Get it right the first time, that’s the main thing. I can’t afford to let it pass. Get it right the next time, that’s not the same thing. Gonna make the first time last. -Billy Joel
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Pittsburgh Prates starter Daniel McCutchen made his major-league debut at Cincinnati yesterday afternoon. Reds leadoff batter Drew Stubbs baptized him with a home run yesterday afternoon. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Lets hope McCutcheon believith. Several other several pitchers have been baptized by fire. They believedith. They were saved.
Hideki Okajima- Okie allowed a home run to John Buck on his very first pitch in the major leagues. He went on to post the longest scoreless streak by a Red Sox left-hander since Bruce Hurst 20 years prior. He went to make the All-Star Team and was was selected to the 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.
Bob Gibson- Larger than Jim Baxes, it’s the cactus. Jim Baxes went deep off Bullet Bob. I hope he apologized.
Jeff Suppan- Gave up a bomb to the first batter he ever faced, Keith Lockhart, in his first start. Suppan went on to help lead the Cards to the 2004 World Series, where he started Game 3.
Bert Blyleven- The imitable Henry Clarke went yard off of Bert “Be Home” Blyleven in his first appearance. Burt was a
2x All-Star selection. Burt was a 2x World Series champion. He was the 1989 AL Comeback Player of the Year. He pitched a no-hitter. He just may be the best pitcher not yet in the Baseball Hall of Fame.- Ken Holtzman- Jim Ray Hart went deep off the Great Jewish Hope. Holtzman became the only pitcher since the 1880s to throw 2 no-hitters for the Cubs, and was also one of the principal pitchers on Oakland’s championship teams from 1972 to 1975. His 174 career victories are the most in the major leagues by a Jewish pitcher, and he held the record for most pitching appearances by a Jewish pitcher until 1998.
- Andy Messersmith- Messersmith had the most ignominious start of all – the first batter he faced in the big leagues, Boston’s Ken Harrelson, hit a walkoff grand-slam home run at Fenway Park in June 1968! He went on to win 130 games in a 12-year major-league career, and was pivotal in helping players gain free-agency rights by playing out his reserve clause in 1975.
Public Spectacle:
Peace out homies. Six two and Even!
Need More? Daniel McCutchen, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates
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