On their way to an abysmal 23-112-2 (.169) last-place finish…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1888-Gumbert-Billy-Zanesville.jpg495330Jacob Pomrenke/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.pngJacob Pomrenke2024-10-17 14:00:112024-10-17 14:00:11June 19, 1890: Billy Gumbert’s arm and bat propel Pittsburgh to win in his major-league debut
For more than a century, the correct answer to the baseball trivia…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Tebeau-George.png600800Jacob Pomrenke/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.pngJacob Pomrenke2024-10-17 14:00:092024-10-17 14:00:09April 16, 1887: George Tebeau stakes a claim to being first major-league player to homer in his first at-bat
The American Association commenced its sixth season as a major…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1887-Griffin-Mike-TCDB.jpg1000517Jacob Pomrenke/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.pngJacob Pomrenke2024-10-17 14:00:072024-10-17 14:00:07April 16, 1887: Mike Griffin becomes first major-league player to homer in his first at-bat — or does he?
Outfielder Benny Ayala came to the plate 951 times in his big-league…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19-Ayala-Benny-Trading-Card-Database.jpg1227960/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 14:00:062024-10-17 14:00:06August 27, 1974: Benny Ayala becomes first Met and first Puerto Rican to homer in first major-league at-bat
Don Rose always seemed to keep good company. The right-handed…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/14-Rose-Don-TCDB.jpg350249/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 14:00:042024-10-17 14:00:04May 24, 1972: Angels’ Don Rose homers in first at-bat and earns his only career win
On September 20, 1981, rookie Minnesota Twins third baseman Gary…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gaetti-Gary-TCDB-120547-8200868Fr.jpg500316/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 14:00:012024-10-17 14:00:01September 20, 1981: Twins’ Gary Gaetti hits first of 360 home runs in his first at-bat
Dave Machemer was in his seventh minor-league season when he…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Machemer-Dave-1979-03-21-Benton-Harbor-Herald-Palladium.jpg1200650/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:582024-10-17 13:59:58June 21, 1978: Dave Machemer begins Angels’ career with home run in first at-bat
Little did the 5,098 Giants faithful assembled on September 2,…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/26-LeMaster-Johnnie-Trading-Card-Database.jpg1000714/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:572024-10-17 13:59:57September 2, 1975: Johnnie LeMaster’s first at-bat, inside-the-park home run is one for the record books
From April 7, 1977 through May 28, 1989, the Toronto Blue Jays…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30-Felix-Junior-TOR-Trading-Card-Database.jpg15001131/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:552024-10-17 13:59:55May 4, 1989: Freshman Junior Félix’s first swing is fantastic, but Angels rally for extra-inning win over Blue Jays
On April 29, 1995, rookie Jon Nunnally stepped into the batter’s…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/13-Nunnally-Jon-action-courtesy-of-KC-Royals.jpg24002003/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:532024-10-17 13:59:53April 29, 1995: Jon Nunnally’s first-at-bat home run is bright spot in Royals’ loss to Yankees
The 1999 Chicago White Sox, managed by Jerry Manuel, were navigating…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/07-Lee-Carlos-TCDB.jpg350256/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:522024-10-17 13:59:52May 7, 1999: Carlos Lee gives White Sox instant offense with home run in his first at-bat
On the night of May 17, 1996, a crowd of 40,612 came out to…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/03-Dye-Jermaine-TCDB-1.jpg989706/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:502024-10-17 13:59:50May 17, 1996: Jermaine Dye has a ‘dream’ debut as first Atlanta Braves player to homer in his first at-bat
Marcus Thames’s career was marked by his penchant to hit home…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20-Thames-Marcus-TCDB.jpg350251/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:492024-10-17 13:59:49June 10, 2002: Marcus Thames homers off a future Hall of Famer in his first at-bat for Yankees
Four years after Dave Eiland’s major-league career began with…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/25-Eiland-Dave-Trading-Card-Database.jpg1000714/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:462024-10-24 15:26:01April 10, 1992: Padres pitcher Dave Eiland makes history with home run in first at-bat
Minnesota is known for town-team baseball, and one of its cities,…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Steinbach-Terry-1987-TCDB.jpg847600/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:442024-10-17 13:59:44September 12, 1986: Terry Steinbach’s home run in debut overshadowed as Cleveland beats Oakland, 9-3
It would be very understandable to think that 26-year-old first…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/10-Gainer-Jay-courtesy-of-Rockies.jpg22411809/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:422024-10-24 15:28:03May 14, 1993: Rockies’ Jay Gainer joins an exclusive club, homering on the first pitch he sees in majors
The wind was blowing in from center field at 18 mph as the Los…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/15-Ingram-Garey-headshot-Rucker.jpg22411795/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:412024-10-17 13:59:41May 19, 1994: Garey Ingram makes it look easy with home run in first at-bat for Dodgers
Ed Sanicki didn’t believe in saving his best for last.
