1988 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

1988

17 Chris Sabo 1988 Cincinnati Reds 04-04-1988 26
53 Candy Sierra 1988 San Diego Padres 04-06-1988 21
41 Scott Arnold 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 04-07-1988 25
48 Gary Eave 1988 Atlanta Braves 04-12-1988 24
27 Rolando Roomes 1988 Chicago Cubs 04-12-1988 26
12 Roberto Alomar 1988 San Diego Padres 04-22-1988 20
18 Luis Alicea 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 04-23-1988 22
11 Keith Miller 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 04-23-1988 25
5 Johnny Paredes 1988 Montreal Expos 04-29-1988 25
35 Danny Clay 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 05-01-1988 26
17, 28 Mark Grace 1988 Chicago Cubs 05-02-1988 23
61, 47 Gibson Alba 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 05-03-1988 28
38 Mike Capel 1988 Chicago Cubs 05-07-1988 26
55 Scott Medvin 1988 Pittsburgh Pirates 05-09-1988 26
44 Cris Carpenter 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 05-14-1988 23
54 Angel Escobar 1988 San Francisco Giants 05-17-1988 23
41 Jeff Pico 1988 Chicago Cubs 05-31-1988 22
50 John Costello 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 06-02-1988 27
37 Brad Moore 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 06-14-1988 23
40 Jack Armstrong 1988 Cincinnati Reds 06-21-1988 23
43 Jeff Gray 1988 Cincinnati Reds 06-21-1988 25
47 Mike Fitzgerald 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 06-23-1988 24
59 Brian Holman 1988 Montreal Expos 06-25-1988 23
4 Craig Biggio 1988 Houston Astros 06-26-1988 22
49 German Jimenez 1988 Atlanta Braves 06-28-1988 25
49 Rob Dibble 1988 Cincinnati Reds 06-29-1988 24
14 Tommy Barrett 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 07-02-1988 28
24 Gary Varsho 1988 Chicago Cubs 07-06-1988 27
18 John Fishel 1988 Houston Astros 07-14-1988 25
17 Ricky Jordan 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 07-17-1988 23
50 Tim Barrett 1988 Montreal Expos 07-18-1988 27
46 William Brennan 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers 07-19-1988 25
58 Roger Samuels 1988 San Francisco Giants 07-20-1988 27
29 John Smoltz 1988 Atlanta Braves 07-23-1988 21
22 Tim Jones 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 07-26-1988 25
49 Jeff Brantley 1988 San Francisco Giants 08-05-1988 24
34 Rick Reed 1988 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-08-1988 23
48 Ramon Martinez 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers 08-13-1988 20
37 Norm Charlton 1988 Cincinnati Reds 08-19-1988 25
25 Shane Turner 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 08-19-1988 25
38 Keith Brown 1988 Cincinnati Reds 08-25-1988 24
26 Ron Jones 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 08-26-1988 24
29 Doug Dascenzo 1988 Chicago Cubs 09-02-1988 24
15 Jeff Huson 1988 Montreal Expos 09-02-1988 24
57 Van Snider 1988 Cincinnati Reds 09-02-1988 25
56, 43 Ken Hill 1988 St. Louis Cardinals 09-03-1988 22
35 Brian Meyer 1988 Houston Astros 09-03-1988 25
1 Rick Wrona 1988 Chicago Cubs 09-03-1988 24
51 Marty Brown 1988 Cincinnati Reds 09-04-1988 25
48 Mike Harkey 1988 Chicago Cubs 09-05-1988 21
39 Scott Service 1988 Philadelphia Phillies 09-05-1988 21
41 Trevor Wilson 1988 San Francisco Giants 09-05-1988 22
29 Craig Smajstrla 1988 Houston Astros 09-06-1988 26
56 Lenny Harris 1988 Cincinnati Reds 09-07-1988 23
16 Tony Perezchica 1988 San Francisco Giants 09-07-1988 22
3 Cameron Drew 1988 Houston Astros 09-09-1988 24
26 Charlie Hayes 1988 San Francisco Giants 09-11-1988 23
60 Randy Kramer 1988 Pittsburgh Pirates 09-11-1988 27
31 Dennis Cook 1988 San Francisco Giants 09-12-1988 25
51 Randy Johnson 1988 Montreal Expos 09-15-1988 25
17 Mark Lemke 1988 Atlanta Braves 09-17-1988 23
24 Jerald Clark 1988 San Diego Padres 09-19-1988 25
46 Greg Harris 1988 San Diego Padres 09-19-1988 24
50 Kevin Blankenship 1988 Atlanta Braves 09-20-1988 25
46 David West 1988 New York Mets 09-24-1988 24
17 Sandy Alomar, Jr. 1988 San Diego Padres 09-30-1988 22
1988 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1988 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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?

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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