Sporcle Saturday: Home opener starting pitchers since 1970
With the back-and-forth 2019 home opener in the books, I thought it might be an interesting exercise to take a look at which Sox starting pitchers have taken the ball for the first home game of the season the past fifty years. While some of these pitchers will be duplicates from the Opening Day pitchers Saturday Sporcle, there are quite a few names on the list that will force you to remember past rotations. How many can you name? Good luck!
Quiz Parameters
- I’ve allotted 15 minutes for completion attempts.
- For hints, I’ve provided the year and the opponent/result.
Useless information to amaze, annoy, confuse, and/or confound your friends and family:
- After Friday’s game, the White Sox own a 26-24 record for Home Openers since 1970.
- Their best stretch came from 2002-2014, when they went 12-1, while their longest losing streak is 5, from 1993-1997. Big ups to Yoan Moncada for helping to avoid this ignominious streak.
- They’ve played the Yankees and the Blue Jays just once apiece during this period, while they’ve faced the Tigers the most, nine times (2-7 against).
- Their biggest blowout win came in 1972, a 14-0 victory over the Rangers, while their largest loss was an ugly 16-0 blowout against the Tigers, in 1991.
All data from baseballreference.com
Author
Only 34. I’m pretty disappointed in myself. I missed two obvious ones that would have got me 6 more, and I misspelled
41/50. Missed one obvious one from 2012. 2015 was on the tip of my tongue but I just couldn’t remember it. Should have had 1980 and 1975 but memories too distant. Good sporcle
48/50, and one of the 48 I got is incorrect.
Good catch, thanks. The dangers of compiling by hand, and also not catching it, since I remembered him being on the Sox. Just a few years too early. Fixed. (And yes, he was the winning pitcher of record for the Brewers)
Thanks Ted. Ah, 1995. Of course the Sox lost the home opener in 1995. What a dreadful comedown of a season.
43/50. all random misses, but still should have gotten more.
OH my I forgot the pitcher for 1995 was a White Sox.
I loved the guy who started for the Sox in 1995. Was overjoyed when he joined the team.
The less said about that season, the better.
44. Not my best performance. But good enough to beat Boomer’s 43!!
That 2000 game was a night game. That was a fun one! Set the tone for a great season
Ran out of steam after 27. Ugh.