1905 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

1905

n/a Charlie Chech 1905 Cincinnati Reds 04-14-1905 26
n/a Bill Clancy 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-14-1905 26
n/a Otis Clymer 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-14-1905 29
n/a Mickey Doolin 1905 Philadelphia Phillies 04-14-1905 24
n/a Phil Lewis 1905 Brooklyn Superbas 04-14-1905 21
n/a Ed McGamwell 1905 Brooklyn Superbas 04-14-1905 27
n/a Harry McIntire 1905 Brooklyn Superbas 04-14-1905 26
n/a Bud Sharpe 1905 Boston Beaneaters 04-14-1905 23
n/a Irv Young 1905 Boston Beaneaters 04-14-1905 27
n/a Dick Harley 1905 Boston Beaneaters 04-15-1905 30
n/a Del Howard 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-15-1905 27
n/a Big Jeff Pfeffer 1905 Chicago Cubs 04-15-1905 23
n/a Al Bridwell 1905 Cincinnati Reds 04-16-1905 21
n/a Orval Overall 1905 Cincinnati Reds 04-16-1905 24
n/a Cliff Blankenship 1905 Cincinnati Reds 04-17-1905 25
n/a Billy Campbell 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 04-17-1905 31
n/a Frank Hershey 1905 Boston Beaneaters 04-20-1905 27
n/a Jake Thielman 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 04-23-1905 25
n/a Homer Hillebrand 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-24-1905 25
n/a Charlie Malay 1905 Brooklyn Superbas 04-24-1905 25
n/a Buck Washer 1905 Philadelphia Phillies 04-25-1905 22
n/a Ed Reulbach 1905 Chicago Cubs 05-16-1905 22
n/a Bill McCarthy 1905 Boston Beaneaters 06-05-1905 19
n/a Frank Moore 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 06-14-1905 27
n/a Buster Brown 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 06-22-1905 23
n/a Moonlight Graham 1905 New York Giants 06-29-1905 27
n/a George Gibson 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 07-02-1905 24
n/a Ernie Baker 1905 Cincinnati Reds 08-18-1905 30
n/a Jim Wallace 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-24-1905 23
n/a Red Munson 1905 Philadelphia Phillies 08-28-1905 22
n/a Dave Murphy 1905 Boston Beaneaters 08-28-1905 29
n/a Allie Strobel 1905 Boston Beaneaters 08-29-1905 21
n/a Bob Ganley 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-01-1905 30
n/a Lefty Leifield 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-03-1905 21
n/a Rip Vowinkel 1905 Cincinnati Reds 09-05-1905 20
n/a Art Hoelskoetter 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 09-10-1905 22
n/a John Hummel 1905 Brooklyn Superbas 09-12-1905 22
n/a Johnny Siegle 1905 Cincinnati Reds 09-15-1905 31
n/a Ed Kinsella 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-16-1905 25
n/a Jack Himes 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 09-18-1905 26
n/a Ad Yale 1905 Brooklyn Superbas 09-18-1905 35
n/a King Brady 1905 Philadelphia Phillies 09-21-1905 24
n/a Rube DeGroff 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 09-22-1905 26
n/a Bill Hinchman 1905 Cincinnati Reds 09-24-1905 22
n/a Ollie Johns 1905 Cincinnati Reds 09-24-1905 26
n/a Mike Mowrey 1905 Cincinnati Reds 09-24-1905 21
n/a Steamer Flanagan 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-25-1905 24
n/a Offa Neal 1905 New York Giants 09-30-1905 29
n/a Gerry Shea 1905 St. Louis Cardinals 10-01-1905 24
n/a Otto Knabe 1905 Pittsburgh Pirates 10-03-1905 21
1905 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1905 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

On April 13, 1954, Hank Aaron made his Major League debut and went 0-for-5. However, in his own autobiography Aaron wrote that he went 0-for-4.

Did you know that on September 27, 1963 the Houston Colt .45s fielded an all-rookie lineup that included future stars Joe Morgan, Jerry Grote, and Rusty Staub?
     

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