1896 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

1896

n/a Frank Eustace 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-16-1896 22
n/a Chick Fraser 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-16-1896 22
n/a Marty Bergen 1896 Boston Beaneaters 04-17-1896 24
n/a Eddie Boyle 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-17-1896 21
n/a Charlie Dexter 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-17-1896 19
n/a George Flynn 1896 Chicago Colts 04-17-1896 24
n/a Jim Rogers 1896 Washington Senators 04-17-1896 24
n/a Dave Zearfoss 1896 New York Giants 04-17-1896 28
n/a Pete Cassidy 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-18-1896 23
n/a Wiley Davis 1896 Cincinnati Reds 04-18-1896 20
n/a Jot Goar 1896 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-18-1896 26
n/a Bill Hill 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-18-1896 21
n/a Fielder Jones 1896 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 04-18-1896 24
n/a Harley Payne 1896 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 04-18-1896 28
n/a Tom Niland 1896 St. Louis Browns 04-19-1896 26
n/a Herm McFarland 1896 Louisville Colonels 04-21-1896 26
n/a Cy Seymour 1896 New York Giants 04-22-1896 23
n/a Buttons Briggs 1896 Chicago Colts 04-23-1896 20
n/a Klondike Douglass 1896 St. Louis Browns 04-23-1896 23
n/a Bert Myers 1896 St. Louis Browns 04-25-1896 22
n/a Cy Bowen 1896 New York Giants 04-28-1896 25
n/a Billy Hulen 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 05-02-1896 26
n/a Josh Reilly 1896 Chicago Colts 05-02-1896 0
n/a John Wood 1896 St. Louis Browns 05-09-1896 24
n/a Algie McBride 1896 Chicago Colts 05-12-1896 26
n/a Sal Campfield 1896 New York Giants 05-15-1896 28
n/a Bill Keister 1896 Baltimore Orioles 05-20-1896 24
n/a Reddy Foster 1896 New York Giants 06-03-1896 31
n/a Harry Keener 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 06-27-1896 24
n/a Art Herman 1896 Louisville Colonels 06-29-1896 25
n/a Sam Mertes 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 06-30-1896 23
n/a Ted Lewis 1896 Boston Beaneaters 07-06-1896 23
n/a Sammy Strang 1896 Louisville Colonels 07-10-1896 19
n/a Ned Garvin 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 07-13-1896 22
n/a Joe Kostal 1896 Louisville Colonels 07-14-1896 20
n/a Dick Padden 1896 Pittsburgh Pirates 07-15-1896 25
n/a Ben Ellis 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 07-16-1896 26
n/a Bill Reidy 1896 New York Giants 07-21-1896 22
n/a Charlie Jordan 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 07-31-1896 24
n/a Lawrence Freund 1896 Louisville Colonels 08-02-1896 21
n/a Charlie Gettig 1896 New York Giants 08-05-1896 0
n/a Sport McAllister 1896 Cleveland Spiders 08-07-1896 22
n/a Dan McGann 1896 Boston Beaneaters 08-08-1896 25
n/a Effie Norton 1896 Washington Senators 08-08-1896 22
n/a Ollie Pickering 1896 Louisville Colonels 08-09-1896 26
n/a Joe Dolan 1896 Louisville Colonels 08-11-1896 23
n/a Nap Lajoie 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 08-12-1896 21
n/a Dale Gear 1896 Cleveland Spiders 08-15-1896 24
n/a Phil Geier 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 08-17-1896 20
n/a William Gallagher 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 08-19-1896 22
n/a Harvey Smith 1896 Washington Senators 08-19-1896 25
n/a Fred Klobedanz 1896 Boston Beaneaters 08-20-1896 25
n/a Zeke Wrigley 1896 Washington Senators 08-31-1896 22
n/a Abbie Johnson 1896 Louisville Colonels 09-01-1896 25
n/a Dan Leahy 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 09-02-1896 26
n/a Charlie Emig 1896 Louisville Colonels 09-04-1896 21
n/a Jerry Nops 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 09-07-1896 21
n/a Abel Lizotte 1896 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-17-1896 26
n/a George Wheeler 1896 Philadelphia Phillies 09-18-1896 27
n/a Lou Criger 1896 Cleveland Spiders 09-21-1896 24
n/a Elmer Horton 1896 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-24-1896 27
n/a George Yeager 1896 Boston Beaneaters 09-25-1896 22
1896 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 1896 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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.

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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