The Yankees’ lineup will look a lot different this Opening Day, but the most conspicuous absence will be Derek Jeter, whose string of 11 consecutive starts comes to an end. Jeter’s attempt to overtake Mickey Mantle for most starts by a Yankee in the season opener is also being sidetracked. By missing this year’s first game, Jeter will need to sign a new contract in order to reach Mantle.
The two familiar faces in the lineup belong to Robinson Cano and CC Sabathia. Cano will be making his eighth consecutive Opening Day start at second base, behind only Willie Randolph for the longest stretch at the position. Meanwhile, Sabathia will be making his fifth consecutive Opening Day start, the second most by any pinstriped starter.
More important than individual milestones, the Yankees will be looking to extend their streak of success in home openers. Since 1986 (click here for video of the game), the Bronx Bombers have reigned supreme in their opening game at Yankee Stadium. With a victory today, the Yankees would tie the New York Mets for the longest streak of consecutive wins in a home opener.
Listed below is an assortment of team and player Opening Day facts and figures.
Yankees Opening Day Starters, 1916-2012
| Most Opening Day Starts | Most Common Opening Day Lineup | ||||
| Players | G | Po | Player | G | |
| Mickey Mantle | 18 | C | Bill Dickey | 15 | |
| Derek Jeter | 16 | 1B | Lou Gehrig | 14 | |
| Bill Dickey | 15 | 2B | Willie Randolph | 13 | |
| Lou Gehrig | 14 | SS | Derek Jeter | 16 | |
| Bernie Williams | 14 | 3B | Graig Nettles | 11 | |
| Willie Randolph | 13 | LF | Roy White | 9 | |
| Babe Ruth | 13 | CF | Mickey Mantle | 13 | |
| Yogi Berra | 12 | RF | Hank Bauer | 8 | |
| Jorge Posada | 12 | SP | Whitey Ford | 7 | |
| Graig Nettles | 11 | SP | Ron Guidry | 7 | |
| Phil Rizzuto | 11 | SP | Mel Stottlemyre | 7 | |
Source: Baseball-reference.com
Select Individual Player Opening Day Records, 1916-2012
| PAs | Hits | RBIs | |||||
| Mickey Mantle | 74 | Mickey Mantle | 23 | Babe Ruth | 14 | ||
| Derek Jeter | 73 | Lou Gehrig | 22 | Mickey Mantle | 14 | ||
| Lou Gehrig | 60 | Babe Ruth | 21 | Yogi Berra | 14 | ||
| Bill Dickey | 57 | Derek Jeter | 19 | Lou Gehrig | 13 | ||
| Bernie Williams | 57 | Bill Dickey | 17 | Hideki Matsui | 11 | ||
| Babe Ruth | 57 | Yogi Berra | 17 | Bernie Williams | 10 | ||
| Willie Randolph | 57 | Jorge Posada | 13 | Derek Jeter | 10 | ||
| Jorge Posada | 52 | Don Mattingly | 13 | Jorge Posada | 9 | ||
| Phil Rizzuto | 51 | Paul O’Neill | 13 | Alex Rodriguez | 9 | ||
| Yogi Berra | 49 | Bill Skowron | 13 | Bobby Murcer | 9 | ||
| Innings | Strikeouts | ERA | |||||
| Whitey Ford | 53.2 | Whitey Ford | 34 | Randy Johnson | 1.38 | ||
| Mel Stottlemyre | 49.2 | Lefty Gomez | 28 | Vic Raschi | 1.96 | ||
| Lefty Gomez | 47.2 | Red Ruffing | 25 | Don Larsen | 2.00 | ||
| Red Ruffing | 42.1 | Mel Stottlemyre | 24 | Spud Chandler | 2.35 | ||
| Ron Guidry | 38.1 | Ron Guidry | 24 | Tommy John | 2.40 | ||
| Bob Shawkey | 29.1 | Roger Clemens | 22 | Bob Shawkey | 2.45 | ||
| Roger Clemens | 25 | Bob Shawkey | 18 | Waite Hoyt | 2.45 | ||
| Vic Raschi | 23 | CC Sabathia | 18 | Urban Shocker | 2.70 | ||
| CC Sabathia | 22.2 | David Cone | 12 | Red Ruffing | 2.76 | ||
| Jimmy Key | 20.1 | Vic Raschi | 11 | David Cone | 2.77 | ||
| HRs | Wins | |||
| Babe Ruth | 5 | Mel Stottlemyre | 4 | |
| Mickey Mantle | 4 | Red Ruffing | 3 | |
| Yogi Berra | 4 | Jimmy Key | 3 | |
| Jorge Posada | 4 | 10 tied | 2 | |
| 9 tied | 3 | |||
Note: ERA based on a minimum 10 innings pitched..
