1919 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."
"You never forget your first hit in the Major Leagues. It was in my third at bat. That was kind of a relief. You could start off 0-for-34." - Ralph Kiner
National League Debuts

1919

n/a Billy Zitzmann 1919 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-17-1919 23
n/a Johnny Jones 1919 New York Giants 04-24-1919 26
n/a Earl Smith 1919 New York Giants 04-24-1919 22
n/a Art Reinhart 1919 St. Louis Cardinals 04-26-1919 19
n/a Lou Raymond 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 05-02-1919 24
n/a Doc Wallace 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 05-02-1919 25
n/a Jesse Winters 1919 New York Giants 05-03-1919 25
n/a Rags Faircloth 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 05-06-1919 26
n/a Ed Gerner 1919 Cincinnati Reds 05-14-1919 21
n/a Cliff Lee 1919 Pittsburgh Pirates 05-15-1919 22
n/a Sweetbreads Bailey 1919 Chicago Cubs 05-23-1919 24
n/a Bert Yeabsley 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 05-28-1919 25
n/a Tom Fitzsimmons 1919 Brooklyn Robins 06-12-1919 29
n/a Horace Allen 1919 Brooklyn Robins 06-15-1919 20
n/a Frankie Frisch 1919 New York Giants 06-17-1919 20
n/a Hal Reilly 1919 Chicago Cubs 06-19-1919 25
n/a Bill Bolden 1919 St. Louis Cardinals 06-27-1919 26
n/a Pat Murray 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 07-01-1919 21
n/a John Cavanaugh 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 07-07-1919 19
n/a Mike Pasquella 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 07-09-1919 20
n/a Jigger Statz 1919 New York Giants 07-30-1919 21
n/a Charlie See 1919 Cincinnati Reds 08-06-1919 22
n/a Bernie Friberg 1919 Chicago Cubs 08-20-1919 20
n/a Joel Newkirk 1919 Chicago Cubs 08-20-1919 23
n/a Dizzy Nutter 1919 Boston Braves 09-07-1919 26
n/a Rosy Ryan 1919 New York Giants 09-07-1919 21
n/a Hod Ford 1919 Boston Braves 09-08-1919 22
n/a Sam White 1919 Boston Braves 09-08-1919 26
n/a Bevo LeBourveau 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 09-09-1919 23
n/a Lafayette Henion 1919 Brooklyn Robins 09-10-1919 20
n/a Will Koenigsmark 1919 St. Louis Cardinals 09-10-1919 23
n/a Roy Parker 1919 St. Louis Cardinals 09-10-1919 23
n/a Dixie Carroll 1919 Boston Braves 09-12-1919 28
n/a Mickey O'Neil 1919 Boston Braves 09-12-1919 21
n/a Jack Wisner 1919 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-12-1919 19
n/a Wally Kimmick 1919 St. Louis Cardinals 09-13-1919 22
n/a Chick Bowen 1919 New York Giants 09-15-1919 22
n/a Colonel Snover 1919 New York Giants 09-18-1919 24
n/a Lloyd Christenbury 1919 Boston Braves 09-20-1919 25
n/a Bob Kinsella 1919 New York Giants 09-20-1919 20
n/a Bill Hubbell 1919 New York Giants 09-24-1919 22
n/a Lefty Weinert 1919 Philadelphia Phillies 09-24-1919 17
n/a Virgil Barnes 1919 New York Giants 09-25-1919 22
n/a Sam Fishburn 1919 St. Louis Cardinals 09-30-1919 26
1919 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1919 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."

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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