1977 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."
"Always be cautious about rookie performances in September. They don't indicate what will happen in April." - Texas Rangers General Manager Tom Grieve
National League Debuts

1977

2 Barry Bonnell 1977 Atlanta Braves 05-04-1977 23
30 Larry Bradford 1977 Atlanta Braves 09-24-1977 27
32 Dave Campbell 1977 Atlanta Braves 05-06-1977 25
42 Don Collins 1977 Atlanta Braves 05-04-1977 24
39 Mike Davey 1977 Atlanta Braves 08-13-1977 25
24 Mickey Mahler 1977 Atlanta Braves 09-13-1977 25
37, 48 Joey McLaughlin 1977 Atlanta Braves 06-11-1977 20
34 Duane Theiss 1977 Atlanta Braves 08-05-1977 23
20 Larry Whisenton 1977 Atlanta Braves 09-17-1977 21
23 Mike Gordon 1977 Chicago Cubs 04-07-1977 23
38 Willie Hernandez 1977 Chicago Cubs 04-09-1977 22
47 Dennis Lamp 1977 Chicago Cubs 08-21-1977 24
10 Mike Sember 1977 Chicago Cubs 08-18-1977 24
50 Dan Dumoulin 1977 Cincinnati Reds 09-05-1977 24
47 Tom Hume 1977 Cincinnati Reds 05-25-1977 24
31 Paul Moskau 1977 Cincinnati Reds 06-21-1977 23
36 Mario Soto 1977 Cincinnati Reds 07-21-1977 21
38 Angel Torres 1977 Cincinnati Reds 09-12-1977 24
38 Floyd Bannister 1977 Houston Astros 04-19-1977 21
19 Craig Cacek 1977 Houston Astros 06-18-1977 22
20 Joe Cannon 1977 Houston Astros 09-22-1977 24
37 Tom Dixon 1977 Houston Astros 07-30-1977 22
10 Mike Fischlin 1977 Houston Astros 09-03-1977 21
9 Julio Gonzalez 1977 Houston Astros 04-08-1977 24
21 Terry Puhl 1977 Houston Astros 07-12-1977 21
53 Luis Pujols 1977 Houston Astros 09-22-1977 21
45 Roy Thomas 1977 Houston Astros 09-21-1977 24
41 Bobby Castillo 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 09-10-1977 22
56 Rafael Landestoy 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 08-27-1977 24
51 Jeffrey Leonard 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 09-02-1977 21
38 Lance Rautzhan 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 07-23-1977 24
44 Ron Washington 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 09-10-1977 25
28 Hal Dues 1977 Montreal Expos 09-09-1977 22
43 Dan Schatzeder 1977 Montreal Expos 09-04-1977 22
5 Steve Henderson 1977 New York Mets 06-16-1977 24
31 Roy Lee Jackson 1977 New York Mets 09-13-1977 23
33 Dan Norman 1977 New York Mets 09-27-1977 22
20 John Pacella 1977 New York Mets 09-15-1977 21
35 Luis Rosado 1977 New York Mets 09-08-1977 21
30 Jackson Todd 1977 New York Mets 05-05-1977 25
40 Warren Brusstar 1977 Philadelphia Phillies 05-06-1977 25
43 Mike Buskey 1977 Philadelphia Phillies 09-05-1977 28
22 Dane Iorg 1977 Philadelphia Phillies 04-09-1977 26
30 Jim Morrison 1977 Philadelphia Phillies 09-18-1977 24
35 Manny Seoane 1977 Philadelphia Phillies 09-18-1977 22
4 Dale Berra 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-22-1977 20
26 Mike Edwards 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-10-1977 25
31 Al Holland 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-05-1977 25
48 Tim Jones 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-04-1977 23
46 Ed Whitson 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-04-1977 22
39 Vic Bernal 1977 San Diego Padres 04-06-1977 23
36 Brian Greer 1977 San Diego Padres 09-13-1977 18
29 Gene Richards 1977 San Diego Padres 04-06-1977 23
47 Bob Shirley 1977 San Diego Padres 04-10-1977 22
34 Terry Cornutt 1977 San Francisco Giants 04-09-1977 24
36 Skip James 1977 San Francisco Giants 09-12-1977 27
16 Taylor Duncan 1977 St. Louis Cardinals 09-15-1977 24
24 Ken Oberkfell 1977 St. Louis Cardinals 08-22-1977 21
35 John Sutton 1977 St. Louis Cardinals 04-07-1977 24
38 John Urrea 1977 St. Louis Cardinals 04-10-1977 22
1977 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1977 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

Ray Jansen (four for five in his first game), Aubrey Epps (three for four in his first game) and Ed Irvin (two for three in his first game) all finished their career with lifetime batting averages which were greater than their career fielding percentages.

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?
     

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