1903 American 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
American League Debuts

1903

n/a Norwood Gibson 1903 Boston Americans 04-29-1903 26
n/a Jake Stahl 1903 Boston Americans 04-20-1903 24
n/a George Stone 1903 Boston Americans 04-20-1903 26
n/a Pep Clark 1903 Chicago White Stockings 09-11-1903 20
n/a Lee Tannehill 1903 Chicago White Stockings 04-22-1903 22
n/a Fred Abbott 1903 Cleveland Blues 04-25-1903 28
n/a Jack Hardy 1903 Cleveland Blues 08-29-1903 26
n/a Hugh Hill 1903 Cleveland Blues 05-01-1903 23
n/a Happy Iott 1903 Cleveland Blues 09-16-1903 27
n/a Ed Killian 1903 Cleveland Blues 08-25-1903 26
n/a Bill Pounds 1903 Cleveland Blues 05-02-1903 25
n/a Jesse Stovall 1903 Cleveland Blues 08-31-1903 28
n/a Jack Burns 1903 Detroit Tigers 09-11-1903 25
n/a John Deering 1903 Detroit Tigers 05-12-1903 23
n/a Doc Gessler 1903 Detroit Tigers 04-23-1903 22
n/a Simon Nicholls 1903 Detroit Tigers 09-18-1903 21
n/a Monte Beville 1903 New York Highlanders 04-24-1903 28
n/a Elmer Bliss 1903 New York Highlanders 09-28-1903 28
n/a Fred Holmes 1903 New York Highlanders 08-23-1903 25
n/a Ambrose Puttmann 1903 New York Highlanders 09-04-1903 22
n/a Eddie Quick 1903 New York Highlanders 09-28-1903 21
n/a Barney Wolfe 1903 New York Highlanders 04-24-1903 27
n/a Jack Zalusky 1903 New York Highlanders 09-02-1903 24
n/a Chief Bender 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 04-20-1903 18
n/a John Callahan 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 09-29-1903 24
n/a Bert Daly 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 08-07-1903 22
n/a Jim Fairbank 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 09-18-1903 22
n/a Weldon Henley 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 04-23-1903 22
n/a Ed Hilley 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 09-29-1903 24
n/a Danny Hoffman 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 04-20-1903 23
n/a Conny McGeehan 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 07-15-1903 20
n/a Ed Pinnance 1903 Philadelphia Athletics 09-14-1903 22
n/a Benny Bowcock 1903 St. Louis Browns 09-18-1903 23
n/a Claude Gouzzie 1903 St. Louis Browns 07-22-1903 0
n/a Hunter Hill 1903 St. Louis Browns 07-01-1903 24
n/a Cy Morgan 1903 St. Louis Browns 09-18-1903 24
n/a Barney Pelty 1903 St. Louis Browns 08-20-1903 22
n/a Owen Shannon 1903 St. Louis Browns 09-06-1903 23
n/a Pinky Swander 1903 St. Louis Browns 09-18-1903 23
n/a Joe Martin 1903 Washington Senators 04-28-1903 27
n/a Charles Moran 1903 Washington Senators 04-29-1903 24
n/a Champ Osteen 1903 Washington Senators 09-18-1903 26
n/a Rabbit Robinson 1903 Washington Senators 04-22-1903 21
1903 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1903 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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?

Five-for-five debuts? Believe it or not it has happened twice: On June 30, 1894 Fred Clarke of the Louisville Colonels and on May 16, 1933, Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators made their Major League debuts and both went five-for-five at the plate.
     

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