1950 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."
"There is a certain amount of fascination to the big league debut of any athlete. Sometimes they are incredible successes. Sometimes they are frenetic failures." - Sportswriter Arthur Daley
American League Debuts

1950

12 James Atkins 1950 Boston Red Sox 09-29-1950 29
39 Fred Hatfield 1950 Boston Red Sox 08-31-1950 25
34 Dick Littlefield 1950 Boston Red Sox 07-07-1950 24
37 Charlie Maxwell 1950 Boston Red Sox 09-20-1950 23
26 Jim McDonald 1950 Boston Red Sox 07-27-1950 23
25 Gordie Mueller 1950 Boston Red Sox 04-19-1950 27
21 Willard Nixon 1950 Boston Red Sox 07-07-1950 22
24 Jimmy Piersall 1950 Boston Red Sox 09-07-1950 20
39 Bob Scherbarth 1950 Boston Red Sox 04-23-1950 24
21, 37 Jim Suchecki 1950 Boston Red Sox 05-20-1950 23
59 Luis Aloma 1950 Chicago White Sox 04-19-1950 26
47 Jim Busby 1950 Chicago White Sox 04-23-1950 23
17 Chico Carrasquel 1950 Chicago White Sox 04-18-1950 22
28 Charlie Cuellar 1950 Chicago White Sox 07-02-1950 32
45 Joe Erautt 1950 Chicago White Sox 05-09-1950 28
35 Gus Keriazakos 1950 Chicago White Sox 10-01-1950 19
15 Joe Kirrene 1950 Chicago White Sox 10-01-1950 18
14 Ed McGhee 1950 Chicago White Sox 09-20-1950 25
57 John Perkovich 1950 Chicago White Sox 05-06-1950 26
34 Bill Wilson 1950 Chicago White Sox 09-24-1950 21
17 Al Aber 1950 Cleveland Indians 09-15-1950 23
11 Herb Conyers 1950 Cleveland Indians 04-18-1950 29
30 Jim Lemon 1950 Cleveland Indians 08-20-1950 22
26 Dick Rozek 1950 Cleveland Indians 04-29-1950 23
24, 30 Ray Herbert 1950 Detroit Tigers 08-27-1950 20
35 Frank House 1950 Detroit Tigers 07-21-1950 20
27 Lew Burdette 1950 New York Yankees 09-26-1950 23
19 Whitey Ford 1950 New York Yankees 07-01-1950 21
40 Jackie Jensen 1950 New York Yankees 04-18-1950 23
18, 36 Dave Madison 1950 New York Yankees 09-26-1950 29
12 Billy Martin 1950 New York Yankees 04-18-1950 21
16 Ernie Nevel 1950 New York Yankees 09-26-1950 32
9 Hank Workman 1950 New York Yankees 09-04-1950 24
26 Moe Burtschy 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 06-17-1950 28
36, 39 Harry Byrd 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 04-21-1950 25
23 Bob Hooper 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 04-19-1950 27
17 Johnny Kucab 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 09-14-1950 30
14 Gene Markland 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 04-25-1950 30
21 Joe Murray 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 08-17-1950 29
38 Bob Rinker 1950 Philadelphia Athletics 09-06-1950 29
14 Don Lenhardt 1950 St. Louis Browns 04-18-1950 27
27 Sid Schacht 1950 St. Louis Browns 04-23-1950 32
22 Lou Sleater 1950 St. Louis Browns 04-25-1950 23
8 Bill Sommers 1950 St. Louis Browns 04-25-1950 27
2 Leo Thomas 1950 St. Louis Browns 04-29-1950 26
4 Tom Upton 1950 St. Louis Browns 04-19-1950 23
15 Sandy Consuegra 1950 Washington Senators 06-10-1950 29
41 George Genovese 1950 Washington Senators 04-29-1950 28
21 Connie Marrero 1950 Washington Senators 04-21-1950 38
19 Rogelio Martinez 1950 Washington Senators 07-13-1950 31
19, 33 Julio Moreno 1950 Washington Senators 09-08-1950 29
32 Irv Noren 1950 Washington Senators 04-18-1950 25
14 Carlos Pascual 1950 Washington Senators 09-24-1950 19
19 Bob Ross 1950 Washington Senators 06-16-1950 21
28 Al Sima 1950 Washington Senators 06-28-1950 28
46 Fred Taylor 1950 Washington Senators 09-12-1950 25
1950 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1950 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 on September 27, 1963 the Houston Colt .45s fielded an all-rookie lineup that included future stars Joe Morgan, Jerry Grote, and Rusty Staub?
     

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