What sports legends did in their first games, events

On July 11, 1914, 19-year-old George Herman "Babe" Ruth made his major league debut for Boston — as a pitcher. Ruth, who was sold to the Red Sox by the Baltimore Orioles, reportedly arrived in Boston the morning of his debut. He went seven innings, yielding two earned runs, to earn the decision in a 4-3 victory over Cleveland. Though perhaps the greatest power hitter of all time, the Babe went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. 

Baseball's home run king had a memorable, yet controversial, career but endured a forgetful start. Bonds made his big-league debut May 30, 1986, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and a walk as his Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 11 innings. Bonds, in fact, went 1-for-10 in his first three games. He didn't homer for the first time until June 4.

Koufax's first appearance in the majors came out of the bullpen on June 24, 1955, for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The left-hander threw two scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Braves, allowing a hit, walking one and striking out two. During his debut, Koufax faced four-time All-Star Johnny Logan and three-time All-Star Bobby Thomson, plus a couple of future Hall of Famers in Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron.

Playing right field and batting third in the New York Yankees' order between Phil Rizzuto and Joe DiMaggio, Mantle made his major league debut April 17, 1951. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Mantle would hit safely in five of his first six games. 

Martinez made 409 career starts, but his first appearance in the majors came out of the bullpen for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 24, 1992, against the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander threw two scoreless innings, striking out one with a walk. His first start came six days later, but he didn't record the first of his 219 wins until May 5, 1993.

Almost three weeks after his 20th birthday, Mays debuted for the New York Giants on May 25, 1951, in Philadelphia. Starting in center field, the highly touted prospect began his major league career with an 0-for-5 performance. Mays went 0-for-12 in his first three games before belting a homer in his fourth, at the Polo Grounds.

On April 20, 1939, the New York Yankees hosted the Boston Red Sox to open the season. A total of 12 future Hall of Famers were in the ballpark that day, one of which was Williams, making his big league debut for the Red Sox. Batting sixth, the Splendid Splinter went 1-for-4 with a double and struck out twice.

At age 19, Junior debuted in the majors, playing center field and hitting second in the Seattle Mariners lineup at Oakland on April 3, 1989. Griffey Jr. doubled off Dave Stewart for his only hit in four plate appearances. He went hitless in his next three games but regrouped and finished his Hall of Fame career with 2,781 hits.

A little less than two months after Yankee Stadium was unveiled to the baseball world and four days before his 20th birthday, Gehrig made his professional debut for New York on June 15, 1923. It was a rather uneventful first game for Gehrig, who entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning, ironically for Wally Pipp, and cleanly fielded a grounder at first base for the final out of a 10-0 win over the St. Louis Browns.

The Yankee Clipper began his career May 3, 1936, in successful fashion for New York. In a highly anticipated debut, DiMaggio went 3-for-6 with a triple and an RBI as the Yankees routed the St. Louis Browns 14-5. As an indication of things to come, DiMaggio recorded nine hits in his first four games. 

Rodriguez's pretty much successful, yet often controversial, major league career began July 8, 1994, for the Seattle Mariners. At just 18 years old, Rodriguez took the field at Boston's Fenway Park, where the boos would come later in his career. He went 0-for-3 and cleanly played all three chances at shortstop.

Following a standing ovation from the Chicago Stadium faithful during introductions, Jordan delivered in a solid NBA debut with 16 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four blocks in a win over the Washington Bullets on Oct. 26, 1984. Bulls fans held their collective breath at one point, however, as Jordan hit the ground hard after taking off right into Washington big man Jeff Ruland. Jordan got up to continue the beginning of his remarkable career.

Though Johnson had to share the spotlight of his NBA debut with college rival Larry Bird, who also was playing his first pro game on Oct. 12, 1979, Johnson enjoyed a star-worthy performance. Magic scored 26 points as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the San Diego Clippers thanks to a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar late sky hook. 

Because Russell was a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic basketball team that won gold in Melbourne, Australia, his pro career with the Boston Celtics did not begin until Dec. 22 of that year. Russell managed just six points on 3-of-11 shooting, but he grabbed 16 rebounds and his solid defense on St. Louis Hawks star Bob Pettit helped Boston earn a two-point victory.

On the same night rival Magic Johnson played his first NBA game, Bird made his much-anticipated debut for the Boston Celtics on Oct. 12, 1979. Bird posted a solid 14 points, making half of his 12 shots, and grabbed 10 rebounds while dishing out five assists in the Celtics' win over the Rockets.

Known then as Lew Alcindor, the former UCLA star proved the hype surrounding his Oct. 18, 1969, debut for the Milwaukee Bucks was warranted. In front of a nationally televised Saturday afternoon audience, the center came through big time with 29 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in a win over the Detroit Pistons.

From the beginning, Chamberlain displayed the dominance that made him one of the NBA's greats. In his first pro game Oct. 24, 1959, Chamberlain announced his presence with 43 points and a whopping 28 rebounds in 48 minutes as his Philadelphia Warriors beat the New York Knicks.

