1891 American Association 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 Almanac Top Quote

"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

1891 American Association Debuts

1891 A.A. Rookies | 1891 N.L. Rookies | Baseball Firsts (All Years)

n/a John McGraw 1891 Baltimore Orioles 08-26-1891 18
n/a John O'Connell 1891 Baltimore Orioles 08-22-1891 19
n/a Joe Walsh 1891 Baltimore Orioles 09-03-1891 26
n/a Tom Cotter 1891 Boston Reds 09-03-1891 24
n/a Tim Donahue 1891 Boston Reds 07-28-1891 21
n/a Tommy Dowd 1891 Boston Reds 04-08-1891 21
n/a John Fitzgerald 1891 Boston Reds 07-18-1891 21
n/a Mike Flynn 1891 Boston Reds 08-31-1891 19
n/a Frank Quinlan 1891 Boston Reds 10-05-1891 22
n/a Jim Canavan 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers 04-08-1891 24
n/a Jack Keenan 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers 08-11-1891 22
n/a John Slagle 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers 04-30-1891 0
n/a Jack Leiper 1891 Columbus Colts 09-04-1891 23
n/a John Lyston 1891 Columbus Colts 08-29-1891 24
n/a George Boone 1891 Louisville Colonels 04-23-1891 20
n/a Tom Cahill 1891 Louisville Colonels 04-09-1891 0
n/a Jack Darragh 1891 Louisville Colonels 05-13-1891 24
n/a John Doran 1891 Louisville Colonels 04-11-1891 30
n/a Warren Fitzgerald 1891 Louisville Colonels 06-04-1891 23
n/a Paddy Fox 1891 Louisville Colonels 07-13-1891 22
n/a Hughie Jennings 1891 Louisville Colonels 06-01-1891 22
n/a Jim Long 1891 Louisville Colonels 08-09-1891 28
n/a Jouett Meekin 1891 Louisville Colonels 06-13-1891 24
n/a Pat Pettee 1891 Louisville Colonels 04-08-1891 28
n/a Nick Reeder 1891 Louisville Colonels 04-11-1891 24
n/a Jack Wentz 1891 Louisville Colonels 04-15-1891 28
n/a George Davies 1891 Milwaukee Brewers 08-18-1891 23
n/a Jim Hughey 1891 Milwaukee Brewers 09-29-1891 22
n/a Frank Killen 1891 Milwaukee Brewers 08-27-1891 20
n/a Tom Letcher 1891 Milwaukee Brewers 09-27-1891 0
n/a Bill Clymer 1891 Philadelphia Athletics 06-26-1891 17
n/a Charles Matthews 1891 Philadelphia Athletics 09-25-1891 28
n/a Theodore Breitenstein 1891 St. Louis Browns 04-28-1891 21
n/a Harry Burrell 1891 St. Louis Browns 09-13-1891 24
n/a Bill Eagan 1891 St. Louis Browns 04-08-1891 21
n/a Harry Fuller 1891 St. Louis Browns 04-08-1891 28
n/a Clark Griffith 1891 St. Louis Browns 04-11-1891 21
n/a Mart McQuaid 1891 St. Louis Browns 08-15-1891 30
n/a Paul McSweeney 1891 St. Louis Browns 09-20-1891 24
n/a George Rettger 1891 St. Louis Browns 08-13-1891 23
n/a John Ricks 1891 St. Louis Browns 09-21-1891 23
n/a John Schulze 1891 St. Louis Browns 08-07-1891 25
n/a Bill Zies 1891 St. Louis Browns 08-09-1891 0
n/a Kid Carsey 1891 Washington Senators 04-08-1891 18
n/a Martin Duke 1891 Washington Senators 08-24-1891 24
n/a Buck Freeman 1891 Washington Senators 06-27-1891 19
n/a Tom Hart 1891 Washington Senators 04-15-1891 21
n/a George Lohman 1891 Washington Senators 05-11-1891 26
n/a Harry Mace 1891 Washington Senators 05-05-1891 25
n/a Larry Murphy 1891 Washington Senators 05-30-1891 34
n/a Bill Quarles 1891 Washington Senators 05-21-1891 20
1891 American Association Debuts
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American Association during the 1891 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

On the final day of the 1930 season, Dizzy Dean was called up and pitched a three-hitter. In Spring Training the following year, Dean had a fight with catcher Gabby Street and the franchise left him in the Minor Leagues all season long.

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.