Society for American Baseball Research

Jay Gainer (Courtesy of the Colorado Rockies)

May 14, 1993: Rockies’ Jay Gainer joins an exclusive club, homering on the first pitch he sees in majors

October 17, 2024

It would be very understandable to think that 26-year-old first…

May 19, 1994: Garey Ingram makes it look easy with home run in first at-bat for Dodgers

October 17, 2024

The wind was blowing in from center field at 18 mph as the Los…

September 14, 1949: Ed Sanicki rips home run off Rip Sewell in his first big-league at-bat for Phillies

October 17, 2024

Ed Sanicki didn’t believe in saving his best for last. In his…

September 11, 1942: Paul Gillespie cheers war-weary Cubs fans by hitting home run in first at-bat

October 17, 2024

September 11, 1942: While World War II had not reached the United…

June 18, 1961: Don Leppert debuts with home run, pickoff in Pirates’ win over Cardinals

October 17, 2024

Defending their first World Series championship in 35 years,…

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

October 17, 2024

Over the course of his 13-year major-league career spent entirely…

September 12, 1965: Brant Alyea debuts for Washington with soggy circuit clout

October 17, 2024

One does not expect any great level of intrigue in examining…

May 19, 1962: In his third game, Boston’s Bob Tillman gets his first major-league at-bat and homers

October 17, 2024

The year 1962 represented a solid start for Red Sox catcher Bob…

June 5, 2008: Cardinals reliever Mark Worrell crushes home run in first career at-bat

October 17, 2024

Mark Worrell enjoyed a memorable few days in Washington, DC,…

April 12, 1906: Boston’s Johnny Bates becomes first twentieth-century player to homer in first career at-bat

October 17, 2024

A very enthusiastic Brooklyn crowd of 12,000 turned out to Washington…

September 9, 2022: Welcome to the show: Rangers’ Josh Jung hits a home run in his first at-bat

October 17, 2024

The Texas Rangers found themselves in need of a third baseman.…

August 28, 2009: John Hester homers in first at-bat as Diamondbacks pummel Astros

October 17, 2024

When the Houston Astros and the Arizona Diamondbacks took to…

Charlton Jimerson (Courtesy of the Houston Astros)

September 4, 2006: Charlton Jimerson’s home run in first at-bat ends Cole Hamels perfect game bid

October 17, 2024

It was veteran pitcher vs. rookie as the Houston Astros and the…

April 12, 1955: Baseball lifer Chuck Tanner shows he’s here to stay with a home run on the first pitch

October 17, 2024

Chuck Tanner is a household name in much of Western Pennsylvania,…

Jurickson Profar (Trading Card Database)

September 2, 2012: 19-year-old Jurickson Profar hits home run in first at-bat for Rangers

October 17, 2024

On an overcast Sunday afternoon during the Labor Day weekend…

April 2, 2007: Elijah Dukes starts major-league career with a home run, but Yankees beat Devil Rays on Opening Day

October 17, 2024

On Monday, April 2, 2007, an emotionally charged Opening Day…

May 7, 1956: Giants bullpen implosion spoils Bill White’s stellar major-league debut

October 17, 2024

New York Giants manager Bill Rigney had a simple message for…

August 31, 2005: More than 100 years in the making, Jeremy Hermida hits a one-of-a-kind grand slam

October 17, 2024

Until August 31, 2005, only one major-league baseball career…

May 4, 2006: Mike Napoli hits home run in first career at-bat as Angels snap 6-game losing streak

October 17, 2024

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were in the midst of a six-game…

Greg Dobbs (Courtesy of the Seattle Mariners)

September 8, 2004: Greg Dobbs’ first-at-bat homer not enough for Seattle in 9-5 loss to Cleveland

October 17, 2024

With just over three weeks left in the regular season, when the…

April 6, 2004: Mets’ Kazuo Matsui homers on first pitch; Tom Glavine beats Braves on Opening Day

October 17, 2024

Kazuo Matsui arrived in the United States looking like a superstar.…

June 27, 2003: Dave Matranga’s home run, only career hit, ‘affected my entire life’

October 17, 2024

Dave Matranga progressed through the Houston Astros farm system…

Daniel Nava celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand slam in his first major-league at-bat on June 12, 2010. (Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox)

June 12, 2010: Boston’s Daniel Nava hits grand slam on first pitch he sees in major leagues

October 17, 2024

Daniel Nava celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand…

April 23, 1952: Giants’ Hoyt Wilhelm hits home run in first career at-bat, then earns first career victory

October 17, 2024

A small crowd of 4,611 braved the “steel gray day”1 at New…

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SABR Analytics Conference

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

April 12, 1906: Boston’s Johnny Bates becomes first twentieth-century player to homer in first career at-bat

September 9, 2022: Welcome to the show: Rangers’ Josh Jung hits a home run in his first at-bat

August 28, 2009: John Hester homers in first at-bat as Diamondbacks pummel Astros

September 4, 2006: Charlton Jimerson’s home run in first at-bat ends Cole Hamels perfect game bid

April 12, 1955: Baseball lifer Chuck Tanner shows he’s here to stay with a home run on the first pitch

September 2, 2012: 19-year-old Jurickson Profar hits home run in first at-bat for Rangers

April 2, 2007: Elijah Dukes starts major-league career with a home run, but Yankees beat Devil Rays on Opening Day

May 7, 1956: Giants bullpen implosion spoils Bill White’s stellar major-league debut

August 31, 2005: More than 100 years in the making, Jeremy Hermida hits a one-of-a-kind grand slam

May 4, 2006: Mike Napoli hits home run in first career at-bat as Angels snap 6-game losing streak

September 8, 2004: Greg Dobbs’ first-at-bat homer not enough for Seattle in 9-5 loss to Cleveland

April 6, 2004: Mets’ Kazuo Matsui homers on first pitch; Tom Glavine beats Braves on Opening Day

June 27, 2003: Dave Matranga’s home run, only career hit, ‘affected my entire life’

June 12, 2010: Boston’s Daniel Nava hits grand slam on first pitch he sees in major leagues

April 23, 1952: Giants’ Hoyt Wilhelm hits home run in first career at-bat, then earns first career victory

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