This Date in Washington Senators History – Vernon named as manager of the new franchise

November 19

1936 Dubbed “the pitcher who got an 11 year tryout” by Bucky Harris, southpaw Bobby Burke is sent to the Philles as part of a conditional deal. Burke pitched a no-hitter against Boston on August 8, 1931 and went 38-46 with a 4.28 ERA in 9 seasons in Washington.

1960 Ed Doherty is appointed the first general manager of the expansion Senators. It is also announced that fan MVfavorite Mickey Vernon will be the field manager of the new franchise. Vernon had served as a player-coach under Pirates manager and boyhood friend Danny Murtaugh in 1960.

1965 Don Zimmer is issued his unconditional release by the Senators, ending his playing career. Zimmer soon will begin a coaching and managerial career that will last more than 4 decades, managing San Diego, Boston, Texas and the Cubs. Zimmer was the manager of the the ill-fated 1978 Red Sox that lost the playoff for AL East division on Yankee Bucky Dent‘s famous home run. From 1996-2004, he served as a bench coach under Joe Torre with the Yankees.

Senators Birthdays

Elmer Harley Boss B Nov. 19, 1908 D May 15, 1964

1st baseman Harley Boss debuted with the Washington Senators in mid-July of 1928. He’d play in a grand total of 43 games over the span of 3 seasons from 1928 through 1930. His best year with the Senators would be 1929 when he’d appear in 28 games and hit .273.

Traded to the Cleveland Indians after the 1930 season for Jack Russell and Bruce Connatser, Boss would not return to the majors until 1933. Playing in 112 games for the Indians that season, Boss would hit .269, his major league career ending in late September.

Harley Boss career record

Henry Seymour (Harry) Courtney B Nov. 19, 1898 D Dec. 11, 1954

Harry Courtney, a pitcher by trade, would make his first major league appearance with the Senators in late 1919. Courtney would pitch in 4 games that first season, starting 3 and finishing the season with a 3-0 record and an ERA of 2.73.

Appearing in 37 games for Washington in 1920, Courtney would post an 8-11 record and would see his ERA climb to 4.74. 1921 would bring more of the same as Courtney would pitch in 30 games, going 6-9 with his ERA climbing almost another run per game to 5.63.

Courtney would pitch in just 5 games for the Senators in 1922 before being sold to the Chicago White Sox in May. He’d finish the 1922 season, and his major league career with the White Sox that season, posting a 5-6 record in 18 games.

“Harry” Courtney career record

Lewis Everett Scott B Nov. 19, 1892 D Nov. 2, 1960

Closing out today’s birthday list is Everett Scott who would play 13 years, appearing in 1,654 games. Only 33 of those games would be in a Senators uniform near the end of his career.

Scott would debut with the Boston Red Sox in April of 1914. Playing shortstop, Scott would play regularly through 1921.

Traded to the New York Yankees after the 1921 season, Scott would be with the Yankees through mid-June of 1925. Released by the Yankees, Scott would be claimed by the Washington Senators. Finishing the season in Washington, Scott would play in 33 games, hitting .272.

He’d be released again by the Senators after the 1925 season and would be claimed by the Chicago White Sox.

Playing in 40 games for the 1926 White Sox, Scott would be released one last time in early July. This time he was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds. Scott would play in just 4 games for the Reds, concluding his major league journey in late July.

Scott would play in 5 World Series-with the Red Sox in 1915, 1916 & 1918 and with the Yankees in 1922 and 1923. While his overall series BA is a paltry .156, he did shine in the 1923 series. Saving his best for last, Scott would go 7 for 22 in 6 games, good for a .318 BA.

Everett Scott career record