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

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

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?

Five-for-five debuts? Believe it or not it has happened twice: On June 30, 1894 Fred Clarke of the Louisville Colonels and on May 16, 1933, Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators made their Major League debuts and both went five-for-five at the plate.
     

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