1891 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."
"Always be cautious about rookie performances in September. They don't indicate what will happen in April." - Texas Rangers General Manager Tom Grieve
National League Debuts

1891

n/a Harry Morelock 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 08-21-1891 0
n/a John Schultz 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 05-06-1891 0
n/a Jack Taylor 1891 New York Giants 09-16-1891 18
n/a Joe Kelley 1891 Boston Beaneaters 07-27-1891 19
n/a Henry Killeen 1891 Cleveland Spiders 09-11-1891 19
n/a Ed Spurney 1891 Pittsburgh Pirates 06-26-1891 19
n/a Bert Inks 1891 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 09-02-1891 20
n/a Phil Saylor 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 07-11-1891 20
n/a John Shearon 1891 Cleveland Spiders 07-28-1891 20
n/a Bill Dahlen 1891 Chicago Colts 04-22-1891 21
n/a Bill Merritt 1891 Chicago Colts 08-08-1891 21
n/a Walter Plock 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 08-21-1891 22
n/a Ed Cassian 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 06-26-1891 23
n/a John Newell 1891 Pittsburgh Pirates 07-22-1891 23
n/a Jim Sullivan 1891 Boston Beaneaters 04-22-1891 23
n/a Bill Bowman 1891 Chicago Colts 06-18-1891 24
n/a Buster Burrell 1891 New York Giants 08-01-1891 24
n/a Dad Clarkson 1891 New York Giants 08-20-1891 24
n/a Joe Gormley 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 06-16-1891 24
n/a Bill Kling 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 08-13-1891 24
n/a Fred Lake 1891 Boston Beaneaters 05-07-1891 24
n/a Dan Lally 1891 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-19-1891 24
n/a John O'Brien 1891 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 04-22-1891 24
n/a Alexander Donoghue 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 08-24-1891 27
n/a George Rooks 1891 Boston Beaneaters 05-12-1891 27
n/a Ervin Curtis 1891 Cincinnati Reds 07-15-1891 29
n/a Lew Graulich 1891 Philadelphia Phillies 09-17-1891 29
1891 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1891 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."

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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