FROM 2017 POST FAMOUS OR NOT SO FAMOUS FIRSTS

02-19-1946 Danny Gardella is the first player to leave the major leagues to join the Mexican League.

05-28-1946 The Senators beat the Yankees 2-1 in the first Yankee Stadium night game.

05-30-1946 Bama Rowell is the first player at Ebbets Field to smash the Bulova clock, which becomes the inspiration for a scene in 'The Natural.'

06-09-1946 Mel Ott is the first manager to be thrown out of both games of a doubleheader.

07-14-1946 Lou Boudreau sets a major league mark and is the first player with five extra-base hits in one game.

1947 Bill Voiselle, from a town named Ninety-Six, is the first player to wear his hometown name as a uniform number.

1947 Johnny Mize became the first player in history to hit 50 or more home runs and strikeout less than 50 times in a season.

04-15-1947 Jackie Robinson plays in his first major league game and is the first black player this century.

05-01-1947 Cleveland plays their first full season in Municipal Stadium.

06-13-1947 The first night game is played at Fenway Park and the Red Sox beat the White Sox 5-3.

07-05-1947 Larry Doby is the first black American League player.

07-08-1947 Spec Shea is the first rookie pitcher to win an All-Star game.

08-26-1947 Dan Bankhead is the first black pitcher in the major leagues.

09-17-1947 Jackie Robinson is the first player named Rookie of the Year.

10-02-1947 Yogi Berra hits the first World Series pinch homer.


06-30-1948 Bob Lemon is the first American League pitcher to throw a no-hitter at night.

07-26-1948 The first showing of The Babe Ruth Story in New York premiers - Babe Ruth attends premier.

08-13-1948 Satchel Paige pitched his first major league game and simultaneously earned his first major league shutout.

07-08-1949 The first time a black hitter and pitcher are matched up in a game: Hank Thompson versus Don Newcombe.

04-18-1950 The first opening day night game is played and the Cardinals defeat the Pirates 4-2.

04-18-1950 President Truman is the first President to throw two first pitches - one left handed and one right handed.

07-11-1950 The first All-Star game is broadcast on television.

08-11-1950 Joe DiMaggio is benched for the first time in his career after going four for thirty-eight.

10-01-1951 The first coast-to-coast televised game hits the airwaves and the Dodgers beat the Giants 3-1.

10-09-1951 Gil McDougald is the first rookie to hit a grand slam in a World Series game.

11-18-1951 Chuck Connors is the first player to oppose the major league draft. Now thats an impact

04-23-1952 Hoyt Wilhelm wins his first game and hits his first home run which will be the only home run he hits in 1,070 games.

09-29-1952 Stan Musial makes his first and last pitching appearance in relief.

01-21-1953 Joe DiMaggio is passed over by the Hall Of Fame in his first year of eligibility. NOW that is crazy

04-14-1953 Bill Bruton hits the first home run at Milwaukee's County Stadium.

04-29-1953 Joe Adcock is the first player to homer in the Polo Grounds over the center

More bar bets...feel free to add ...always great to fing useless or useful nuggets about the "Game I Love"

08-23-1953 Phil Paine is the first ex-major league player to ever play in Japan.

09-06-1953 Roy Campanella sets the major league record by becoming the first catcher with thirty-eight single season home runs.

09-07-1953 Roy Campanella sets the major league record by becoming the first catcher with one-hundred twenty-five single season runs batted in.



1954 The first rule not permitting opposing teams to leave their gloves on the playing field is instituted.

04-14-1955 Elston Howard is the first black New York Yankee player.

09-05-1955 Sandy Koufax pitches his first game which is his first start, first win, and first shutout.

1956 The first season in the major leagues without a single player-manager.


08-17-1957 Richie Ashburn is the first batter to hit the same fan twice in the same at-bat with foul balls.


06-02-1958 Brooks Robinson hits into his first triple play and will eventually set the major league record with four in a career.

Love this list, thanks.

This is a great list--with a lot of interesting twists and surprises. I wanted to comment on of of these points, though.

01-21-1953 Joe DiMaggio is passed over by the Hall Of Fame in his first year of eligibility. NOW that is crazy.

Crazy indeed, but DiMaggio wasn't the only player to be passed over in his first year of eligiblity. In 1936, the Hall of Fame held its first vote and elected five players: Cobb, Wagner, Ruth, Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. No arguments there. Gehrig was chosen in 1939 in a special election, due to his illness. But between 1937 and 1962, not ONE player was elected in their first year of eligibility in a normal election. There are a lot of reasons for this, including the fact that a player could remain on the Hall of Fame ballot indefinitely until 1946. This diluted the vote so that it was hard for anyone to get to 75%, especially in their first year. Between 1940 and 1944, only Hornsby was elected, and he had missed election four previous times. Rules changes were finally instituted that made it easier for candidates to be actually chosen. In 1962, Bob Feller & Jackie Robinson were first round picks. Ted Williams in 1966, then Musial in '69 and Koufax in '72. But it was still very hard to get in on the first ballot.
First ballot elections are far more common in recent years. I think the climate has changed--popular opinion often settles in favor of certain candidates before the vote—Cal Ripken, say, or Pedro Martinez. And then the BBWAA more or leass ratifies the consenseus of the fans. In 2014, three players were elected on the first ballot, and the same thing happened in 2015.
But that sort of consensus canonization wasn't happening between 1937 and 1962. So, Dimag was not alone.
Here's a link showing the list of first ballot HOFers: https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/First_Ballot_Hall_of_Famer

09-28-1979 Garry Templeton is the first player with one-hundred hits from each side of the plate in one season.

What is your Favorite First? Here is the source that drfreeze49 used:

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/frstmenu.shtml