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."
"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

1918

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

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."

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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