1939 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

1939

33 Walt Masterson 1939 Washington Senators 05-08-1939 18
16 Hal Newhouser 1939 Detroit Tigers 09-29-1939 18
18 Fred Hutchinson 1939 Detroit Tigers 05-02-1939 19
2 Bob Kennedy 1939 Chicago White Sox 09-14-1939 19
44 Early Wynn 1939 Washington Senators 09-13-1939 19
6 Al Brancato 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 09-07-1939 20
9 Ted Williams 1939 Boston Red Sox 04-20-1939 20
8, 14 Johnny Berardino 1939 St. Louis Browns 04-22-1939 21
48 Jess Dobernic 1939 Chicago White Sox 07-02-1939 21
- Loy Hanning 1939 St. Louis Browns 09-20-1939 21
19 Joe Haynes 1939 Washington Senators 04-24-1939 21
30 Jack Kramer 1939 St. Louis Browns 04-25-1939 21
3 Bill Lillard 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 09-11-1939 21
- Bob Neighbors 1939 St. Louis Browns 09-16-1939 21
17 Bob Prichard 1939 Washington Senators 06-14-1939 21
39 Hal Quick 1939 Washington Senators 09-07-1939 21
17 Bill Sayles 1939 Boston Red Sox 07-17-1939 21
34 Mickey Vernon 1939 Washington Senators 07-08-1939 21
26 Eddie Collins 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 07-04-1939 22
17 Joe Dobson 1939 Cleveland Indians 04-26-1939 22
43 Al Evans 1939 Washington Senators 09-13-1939 22
12 Joe Gantenbein 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 04-20-1939 22
34 Elmer Gedeon 1939 Washington Senators 09-18-1939 22
9 Charlie Keller 1939 New York Yankees 04-22-1939 22
21 Barney McCosky 1939 Detroit Tigers 04-18-1939 22
23 Bob McNamara 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 05-27-1939 22
30 Mike Naymick 1939 Cleveland Indians 09-24-1939 22
30, 36 Harry O'Neill 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 07-23-1939 22
35 Mike Palagyi 1939 Washington Senators 08-18-1939 22
21 Jim Schelle 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 07-23-1939 22
14 Ken Silvestri 1939 Chicago White Sox 04-18-1939 22
31 Floyd Stromme 1939 Cleveland Indians 07-05-1939 22
30 Lefty Sullivan 1939 Cleveland Indians 05-06-1939 22
44 Lou Thuman 1939 Washington Senators 09-08-1939 22
25 Fred Chapman 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 09-15-1939 23
9 Jake Early 1939 Washington Senators 05-04-1939 23
20 Les Fleming 1939 Detroit Tigers 04-22-1939 23
34 Bill Nagel 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 04-20-1939 23
20 Sam Page 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 09-11-1939 23
8 Dixie Parsons 1939 Detroit Tigers 08-16-1939 23
15 Woody Rich 1939 Boston Red Sox 04-22-1939 23
15 Dizzy Trout 1939 Detroit Tigers 04-25-1939 23
40 Morrie Aderholt 1939 Washington Senators 09-13-1939 24
3 Frank Croucher 1939 Detroit Tigers 04-18-1939 24
50 Bill Holland 1939 Washington Senators 09-17-1939 24
15 Bob Joyce 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 05-04-1939 24
17 Bob Loane 1939 Washington Senators 07-29-1939 24
31 Les McCrabb 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 09-07-1939 24
26 Buddy Rosar 1939 New York Yankees 04-29-1939 24
22 Marius Russo 1939 New York Yankees 06-06-1939 24
32 Jim Shilling 1939 Cleveland Indians 04-21-1939 24
18 Eric Tipton 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 06-09-1939 24
24 Johnny Welaj 1939 Washington Senators 05-02-1939 24
24 Marv Breuer 1939 New York Yankees 05-04-1939 25
27 Joe Gallagher 1939 New York Yankees 04-20-1939 25
27 Red Lynn 1939 Detroit Tigers 04-25-1939 25
25, 31 Hal Spindel 1939 St. Louis Browns 04-23-1939 25
14 Alex Carrasquel 1939 Washington Senators 04-23-1939 26
29 Tom Drake 1939 Cleveland Indians 04-24-1939 26
10 Ed Leip 1939 Washington Senators 09-16-1939 28
9 Ewald Pyle 1939 St. Louis Browns 04-23-1939 28
29 Floyd Giebell 1939 Detroit Tigers 04-21-1939 29
35 Bill Beckmann 1939 Philadelphia Athletics 05-02-1939 31
- Dick Bass 1939 Washington Senators 09-21-1939 33
1939 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1939 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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.

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.
     

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