2004 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."
"There is a certain amount of fascination to the big league debut of any athlete. Sometimes they are incredible successes. Sometimes they are frenetic failures." - Sportswriter Arthur Daley
National League Debuts

2004

33, 47 David Aardsma 2004 San Francisco Giants 04-06-2004 22
46 Mike Adams 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 05-18-2004 25
3 Chris Aguila 2004 Florida Marlins 06-28-2004 25
29 Jason Alfaro 2004 Houston Astros 09-09-2004 26
41 Greg Aquino 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 07-02-2004 26
19 Heath Bell 2004 New York Mets 08-24-2004 26
57 Jeff Bennett 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 04-06-2004 23
57 Chad Bentz 2004 Montreal Expos 04-07-2004 23
9 Craig Brazell 2004 New York Mets 08-17-2004 24
43 Yhency Brazoban 2004 Los Angeles Dodgers 08-05-2004 24
57 Frank Brooks 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-27-2004 25
39 Brian Bruney 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 05-08-2004 22
2 Chris Burke 2004 Houston Astros 07-04-2004 24
61 Sean Burnett 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates 05-30-2004 21
68 Carmen Cali 2004 St. Louis Cardinals 09-08-2004 25
34 Jose Capellan 2004 Atlanta Braves 09-12-2004 23
14 Jose Castillo 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-07-2004 23
38 Ryan Church 2004 Montreal Expos 08-21-2004 25
30 J.D. Closser 2004 Colorado Rockies 06-30-2004 24
40 Roman Colon 2004 Atlanta Braves 08-21-2004 25
32 Lance Cormier 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 06-19-2004 23
54 Casey Daigle 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 04-09-2004 23
60, 14 Brian Dallimore 2004 San Francisco Giants 04-29-2004 30
47 Jorge De La Rosa 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 08-14-2004 23
26 Doug DeVore 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 05-06-2004 26
50 Victor Diaz 2004 New York Mets 09-11-2004 22
47 Scott Dohmann 2004 Colorado Rockies 05-15-2004 26
4 Jason Dubois 2004 Chicago Cubs 05-19-2004 25
8 Matt Erickson 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 07-09-2004 28
41 Gavin Floyd 2004 Philadelphia Phillies 09-03-2004 21
26 Jeff Francis 2004 Colorado Rockies 08-25-2004 23
21 Choo Freeman 2004 Colorado Rockies 06-04-2004 24
47 Justin Germano 2004 San Diego Padres 05-22-2004 21
2 Jerry Gil 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 08-22-2004 21
59 Chris Gissell 2004 Colorado Rockies 08-22-2004 26
4 Luis Gonzalez 2004 Colorado Rockies 04-06-2004 24
44 Mike Gosling 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 09-09-2004 23
41 Franklyn Gracesqui 2004 Florida Marlins 04-29-2004 24
1 Andy Green 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 06-12-2004 26
20 Nick Green 2004 Atlanta Braves 05-15-2004 25
7 Freddy Guzman 2004 San Diego Padres 08-17-2004 23
5 Scott Hairston 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 05-07-2004 23
19 Brendan Harris 2004 Chicago Cubs 07-06-2004 23
1 Corey Hart 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 05-25-2004 22
11 Brad Hawpe 2004 Colorado Rockies 05-01-2004 24
40 Ben Hendrickson 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 06-02-2004 23
41 Brad Hennessey 2004 San Francisco Giants 08-07-2004 24
10 Joe Hietpas 2004 New York Mets 10-03-2004 25
49 Shawn Hill 2004 Montreal Expos 06-29-2004 23
5 Matt Holliday 2004 Colorado Rockies 04-16-2004 24
59 Joe Horgan 2004 Montreal Expos 06-12-2004 27
12 Ryan Howard 2004 Philadelphia Phillies 09-01-2004 24
2 Maicer Izturis 2004 Montreal Expos 08-27-2004 23
37 Mike Johnston 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-07-2004 25
54 Logan Kensing 2004 Florida Marlins 09-10-2004 22
6 Jeff Keppinger 2004 New York Mets 08-20-2004 24
52 Justin Knoedler 2004 San Francisco Giants 10-03-2004 24
10 Jon Knott 2004 San Diego Padres 05-30-2004 25
43 Josh Kroeger 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 09-02-2004 22
10 Dave Krynzel 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 09-01-2004 22
1 Josh Labandeira 2004 Montreal Expos 09-17-2004 25
19 Adam LaRoche 2004 Atlanta Braves 04-07-2004 24
51 Jon Leicester 2004 Chicago Cubs 06-09-2004 25
48 Pedro Liriano 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 08-27-2004 23
7 Hector Luna 2004 St. Louis Cardinals 04-08-2004 24
50 Gary Majewski 2004 Montreal Expos 08-26-2004 24
25 Kazuo Matsui 2004 New York Mets 04-06-2004 28
28 Sam McConnell 2004 Atlanta Braves 06-25-2004 28
54 Marty McLeary 2004 San Diego Padres 08-22-2004 29
45 Dan Meyer 2004 Atlanta Braves 09-14-2004 23
41 Yadier Molina 2004 St. Louis Cardinals 06-03-2004 21
14 Tim Olson 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 05-30-2004 25
16 Akinori Otsuka 2004 San Diego Padres 04-06-2004 32
35 Val Pascucci 2004 Montreal Expos 04-26-2004 25
3 Jorge Piedra 2004 Colorado Rockies 08-07-2004 25
50 Chad Qualls 2004 Houston Astros 07-22-2004 25
46 Elizardo Ramirez 2004 Philadelphia Phillies 05-25-2004 21
38 Chris Saenz 2004 Milwaukee Brewers 04-24-2004 22
51 Allan Simpson 2004 Colorado Rockies 05-17-2004 26
48 Terrmel Sledge 2004 Montreal Expos 04-06-2004 27
53 Ian Snell 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-20-2004 22
19 Chris Snyder 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 08-21-2004 23
58 Jason Szuminski 2004 San Diego Padres 04-11-2004 25
1 Willy Taveras 2004 Houston Astros 09-06-2004 22
26 Charles Thomas 2004 Atlanta Braves 06-24-2004 25
18 Chad Tracy 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks 04-21-2004 23
6 Matt Treanor 2004 Florida Marlins 06-02-2004 28
37 Merkin Valdez 2004 San Francisco Giants 08-01-2004 22
47 John Van Benschoten 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates 08-18-2004 24
58 Steve Watkins 2004 San Diego Padres 08-21-2004 26
14 Josh Willingham 2004 Florida Marlins 07-06-2004 25
5 David Wright 2004 New York Mets 07-21-2004 21
43 Michael Wuertz 2004 Chicago Cubs 04-05-2004 25
33 Tyler Yates 2004 New York Mets 04-09-2004 26
2004 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 2004 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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.

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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