1880 National League Debuts

Willie Mays played his first Major League game on May 25, 1951, and went 0-for-5 at the plate. He started his career 1-for-25 and told his manager, "I can't do it, Mr. Leo. You better bench me."

Casey Stengel played his first Major League game on July 27, 1912, and went 4-for-4 at the plate. He commented later in his life, "I broke in with four hits and the writers promptly decided they had seen the new Ty Cobb. It took me only a few days to correct that impression."

Both Mays and Stengel would continue their Major League careers down separate paths of greatness, but each still had to appear in that memorable first Major League game. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present what Cubs broadcaster Steve Stone once described as, "His first Major League debut."
"You never forget your first hit in the Major Leagues. It was in my third at bat. That was kind of a relief. You could start off 0-for-34." - Ralph Kiner
National League Debuts

1880

n/a Tom Burns 1880 Chicago White Stockings 05-01-1880 23
n/a Roger Connor 1880 Troy Trojans 05-01-1880 22
n/a Larry Corcoran 1880 Chicago White Stockings 05-01-1880 20
n/a Sam Crane 1880 Buffalo Bisons 05-01-1880 26
n/a Fred Dunlap 1880 Cleveland Blues 05-01-1880 20
n/a Dude Esterbrook 1880 Buffalo Bisons 05-01-1880 22
n/a Pete Gillespie 1880 Troy Trojans 05-01-1880 28
n/a Ned Hanlon 1880 Cleveland Blues 05-01-1880 22
n/a Arthur Irwin 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs 05-01-1880 22
n/a Lou Say 1880 Cincinnati Reds 05-01-1880 26
n/a Pop Smith 1880 Cincinnati Reds 05-01-1880 23
n/a Harry Stovey 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs 05-01-1880 23
n/a Mickey Welch 1880 Troy Trojans 05-01-1880 20
n/a Art Whitney 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs 05-01-1880 22
n/a George Wood 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs 05-01-1880 21
n/a Tom Poorman 1880 Buffalo Bisons 05-05-1880 22
n/a Old Hoss Radbourn 1880 Buffalo Bisons 05-05-1880 25
n/a John Reilly 1880 Cincinnati Reds 05-18-1880 21
n/a Mike Lawlor 1880 Troy Trojans 05-27-1880 26
n/a Sam Trott 1880 Boston Red Stockings 05-29-1880 0
n/a Steve Dignan 1880 Boston Red Stockings 06-01-1880 21
n/a Fatty Briody 1880 Troy Trojans 06-16-1880 21
n/a Charlie Ahearn 1880 Troy Trojans 06-19-1880 22
n/a Fred Haley 1880 Troy Trojans 06-22-1880 27
n/a Joe Straub 1880 Troy Trojans 06-24-1880 22
n/a Denny Driscoll 1880 Buffalo Bisons 07-01-1880 24
n/a Arlie Latham 1880 Buffalo Bisons 07-05-1880 20
n/a Jerry Dorgan 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs 07-08-1880 0
n/a Joe Sommer 1880 Cincinnati Reds 07-08-1880 21
n/a Frank Mountain 1880 Troy Trojans 07-19-1880 20
n/a Bill Tobin 1880 Worcester Ruby Legs 07-21-1880 25
n/a Tim Keefe 1880 Troy Trojans 08-06-1880 23
n/a Ecky Stearns 1880 Buffalo Bisons 08-17-1880 18
n/a Mike Moynahan 1880 Buffalo Bisons 08-20-1880 0
n/a Jack Leary 1880 Boston Red Stockings 08-21-1880 23
n/a Tom Kearns 1880 Buffalo Bisons 08-26-1880 20
n/a Stump Wiedman 1880 Buffalo Bisons 08-26-1880 19
n/a Buck Ewing 1880 Troy Trojans 09-09-1880 20
n/a Jim Keenan 1880 Buffalo Bisons 09-28-1880 22
n/a Charlie Guth 1880 Chicago White Stockings 09-30-1880 0
1880 National League Debuts


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Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1880 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

On April 13, 1954, Hank Aaron made his Major League debut and went 0-for-5. However, in his own autobiography Aaron wrote that he went 0-for-4.

Ray Jansen (four for five in his first game), Aubrey Epps (three for four in his first game) and Ed Irvin (two for three in his first game) all finished their career with lifetime batting averages which were greater than their career fielding percentages.
     

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