The Ford Mustang debuted 51 years to the day before Kris Bryant’s first MLB game.
The Ford Mustang, like the Cubs’ Kris Bryant, made its debut on April 17. The Mustang was launched on April 17, 1964 at the World’s Fair in Flushing, New York. The new “pony car” got off to a better start that Bryant – who fanned in his first three at bats and went zero-for-four on the day.
Still, there is plenty of evidence that the Cubs’ 23-year-old top prospect – who started his first day in the major leagues playing third base and batting cleanup – will have a long and successful career; like many of those who debuted on that day before him. In addition to the Ford Mustang (still going strong), April 17th also saw the debut of some pretty good ballplayers – Mickey Mantle (MLB debut April 17, 1951); Roberto Clemente (MLB-debut April 17, 1955); and Frank Robinson (MLB-debut, April 17, 1956).\ among them.
Hang on to these cards!
First-game jitters aside, let’s look at the evidence. Kris Bryant has proven himself at every level he ever played at. He hit over .400 as a high school player (four varsity seasons for Bonanza High School in Las Vegas). As a high school senior, he hit .429, with 22 home runs and 51 RBI – being named a Baseball America and USA Today High School All American.
Bryant went on to play – and excel – for the University of San Diego. As a college player, Bryant was a Freshman All American (2011); Baseball America All American (2012); and a Louisville Slugger First Team All American (2013). In 2013, Bryant led all collegiate players with 31 home runs and won the 2013 Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy (both recognizing the top collegiate baseball player in the nation) and the College Baseball News National Player of the Year award. In three years with San Diego University, he played in 172 games, collected 225 hits (.353 average), hit 54 home runs and drove in 155 runs. He might have done even more damage, if it wasn’t for the 138 walks. Selected in the 18th round of the 2010 MLBH draft by the Blue Jays, Bryant’s college accomplishments moved him up to the first round (second overall) of the 2013 draft.
Bryant did not skip a beat in moving from the college ranks to the Cubs’ minor league system. In his first season, he went from rookie ball to High A (three stops), hitting a combined .336, with nine home runs and 32 RBI. Last season, he made a two-stage jump – Double A and Triple A – hitting a combined .325, with 43 home runs, 110 RBI and 15 steals. Then, in 2015 Spring Training, he really opened up some eyes, hitting .425 with nine home runs (leading all players this spring) in just 40 at bats. He started the 2015 season at Triple A Iowa, where he hit .321 with three home runs and ten RBI in seven games before his call up. All the evidence says this young man is here to stay.
Now, here’s a brief look at three players April 17th has delivered to big league fans in the past.
Mickey Mantle – April 17, 1951
A promising young (19-years-old) outfielder debuted in right field for the New York Yankees on April 17, 1951. Mickey Mantle, batting third that day (Joe DiMaggio was playing center and batting cleanup), had a single, with a run scored and a run driven in, in four at bats – as the Yankees topped the rival Red Sox 5-0. His first MLB at bat resulted in a ground out, second to first.
Mantle’s credentials as a prospect were undeniable. Signed right out of high school (as a shortstop) he hit .313 with seven home runs for the 1949 Independence (KS) Yankees at D Level and then, as an 18-year-old, he hit .383 with 26 home runs and 136 RBI in 137 games for the 1950 Joplin Miners (C Level). Notably, Mantle slumped early in his rookie MLB season and was sent down to the Yankees’ Triple A farm club (Kansas City Blues), where he earned his way back to the major leagues by hitting .361, with 11 home runs and 50 RBI in 40 games. Brought back up, Mantle finished his rookie MLB season hitting .267, with 11 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games. And the rest is history. In an 18-season MLB career, Mantle was an All Star in 16 seasons, a three-time AL MVP and a Triple Crown winner. He retired with a .298 career average, 536 home runs, 1,509 RBI, 1,676 runs scored and 153 steals. He played his entire career with the Yankees.
April 17, 1955 – Roberto Clemente
April 17, 1955 saw the MLB debut of 20-year-old Roberto Clemente. Clemente led off and played center field for the Pittsburgh Pirates that day – hitting a double and a single, and scoring a run, in four at bats. His very first MLB at bat was a ground out third to first. The previous season, Clemente hit .257, with two home runs and 12 RBI in 87 games with the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Triple A affiliate Montreal (Royals). He had also played two seasons with the Santurce Cangrejeros in Puerto Rico before signing with the Dodgers. In the November 1954 rookie draft, he was picked up by the Pirates. He finished his first season with Pittsburgh hitting .255, with five home runs and 47 RBI in 124 games.
Clemente would go on to an 18-year MLH career – cut short by a tragic (December 31, 1972) plane crash while on a humanitarian mission to his native Puerto Rico. He was an All Star in 12 of those seasons, a four-time batting champion, a 12-time Gold Glover. He ended his career with a .317 batting average, 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, 1,305 RBI and 1,416 runs scored. He played his entire MLB career with the Pirates.
April 17, 1956 – Frank Robinson
April 17, 1956 marked the MLB debut of Frank Robinson – with the twenty-year-old starting in left field and batting seventh for the Cincinnati Reds. In four plate appearances, Robinson collected a double, a single and an intentional walk. His first MLB at bat produced a ground rule double.
Robinson had shown his potential in the minors, hitting .348 with 17 home runs (as a 17-year-old) in 72 games for the Class C Ogden Reds in 1953; a .332 average with 25 home runs at A and Double A in 1954; and .263 with 12 homers in 80 games at single A in 1955. In his rookie season with the Reds, Robinson hit .290, with 38 home runs, 83 RBI and a league-leading 122 runs scored. He went on to a 21-year MLB career, in which he was an All Star in 12 seasons; NL Rookie of the Year; MVP in both the NL and AL; a Triple Crown Winner; a World Series MVP; and All Star Game MVP. Robinson finished his career with a.294 average, 586 home runs, 1,812 RBI, 1,829 runs scored, and 204 steals.
Perhaps someday, we’ll see reports on a new April 17th MLB debut and Kris Bryant will be listed among the premier players that launched their MLB careers that day. Note: They weren’t all hitters, Hall of Fame hurler Don Drysdale took to the MLB mound for the first time on April 17, 1956.
Note: Mantle, Clemente and Robinson picked up the nicknames: The Commerce Comet, The Great One and The Judge. Any suggestions for Mr. Bryant?
