1980 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

1980

3 Harold Baines 1980 Chicago White Sox 04-10-1980 21
11 Sal Butera 1980 Minnesota Twins 04-10-1980 27
23 Doug Corbett 1980 Minnesota Twins 04-10-1980 27
16 Mike Davis 1980 Oakland Athletics 04-10-1980 20
38 Jeff Jones 1980 Oakland Athletics 04-10-1980 23
34 Joe Charboneau 1980 Cleveland Indians 04-11-1980 24
4 Bob Detherage 1980 Kansas City Royals 04-11-1980 25
10 Jerry Dybzinski 1980 Cleveland Indians 04-11-1980 24
29 Mark Brouhard 1980 Milwaukee Brewers 04-12-1980 23
18 Glenn Hoffman 1980 Boston Red Sox 04-12-1980 21
47 Bruce Hurst 1980 Boston Red Sox 04-12-1980 22
29 Rick Lysander 1980 Oakland Athletics 04-12-1980 27
5 Ned Yost 1980 Milwaukee Brewers 04-12-1980 24
45 Ray Cosey 1980 Oakland Athletics 04-14-1980 24
9 Floyd Rayford 1980 Baltimore Orioles 04-17-1980 22
27 Alfredo Martinez 1980 California Angels 04-20-1980 23
58 Mark Souza 1980 Oakland Athletics 04-22-1980 25
16 Stan Cliburn 1980 California Angels 05-06-1980 23
27, 28 Albert Williams 1980 Minnesota Twins 05-07-1980 26
31 Keith Macwhorter 1980 Boston Red Sox 05-10-1980 24
52 Ernie Camacho 1980 Oakland Athletics 05-22-1980 25
46 Joe Lefebvre 1980 New York Yankees 05-22-1980 24
29 Nardi Contreras 1980 Chicago White Sox 05-23-1980 28
15 Lloyd Moseby 1980 Toronto Blue Jays 05-24-1980 20
48 Luis Leal 1980 Toronto Blue Jays 05-25-1980 23
45 Rickey Keeton 1980 Milwaukee Brewers 05-27-1980 23
6 Pat Kelly 1980 Toronto Blue Jays 05-28-1980 24
11, 26 Dave Stapleton 1980 Boston Red Sox 05-30-1980 26
44 Roger Weaver 1980 Detroit Tigers 06-06-1980 25
30 Mike Hart 1980 Texas Rangers 06-12-1980 28
35 Mike Kinnunen 1980 Minnesota Twins 06-12-1980 22
26 Reggie Walton 1980 Seattle Mariners 06-13-1980 27
53 Tim Lollar 1980 New York Yankees 06-28-1980 24
19, 56 Jeff Cox 1980 Oakland Athletics 07-01-1980 24
7 Randy Johnson 1980 Chicago White Sox 07-05-1980 21
6 Ricky Seilheimer 1980 Chicago White Sox 07-05-1980 19
21 Jeff Twitty 1980 Kansas City Royals 07-05-1980 22
28 Bob Ojeda 1980 Boston Red Sox 07-13-1980 22
59 Dave Beard 1980 Oakland Athletics 07-16-1980 20
28 Rich Bordi 1980 Oakland Athletics 07-16-1980 21
36 Dan Whitmer 1980 California Angels 07-20-1980 24
21 Ken Schrom 1980 Toronto Blue Jays 08-08-1980 25
48 Leo Sutherland 1980 Chicago White Sox 08-11-1980 22
28 Jerry Ujdur 1980 Detroit Tigers 08-17-1980 23
53 Onix Concepcion 1980 Kansas City Royals 08-30-1980 22
2 Mike Richardt 1980 Texas Rangers 08-30-1980 22
49 Paul Hodgson 1980 Toronto Blue Jays 08-31-1980 20
17 Manny Castillo 1980 Kansas City Royals 09-01-1980 23
26 Fran Mullins 1980 Chicago White Sox 09-01-1980 23
22 Kim Allen 1980 Seattle Mariners 09-02-1980 27
28 Steve Crawford 1980 Boston Red Sox 09-02-1980 22
43 Jim Dorsey 1980 California Angels 09-02-1980 25
7, 14 Gil Kubski 1980 California Angels 09-02-1980 25
12 Julio Valdez 1980 Boston Red Sox 09-02-1980 24
3 Chico Walker 1980 Boston Red Sox 09-02-1980 22
12 Odie Davis 1980 Texas Rangers 09-03-1980 25
45 Luis Aponte 1980 Boston Red Sox 09-04-1980 27
15 Dave Edler 1980 Seattle Mariners 09-04-1980 24
12, 21 Lenny Faedo 1980 Minnesota Twins 09-06-1980 20
50 Mike Jones 1980 Kansas City Royals 09-06-1980 21
43 Don Kainer 1980 Texas Rangers 09-06-1980 25
50 Rich Gedman 1980 Boston Red Sox 09-07-1980 20
29 John Butcher 1980 Texas Rangers 09-08-1980 23
42 Dave LaPoint 1980 Milwaukee Brewers 09-10-1980 21
2 Bobby Bonner 1980 Baltimore Orioles 09-12-1980 24
51 Reid Nichols 1980 Boston Red Sox 09-16-1980 22
20 Bob Veselic 1980 Minnesota Twins 09-18-1980 24
41 Drungo Hazewood 1980 Baltimore Orioles 09-19-1980 21
52 Ken Phelps 1980 Kansas City Royals 09-20-1980 26
61 Marshall Brant 1980 New York Yankees 10-01-1980 25
52 Mike Boddicker 1980 Baltimore Orioles 10-04-1980 23
55 Roger Holt 1980 New York Yankees 10-04-1980 24
1980 American League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1980 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.

Rich Amaral spent nine seasons in the Minor Leagues and upon his callup he commented, "I've been to every baseball park in America, except those in the American and National League."
     

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