1953 American League Baseball Debuts / Rookies by Baseball Almanac

1953 American 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."

"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

American League Debuts 1953
#	Name (sort)	Team (sort)	Debut (sort)	Age (sort)
8	Billy Consolo	1953 Boston Red Sox	04-20-1953	18
18	Frank Sullivan	1953 Boston Red Sox	07-31-1953	23
38	Tom Umphlett	1953 Boston Red Sox	04-16-1953	22
24, 45	Connie Johnson	1953 Chicago White Sox	04-17-1953	30
15	Bob Keegan	1953 Chicago White Sox	05-24-1953	32
15	Dick Aylward	1953 Cleveland Indians	05-01-1953	27
51, 22	Dave Hoskins	1953 Cleveland Indians	04-18-1953	27
32	Al Smith	1953 Cleveland Indians	07-10-1953	25
28	Dick Tomanek	1953 Cleveland Indians	09-25-1953	22
38	John Baumgartner	1953 Detroit Tigers	04-14-1953	21
2	Reno Bertoia	1953 Detroit Tigers	09-22-1953	18
22	Frank Carswell	1953 Detroit Tigers	04-17-1953	33
27	Hal Erickson	1953 Detroit Tigers	04-14-1953	33
21	Paul Foytack	1953 Detroit Tigers	04-21-1953	22
15	George Freese	1953 Detroit Tigers	04-29-1953	26
35	Milt Jordan	1953 Detroit Tigers	04-16-1953	25
25	Al Kaline	1953 Detroit Tigers	06-25-1953	18
28	Bob Miller	1953 Detroit Tigers	06-25-1953	17
35	Steve Kraly	1953 New York Yankees	08-09-1953	24
28	Bill Renna	1953 New York Yankees	04-14-1953	28
43	Art Schult	1953 New York Yankees	05-17-1953	24
26	Gus Triandos	1953 New York Yankees	08-13-1953	23
44	Frank Verdi	1953 New York Yankees	05-10-1953	26
7, 36	Tommy Giordano	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	09-11-1953	27
18	Bill Harrington	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	04-16-1953	25
41	John Mackinson	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	04-16-1953	29
34	Rinty Monahan	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	08-09-1953	25
23	Bob Trice	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	09-13-1953	27
45	Neal Watlington	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	07-10-1953	30
7	Spider Wilhelm	1953 Philadelphia Athletics	09-06-1953	24
23	Mike Blyzka	1953 St. Louis Browns	04-21-1953	24
24	Bobo Holloman	1953 St. Louis Browns	04-18-1953	30
6	Billy Hunter	1953 St. Louis Browns	04-14-1953	24
2	Frank Kellert	1953 St. Louis Browns	04-18-1953	28
27	Don Larsen	1953 St. Louis Browns	04-18-1953	23
-	Jim Pisoni	1953 St. Louis Browns	09-25-1953	24
36	Dixie Upright	1953 St. Louis Browns	04-18-1953	26
30	Bruce Barmes	1953 Washington Senators	09-13-1953	23
15	Yo-Yo Davalillo	1953 Washington Senators	08-01-1953	22
16	Sonny Dixon	1953 Washington Senators	04-20-1953	28
25	Jerry Lane	1953 Washington Senators	07-07-1953	27
10	Bob Oldis	1953 Washington Senators	04-28-1953	25
8	Les Peden	1953 Washington Senators	04-17-1953	29
29	Tony Roig	1953 Washington Senators	09-13-1953	25
31, 32	Dean Stone	1953 Washington Senators	09-13-1953	23
#	Name (sort)	Team (sort)	Debut (sort)	Age (sort)
1953 American League Debuts

1953 N.L. Debuts

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the American League during the 1953 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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