1926 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 Almanac Top Quote

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

1926 American League Debuts

1926 A.L. Rookies | 1926 N.L. Rookies | Baseball Firsts (All Years)

n/a Bill Clowers 1926 Boston Red Sox 07-20-1926 27
n/a Sam Langford 1926 Boston Red Sox 04-13-1926 25
n/a Danny MacFayden 1926 Boston Red Sox 08-25-1926 21
n/a Bill Moore 1926 Boston Red Sox 09-07-1926 22
n/a Bill Regan 1926 Boston Red Sox 06-02-1926 27
n/a Jack Russell 1926 Boston Red Sox 05-05-1926 20
n/a Tony Welzer 1926 Boston Red Sox 04-13-1926 27
n/a Hal Wiltse 1926 Boston Red Sox 04-13-1926 22
n/a Les Cox 1926 Chicago White Sox 09-11-1926 22
n/a Bill Hunnefield 1926 Chicago White Sox 04-17-1926 27
n/a Pryor McBee 1926 Chicago White Sox 05-22-1926 24
n/a Pid Purdy 1926 Chicago White Sox 09-07-1926 22
n/a Tommy Thomas 1926 Chicago White Sox 04-17-1926 26
n/a Pat Veltman 1926 Chicago White Sox 04-17-1926 20
n/a Willis Hudlin 1926 Cleveland Indians 08-15-1926 20
n/a Guy Lacy 1926 Cleveland Indians 05-07-1926 28
n/a Norm Lehr 1926 Cleveland Indians 05-20-1926 24
n/a Sam Gibson 1926 Detroit Tigers 04-19-1926 26
n/a Ray Hayworth 1926 Detroit Tigers 06-27-1926 22
n/a Augie Johns 1926 Detroit Tigers 04-16-1926 26
n/a Rudy Kneisch 1926 Detroit Tigers 09-21-1926 27
n/a George Smith 1926 Detroit Tigers 04-21-1926 24
n/a Honey Barnes 1926 New York Yankees 04-20-1926 26
n/a Nick Cullop 1926 New York Yankees 04-14-1926 25
n/a Kiddo Davis 1926 New York Yankees 06-05-1926 24
n/a Tony Lazzeri 1926 New York Yankees 04-13-1926 22
n/a Myles Thomas 1926 New York Yankees 04-18-1926 28
n/a Dave Barbee 1926 Philadelphia Athletics 07-29-1926 21
n/a Joe Pate 1926 Philadelphia Athletics 04-15-1926 33
n/a Frank Sigafoos 1926 Philadelphia Athletics 09-03-1926 22
n/a Stew Bolen 1926 St. Louis Browns 04-15-1926 23
n/a Ski Melillo 1926 St. Louis Browns 04-18-1926 26
n/a Ernie Nevers 1926 St. Louis Browns 04-26-1926 23
n/a Alvin Crowder 1926 Washington Senators 07-24-1926 27
n/a Russ Ennis 1926 Washington Senators 09-19-1926 29
n/a Bump Hadley 1926 Washington Senators 04-20-1926 21
n/a Dick Jones 1926 Washington Senators 09-11-1926 24
n/a Frank Loftus 1926 Washington Senators 09-26-1926 28
n/a Bill Morrell 1926 Washington Senators 04-20-1926 33
n/a Bobby Reeves 1926 Washington Senators 06-09-1926 21
n/a Danny Taylor 1926 Washington Senators 06-30-1926 25
n/a Jimmy Uchrinscko 1926 Washington Senators 07-20-1926 25
1926 American League Debuts
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1926 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

On the final day of the 1930 season, Dizzy Dean was called up and pitched a three-hitter. In Spring Training the following year, Dean had a fight with catcher Gabby Street and the franchise left him in the Minor Leagues all season long.

Ray Jansen (four for five in his first game), Aubrey Epps (three for four in his first game) and Ed Irwin (two for three in his first game) all finished their career with lifetime batting averages which were greater than their career fielding percentages.