) | L | 2–5 | Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum |
| 1970 | Tommy John (2) | L | 0–12 | Minnesota Twins | Comiskey Park |
| 1971 | Tommy John (3) | W | 6–5 | Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum |
| 1972 | Wilbur Wood | ND (L) | 1–2 | Kansas City Royals | Municipal Stadium |
| 1973 | Wilbur Wood (2) | W | 3–1 | Texas Rangers | Arlington Stadium |
| 1974 | Wilbur Wood (3) | L | 2–8 | California Angels | Comiskey Park |
| 1975 | Wilbur Wood (4) | L | 2–3 | Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum |
| 1976 | Wilbur Wood (5) | W | 4–0 | Kansas City Royals | Comiskey Park |
| 1977 | Ken Brett | L | 5–9 | Toronto Blue Jays | Exhibition Stadium |
| 1978 | Steve Stone | ND (W) | 6–5 | Boston Red Sox | Comiskey Park |
| 1979 | Ken Kravec | L | 3–5 | Baltimore Orioles | Memorial Stadium |
| 1980 | Steve Trout | L | 3–5 | Baltimore Orioles | Comiskey Park |
| 1981 | Britt Burns | ND (W) | 5–3 | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park |
| 1982 | Jerry Koosman | ND (W) | 7–6 | New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium |
| 1983* | LaMarr Hoyt | L | 3–5 | Texas Rangers | Arlington Stadium |
| 1984 | LaMarr Hoyt (2) | W | 5–2 | Baltimore Orioles | Memorial Stadium |
| 1985 | Tom Seaver | W | 4–2 | Milwaukee Brewers | County Stadium |
| 1986 | Tom Seaver (2) | L | 3–5 | Milwaukee Brewers | Comiskey Park |
| 1987 | Richard Dotson | W | 5–4 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 1988 | Ricky Horton | W | 8–5 | California Angels | Comiskey Park |
| 1989 | Jerry Reuss | W | 9–2 | California Angels | Angel Stadium of Anaheim |
| 1990 | Mélido Pérez | ND (W) | 2–1 | Milwaukee Brewers | Comiskey Park |
| 1991 | Jack McDowell | W | 9–1 | Baltimore Orioles | Memorial Stadium |
| 1992 | Jack McDowell (2) | W | 10–4 | California Angels | Angel Stadium of Anaheim |
| 1993* | Jack McDowell (3) | W | 10–5 | Minnesota Twins | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 1994 | Jack McDowell (4) | L | 3–7 | Toronto Blue Jays | SkyDome |
| 1995 | Alex Fernandez | L | 3–12 | Milwaukee Brewers | County Stadium |
| 1996 | Alex Fernandez (2) | ND (L) | 2–3 | Seattle Mariners | Kingdome |
| 1997 | Jaime Navarro | ND (W) | 6–5 | Toronto Blue Jays | SkyDome |
| 1998 | Jaime Navarro (2) | W | 9–2 | Texas Rangers | Rangers Ballpark in Arlington |
| 1999 | James Baldwin | W | 8–2 | Seattle Mariners | Kingdome |
| 2000* | Mike Sirotka | L | 4–10 | Texas Rangers | Rangers Ballpark in Arlington |
| 2001 | David Wells | W | 7–4 | Cleveland Indians | Jacobs Field |
| 2002 | Mark Buehrle | W | 6–5 | Seattle Mariners | Safeco Field |
| 2003 | Mark Buehrle (2) | L | 0–3 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2004 | Mark Buehrle (3) | ND (L) | 7–9 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2005† | Mark Buehrle (4) | W | 1–0 | Cleveland Indians | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2006 | Mark Buehrle (5) | ND (W) | 10–4 | Cleveland Indians | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2007 | José Contreras | L | 5–12 | Cleveland Indians | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2008* | Mark Buehrle (6) | ND (L) | 8–10 | Cleveland Indians | Progressive Field |
| 2009 | Mark Buehrle (7) | ND (W) | 4–2 | Kansas City Royals | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2010 | Mark Buehrle (8) | W | 6–0 | Cleveland Indians | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2011 | Mark Buehrle (9) | W | 15–10 | Cleveland Indians | Progressive Field |
| 2012 | John Danks | L | 2–3 | Texas Rangers | Rangers Ballpark in Arlington |
| 2013 | Chris Sale | W | 1–0 | Kansas City Royals | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2014 | Chris Sale (2) | W | 5–3 | Minnesota Twins | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2015 | Jeff Samardzija | L | 1–10 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2016 | Chris Sale (3) | W | 4–3 | Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum |
| 2017 | Jose Quintana | L | 3–6 | Detroit Tigers | U.S. Cellular Field |
| 2018 | James Shields | W | 14–7 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2019 | Carlos Rodón | L | 3–5 | Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium |
| 2020* | Lucas Giolito | L | 5–10 | Minnesota Twins | Guaranteed Rate Field |
| 2021* | Lucas Giolito (2) | ND (L) | 3–4 | Los Angeles Angels | Angel Stadium of Anaheim |
| 2022 | Lucas Giolito (3) | ND (L) | 4–5 | Detroit Tigers | Comerica Park |
| 2023 | Dylan Cease | ND (W) | 3–2 | Houston Astros | Minute Maid Park |
| 2024 | Garrett Crochet | L | 0–1 | Detroit Tigers | Guaranteed Rate Field |
| 2025 | Sean Burke | | | Los Angeles Angels | Rate Field |