Source: Baseball-reference.com
| Player | G | PA | BA | OBP | SLG |
| Danny Tartabull | 4 | 17 | 0.583 | 0.647 | 1.417 |
| Babe Ruth | 13 | 57 | 0.447 | 0.544 | 0.915 |
| Johnny Damon | 4 | 19 | 0.438 | 0.474 | 0.813 |
| Roberto Kelly | 5 | 21 | 0.500 | 0.524 | 0.750 |
| Gary Sheffield | 3 | 14 | 0.400 | 0.571 | 0.700 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 8 | 39 | 0.424 | 0.513 | 0.758 |
| Lou Gehrig | 14 | 60 | 0.423 | 0.492 | 0.769 |
| Butch Wynegar | 3 | 10 | 0.333 | 0.400 | 0.778 |
| Yogi Berra | 12 | 49 | 0.395 | 0.469 | 0.698 |
| Rickey Henderson | 4 | 18 | 0.357 | 0.500 | 0.643 |
Note: Minimum 10 plate appearances.
Source: Baseball-reference.com
| Player | Date | Opp | Rslt | GSc |
| Ron Guidry | 4/10/1980 | TEX | L 0-1 | 87 |
| Mel Stottlemyre | 4/10/1967 | WSA | W 8-0 | 86 |
| Mel Stottlemyre | 4/10/1968 | CAL | W 1-0 | 85 |
| Red Ruffing | 4/14/1942 | WSH | W 7-0 | 85 |
| Rick Rhoden | 4/5/1988 | MIN | W 8-0 | 85 |
| Whitey Ford | 4/13/1955 | WSH | W 19-1 | 82 |
| Spud Chandler | 4/16/1946 | PHA | W 5-0 | 82 |
| Bob Shawkey | 4/18/1923 | BOS | W 4-1 | 80 |
| Marius Russo | 4/14/1941 | WSH | W 3-0 | 79 |
| Don Larsen | 4/15/1958 | BOS | W 3-0 | 78 |
Source: Baseball-reference.com
Yankees All-Time Record on Opening Day
| Event | W | L | T |
| Opening Day (Road or Home) | 64 | 47 | 1 |
| Home Openers | 75 | 36 | 1 |
| Home Opener Opponent | W | L | T |
| Baltimore Orioles | 3 | 1 | |
| Boston Red Sox | 17 | 9 | 1 |
| California/Anaheim Angels | 2 | 0 | |
| Chicago White Sox | 3 | 2 | |
| Cleveland Indians | 3 | 3 | |
| Detroit Tigers | 3 | 3 | |
| Kansas City Royals | 5 | 0 | |
| Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | 2 | 0 | |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 2 | 2 | |
| Minnesota Twins | 4 | 2 | |
| Oakland Athletics | 1 | 1 | |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 8 | 7 | |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 2 | 0 | |
| Texas Rangers | 4 | 0 | |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 1 | 0 | |
| Washington Senators | 16 | 6 |
Source: Baseball-reference.com and Baseball Almanac.com
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