On Oct. 19, 1960, Robertson made his professional debut for the Cincinnati Royals against the relocated Los Angeles Lakers — with their own talented rookie Jerry West making his debut. Robertson was as good as advertised, scoring 21 points with 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Royals' wild 140-123 win. 

Out of high school and into the NBA, Bryant debuted for the Los Angeles Lakers, who acquired him from Charlotte in a draft-night trade, on Nov. 3, 1996. Though Bryant won five NBA titles, an MVP Award and even an Oscar later on, he played just six minutes off the bench. He missed his only shot attempt but grabbed a rebound and recorded a block.

The 6-11 Duncan debuted as one half of the famed San Antonio Spurs' "Twin Towers" with 7-1 David Robinson on Halloween 1997. Robinson finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but Duncan didn't disappoint while posting 15 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes in defeating the Denver Nuggets.

From the get-go, the Lakers knew they had something in West, who was nicknamed "Tweety Bird" by his new teammates because of his high-pitched voice. Squaring off against Oscar Robertson, who also was making his debut for the Cincinnati Royals that game, West scored 20 points as the Lakers began their first season in Los Angeles with a wild 140-123 loss.

Before Montana blossomed into a four-time Super Bowl champion who earned MVP honors in three of those games, he spent practically all of his 1979 rookie season as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. He saw action in all 16 games that year but didn't throw and complete his first NFL pass — for eight yards — until Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 16.

Following the drama that brought Elway to Denver, the brash former Stanford star and 1983's No. 1 overall pick made his NFL debut for the Broncos on Sept. 4 of that year. Facing the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Elway was sacked four times and went 1-of-8 for just 14 yards with an interception before he was replaced by veteran Steve DeBerg, who led the Broncos to a 14-10 victory.

Though Brown's 1957 rookie season in Cleveland was memorable for his 237-yard rushing performance against the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth game of his career, his debut was more than respectable. Brown rushed a workmanlike 21 times for 89 yards in a season-opening win over the New York Giants on Sept. 29. 

Detroit Lions fans did not have to wait long to see how gifted Barry Sanders was as a runner. In the 1989 season opener on Sept. 10 at home against the then-named Phoenix Cardinals, Sanders gained 18 yards on his first carry. He also scored on a three-yard touchdown run and finished that contest with nine carries for 71 of the 15,269 yards he would gain for his career.

A contract holdout caused Smith to miss the entire preseason, but he did see some brief action in the Dallas Cowboys' opener Sept. 9, 1990, at home against the San Diego Chargers. Smith ran twice for two forgettable yards at the time. However, they were the first two of the 18,355 yards that made him football's all-time leading rusher.

The NFL's all-time receptions leader with 1,549, Rice caught four passes for a pedestrian 67 yards in his San Francisco 49ers debut Sept. 8, 1985, at Minnesota in a loss to the Vikings. His first touchdown didn't come until Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Manning enjoyed a sensational career, but his first game — and second, for that matter — didn't go so well. Manning made his NFL debut Sept. 6, 1998, for the Indianapolis Colts. When it was over, he'd thrown for 302 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in a loss to Miami. The five-time NFL MVP was picked three more times the next week and threw 11 interceptions over his first four games.

Taylor is recorded 132.5 official sacks during his 13-year career, but his New York Giants debut on Sept. 6, 1981, was rather uneventful. Perhaps the most notable moment from L.T.'s first game was the penalty he drew for a late hit on a Philadelphia Eagles running back.

After being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers and working construction, Unitas joined the Baltimore Colts following a successful tryout. On Oct. 6, 1956, with the Colts on the verge of a 31-14 loss to the Detroit Lions, Unitas saw his first professional action. He threw an incomplete pass and an interception but did scamper for a 21-yard gain. Two games later, Johnny U made his first start and led Baltimore to an upset over the Green Bay Packers.

Before White went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, he spent two seasons with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL. White, one of the early stars of the ill-fated alternative pro football league, debuted Feb. 26, 1984. He was not credited with a sack in Memphis' loss to the Philadelphia Stars that day, but in his NFL debut with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 29, 1985, he recorded 2.5 sacks against the New York Giants.

Playing with a chip on his shoulder after falling to the 21st overall pick in the 1998 draft, Moss backed that high opinion of himself on Sept. 6. In his debut for the Minnesota Vikings, Moss caught just four passes, but those included touchdown plays of 48 and 31 yards. After finishing with 95 receiving yards, a star was born.

The greatest player in the history of the NHL actually got his pro career started in the World Hockey Association for the Indianapolis Racers. At age 17 and before he became "The Great One," Gretzky failed to record a point in a 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 14, 1978. It was one year later to the day that Gretzky scored his first NHL goal as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Pittsburgh Penguins knew they were in for something special by making Lemieux the top overall pick in the 1984 draft. Lemieux didn't disappoint, blocking a pass from five-time Norris Trophy winner Ray Bourque, then taking off on a breakaway and slipping one past Boston's Pete Peeters to score his first NHL goal on the first shot of his first shift on Oct. 11, 1984.

