1904 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

1904

n/a Art Bader 1904 St. Louis Browns 08-02-1904 17
n/a Harry Vahrenhorst 1904 St. Louis Browns 09-21-1904 19
n/a Del Mason 1904 Washington Senators 04-23-1904 20
n/a Jim Mullin 1904 Philadelphia Athletics 06-01-1904 20
n/a Bill Schwartz 1904 Cleveland Blues 05-02-1904 20
n/a Joe Cassidy 1904 Washington Senators 04-18-1904 21
n/a John Barthold 1904 Philadelphia Athletics 05-17-1904 22
n/a Mike Donovan 1904 Cleveland Blues 05-29-1904 22
n/a Tom Dougherty 1904 Chicago White Sox 04-24-1904 22
n/a Jack Hickey 1904 Cleveland Blues 04-16-1904 22
n/a Beany Jacobson 1904 Washington Senators 04-30-1904 22
n/a Pete Noonan 1904 Philadelphia Athletics 06-20-1904 22
n/a Bugs Raymond 1904 Detroit Tigers 09-23-1904 22
n/a Bob Unglaub 1904 New York Highlanders 04-15-1904 22
n/a Ed Walsh 1904 Chicago White Sox 05-07-1904 22
n/a Tom Doran 1904 Boston Americans 04-19-1904 23
n/a Rabbit Nill 1904 Washington Senators 09-27-1904 23
n/a Harry Ostdiek 1904 Cleveland Blues 09-10-1904 23
n/a Claude Rossman 1904 Cleveland Blues 09-16-1904 23
n/a Claude Berry 1904 Chicago White Sox 04-22-1904 24
n/a Orth Collins 1904 New York Highlanders 06-01-1904 24
n/a Frank Smith 1904 Chicago White Sox 04-22-1904 24
n/a Fred Applegate 1904 Philadelphia Athletics 09-30-1904 25
n/a Walter Clarkson 1904 New York Highlanders 07-02-1904 25
n/a Cy Ferry 1904 Detroit Tigers 05-12-1904 25
n/a Rube Vinson 1904 Cleveland Blues 09-27-1904 25
n/a Red Kleinow 1904 New York Highlanders 05-03-1904 26
n/a George Stovall 1904 Cleveland Blues 07-04-1904 26
n/a Lou Bruce 1904 Philadelphia Athletics 06-22-1904 27
n/a Bill O'Neill 1904 Boston Americans 05-07-1904 27
n/a Elmer Stricklett 1904 Chicago White Sox 04-22-1904 27
n/a Charley O'Leary 1904 Detroit Tigers 04-14-1904 28
n/a Gus Dundon 1904 Chicago White Sox 04-14-1904 29
n/a Izzy Hoffman 1904 Washington Senators 04-14-1904 29
n/a Charlie Jaeger 1904 Detroit Tigers 09-09-1904 29
1904 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1904 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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.

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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