When leadoff hitter Austin Hays stepped into the batter’s box at Fenway Park on Friday, July 24 – Opening Night of the 2020 season – he made Orioles history…in more ways than one.
Hays, naturally, was the leadoff hitter on the latest-starting O’s team in history thanks to the global pandemic that pushed back the start of the 2020 season by several months.
But Hays also made history in a different way: He was the seventh different Opening Day leadoff hitter for the Orioles in the past seven years.
Not since Nick Markakis led off the 2013 and 2014 seasons for the O’s had the team started its season with the same hitter at the top of its lineup.
Prior to Hays’ appearance this year, the Orioles – in their 67-year history in Baltimore – had never gone as many as seven straight seasons with seven different Opening Day leadoff hitters.
Over the past seven seasons, the Orioles’ Opening Day leadoff hitters have been: Nick Markakis (2014), Alejandro De Aza (2015), Manny Machado (2016), Seth Smith (2017), Chris Davis (2018), Cedric Mullins (2019) and Austin Hays (2020).
What is surprising about the turnover at the leadoff spot is that the franchise has had long stretches with consistency at the top.
Al Bumbry led off for seven straight Opening Days (1976-1982). Brian Roberts led off on Opening Day for eight straight seasons (2004-2011). And Brady Anderson led off the Opener for ten straight seasons (1992-2001).
After the impressive finish to the 2018 season by Cedric Mullins, it looked as though the Orioles might have their next long-term leadoff hitter and center fielder of the future. But Mullins regressed in 2019, opening the door for Hays, who impressed last September but has slumped a bit during the first week of the 2020 season.
Will Hays be able to hold onto the leadoff spot when Opening Day 2021 rolls around? Or will the Orioles extend their new franchise record to an eight straight season with a different leadoff hitter?
Orioles Opening Day Leadoff Hitters by Season
2020 – Austin Hays
2019 – Cedric Mullins
2018 – Chris Davis
2017 – Seth Smith
2016 – Manny Machado
2015 – Alejandro De Aza
2014 – Nick Markakis
2013 – Nick Markakis
2012 – Nolan Reimold
2011 – Brian Roberts
2010 – Brian Roberts
2009 – Brian Roberts
2008 – Brian Roberts
2007 – Brian Roberts
2006 – Brian Roberts
2005 – Brian Roberts
2004 – Brian Roberts
2003 – Jerry Hairston, Jr.
2002 – Jerry Hairston, Jr.
2001 – Brady Anderson
2000 – Brady Anderson
1999 – Brady Anderson
1998 – Brady Anderson
1997 – Brady Anderson
1996 – Brady Anderson
1995 – Brady Anderson
1994 – Brady Anderson
1993 – Brady Anderson
1992 – Brady Anderson
1991 – Mike Devereaux
1990 – Phil Bradley
1989 – Brady Anderson
1988 – Jeff Stone
1987 – Alan Wiggins
1986 – Alan Wiggins
1985 – Mike Young
1984 – John Shelby
1983 – John Shelby
1982 – Al Bumbry
1981 – Al Bumbry
1980 – Al Bumbry
1979 – Al Bumbry
1978 – Al Bumbry
1977 – Al Bumbry
1976 – Al Bumbry
1975 – Ken Singleton
1974 – Al Bumbry
1973 – Merv Rettenmund
1972 – Don Buford
1971 – Paul Blair
1970 – Don Buford
1969 – Don Buford
1968 – Don Buford
1967 – Curt Blefary
1966 – Luis Aparicio
1965 – Paul Blair
1964 – Jackie Brandt
1963 – Luis Aparicio
1962 – Johnny Temple
1961 – Jackie Brandt
1960 – Marv Breeding
1959 – Willie Tasby
1958 – Billy Gardner
1957 – Billy Gardner
1956 – Fred Marsh
1955 – Billy Cox
1954 – Bobby Young
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