1952 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."
"You never forget your first hit in the Major Leagues. It was in my third at bat. That was kind of a relief. You could start off 0-for-34." - Ralph Kiner
American League Debuts

1952

31 Jim Fridley 1952 Cleveland Indians 04-15-1952 27
12 Ted Lepcio 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-15-1952 22
32 George Lerchen 1952 Detroit Tigers 04-15-1952 29
7 Jim Rivera 1952 St. Louis Browns 04-15-1952 30
36 Hector Rodriguez 1952 Chicago White Sox 04-15-1952 31
21 George Schmees 1952 St. Louis Browns 04-15-1952 27
2, 37 Faye Throneberry 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-15-1952 20
5 George Wilson 1952 Chicago White Sox 04-15-1952 26
19 Alex Garbowski 1952 Detroit Tigers 04-16-1952 29
14 Dick Gernert 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-16-1952 23
56 Don Nicholas 1952 Chicago White Sox 04-16-1952 21
38 Gene Stephens 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-16-1952 19
29 Ike Delock 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-17-1952 22
26 Bill Henry 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-17-1952 24
5, 33 Raul Sanchez 1952 Washington Senators 04-17-1952 21
44 Billy Hoeft 1952 Detroit Tigers 04-18-1952 19
18 Tex Hoyle 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 04-18-1952 30
2 Skeeter Kell 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 04-19-1952 22
16 Jack Littrell 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 04-19-1952 23
6 Kite Thomas 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 04-19-1952 28
34 Hal Hudson 1952 St. Louis Browns 04-20-1952 24
40 Darrell Johnson 1952 St. Louis Browns 04-20-1952 23
23 Bill Miller 1952 New York Yankees 04-20-1952 24
15 Harley Grossman 1952 Washington Senators 04-22-1952 21
8 Hal Bevan 1952 Boston Red Sox 04-24-1952 21
16 Quincy Trouppe 1952 Cleveland Indians 04-30-1952 39
54, 6 Andy Carey 1952 New York Yankees 05-02-1952 20
23 Pete Taylor 1952 St. Louis Browns 05-02-1952 24
26, 39 Ralph Brickner 1952 Boston Red Sox 05-04-1952 27
34 Bunky Stewart 1952 Washington Senators 05-04-1952 21
27 Jerry Snyder 1952 Washington Senators 05-08-1952 22
24, 27 Dick Brodowski 1952 Boston Red Sox 06-15-1952 19
6 Dave Pope 1952 Cleveland Indians 07-01-1952 31
24 Tom Gorman 1952 New York Yankees 07-16-1952 27
34 Kal Segrist 1952 New York Yankees 07-16-1952 21
34, 39 Harry Schaeffer 1952 New York Yankees 07-28-1952 28
22 JW Porter 1952 St. Louis Browns 07-30-1952 19
15 Carl Linhart 1952 Detroit Tigers 08-02-1952 22
9 George Bradshaw 1952 Washington Senators 08-10-1952 27
38 Loren Babe 1952 New York Yankees 08-19-1952 24
38 Charlie Bishop 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 08-22-1952 28
4 Mike Fornieles 1952 Washington Senators 09-02-1952 20
4 Tom Hamilton 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 09-04-1952 26
37 Marion Fricano 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 09-06-1952 29
21 Walt Kellner 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 09-06-1952 23
26 Harvey Kuenn 1952 Detroit Tigers 09-06-1952 21
36 Len Matarazzo 1952 Philadelphia Athletics 09-06-1952 23
21 Jake Crawford 1952 St. Louis Browns 09-07-1952 24
18 Milt Bolling 1952 Boston Red Sox 09-10-1952 22
28 Hersh Freeman 1952 Boston Red Sox 09-10-1952 24
19 Bill Tuttle 1952 Detroit Tigers 09-10-1952 23
37, 19 Bud Black 1952 Detroit Tigers 09-13-1952 20
15 Buck Varner 1952 Washington Senators 09-19-1952 22
34 Ken Landenberger 1952 Chicago White Sox 09-20-1952 24
18 Bill Abernathie 1952 Cleveland Indians 09-27-1952 23
3 Sammy Esposito 1952 Chicago White Sox 09-28-1952 20
1952 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1952 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

Rich Amaral spent nine seasons in the Minor Leagues and upon his callup he commented, "I've been to every baseball park in America, except those in the American and National League."

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?
     

Baseball Almanac on Facebook

Copyright © 2000-2013. All Rights Reserved by Baseball-Almanac. Privacy Policy.Design by Geisler Young. Web hosting by Hosting 4 Less.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Football Almanac | Pigskin Fever | Today in Baseball History.