1964 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

1964

29 Bobby Knoop 1964 Los Angeles Angels 04-13-1964 25
19 Vern Handrahan 1964 Kansas City Athletics 04-14-1964 25
39 Bob Lee 1964 Los Angeles Angels 04-15-1964 26
25 Tony Conigliaro 1964 Boston Red Sox 04-16-1964 19
15 Jerry McNertney 1964 Chicago White Sox 04-16-1964 27
39 Dalton Jones 1964 Boston Red Sox 04-17-1964 20
51 Pete Mikkelsen 1964 New York Yankees 04-17-1964 24
8 Mike Brumley 1964 Washington Senators 04-18-1964 25
12, 48 Joe McCabe 1964 Minnesota Twins 04-18-1964 25
16 Joe Nossek 1964 Minnesota Twins 04-18-1964 23
11 Bill Spanswick 1964 Boston Red Sox 04-18-1964 25
15 Pete Charton 1964 Boston Red Sox 04-19-1964 21
29 Ed Connolly 1964 Boston Red Sox 04-19-1964 24
44 Fritz Fisher 1964 Detroit Tigers 04-19-1964 22
49 Bob Meyer 1964 New York Yankees 04-20-1964 24
26 Archie Moore 1964 New York Yankees 04-20-1964 22
42 Sonny Siebert 1964 Cleveland Indians 04-26-1964 27
21 Jack Aker 1964 Kansas City Athletics 05-03-1964 23
45 Tom Kelley 1964 Cleveland Indians 05-05-1964 20
11 Dave Duncan 1964 Kansas City Athletics 05-06-1964 18
47 Joe Sparma 1964 Detroit Tigers 05-20-1964 22
29, 20 Paul Dicken 1964 Cleveland Indians 06-07-1964 20
24 Dave Gray 1964 Boston Red Sox 06-14-1964 21
58 Bill Whitby 1964 Minnesota Twins 06-17-1964 20
20 Rick Joseph 1964 Kansas City Athletics 06-18-1964 24
26, 17 Chico Salmon 1964 Cleveland Indians 06-28-1964 23
26 Jerry Fosnow 1964 Minnesota Twins 06-29-1964 23
20 Dave Vineyard 1964 Baltimore Orioles 07-18-1964 23
33 Luis Tiant 1964 Cleveland Indians 07-19-1964 23
19 Bert Campaneris 1964 Kansas City Athletics 07-23-1964 22
30 Tony Horton 1964 Boston Red Sox 07-31-1964 19
22 Bill Kelso 1964 Los Angeles Angels 07-31-1964 24
18 Frank Bertaina 1964 Baltimore Orioles 08-01-1964 20
19 Jay Ritchie 1964 Boston Red Sox 08-04-1964 27
27 Ken Sanders 1964 Kansas City Athletics 08-06-1964 23
30 Mel Stottlemyre 1964 New York Yankees 08-12-1964 22
20 Rick Reichardt 1964 Los Angeles Angels 09-01-1964 21
42 Paul Schaal 1964 Los Angeles Angels 09-03-1964 21
24 Lou Piniella 1964 Baltimore Orioles 09-04-1964 21
13 Rich Reese 1964 Minnesota Twins 09-04-1964 22
13 Vern Fuller 1964 Cleveland Indians 09-05-1964 20
13 Blue Moon Odom 1964 Kansas City Athletics 09-05-1964 19
25 Pete Craig 1964 Washington Senators 09-06-1964 24
16 Jack Hiatt 1964 Los Angeles Angels 09-07-1964 22
33 Paul Blair 1964 Baltimore Orioles 09-09-1964 20
43 Roger Repoz 1964 New York Yankees 09-11-1964 24
14 Larry Stahl 1964 Kansas City Athletics 09-11-1964 23
20 Bill Bethea 1964 Minnesota Twins 09-13-1964 22
12 Mike Hegan 1964 New York Yankees 09-13-1964 22
49 Mickey Stanley 1964 Detroit Tigers 09-13-1964 22
29 Marv Staehle 1964 Chicago White Sox 09-15-1964 22
33 Ed Sukla 1964 Los Angeles Angels 09-17-1964 21
23 Dave Boswell 1964 Minnesota Twins 09-18-1964 19
29 Chuck Nieson 1964 Minnesota Twins 09-18-1964 21
51 Bobby Guindon 1964 Boston Red Sox 09-19-1964 21
44 Jim Hicks 1964 Chicago White Sox 09-19-1964 24
39 Johnnie Seale 1964 Detroit Tigers 09-20-1964 25
8 Duke Sims 1964 Cleveland Indians 09-22-1964 23
16 Don Loun 1964 Washington Senators 09-23-1964 23
45 Jim Northrup 1964 Detroit Tigers 09-30-1964 24
37 Bill Roman 1964 Detroit Tigers 09-30-1964 25
40 Mike Ryan 1964 Boston Red Sox 10-03-1964 22
48 Elvio Jimenez 1964 New York Yankees 10-04-1964 24
1964 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1964 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

Ted Cox made his Major League debut in 1977 with the Boston Red Sox and over two games on September 18 and 19, Cox went six for six before he made an out.

On the final day of the 1930 season, Dizzy Dean was called up and pitched a three-hitter. In Spring Training the following year, Dean had a fight with catcher Gabby Street and the franchise left him in the Minor Leagues all season long.
     

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