1960 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

1960

32, 28 Don Mincher 1960 Washington Senators 04-18-1960 21
12 Walt Bond 1960 Cleveland Indians 04-19-1960 22
16, 1 Marv Breeding 1960 Baltimore Orioles 04-19-1960 26
5 Bob Johnson 1960 Kansas City Athletics 04-19-1960 24
25 Carl Thomas 1960 Cleveland Indians 04-19-1960 27
8 Ed Sadowski 1960 Boston Red Sox 04-20-1960 29
29, 59 Steve Barber 1960 Baltimore Orioles 04-21-1960 22
23 Chuck Estrada 1960 Baltimore Orioles 04-21-1960 22
4 Lou Clinton 1960 Boston Red Sox 04-22-1960 22
34 Wynn Hawkins 1960 Cleveland Indians 04-22-1960 24
23 Em Lindbeck 1960 Detroit Tigers 04-22-1960 25
22 Dick Stigman 1960 Cleveland Indians 04-22-1960 24
46 Bill Short 1960 New York Yankees 04-23-1960 22
20 Mike Lee 1960 Cleveland Indians 05-06-1960 18
21 Tom Borland 1960 Boston Red Sox 05-15-1960 27
33 Dave Nicholson 1960 Baltimore Orioles 05-24-1960 20
27 Ray Blemker 1960 Kansas City Athletics 07-03-1960 22
11 Rudy Hernandez 1960 Washington Senators 07-03-1960 28
16 Phil Regan 1960 Detroit Tigers 07-19-1960 23
34, 1 Mike de la Hoz 1960 Cleveland Indians 07-22-1960 21
32, 30 Carl Mathias 1960 Cleveland Indians 07-31-1960 24
3 Floyd Robinson 1960 Chicago White Sox 08-10-1960 24
22 Bill Stafford 1960 New York Yankees 08-17-1960 21
2 Marlan Coughtry 1960 Boston Red Sox 09-02-1960 25
35 Ted Sadowski 1960 Washington Senators 09-02-1960 24
38 Frank Funk 1960 Cleveland Indians 09-03-1960 25
44 Ray Barker 1960 Baltimore Orioles 09-13-1960 24
4 Jake Jacobs 1960 Washington Senators 09-13-1960 23
26 Ty Cline 1960 Cleveland Indians 09-14-1960 21
39 Tracy Stallard 1960 Boston Red Sox 09-14-1960 23
3 Dick McAuliffe 1960 Detroit Tigers 09-17-1960 20
47 Chet Boak 1960 Kansas City Athletics 09-18-1960 25
40 Stan Johnson 1960 Chicago White Sox 09-18-1960 23
45 Dave Wickersham 1960 Kansas City Athletics 09-18-1960 24
6 Deron Johnson 1960 New York Yankees 09-20-1960 22
48 Jim McManus 1960 Kansas City Athletics 09-21-1960 24
37 Leo Posada 1960 Kansas City Athletics 09-21-1960 24
27 Jesse Gonder 1960 New York Yankees 09-23-1960 24
39 Hector Maestri 1960 Washington Senators 09-24-1960 25
21 Arnold Earley 1960 Boston Red Sox 09-27-1960 27
29 Hal Stowe 1960 New York Yankees 09-30-1960 23
1960 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1960 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?

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.
     

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