In his…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/22-Sanicki-Ed-courtesy-of-Jacob-Pomrenke.png13541078/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:392024-10-17 13:59:39September 14, 1949: Ed Sanicki rips home run off Rip Sewell in his first big-league at-bat for Phillies
September 11, 1942: While World War II had not reached the United…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/06-Gillespie-Paul-headshot-Courtesy-of-Chicago-Cubs-Archives-1.jpg20071499/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:382024-10-17 13:59:38September 11, 1942: Paul Gillespie cheers war-weary Cubs fans by hitting home run in first at-bat
Defending their first World Series championship in 35 years,…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23-Leppert-Don-Trading-Card-Database.jpg1000714/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:372024-10-17 13:59:37June 18, 1961: Don Leppert debuts with home run, pickoff in Pirates’ win over Cardinals
Over the course of his 13-year major-league career spent entirely…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11-Brown-Gates-1966-Trading-Card-Database.jpg800612/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:352024-10-17 13:59:35June 19, 1963: Tigers’ Gates Brown hits pinch-hit home run in his first career at-bat as Carl Yastrzemski leads Red Sox to blowout victory
One does not expect any great level of intrigue in examining…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Alyea-Brant-WAS.jpg500322/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:332024-10-17 13:59:33September 12, 1965: Brant Alyea debuts for Washington with soggy circuit clout
The year 1962 represented a solid start for Red Sox catcher Bob…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Tillman-Bob-1963-TCDB.jpg343240/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:322024-10-17 13:59:32May 19, 1962: In his third game, Boston’s Bob Tillman gets his first major-league at-bat and homers
Mark Worrell enjoyed a memorable few days in Washington, DC,…
https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24-Worrell-Mark-headshot-courtesy-of-STL-Cardinals-scaled.jpg25601707/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png2024-10-17 13:59:312024-10-17 13:59:31June 5, 2008: Cardinals reliever Mark Worrell crushes home run in first career at-bat
June 19, 1890: Billy Gumbert’s arm and bat propel Pittsburgh to win in his major-league debut
April 16, 1887: George Tebeau stakes a claim to being first major-league player to homer in his first at-bat
April 16, 1887: Mike Griffin becomes first major-league player to homer in his first at-bat — or does he?
August 27, 1974: Benny Ayala becomes first Met and first Puerto Rican to homer in first major-league at-bat
May 24, 1972: Angels’ Don Rose homers in first at-bat and earns his only career win
September 20, 1981: Twins’ Gary Gaetti hits first of 360 home runs in his first at-bat
June 21, 1978: Dave Machemer begins Angels’ career with home run in first at-bat
September 2, 1975: Johnnie LeMaster’s first at-bat, inside-the-park home run is one for the record books
May 4, 1989: Freshman Junior Félix’s first swing is fantastic, but Angels rally for extra-inning win over Blue Jays
April 29, 1995: Jon Nunnally’s first-at-bat home run is bright spot in Royals’ loss to Yankees
May 7, 1999: Carlos Lee gives White Sox instant offense with home run in his first at-bat
May 17, 1996: Jermaine Dye has a ‘dream’ debut as first Atlanta Braves player to homer in his first at-bat
June 10, 2002: Marcus Thames homers off a future Hall of Famer in his first at-bat for Yankees
April 10, 1992: Padres pitcher Dave Eiland makes history with home run in first at-bat
September 12, 1986: Terry Steinbach’s home run in debut overshadowed as Cleveland beats Oakland, 9-3
May 14, 1993: Rockies’ Jay Gainer joins an exclusive club, homering on the first pitch he sees in majors
May 19, 1994: Garey Ingram makes it look easy with home run in first at-bat for Dodgers
September 14, 1949: Ed Sanicki rips home run off Rip Sewell in his first big-league at-bat for Phillies
September 11, 1942: Paul Gillespie cheers war-weary Cubs fans by hitting home run in first at-bat
June 18, 1961: Don Leppert debuts with home run, pickoff in Pirates’ win over Cardinals
June 19, 1963: Tigers’ Gates Brown hits pinch-hit home run in his first career at-bat as Carl Yastrzemski leads Red Sox to blowout victory
September 12, 1965: Brant Alyea debuts for Washington with soggy circuit clout
May 19, 1962: In his third game, Boston’s Bob Tillman gets his first major-league at-bat and homers
June 5, 2008: Cardinals reliever Mark Worrell crushes home run in first career at-bat