February 8
Senators Birthdays
Joseph Black B Feb. 8, 1924 D May 17, 2002
Pitcher Joe Black gained fame, and “Rookie Of The Year” honors, when he came on the major league scene in 1952, posting a 15-4 record with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Black would go 1-2 in the 1952 World Series, in the process becoming the first African-American to win a World Series game, as the Dodgers lost to the New York Yankees.
Unfortunately, his rookie season would be his best as he was beset with arm woes, sometimes attributed to managerial meddling.
Black would compile a 6-3 record in 1953 but would only appear in 5 games in 1954.
Starting the 1955 season in Brooklyn, Black would pitch in 5 games for the Dodgers, his record standing at 1-0 when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and cash. Five days later the Reds would send Bob Borkowski to Brooklyn to complete the trade.
Black would finish the 1955 season going 5-2 in 32 games for the Reds. He’d remain with the Reds in 1956, going 3-2 in 32 games.
1957 would be Black’s last season in the majors-he’d start the season in Cincinnati but would not appear in any games before being sold to the Philadelphia Phillies. Black would not play for the Phillies either and would be released in early July.
About 1 month later Black would sign on with the Washington Senators for his last brief stint in the majors-he’d pitch in 7 games for Washington, going 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA, his last game coming in mid-September.
Joe Black thread in the Brooklyn Dodgers forum
Joseph Phillip Cassidy B Feb. 8, 1883 D Mar. 25, 1906
Arriving in the majors with the Senators in April of 1904, Joe Cassidy’s short career would be cut short by an untimely death.
Playing in 152 games in his rookie season, Cassidy would hit .241 while primarily playing shortstop but also filling in at 3rd base and in the outfield.
Cassidy would play in 151 games in 1905, exclusively at shortstop. Off to a slow start at the plate, Cassidy’s hitting improved over the second part of the season, although he’d still only manage to hit .215.
An outstanding fielder, it was Connie Mack’s wish to add Cassidy to the Philadelphia Athletics roster.
Cassidy contract typhoid in March of 1906 and he died on March 25th at the young age of 23.
An excellent writeup on Cassidy appears here: Joe Cassidy biography by Craig Lammers
