The Texas Rangers have announced their opening day starter. It’ll be Jon Grey on Apr 8 in Toronto.
That continues the current streak of opening day starters not repeating. The last time we had two years in a row with the same starter was 2009, when Kevin Millwood started for the fourth year in a row. Since that, every one has been different.
Here are the current record holders for consecutive Game 1 starts in Texas Rangers history.
Consecutive Game 1 Starts:
- Kevin Millwood – 4 (06-09)
- Charlie Hough – 4 (86-89)
- Nolan Ryan – 3 (90-92)
- Ken Hill – 2 (96-97)
- Jon Matlack – 2 (80-81)
- Dick Bosman – 2 (72-73, if you count Senators, it would be 4 as he did 70-71 as well)
… and the overall / non consecutive game 1 starter record is Charlie Hough who did it six times, between 1982 and 1989. Behind him are Kevin Millwood with 4, and Nolan Ryan with 3.
Complete History
Here is every Game 1 starter in Texas Rangers history. I did not include the Washington Senators years. If I had, Dick Bosman would be higher on the consecutive list, as he started the first game every year from 1970 through 1973.
Note: These are not the home opener starters, but the Game 1/opening day starter on the first overall game of the season.
Globe Life Field era:
- 2022: Jon Gray
- 2021: Kyle Gibson
- 2020: Lance Lynn
The Ballpark in Arlington era:
- 2019: Mike Minor
- 2018: Cole Hamels
- 2017: Yu Darvish
- 2016: Cole Hamels
- 2015: Yovani Gallardo
- 2014: Tanner Scheppers
- 2013: Matt Harrison
- 2012: Colby Lewis
- 2011: CJ Wilson
- 2010: Scott Feldman
- 2009: Kevin Milwood
- 2008: Kevin Millwood
- 2007: Kevin Millwood
- 2006: Kevin Millwood
- 2005: Ryan Drese
- 2004: Kenny Rogers
- 2003: Ismael Valdez
- 2002: Chan Ho Park
- 2001: Rick Helling
- 2000: Kenny Rogers
- 1999: Rick Helling
- 1998: John Burkett
- 1997: Ken Hill
- 1996: Ken Hill
- 1995: Kenny Rogers
- 1994: Kevin Brown
Arlington Stadium era:
- 1993: Craig Lefferts
- 1992: Nolan Ryan
- 1991: Nolan Ryan
- 1990: Nolan Ryan
- 1989: Charlie Hough
- 1988: Charlie Hough
- 1987: Charlie Hough
- 1986: Jose Guzman
- 1985: Charlie Hough
- 1984: Charlie Hough
- 1983: Mike Smithson
- 1982: Charlie Hough
- 1981: Jon Matlack
- 1980: Jon Matlack
- 1979: Fergie Jenkins
- 1978: Jon Matlack
- 1977: Bert Blyleven
- 1976: Gaylord Perry
- 1975: Fergie Jenkins
- 1974: Jim Bibby
- 1973: Dick Bosman
- 1972: Dick Bosman
