1927 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

1927

n/a Lefty Atkinson 1927 Washington Senators 08-05-1927 21
n/a Neal Baker 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 06-26-1927 23
n/a Charlie Barnabe 1927 Chicago White Sox 04-14-1927 26
n/a Red Barnes 1927 Washington Senators 09-29-1927 22
n/a Charlie Bates 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 09-22-1927 20
n/a Jim Battle 1927 Chicago White Sox 09-09-1927 26
n/a Frank Bennett 1927 Boston Red Sox 09-17-1927 22
n/a Josh Billings 1927 Detroit Tigers 08-17-1927 19
n/a Joe Boley 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 04-12-1927 30
n/a Herb Bradley 1927 Boston Red Sox 05-09-1927 24
n/a Dud Branom 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 04-12-1927 29
n/a Joe Brown 1927 Chicago White Sox 05-17-1927 26
n/a Bobby Burke 1927 Washington Senators 04-16-1927 20
n/a Johnny Burnett 1927 Cleveland Indians 05-07-1927 22
n/a Frank Bushey 1927 Boston Red Sox 09-17-1927 21
n/a Cleo Carlyle 1927 Boston Red Sox 05-16-1927 24
n/a Dick Coffman 1927 Washington Senators 04-28-1927 20
n/a Hap Collard 1927 Cleveland Indians 04-23-1927 28
n/a Bob Cremins 1927 Boston Red Sox 08-17-1927 21
n/a Buddy Dear 1927 Washington Senators 09-09-1927 21
n/a Mose Eggert 1927 Boston Red Sox 04-27-1927 25
n/a Wes Ferrell 1927 Cleveland Indians 09-09-1927 19
n/a Roy Flaskamper 1927 Chicago White Sox 08-16-1927 25
n/a John Freeman 1927 Boston Red Sox 06-17-1927 26
n/a Babe Ganzel 1927 Washington Senators 09-19-1927 26
n/a George Gerken 1927 Cleveland Indians 04-19-1927 23
n/a Johnny Gill 1927 Cleveland Indians 08-28-1927 22
n/a Grant Gillis 1927 Washington Senators 09-19-1927 26
n/a Don Hankins 1927 Detroit Tigers 04-23-1927 25
n/a Jackie Hayes 1927 Washington Senators 08-05-1927 21
n/a Paul Hopkins 1927 Washington Senators 09-29-1927 23
n/a Ralph Judd 1927 Washington Senators 10-02-1927 25
n/a Marty Karow 1927 Boston Red Sox 06-21-1927 22
n/a Red Kress 1927 St. Louis Browns 09-24-1927 20
n/a Carl Lind 1927 Cleveland Indians 09-14-1927 23
n/a Hod Lisenbee 1927 Washington Senators 04-23-1927 28
n/a Hal McKain 1927 Cleveland Indians 09-22-1927 21
n/a Joe Mellana 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 09-21-1927 22
n/a Otis Miller 1927 St. Louis Browns 04-17-1927 26
n/a Randy Moore 1927 Chicago White Sox 04-12-1927 20
n/a Wilcy Moore 1927 New York Yankees 04-14-1927 29
n/a Ike Powers 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 07-26-1927 21
n/a Carl Reynolds 1927 Chicago White Sox 09-01-1927 24
n/a Red Rollings 1927 Boston Red Sox 04-17-1927 23
n/a Art Ruble 1927 Detroit Tigers 04-18-1927 24
n/a Rusty Saunders 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 09-24-1927 21
n/a Fred Schulte 1927 St. Louis Browns 04-15-1927 26
n/a Merv Shea 1927 Detroit Tigers 04-23-1927 26
n/a Rufus Smith 1927 Detroit Tigers 10-02-1927 22
n/a Frank Stewart 1927 Chicago White Sox 10-02-1927 21
n/a Guy Sturdy 1927 St. Louis Browns 09-30-1927 28
n/a Arlie Tarbert 1927 Boston Red Sox 06-18-1927 22
n/a Ollie Tucker 1927 Washington Senators 04-17-1927 25
n/a Willie Underhill 1927 Cleveland Indians 09-08-1927 23
n/a Clay Van Alstyne 1927 Washington Senators 08-20-1927 27
n/a Jim Walkup 1927 Detroit Tigers 04-30-1927 31
n/a Bob Way 1927 Chicago White Sox 04-12-1927 21
n/a Julie Wera 1927 New York Yankees 04-14-1927 25
n/a Sam West 1927 Washington Senators 04-17-1927 22
n/a Buzz Wetzel 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 07-25-1927 32
n/a John Wilson 1927 Boston Red Sox 05-09-1927 24
n/a Jim Wright 1927 St. Louis Browns 09-14-1927 26
n/a Carroll Yerkes 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 05-31-1927 23
1927 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1927 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?

On April 13, 1954, Hank Aaron made his Major League debut and went 0-for-5. However, in his own autobiography Aaron wrote that he went 0-for-4.
     

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