1947 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

1947

6, 41 Dick Adams 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 05-20-1947 27
14 Rugger Ardizoia 1947 New York Yankees 04-30-1947 27
27 Leslie Aulds 1947 Boston Red Sox 05-25-1947 26
5 Matt Batts 1947 Boston Red Sox 09-10-1947 25
17 Gene Bearden 1947 Cleveland Indians 05-10-1947 26
28 Lou Brissie 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 09-28-1947 23
36 Walter Brown 1947 St. Louis Browns 05-16-1947 32
15 Willard Brown 1947 St. Louis Browns 07-19-1947 32
23 Scott Cary 1947 Washington Senators 05-01-1947 24
3 Allie Clark 1947 New York Yankees 08-05-1947 24
19 Ray Coleman 1947 St. Louis Browns 04-22-1947 24
32 Merl Combs 1947 Boston Red Sox 09-12-1947 27
15 Perry Currin 1947 St. Louis Browns 06-29-1947 18
29 Cot Deal 1947 Boston Red Sox 09-11-1947 24
17, 35 Sam Dente 1947 Boston Red Sox 07-10-1947 25
14 Larry Doby 1947 Cleveland Indians 07-05-1947 23
20 Harry Dorish 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-15-1947 25
22 Buzz Dozier 1947 Washington Senators 09-12-1947 19
- Cal Ermer 1947 Washington Senators 09-26-1947 23
5 Ferris Fain 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 04-15-1947 26
23 Tommy Fine 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-26-1947 32
28 Nellie Fox 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 06-08-1947 19
36 Joe Frazier 1947 Cleveland Indians 08-31-1947 24
28 Pete Gebrian 1947 Chicago White Sox 05-06-1947 23
28 Billy Goodman 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-19-1947 21
29 Ernest Groth 1947 Cleveland Indians 09-11-1947 25
50, 32 Ralph Houk 1947 New York Yankees 04-26-1947 27
26 Don Johnson 1947 New York Yankees 04-20-1947 20
20, 30 Tom Kirk 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 06-24-1947 19
15, 30, 39 Austin Knickerbocker 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 04-19-1947 28
3 Lyman Linde 1947 Cleveland Indians 09-11-1947 26
25 Eddie Lyons 1947 Washington Senators 09-15-1947 24
14 Sam Mele 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-15-1947 25
17 Mel Parnell 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-20-1947 24
36 Jack Phillips 1947 New York Yankees 08-22-1947 25
17 Al Rosen 1947 Cleveland Indians 09-10-1947 23
31 Mickey Rutner 1947 Philadelphia Athletics 09-11-1947 28
20 Spec Shea 1947 New York Yankees 04-19-1947 26
29 Strick Shofner 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-19-1947 27
30 Dick Starr 1947 New York Yankees 09-05-1947 26
28 Bryan Stephens 1947 Cleveland Indians 05-15-1947 26
42 Chuck Stobbs 1947 Boston Red Sox 09-15-1947 18
31 Bud Swartz 1947 St. Louis Browns 07-12-1947 18
7 Hank Thompson 1947 St. Louis Browns 07-17-1947 21
19 Hal Toenes 1947 Washington Senators 09-17-1947 29
20 Vic Wertz 1947 Detroit Tigers 04-15-1947 22
32 Al Widmar 1947 Boston Red Sox 04-25-1947 22
29 Les Willis 1947 Cleveland Indians 04-28-1947 39
23, 32 Junior Wooten 1947 Washington Senators 09-16-1947 23
1947 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1947 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

Did you know that on September 27, 1963 the Houston Colt .45s fielded an all-rookie lineup that included future stars Joe Morgan, Jerry Grote, and Rusty Staub?

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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