Opening Day - By the Numbers/Trivia

As yesterday's game wound down, it dawned on me that I was getting tired of looking at the White Sox on Opening Day, especially Mark Buehrle. As it turns out, this is with good reason.

Since the franchise's first Opening Day in 1901, this is the 29th time the Tribe has opened versus the White Sox. Amazingly enough, this actually ties the team record for Opening Day's opponents. What team has the Tribe also faced 29 times? Additionally, Buehrle, has now thrown against the Tribe on five occasions on Opening Day, the most in history.

Although it seems we play the White Sox every year, we did open in Texas three seasons ago. But we have now opened versus the White Sox 6 of the past 7 years.

As bad as the loss was yesterday seemed, the Tribe still leads the White Sox on Opening Day 15-14. But in the past six meetings, we are now only 2-4.


Overall, the Tribe is now 57-54 on Opening Day, with 455 runs scored and 461 runs allowed. There have been 12 extra inning opening day games, with the Tribe 6-6 in those games. The worst Opening Day loss was in 1911 to the St Louis Browns (Baltimore Orioles), 12-3. So sans yesterday's comeback, that would have been our worst Opening Day loss ever. The biggest victory by the Tribe was the 1968 9-0 shutout versus the White Sox. The 15 runs allowed yesterday were the most allowed by the Tribe. The most ever scored by the Tribe were in the 21-14 victory in 1925 against those St Louis Browns again.

With the poor weather in the Cleveland area, it is not surprising at all that the Tribe has opened on the road 68 times while opening at home a mere 43 times. The Tribe is now 22-21 in home openers and 35-33 in road openers. The Tribe's longest win streak on Opening Day is five games, occurring on three separate occasions: 1925-1929, 1931-1935, and 1951-1955. the longest losing streak is only 4 games, but that has happened four times: 1969-1972, 1979-1982, 1990-1993, 2003-2006. With the loss yesterday, the Tribe is on a 3 game losing streak right now.

And now to other trivia.

Repeating from above, What team has the Tribe also faced 29 times, besides the White Sox? Tigers

What day of the week is most common for the Tribe to open? Tuesday-46. Least common? Sunday-2.

Which seven players have started for the Tribe on Opening Day 10 or more times? Name them and their positions. Note, two of them played two different positions. [For all positional data, I only used 1919 forward as I don't have boxscores from 1901-1918.] Lou Boudreau 11-SS, Joe Sewell 8-SS, 2-3B, Earl Averill 10-CF, 1-RF, Jim Hegan 11-C, Sandy Alomar 10-C, Omar Vizquel 11-SS, Keltner 11-3B.

One player has started at four different positions on opening day. Name him and the poitions. [He is not part of the 10+ above] Joe Carter - LF, CF, RF, DH

Which starting pitcher has also opened as position player? Bob Lemon

Which two starting pitchers have opned for and against the Tribe? Eckersley, Sutcliffe