1886 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."
"Baseball is the sport that cackles back at can't-miss kids. Baseball humbles every player sooner or later. Baseball confers greatness stingily, in its own sweet time. At least that's what the bow-tied essayists and sandlot scouts solemnly tell us." - Johnette Howard in Sports Illustrated
National League Debuts

1886

n/a Charlie Parsons 1886 Boston Beaneaters 05-29-1886 22
n/a Jocko Flynn 1886 Chicago White Stockings 05-01-1886 21
n/a George Moolic 1886 Chicago White Stockings 05-01-1886 21
n/a Jack McGeachy 1886 Detroit Wolverines 06-17-1886 22
n/a Billy Shindle 1886 Detroit Wolverines 10-05-1886 25
n/a Billy Smith 1886 Detroit Wolverines 07-06-1886 25
n/a Larry Twitchell 1886 Detroit Wolverines 04-30-1886 22
n/a Dan Dugdale 1886 Kansas City Cowboys 05-20-1886 21
n/a Silver King 1886 Kansas City Cowboys 09-28-1886 18
n/a Gene Bagley 1886 New York Giants 09-11-1886 25
n/a Jim Devlin 1886 New York Giants 06-28-1886 20
n/a Bill Finley 1886 New York Giants 07-12-1886 22
n/a John Strike 1886 Philadelphia Phillies 09-24-1886 0
n/a Cannonball Titcomb 1886 Philadelphia Phillies 05-05-1886 19
n/a Red Connolly 1886 St. Louis Maroons 07-01-1886 0
n/a Frank Graves 1886 St. Louis Maroons 05-10-1886 25
n/a Louis Pelouze 1886 St. Louis Maroons 07-24-1886 0
n/a Jeremiah Reardon 1886 St. Louis Maroons 07-17-1886 17
n/a Ed Fuller 1886 Washington Senators 07-17-1886 18
n/a Pete Galligan 1886 Washington Senators 09-04-1886 26
n/a Frank Gilmore 1886 Washington Senators 09-11-1886 22
n/a George Joyce 1886 Washington Senators 08-14-1886 39
n/a George Keefe 1886 Washington Senators 07-30-1886 19
n/a Tom Kinslow 1886 Washington Senators 06-04-1886 20
n/a Connie Mack 1886 Washington Senators 09-11-1886 23
n/a Tony Madigan 1886 Washington Senators 07-10-1886 17
n/a John McGlone 1886 Washington Senators 10-07-1886 0
n/a George Shoch 1886 Washington Senators 09-10-1886 27
n/a George Winkelman 1886 Washington Senators 08-02-1886 21
n/a Joe Yingling 1886 Washington Senators 05-28-1886 19
n/a Henry Zeiher 1886 Washington Senators 06-24-1886 24
1886 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1886 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

When Christy Mathewson made his Major League debut the newspaper wrote, "The untried semi-professional possessed great speed and plenty of confidence in himself, but could not control his curves."

Did you know that Future hall of famer Addie Joss made his Major League pitching debut on April 26, 1902 and tossed a one hitter?
     

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