1916 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

1916

n/a Al Bergman 1916 Cleveland Indians 08-29-1916 26
n/a Jack Bradley 1916 Cleveland Indians 06-18-1916 22
n/a Jess Buckles 1916 New York Yankees 09-17-1916 26
n/a Mike Cantwell 1916 New York Yankees 08-17-1916 22
n/a Doc Carroll 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-27-1916 24
n/a Verne Clemons 1916 St. Louis Browns 04-22-1916 24
n/a Molly Craft 1916 Washington Senators 08-08-1916 20
n/a George Cunningham 1916 Detroit Tigers 04-14-1916 21
n/a Hank DeBerry 1916 Cleveland Indians 09-12-1916 21
n/a Shorty Des Jardien 1916 Cleveland Indians 05-20-1916 22
n/a Moxie Divis 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 08-04-1916 22
n/a Michael Driscoll 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-06-1916 23
n/a Babe Ellison 1916 Detroit Tigers 09-18-1916 19
n/a Joe Fautsch 1916 Chicago White Sox 04-24-1916 29
n/a Bill Fincher 1916 St. Louis Browns 04-23-1916 21
n/a Patsy Gharrity 1916 Washington Senators 05-16-1916 24
n/a Marv Goodwin 1916 Washington Senators 09-07-1916 25
n/a Al Gould 1916 Cleveland Indians 07-11-1916 23
n/a Charlie Grimm 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-30-1916 17
n/a Roy Grover 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 09-13-1916 24
n/a Lou Guisto 1916 Cleveland Indians 09-10-1916 21
n/a Red Gunkel 1916 Cleveland Indians 06-18-1916 22
n/a George Harper 1916 Detroit Tigers 04-15-1916 23
n/a Ziggy Hasbrouck 1916 Chicago White Sox 09-06-1916 22
n/a George Hesselbacher 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-29-1916 21
n/a Bill Johnson 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 09-22-1916 23
n/a Jing Johnson 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-27-1916 21
n/a Deacon Jones 1916 Detroit Tigers 09-23-1916 23
n/a Ted Jourdan 1916 Chicago White Sox 09-18-1916 21
n/a Ray Kennedy 1916 St. Louis Browns 09-08-1916 21
n/a Lee King 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-24-1916 22
n/a Otis Lambeth 1916 Cleveland Indians 07-16-1916 26
n/a Red Lanning 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-20-1916 21
n/a Otis Lawry 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-28-1916 22
n/a Axel Lindstrom 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 10-03-1916 21
n/a Byrd Lynn 1916 Chicago White Sox 04-16-1916 27
n/a Lee McElwee 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-03-1916 22
n/a Ralph Mitterling 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-07-1916 26
n/a Rube Parnham 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 09-20-1916 22
n/a Ken Penner 1916 Cleveland Indians 09-11-1916 20
n/a Val Picinich 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-25-1916 19
n/a Harland Rowe 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 06-23-1916 20
n/a Urban Shocker 1916 New York Yankees 04-24-1916 25
n/a Ray Shook 1916 Chicago White Sox 04-16-1916 26
n/a Bill Stellbauer 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 04-12-1916 22
n/a Zeb Terry 1916 Chicago White Sox 04-12-1916 24
n/a Claude Thomas 1916 Washington Senators 09-14-1916 26
n/a Buck Thrasher 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 09-27-1916 27
n/a Ollie Welf 1916 Cleveland Indians 08-30-1916 27
n/a Walt Whittaker 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-06-1916 22
n/a Marsh Williams 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 07-07-1916 23
n/a Whitey Witt 1916 Philadelphia Athletics 04-12-1916 20
n/a Cy Wright 1916 Chicago White Sox 06-30-1916 22
1916 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1916 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?

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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