Are there any with zero?

[KingSwisher]

Despite wining three Cy Young Awards and being one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, Sandy Koufax was an opening day pitcher only once in his career. Koufax's lone start came on April 14, 1964 against St. Louis, and he pitched Los Angeles to a 4-0 victory.

Any Cy Young winners (Starting pitchers, not relievers) that never started an opening day game in their career?

[HOYA86]

How about the immortal John Denny?

[rugbyfreak]

Mike Marshall, Mark Davis, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Sparky Lyle--but of course I'm cheating here.

[soberdennis]

the qustion said starters, not relievers.

[Gee Walker]

It's hard to figure out a situation, barring injury, when last year's Cy Young winner doesn't become this year's opening day pitcher.

And if the pitcher recovers from his injury, there's always subsequent years to be the opening day pitcher.

[soberdennis]

Koufax didn't start in 66 on opening day. 67 either, but he had retired. Of course the Bums had another pretty good pitcher to choose from.

[Budtaff]

Steve Stone? with Palmer around he may have never gotten the opening DAy nod.

[Gee Walker]

I remember when Roger Clemens joined the Blue Jays just after Pat Hentgen's Cy Young award he clearly stated in spring training that opening day belonged to Hentgen. It was a classy move by Clemens, who went on to win the next two Cy Young awards with the Jays.

[Gee Walker]

I have no idea where to check, but Steve Stone might be the answer. His Cy Young year was a surprise, and his career ended with a 3-7 season the next year. It looks like that year might have been injury filled - only 62.7 IP.

The only other years that Stone might have been picked would have been after his 12-8 year for the Cubs in 1975, or after his 15-12 year with the White Sox in 1977.

[Gee Walker]

Stone did start the 1981 season on opening day, pitching 5 innings as the Orioles beat the Royals, 5-3.

[Gee Walker]

Thank you, retrosheet.

Pete Vuckovich was opening day starter for the 1982 Brewers.
John Denny was opening day starter for the 1979 Cardinals.
Bob Turley was opening day starter for the 1959 Yanks.

Here we go... Vern Law never started opening day for the Pirates. Early in his career, that was Bob Friend's job. Later on, it was Bob Veale's.

[Budtaff]

Law looks like the only one.

I thought Bob Welch for a minute because he was always behind Fernando with the Dodgers and Stewart with the A's but he did pitch one late in his career when he was pretty much washed up.

[KingSwisher]

Mike Marshall, Mark Davis, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Sparky Lyle--but of course I'm cheating here.

Fine line between being an idiot and a cheater.

Very fine line in trivia