1949 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

1949

23 Del Crandall 1949 Boston Braves 06-17-1949 19
25 Bob Hall 1949 Boston Braves 04-23-1949 25
16 Steve Kuczek 1949 Boston Braves 09-29-1949 24
23 Don Thompson 1949 Boston Braves 04-24-1949 25
32 Cal Abrams 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-20-1949 25
36 Chuck Connors 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 05-01-1949 28
16 Morrie Martin 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-25-1949 26
23 Pat McGlothin 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-25-1949 28
36 Don Newcombe 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 05-20-1949 22
40 Bud Podbielan 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 04-25-1949 25
4, 8 Smoky Burgess 1949 Chicago Cubs 04-19-1949 22
36 Jim Kirby 1949 Chicago Cubs 05-01-1949 25
9 Rube Novotney 1949 Chicago Cubs 04-29-1949 24
6 Bill Serena 1949 Chicago Cubs 09-16-1949 24
6 Wayne Terwilliger 1949 Chicago Cubs 08-06-1949 24
40 Frank Fanovich 1949 Cincinnati Reds 04-25-1949 27
20 Lloyd Merriman 1949 Cincinnati Reds 04-24-1949 24
29 Wally Post 1949 Cincinnati Reds 09-18-1949 20
8 Johnny Pramesa 1949 Cincinnati Reds 04-24-1949 23
17 Roger Bowman 1949 New York Giants 09-22-1949 22
26 Bobby Hofman 1949 New York Giants 04-19-1949 23
7 Monte Irvin 1949 New York Giants 07-08-1949 30
28 Rudy Rufer 1949 New York Giants 09-22-1949 22
48 Andy Tomasic 1949 New York Giants 04-28-1949 31
- Davey Williams 1949 New York Giants 09-16-1949 21
3 Bill Glynn 1949 Philadelphia Phillies 09-16-1949 24
9 Mike Goliat 1949 Philadelphia Phillies 08-03-1949 27
17 Stan Hollmig 1949 Philadelphia Phillies 04-19-1949 23
41 Bob Miller 1949 Philadelphia Phillies 09-16-1949 23
33 Ed Sanicki 1949 Philadelphia Phillies 09-14-1949 26
19 Jack Cassini 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-19-1949 29
14 Dino Restelli 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates 06-14-1949 24
18 Tom Saffell 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates 07-02-1949 27
19, 29 Bill Werle 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates 04-22-1949 28
5 Steve Bilko 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 09-22-1949 20
24 Cloyd Boyer 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 04-23-1949 21
12 Tommy Glaviano 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 04-19-1949 25
22 Solly Hemus 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 04-27-1949 26
36 Bill Howerton 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 09-11-1949 27
24 Kurt Krieger 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 04-21-1949 22
19 Rocky Nelson 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 04-27-1949 24
33 Bill Reeder 1949 St. Louis Cardinals 04-23-1949 27
1949 National League Debuts


 

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1949 season as this group of players made their Major League debut!

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.

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.