1976 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

1976

22 Doug Ault 1976 Texas Rangers 09-09-1976 26
41 Jack Baker 1976 Boston Red Sox 09-11-1976 26
39 Len Barker 1976 Texas Rangers 09-14-1976 21
32 Chris Batton 1976 Oakland Athletics 09-19-1976 22
27 Gary Beare 1976 Milwaukee Brewers 09-07-1976 24
8 Kevin Bell 1976 Chicago White Sox 06-16-1976 20
26 Juan Bernhardt 1976 New York Yankees 07-10-1976 22
38 Tommy Boggs 1976 Texas Rangers 07-19-1976 20
17 Steve Bowling 1976 Milwaukee Brewers 09-07-1976 24
35 Tom Bruno 1976 Kansas City Royals 08-01-1976 23
44 Rich Dauer 1976 Baltimore Orioles 09-11-1976 24
29 George Enright 1976 Chicago White Sox 08-08-1976 22
20 Mark Fidrych 1976 Detroit Tigers 04-20-1976 21
11 Jim Gantner 1976 Milwaukee Brewers 09-03-1976 23
40 Kiko Garcia 1976 Baltimore Orioles 09-11-1976 22
12 Orlando Gonzalez 1976 Cleveland Indians 06-07-1976 24
16 Alfredo Griffin 1976 Cleveland Indians 09-04-1976 18
10 Wayne Gross 1976 Oakland Athletics 08-21-1976 24
30 Moose Haas 1976 Milwaukee Brewers 09-08-1976 20
45 Paul Hartzell 1976 California Angels 04-10-1976 22
46 Rick Jones 1976 Boston Red Sox 04-18-1976 21
30 Ruppert Jones 1976 Kansas City Royals 08-01-1976 21
46 Bruce Kimm 1976 Detroit Tigers 05-04-1976 24
20 Mickey Klutts 1976 New York Yankees 07-07-1976 21
15, 32 Carlos Lopez 1976 California Angels 09-17-1976 27
29 Frank MacCormack 1976 Detroit Tigers 06-14-1976 21
2 Phil Mankowski 1976 Detroit Tigers 08-30-1976 23
61 Dennis Martinez 1976 Baltimore Orioles 09-14-1976 21
39 Scott McGregor 1976 Baltimore Orioles 09-19-1976 22
41 Larry Monroe 1976 Chicago White Sox 08-23-1976 20
27, 52 Andres Mora 1976 Baltimore Orioles 04-13-1976 20
5 Jeff Newman 1976 Oakland Athletics 06-30-1976 27
15 Wayne Nordhagen 1976 Chicago White Sox 07-16-1976 28
44 Mike Overy 1976 California Angels 08-14-1976 25
5 Ken Pape 1976 Texas Rangers 05-17-1976 24
15 Greg Pryor 1976 Texas Rangers 06-04-1976 26
32 Bob Randall 1976 Minnesota Twins 04-13-1976 27
17 Pete Redfern 1976 Minnesota Twins 05-15-1976 21
39 Dan Thomas 1976 Milwaukee Brewers 09-02-1976 25
30 Jason Thompson 1976 Detroit Tigers 04-23-1976 21
48 John Verhoeven 1976 California Angels 07-06-1976 23
5 Mark Wagner 1976 Detroit Tigers 08-20-1976 22
12 John Wathan 1976 Kansas City Royals 05-26-1976 26
52 Gary Wheelock 1976 California Angels 09-17-1976 24
22 Ernie Whitt 1976 Boston Red Sox 09-12-1976 24
19 Willie Wilson 1976 Kansas City Royals 09-04-1976 21
33 Gary Woods 1976 Oakland Athletics 09-14-1976 22
16 Butch Wynegar 1976 Minnesota Twins 04-09-1976 20
1976 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1976 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 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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