1953 National 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
National League Debuts

1953

24, 32 Bill Antonello 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-30-1953 25
31 Fred Baczewski 1953 Chicago Cubs 04-26-1953 26
2 Ed Bailey 1953 Cincinnati Redlegs 09-26-1953 22
37 Gene Baker 1953 Chicago Cubs 09-20-1953 28
5, 8 Frank Baldwin 1953 Cincinnati Redlegs 04-22-1953 24
14 Ernie Banks 1953 Chicago Cubs 09-17-1953 22
17 Carlos Bernier 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-22-1953 26
38 Bill Bruton 1953 Milwaukee Braves 04-13-1953 27
10 Bob Buhl 1953 Milwaukee Braves 04-17-1953 24
10 Grant Dunlap 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 04-21-1953 29
10 Harry Elliott 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 08-01-1953 29
36 Don Elston 1953 Chicago Cubs 09-17-1953 24
26 Roy Face 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-16-1953 25
41 Jack Faszholz 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 04-25-1953 26
6 Hank Foiles 1953 Cincinnati Redlegs 04-21-1953 23
19 Jim Gilliam 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-14-1953 24
28 Ruben Gomez 1953 New York Giants 04-17-1953 25
2 Harry Hanebrink 1953 Milwaukee Braves 05-03-1953 25
11 Ray Jablonski 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 04-14-1953 26
31 Vic Janowicz 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 05-31-1953 23
47 Joey Jay 1953 Milwaukee Braves 07-21-1953 17
16 Dave Jolly 1953 Milwaukee Braves 05-09-1953 28
7 Ted Kazanski 1953 Philadelphia Phillies 06-25-1953 19
34 Thornton Kipper 1953 Philadelphia Phillies 06-07-1953 24
9 Nick Koback 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 07-29-1953 18
15, 43 Don Liddle 1953 Milwaukee Braves 04-17-1953 27
15 Fred Marolewski 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 09-19-1953 24
20 Bob Marquis 1953 Cincinnati Redlegs 04-17-1953 28
48 Barney Martin 1953 Cincinnati Redlegs 04-22-1953 30
46 Glenn Mickens 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 07-19-1953 22
25 Bob Milliken 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-22-1953 26
26 Bill Moisan 1953 Chicago Cubs 09-17-1953 28
14 Felipe Montemayor 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-14-1953 25
14 Pete Naton 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 06-16-1953 21
27 Eddie O'Brien 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-25-1953 22
30 Johnny O'Brien 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-19-1953 22
23 Stan Palys 1953 Philadelphia Phillies 09-20-1953 23
3 Jim Pendleton 1953 Milwaukee Braves 04-17-1953 29
20 Eddie Phillips 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 09-10-1953 23
45 Johnny Podres 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-17-1953 20
33 Tom Qualters 1953 Philadelphia Phillies 09-13-1953 18
16 Dick Rand 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 09-16-1953 22
8 Rip Repulski 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 04-14-1953 24
14 Mel Roach 1953 Milwaukee Braves 07-31-1953 20
39 John Romonosky 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 09-06-1953 24
19 Dick Schofield 1953 St. Louis Cardinals 07-03-1953 18
14 Paul Schramka 1953 Chicago Cubs 04-14-1953 25
10 Jack Shepard 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 06-19-1953 21
30 Duke Simpson 1953 Chicago Cubs 05-06-1953 25
21 Paul Smith 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-14-1953 22
27 Joe Szekely 1953 Cincinnati Redlegs 09-13-1953 28
10 Bob Talbot 1953 Chicago Cubs 09-16-1953 26
37 Dick Teed 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 07-24-1953 27
28 Jim Willis 1953 Chicago Cubs 04-22-1953 26
26 Al Worthington 1953 New York Giants 07-06-1953 24
1953 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1953 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

On April 13, 1954, Hank Aaron made his Major League debut and went 0-for-5. However, in his own autobiography Aaron wrote that he went 0-for-4.

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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