Orr made his NHL debut on Oct. 19, 196 6, for the Boston Bruins against the Detroit Red Wings at the Boston Garden. Orr, who took a crunching hit from Gordie Howe in that contest, recorded an assist for the first of his 915 career points. He scored his first goal three days later. 

Howe's remarkable 32-year professional hockey career began on Oct. 16, 1946, for the Detroit Red Wings. Wearing the unfamiliar No. 17, the 18-year-old Howe enjoyed an impressive debut by scoring the first of his 801 NHL goals and getting into two fights against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.

Roy made his NHL debut Feb. 23, 1985, the only game he played for the Montreal Canadiens that season. He replaced struggling goaltender Doug Soetaert in the third period, stopped both shots he faced and earned the win in a 6-5 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Following the game, Roy was sent back down to the AHL.

The most famous player in Montreal Canadiens history, which is saying a lot, Richard made his NHL debut on Halloween 1942. He didn't waste any time ingratiating himself to Habs fans by recording his first point (an assist) 36 seconds into the game against Original Six foe Boston at the Forum.  

Palmer, who ranks fifth all time with 62 PGA Tour victories, took part in his first PGA Tour event in 1948 when he was still an amateur. Palmer, who attended Wake Forest, earned a spot in the field of the Greater Greensboro Open but missed the cut after shooting rounds of 78 and 76. He didn't officially turn pro until 1954 after spending time in the U.S. Coast Guard. 

The King's first Grand National (NASCAR) series start on July 18, 1958 came in, of all places, Toronto. The race was held at the Canadian National Exhibition Stadium, which later became the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. Petty, who turned 21 weeks before, rode in an Oldsmobile sporting the No. 142 and was knocked into the wall and out of the race after 55 laps by, of all people, his father, Lee Petty, who ended up the winner.

After winning the Czechoslovakian championships at age 15, Navratilova began competing on the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association's tour in 1973 at 16, but she didn't turn pro until 1975. She opened with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 win over Brazil's Iris Riedel in qualifying for the S&H Green Stamps Classic in Florida in February 1973.

Barely a teenager, a 13-year-old Graf competed in her first professional tournament in Germany on Oct. 25, 1982. Her opponent was Tracy Austin, who was just shy of her 20th birthday but already a two-time U.S. Open champion. Graf lost 6-4, 6-0 to Austin but became the second-youngest player to earn an international ranking that same year. 

Following plenty of promotion and much anticipation, a 15-year-old with the given name of Edson Arantes do Nascimento made his senior club professional debut for Brazil's Santos FC on Sept. 7, 1956. Pele backed up the hype by coming off the bench to record a goal in Santos' 7-1 rout of Corinthians FC.

Saturday, June 21, 1997, was not only the first game of Leslie's pro career, but the first game in the history of the WNBA. Leslie's Los Angeles Sparks hosted Rebecca Lobo and the New York Liberty to tip off this new women's professional league. Celebrities such as Magic Johnson and actress/director Penny Marshall were in attendance at the Great Western Forum. Though Leslie had 16 points and 14 rebounds, the Sparks lost 67-57.

Though injuries prevented Miller from playing professionally, she's still considered one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time. An Olympic gold medalist in 1984, Miller averaged 23.6 points during her four-year career at USC but scored a modest 11 in her collegiate debut in a 105-62 victory over Pepperdine on Nov. 21, 1982.

Six weeks after giving birth to her son, Swoopes was on the court making her WNBA debut for the Houston Comets on Aug. 7, 1997. Swoopes saw limited minutes in that contest and took only two shots in her first three games, missing both. She played nine games in the league's inaugural season and averaged 7.1 points but still helped the Comets win the first of four straight championships.

On April 19, 1964, Andretti began his IndyCar (then known as the USAC National Championship or Champ Car) career at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds in Trenton. Andretti, who won four IndyCar titles, started 16th and finished 11th in that race. 

Sampras played his first ATP match on Feb. 22, 1988, at the Ebel U.S. Pro Indoors in Philadelphia. Though Sampras would go on to win 64 titles, he was unable to get past unseeded Sammy Giammalva Jr., losing 6-4, 6-3 that day in Philly.

It was February 1986 when the rail-thin, 15-year-old tennis prodigy from Las Vegas beat John Austin, brother of more well-known Tracy Austin, 6-4, 6-2, at the Pilot Pen Classic at LaQuinta, Calif., in his ATP debut. It was the first of 870 career singles victories for the long-haired rebel Agassi, who lost his next match to Mats Wilander. 

Before answering to the name Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay beat fellow Kentucky native Tunney Hunsaker in a six-round match in a unanimous decision on Oct. 29, 1960, at Louisville's Freedom Hall. Clay was a bold 18-year-old while Hunsaker, at age 30, was fighting to earn some extra money. The age difference showed as the younger, stronger Clay dominated the bout and took home a cool $2,000 for the effort.