1946 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

1946

35 Ernie Andres 1946 Boston Red Sox 04-16-1946 28
34 Mel Deutsch 1946 Boston Red Sox 04-21-1946 30
38 Eddie McGah 1946 Boston Red Sox 04-26-1946 24
39 Eddie Pellagrini 1946 Boston Red Sox 04-22-1946 28
8, 26 Ralph Hamner 1946 Chicago White Sox 04-28-1946 29
- Joe Smaza 1946 Chicago White Sox 09-18-1946 23
34 Frank Whitman 1946 Chicago White Sox 06-30-1946 21
45 Ray Flanigan 1946 Cleveland Indians 09-20-1946 23
20 Bob Kuzava 1946 Cleveland Indians 09-21-1946 23
12 Sherm Lollar 1946 Cleveland Indians 04-20-1946 21
33 Ralph McCabe 1946 Cleveland Indians 09-18-1946 27
46 Dale Mitchell 1946 Cleveland Indians 09-15-1946 25
35 Jackie Price 1946 Cleveland Indians 08-18-1946 33
42 Ralph Weigel 1946 Cleveland Indians 09-18-1946 24
34 Ted Gray 1946 Detroit Tigers 05-15-1946 21
24 Johnny Groth 1946 Detroit Tigers 09-05-1946 20
35 Lou Kretlow 1946 Detroit Tigers 09-26-1946 25
20 Anse Moore 1946 Detroit Tigers 04-17-1946 28
38 Yogi Berra 1946 New York Yankees 09-22-1946 21
3 Eddie Bockman 1946 New York Yankees 09-11-1946 26
7 Bobby Brown 1946 New York Yankees 09-22-1946 21
18, 26 Karl Drews 1946 New York Yankees 09-08-1946 26
16, 38 Frank Hiller 1946 New York Yankees 05-25-1946 25
40 Herb Karpel 1946 New York Yankees 04-19-1946 28
14, 20 Cuddles Marshall 1946 New York Yankees 04-24-1946 20
24, 37 Gus Niarhos 1946 New York Yankees 06-09-1946 25
12 Vic Raschi 1946 New York Yankees 09-23-1946 27
29, 41 Steve Souchock 1946 New York Yankees 05-25-1946 27
30 Bill Wight 1946 New York Yankees 04-17-1946 24
33 George Armstrong 1946 Philadelphia Athletics 04-26-1946 21
14 Jake Caulfield 1946 Philadelphia Athletics 04-24-1946 28
28 Pat Cooper 1946 Philadelphia Athletics 05-11-1946 28
31 Lee Griffeth 1946 Philadelphia Athletics 06-25-1946 21
15 Gene Handley 1946 Philadelphia Athletics 04-16-1946 31
40 Bill McCahan 1946 Philadelphia Athletics 09-15-1946 25
22 George Bradley 1946 St. Louis Browns 04-28-1946 32
2 Bob Dillinger 1946 St. Louis Browns 04-16-1946 27
39 Chet Johnson 1946 St. Louis Browns 09-12-1946 29
21 Ellis Kinder 1946 St. Louis Browns 04-30-1946 31
19 Paul Lehner 1946 St. Louis Browns 09-10-1946 26
23 Les Moss 1946 St. Louis Browns 09-10-1946 21
16 Ray Shore 1946 St. Louis Browns 09-21-1946 25
37 Jerry Witte 1946 St. Louis Browns 09-10-1946 31
22 Gil Coan 1946 Washington Senators 04-27-1946 23
39 Ray Goolsby 1946 Washington Senators 04-18-1946 26
1946 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1946 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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.

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?
     

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