1888 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

1888

n/a Bill Higgins 1888 Boston Beaneaters 08-09-1888 26
n/a Billy Klusman 1888 Boston Beaneaters 06-21-1888 23
n/a Irv Ray 1888 Boston Beaneaters 07-07-1888 24
n/a Bill Sowders 1888 Boston Beaneaters 04-24-1888 23
n/a Nick Wise 1888 Boston Beaneaters 06-20-1888 22
n/a George Borchers 1888 Chicago White Stockings 05-18-1888 19
n/a Tod Brynan 1888 Chicago White Stockings 06-22-1888 24
n/a Dad Clarke 1888 Chicago White Stockings 04-23-1888 23
n/a Hugh Duffy 1888 Chicago White Stockings 06-23-1888 21
n/a Frank Dwyer 1888 Chicago White Stockings 09-20-1888 20
n/a Duke Farrell 1888 Chicago White Stockings 04-21-1888 21
n/a Ad Gumbert 1888 Chicago White Stockings 09-15-1888 19
n/a Gus Krock 1888 Chicago White Stockings 04-24-1888 21
n/a Willard Mains 1888 Chicago White Stockings 08-03-1888 20
n/a Count Campau 1888 Detroit Wolverines 07-07-1888 24
n/a Sam LaRocque 1888 Detroit Wolverines 07-30-1888 25
n/a Parson Nicholson 1888 Detroit Wolverines 09-14-1888 25
n/a Ted Scheffler 1888 Detroit Wolverines 08-07-1888 24
n/a Jake Wells 1888 Detroit Wolverines 08-10-1888 25
n/a Dick Buckley 1888 Indianapolis Hoosiers 04-20-1888 29
n/a Bill Burdick 1888 Indianapolis Hoosiers 07-23-1888 28
n/a Cupid Childs 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 04-23-1888 20
n/a Ed Delahanty 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 05-22-1888 20
n/a Kid Gleason 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 04-20-1888 21
n/a John Grim 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 09-29-1888 21
n/a Bill Hallman 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 04-23-1888 21
n/a Ben Sanders 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 06-06-1888 23
n/a Woody Wagenhorst 1888 Philadelphia Phillies 06-25-1888 25
n/a Jake Beckley 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 06-20-1888 20
n/a Bill Farmer 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 05-01-1888 24
n/a Phil Knell 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 07-06-1888 23
n/a Pete McShannic 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 09-15-1888 24
n/a Sam Nicholl 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 10-05-1888 19
n/a Harry Staley 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 06-23-1888 21
n/a Henry Yaik 1888 Pittsburgh Alleghenys 10-03-1888 24
n/a Jim Banning 1888 Washington Senators 09-27-1888 22
n/a Shorty Fuller 1888 Washington Senators 07-19-1888 20
n/a John Greenig 1888 Washington Senators 05-09-1888 40
n/a George Haddock 1888 Washington Senators 09-27-1888 21
n/a Dummy Hoy 1888 Washington Senators 04-20-1888 25
n/a Pete Sweeney 1888 Washington Senators 09-28-1888 24
n/a Walt Wilmot 1888 Washington Senators 04-20-1888 24
1888 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1888 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

When Christy Mathewson made his Major League debut the newspaper wrote, "The untried semi-professional possessed great speed and plenty of confidence in himself, but could not control his curves."

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.
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