1918 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."
"Always be cautious about rookie performances in September. They don't indicate what will happen in April." - Texas Rangers General Manager Tom Grieve
American League Debuts

1918

n/a Truck Hannah 1918 New York Yankees 04-15-1918 28
n/a Fred Thomas 1918 Boston Red Sox 04-22-1918 25
n/a Joe Cobb 1918 Detroit Tigers 04-25-1918 23
n/a Claude Davidson 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 04-25-1918 21
n/a Frank Fahey 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 04-25-1918 22
n/a Bob Geary 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 04-25-1918 26
n/a Herb Hall 1918 Detroit Tigers 04-25-1918 24
n/a Rudy Kallio 1918 Detroit Tigers 04-25-1918 25
n/a Roy Wilkinson 1918 Cleveland Indians 04-29-1918 24
n/a Jimmy Dykes 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 05-06-1918 21
n/a Red Shea 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 05-06-1918 19
n/a Frank Shellenback 1918 Chicago White Sox 05-08-1918 19
n/a Jake Munch 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 05-27-1918 27
n/a Roy Hansen 1918 Washington Senators 05-28-1918 20
n/a Dick McCabe 1918 Boston Red Sox 05-30-1918 22
n/a Bob Berman 1918 Washington Senators 06-04-1918 19
n/a Pat Hardgrove 1918 Chicago White Sox 06-08-1918 23
n/a Stan Rees 1918 Washington Senators 06-12-1918 19
n/a Otto Jacobs 1918 Chicago White Sox 06-13-1918 29
n/a Garland Buckeye 1918 Washington Senators 06-19-1918 20
n/a Johnny Mostil 1918 Chicago White Sox 06-20-1918 22
n/a Chick Holmes 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 06-27-1918 22
n/a Jack Stansbury 1918 Boston Red Sox 06-30-1918 32
n/a Ed Corey 1918 Chicago White Sox 07-02-1918 23
n/a Kid Willson 1918 Chicago White Sox 07-02-1918 22
n/a Red Bluhm 1918 Boston Red Sox 07-03-1918 24
n/a William Pierson 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 07-04-1918 19
n/a Mule Watson 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 07-04-1918 21
n/a Tom Zachary 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 07-11-1918 22
n/a Ed Hovlik 1918 Washington Senators 07-14-1918 26
n/a Walter Bernhardt 1918 New York Yankees 07-16-1918 25
n/a Bugs Morris 1918 St. Louis Browns 07-20-1918 26
n/a Eusebio Gonzalez 1918 Boston Red Sox 07-26-1918 26
n/a Walt Kinney 1918 Boston Red Sox 07-26-1918 24
n/a George Cochran 1918 Boston Red Sox 07-29-1918 29
n/a Babe Pinelli 1918 Chicago White Sox 08-03-1918 22
n/a Al DeVormer 1918 Chicago White Sox 08-04-1918 26
n/a Roy Sanders 1918 New York Yankees 08-06-1918 24
n/a Roy Johnson 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 08-07-1918 22
n/a Bill Pertica 1918 Boston Red Sox 08-07-1918 19
n/a Lou Bauer 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 08-13-1918 19
n/a Vic Keen 1918 Philadelphia Athletics 08-13-1918 19
n/a Alex Ferguson 1918 New York Yankees 08-16-1918 21
1918 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1918 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?

Rich Amaral spent nine seasons in the Minor Leagues and upon his callup he commented, "I've been to every baseball park in America, except those in the American and National League."
     

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