January 26
Senators Birthdays
Eli Eldo Cates B Jan. 26, 1877 D May 29, 1964
Single Season Senator Eli Cates would play in 22 games with the 1908 Senators, pitching in 19 and filling in at 2nd base for another 3. Cates would post a 4-8 record with a 2.51 ERA.
Charles Magnus Gelbert B Jan. 26, 1906 D Jan. 13, 1967
Infielder Charlie Gelbert would start his major league career with the 1929 St. Louis Cardinals. Playing for the Cardinals from 1929 through 1932 and again in 1935 and 1936, Gelbert would appear in the World Series of 1930 and 1931 against the Philadelphia Athletics.
Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds after the 1936 season, Gelbert would play in 43 games for the Reds, hitting just .193 when he was released. Gelbert would be signed by the Detroit Tigers finishing the 1937 season playing in 20 games for Detroit, his batting average plummeting even further to a microscopic .083.
Out of the majors in 1938, Gelbert would return with the Washington Senators in 1939, raising his average to .255 playing in 68 games.
Starting the 1940 season in Washington, Gelbert was hitting .370 in 22 games, when he was released and signed by the Boston Red Sox. 30 more games with Boston would mark the end of Gelbert’s major league career.
