1972 National League Baseball Debuts / Rookies by Baseball Almanac

1972 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

1972 National League Debuts 1972 N.L. Rookies \| 1972 A.L. Rookies \| Baseball Firsts (All Years)
#	Name (sort)	Team (sort)	Debut (sort)	Age (sort)
4	Larvell Blanks	1972 Atlanta Braves	07-19-1972	22
24	Jimmy Freeman	1972 Atlanta Braves	09-01-1972	21
19	Rod Gilbreath	1972 Atlanta Braves	06-17-1972	19
18	Rowland Office	1972 Atlanta Braves	08-05-1972	19
37	Ron Schueler	1972 Atlanta Braves	04-16-1972	23
34	Clint Compton	1972 Chicago Cubs	10-03-1972	21
24	Pete LaCock	1972 Chicago Cubs	09-06-1972	20
29	Al Montreuil	1972 Chicago Cubs	09-01-1972	29
48	Rick Reuschel	1972 Chicago Cubs	06-19-1972	23
17	Dave Rosello	1972 Chicago Cubs	09-10-1972	22
27	Jim Tyrone	1972 Chicago Cubs	08-27-1972	23
20	Chris Ward	1972 Chicago Cubs	09-10-1972	23
49	Dave Tomlin	1972 Cincinnati Reds	09-02-1972	23
37	Mike Cosgrove	1972 Houston Astros	09-10-1972	21
18	Bobby Fenwick	1972 Houston Astros	04-26-1972	25
6	Cliff Johnson	1972 Houston Astros	09-13-1972	25
34	Lee Lacy	1972 Los Angeles Dodgers	06-30-1972	24
15	Davey Lopes	1972 Los Angeles Dodgers	09-22-1972	27
9	Terry McDermott	1972 Los Angeles Dodgers	09-12-1972	21
31	Doug Rau	1972 Los Angeles Dodgers	09-02-1972	23
41	Steve Yeager	1972 Los Angeles Dodgers	08-02-1972	23
42	Joe Gilbert	1972 Montreal Expos	04-30-1972	20
11	Pepe Mangual	1972 Montreal Expos	09-06-1972	20
20	Tom Walker	1972 Montreal Expos	04-23-1972	23
1	Lute Barnes	1972 New York Mets	08-06-1972	25
39	Tommy Moore	1972 New York Mets	09-15-1972	24
35	Joe Nolan	1972 New York Mets	09-21-1972	21
44	Bob Rauch	1972 New York Mets	06-29-1972	23
16	Dave Schneck	1972 New York Mets	07-14-1972	23
40	Brent Strom	1972 New York Mets	07-31-1972	23
22	Hank Webb	1972 New York Mets	09-05-1972	22
40	Bob Boone	1972 Philadelphia Phillies	09-10-1972	24
35	Dave Downs	1972 Philadelphia Phillies	09-02-1972	20
18	Craig Robinson	1972 Philadelphia Phillies	09-09-1972	24
44	Mac Scarce	1972 Philadelphia Phillies	07-10-1972	23
22	Mike Schmidt	1972 Philadelphia Phillies	09-12-1972	22
38	Bob Terlecki	1972 Philadelphia Phillies	08-16-1972	27
12	Chuck Goggin	1972 Pittsburgh Pirates	09-08-1972	27
37	Fernando Gonzalez	1972 Pittsburgh Pirates	09-15-1972	22
39	Jim McKee	1972 Pittsburgh Pirates	09-15-1972	25
10	Randy Elliott	1972 San Diego Padres	09-10-1972	21
13	Ralph Garcia	1972 San Diego Padres	09-26-1972	23
7	Joe Goddard	1972 San Diego Padres	07-31-1972	22
1	Johnny Grubb	1972 San Diego Padres	09-10-1972	24
18	Dave Hilton	1972 San Diego Padres	09-10-1972	21
20	Dave Roberts	1972 San Diego Padres	06-07-1972	21
44	Mark Schaeffer	1972 San Diego Padres	04-18-1972	23
36	Steve Simpson	1972 San Diego Padres	09-10-1972	24
22	Damaso Blanco	1972 San Francisco Giants	05-26-1972	30
31	Garry Maddox	1972 San Francisco Giants	04-25-1972	22
36	Gary Matthews	1972 San Francisco Giants	09-06-1972	22
39	Randy Moffitt	1972 San Francisco Giants	06-11-1972	23
38	Elias Sosa	1972 San Francisco Giants	09-08-1972	22
12	Gary Thomasson	1972 San Francisco Giants	09-05-1972	21
16	Ron Allen	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	08-11-1972	28
42	Ray Bare	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	07-30-1972	23
48	Jim Bibby	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	09-04-1972	27
46	Don Durham	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	07-16-1972	23
30	Charlie Hudson	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	05-21-1972	22
18	Skip Jutze	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	09-01-1972	26
25	Mick Kelleher	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	09-01-1972	25
56	Tim Plodinec	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	06-02-1972	25
47, 44	Ken Reitz	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	09-05-1972	21
32	Bill Stein	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	09-06-1972	25
10	Mike Tyson	1972 St. Louis Cardinals	09-05-1972	22
#	Name (sort)	Team (sort)	Debut (sort)	Age (sort)
1972 National League Debuts

Find out which players bid farewell to their field's of dreams in the National League during the 1972 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.

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."

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