First of something

Paul Meyer quotes Tracy:

Before the game, Tracy conceded he was eager to see Youman pitch.

"You're always anxious to see a young guy make his first appearance and wet his feet at the major-league level," Tracy said. "There have been a lot of very special players come along in this game who had to make their first of something -- whether it was their first at-bat, their first start, their first relief appearance -- and it goes on from there."

I should just let it go, but I'm still trying to decipher this. The non-very-special players have not had to make their first of something? After the first at-bat, start, etc. come the subsequent ones? Maybe he's just saying that everyone has to start somewhere. Unless you're an established idiot, in which case you can just continue to spew meaningless horseshit.