04-04-2022, 03:10 PM
Nolan Ryan had a fair number of opening day starts, but he was also the 2nd and 3rd best options on a lot of those staffs. Frank Tanana handled OD's when they were both on the Angels (Nolan had three of them). Seaver with the Mets. He had three for the Astros but otherwise JR Richard and Niekro had the opening day. And on the Texas Rangers, Ryan's three starts were bookended by Hough and Lefferts.
So nine total opening day starts for Nolan Ryan in a 27 year career. Walter Johnson had 14, 10 consecutive.
As for the Giants, Juan Marichal had 10 OD starts, but broken up by Perry and Sanford once each.
Mays had 19 consecutive CF starts, broken up by his year in Korean War. Mel Ott, 18 consecutive OD starts, but two of them were in CF and 3B instead of RF. Crawford, 10 SS starts. McCovey, 13 1B starts (Belt has 10, so did Bill Terry, Snow had 9, Will Clark had 8). Buster, 10 starts at C. Westrum had 7. Robby T. and Doyle had 11 starts each at 2B. Matt Williams and Devlin had 8 starts each at 3B. Barry Bonds, 14 starts in LF.
Most unnatural? Lemaster started 7 opening days. Yikes.
So nine total opening day starts for Nolan Ryan in a 27 year career. Walter Johnson had 14, 10 consecutive.
As for the Giants, Juan Marichal had 10 OD starts, but broken up by Perry and Sanford once each.
Mays had 19 consecutive CF starts, broken up by his year in Korean War. Mel Ott, 18 consecutive OD starts, but two of them were in CF and 3B instead of RF. Crawford, 10 SS starts. McCovey, 13 1B starts (Belt has 10, so did Bill Terry, Snow had 9, Will Clark had 8). Buster, 10 starts at C. Westrum had 7. Robby T. and Doyle had 11 starts each at 2B. Matt Williams and Devlin had 8 starts each at 3B. Barry Bonds, 14 starts in LF.
Most unnatural? Lemaster started 7 opening days. Yikes.
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