February 13
1934 The Cleveland Indians sign future Hall Of Famer Sam Rice. Rice, who played for the Senators from 1915 through 1933 and appeared in all 3 of the World Series that the Senators pla
yed in, will finish his career with a final season in Cleveland, ending his playing days with 2,987 hits. Reportedly Clark Griffith will offer Rice the opportunity to come back to the Senators to achieve the 3,000 hit mark, an offer that Rice declines.
1968 The Chicago White Sox send shortstop Ron Hansen and pitchers Dennis Higgins and Steve Jones to the Washington Senators in exchange for infielder Tim Cullen and pitchers Bob Priddy and Buster Narum.
Hansen and Cullen would play for their respective teams until early August of 1968 when, four days after having completed an unassisted triple play, Hansen would be traded back to the White Sox for Tim Cullen.
Senators Birthdays
Edward Cunningham Foster B Feb. 13, 1887 D Jan. 15, 1937
Eddie Foster would make his way to the majors in April of 1910 with the New York Highlanders. Playing in 30 games, Foster would hit just .133 and take a hiatus from major league play.
Foster would return with the 1912 Washington Senators, making his way into 154 games and hitting .285. Foster, who had originally played shortstop with New York, found his niche at 3rd base. He’d remain with the Senators through the 1919 season, never playing less than 106 games and hitting over .250 in 6 of those years.
Traded to the Boston Red Sox, along with Harry Harper and Mike Menosky for Braggo Roth and Red Shannon before the 1920 season, Fosterwould play for Boston in 1920, 1921 and part of 1922 before being released by the Red Sox. He’d be picked up by the St. Louis Browns, where he’d finish out the 1922 season, and start 1923, his final major league game coming in early August of that year.
Harry Leroy Kelley B Feb. 13, 1906 D Mar. 23, 1958
Another player with an odd career path was pitcher Harry Kelley. Debuting with the Washington Senators in April of 1925 as a 19 year old rookie, Kelley would pitch in 6 games posting a 1-1 record with a 9.00 ERA. He’d return with Washington in 1926 to pitch in 7 games, compiling a 0-0 record with an 8.10 ERA.
Kelley was obviously in need of some seasoning but he probably got more than he anticipated. He wouldn’t return to the majors for 9 years, this time with the 1936 Philadelphia Athletics where he’d post a 15-12 record with a 3.86 ERA, his best season in his 6 year career.
Kelley would be 13-21 with the A’s in 1937. He’d start the 1938 season in Philly, but after 4 games with an 0-2 record, Kelley would be released and picked up by the Senators in early May.
Kelley would be 9-8 in 38 games with the Senators the remainder of the 1938 season. He’d start 1939 in Washington, going 4-3 in 15 games but would make his last big league appearance in late July.
