January 7
The Senators delivery room continues to be a busy place as we have another 6 birthdates on this January 7th…
Senators Birthdays
Edward Luke Butka B Jan. 7, 1916 D Apr. 21, 2005
Senators Short Timer Ed Butka would debut in late September of 1943. Playing 1st base, he’d make it into 3 games, going 3 for 9 at the plate with 1 double, working out to a .333 BA.
Returning to the Senators roster in the fall of 1944, Butka would play in 15 games but his hitting would fall off to .195 and he’d make his last major league appearance on the last day of September.
James John Hannan B Jan. 7, 1940 Still Living
Jim Hannan’s baseball career began in 1961 when he was selected by the Boston Red Sox prior to the
start of the season.
His career got a huge jump start at the end of 1961 when he was selected by the expansion Senators in the first year draft. He’d make his major league debut with the Senators in mid-April of 1962. Hannan would remain on the Senators roster through 1970.
It wasn’t all major league success however-Hannan would spend stints with whatever AAA team the Senators were affiliated with that season including spending a portion of 1962 in Syracuse, 1963 in both Richmond and Toronto, 1965 and 1967 in Hawaii and 1968 in Buffalo.
Hannan would appear in over 40 games in 1962, 1964 and 1970, his most successful season coming in 1968 when he’d post a 10-6 record with a 3.01 ERA for a team that would finish 65-96, last place in the then 10 team league.
Sent to the Detroit Tigers along with Eddie Brinkman, Joe Coleman, and Auerlio Rodriguez in the much discussed trade that brought Elliott Maddox, Denny McLain, Norm McRae and Don Wert to Washington, Hannan would post a 1-0 record in 7 games for Detroit before being traded in mid-May to the Milwaukee Brewers. Hannan would appear in 21 games for the Brewers, going 1-1, making his final major league appearance in mid-September.
Emory Elmo (Topper) Rigney B Jan. 7, 1897 D Jun. 6, 1972
Shortstop Topper Rigney would make an April debut with the 1922 Detroit Tigers. Playing in 155 games his first season, Rigney would hit an even .300. His next season would be even better as he hit .315 in 129 games. Rigney would remain on the Detroit roster through the end of the 1925 season.
Purchased by the Boston Red Sox, Rigney would hit .270 in 1926.
After 8 games with Boston in the 1927 season, Rigney would be traded to the Washington Senators for Buddy Myer. Rigney would hit .273 in 45 games with the Senators, his last major league game coming in late August.
James Clay Roe B Jan. 7, 1904 D Apr. 4, 1956
One Game Wonder Clay Roe would have his cup of coffee with the Senators on October 3rd of 1923. Pitching for 1 and 2/3rds innings, Roe would walk 6, strike out 2 and be charged with 3 wild pitches, earning the loss in his only major league game.
Veston Goff (Bunky) Stewart B Jan. 7, 1931 D Oct. 3, 2007
Another pitcher, Bunky Stewart would make his first major league appearance in early May of 1952. Surrendering 1 walk, 2 hits and 2 runs in 1 inning, Stewart wouldn’t be back with the Senators until 1953, when he’d make another brief appearance, pitching in 2 games, being charged with the loss in both.
Stewart would stick around a little longer in 1954, appearing in 29 games, being charged with another 2 losses as he’d finish the season with an ERA of 7.64.
He’d pitch in just 7 games for Washington in 1955, not being charged with any losses this time around and lowering his ERA to 4.11.
Stewart would return for one last season with the Senators in 1956. Appearing in 33 games, he’d finally earn that elusive first win, finishing the season, and his major league career by posting a 5-7 record with a 5.57 ERA.
William Wilson B Jan. 7, 1884 D Oct. 28, 1925
Another One Game Wonder, pitcher Willy Wilson would have his cup of coffee with the Senators on October 3rd of 1906. Hurling 7 innings, Wilson would also be charged with the loss although he’d give up just 2 runs during his only major league outing.
