1966 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."
"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
National League Debuts

1966

34 Charlie Vaughan 1966 Atlanta Braves 09-03-1966 18
34 Nolan Ryan 1966 New York Mets 09-11-1966 19
22 Greg Sims 1966 Houston Astros 04-15-1966 19
12 Nate Colbert 1966 Houston Astros 04-14-1966 20
28 Bill Hepler 1966 New York Mets 04-23-1966 20
4 Tom Hutton 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers 09-16-1966 20
38 Bob Watson 1966 Houston Astros 09-09-1966 20
11 Lee Bales 1966 Atlanta Braves 08-07-1966 21
41 Don Mason 1966 San Francisco Giants 04-14-1966 21
23 Billy Murphy 1966 New York Mets 04-15-1966 21
48 Rich Robertson 1966 San Francisco Giants 09-10-1966 21
32 Gary Sutherland 1966 Philadelphia Phillies 09-17-1966 21
20 Don Sutton 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers 04-14-1966 21
23 Don Wilson 1966 Houston Astros 09-29-1966 21
31 Jim Campanis 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers 09-20-1966 22
18, 11 Felix Millan 1966 Atlanta Braves 06-02-1966 22
32 Rich Nye 1966 Chicago Cubs 09-16-1966 22
28 Jim Shellenback 1966 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-15-1966 22
24 Jimy Williams 1966 St. Louis Cardinals 04-26-1966 22
42 Jim Cosman 1966 St. Louis Cardinals 10-02-1966 23
18 Adrian Garrett 1966 Atlanta Braves 04-13-1966 23
38 Ron Reed 1966 Atlanta Braves 09-26-1966 23
24 Bill Robinson 1966 Atlanta Braves 09-20-1966 23
34 Cecil Upshaw 1966 Atlanta Braves 10-01-1966 23
26 Joe Verbanic 1966 Philadelphia Phillies 07-20-1966 23
36 Ron Willis 1966 St. Louis Cardinals 09-20-1966 23
17 Jim Barbieri 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers 07-05-1966 24
23 Don Bosch 1966 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-19-1966 24
45 Len Church 1966 Chicago Cubs 08-27-1966 24
45 Bill Connors 1966 Chicago Cubs 05-03-1966 24
2 Dick Dietz 1966 San Francisco Giants 06-18-1966 24
5 Shaun Fitzmaurice 1966 New York Mets 09-09-1966 24
47 Frank Johnson 1966 San Francisco Giants 09-07-1966 24
27 John Morris 1966 Philadelphia Phillies 07-19-1966 24
27 Bob Raudman 1966 Chicago Cubs 09-13-1966 24
47 Dick Rusteck 1966 New York Mets 06-10-1966 24
25 Don Bryant 1966 Chicago Cubs 07-17-1966 25
33 Pat Jarvis 1966 Atlanta Braves 08-04-1966 25
9 George Kopacz 1966 Atlanta Braves 09-18-1966 25
22 Woodie Fryman 1966 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-12-1966 26
24 Herb Hippauf 1966 Atlanta Braves 04-27-1966 26
31 Dick Hughes 1966 St. Louis Cardinals 09-11-1966 28
45 Gene Michael 1966 Pittsburgh Pirates 07-15-1966 28
1966 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1966 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.

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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