January 22
The Washington Senators newsfront is about as bleak as the weather this time of year with nothing of interest worth reporting. Even the birthdays are bleak today as we report on 2 Senators Short Timers…
Senators Birthdays
John Alexander Milligan B Jan. 22, 1904 D May 15, 1972
John Milligan begans his days in the major leagues in mid-August of 1928 with the Philadelphia Phillies. A pitcher, Milligan’s most active season would be his first when he’d make his way into 13 games posting a 2-5 record with a 4.37 ERA.
Milligan would make brief appearances with the Phillies each year from 1929 through 1931.
Then he’d disappear from the majors until 1934 when he’d pitch in 2 games for the Washington Senators in mid-June. Compiling a 10.13 ERA in 2 & 2/3rds innings, Milligan would disappear from the majors permanently.
William John O’Neill B Jan. 22, 1880 D Jul. 20, 1920
Outfielder Bill O’Neill arrived on the major league scene with the 1904 Boston Americans (as the Red Sox were then known) in early May, played in 17 games for Boston hitting .196 and was promptly traded to the Washington Senators for Kip Selbach. O’Neill would finish the 1904 season in Washington, playing in 95 games and raising his BA to a repectable .244.
Out of the majors in 1905, O’Neill would make it into 94 games with the Chicago White Sox, hitting .248 and would play in 1 game of the 1906 World Series as the White Sox defeated their cross-town rivals the Cubs.
After that series, the trail runs cold on Mr. O’Neill.
