First number, last word

By Tom Singer

March 31, 2014

9: Consecutive different Opening Day starting pitchers for the Pirates, the team's longest such streak since 1900. This streak began with left-hander Oliver Perez in 2006, and led to left-hander Francisco Liriano on Monday.

"I always felt this is the greatest city in America, and fans treated me great in a Pirates uniform or in any other uniform. I'm home. This is my place." -- Dick Groat, National League Most Valuable Player in 1960, and a son of Pittsburgh forever.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.