February 17
Senators Birthdays
Richard Allen Bosman B Feb. 17, 1944 Still Living
Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates before the start of the 1963 season, pitcher Dick Bosman would also pass through the San Francisco Giants organization before being drafted by the Washington Senators in November of 1964.
Bosman would make his major league debut with Washington in June of 1966 and remain a Senator through the end of their stay in DC. Bosman distinguish himself with a 14-5 record and a 2.19 ERA in 1969 and follow that up with a 16-12 record and an even 3.00 ERA in 1970.
Moving with the franchise to Texas, Bosman would play as a Ranger in 1972 and a portion of 1973, being traded to the Cleveland Indians in mid-May. Bosman would remain with the Tribe through May of 1975 when he was traded one last time, this time to the Oakland Athletics. Bosman was 11-4 with Oakland in 1975 and would appear in his only post season contest as the Athletics lost to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. Bosman would have one last season in Oakland in 1976, his last appearance coming in mid-September.
Leon Alton Carlson B Feb. 17, 1895 D Sep. 15, 1961
Senators Short Timer Leon Carlson spent 16 days on the Senators roster in 1920. Pitching in 3 games, he’d leave with a 0-0 record and a 3.65 ERA.
Willie Charles Kirkland B Feb. 17, 1934 Still Living
Outfielder Willie Kirkland signed with the New York Giants before the start of the 1953 season. By the time he debuted with the Giants in April of 1958, the Giants had changed their home address from New York to San Francisco.
Kirkland spent 3 years in San Francisco, his best season being 1959 when he hit .272 in 126 games with 22 doubles and 22 home runs. Traded to the Cleveland Indians after the 1960 season, Kirkland would spend 1961 through 1963 with the Indians, stroking 27 homers in 1961.
Kirkland would be on the move again after the 1963 season, this time being traded to the Baltimore Orioles. He’d play in 66 games for the Orioles hitting an even .200 when he was sold to the Washington Senators in mid-August of 1964.
Kirkland would finish the season with the Senators, playing in 32 games, hitting .216. He’d remain in a Senators uniform in 1965 and 1966, playing in his final major league game at the end of the 1966 season.
Harry Loran (Nemo) Leibold B Feb. 17, 1892 D Feb. 4, 1977
Playing for 4 teams over the course of 14 seasons, Nemo Leibold would make it into 4 World Series, twice playing for the series champions.
Debuting with the Cleveland Naps in 1913, Leibold played in 93 games his rookie season, hitting .259. Leibold would remain in Cleveland through July of 1915 when he was released and signed by the Chicago White Sox.
Leibold would make it into 2 World Series while with Chicago, the first time in 1917, when the Sox defeated the New York Giants. He’d hit .302 in 1919 and would appear in 5 games of the controversial series as the favored White Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds.
Exchanging his Sox from White to Red, Leibold would be traded to Boston after the 1920 season. He’d hit .306 for the Red Sox in 1921.
After 12 games in 1923, hitting .111, Leibold would be released by Boston and signed by the Washington Senators. Once again, the change in uniform seems to have benefitted Leibold as he’d finish the season, hitting .305 in 95 games for Washington.
Leibold would hit .293 in 84 games for the Senators in 1924, appearing in his 3rd World Series as the Senators were victorious over the New York Giants in 7 games.
Leibold would play in just 56 games in 1925, his last games coming in the 1925 World Series as the Senators lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games.
Edward Joseph Onslow B Feb. 17, 1893 D May 8, 1981
Eddie Onslow played in just 64 games during 4 seasons with 3 different teams over the course of 16 years. First appearing in the majors in early August of 1912 with the Detroit Tigers, 1st baseman Onslow would have his most active season, playing in 36 games and hitting .227. He’d play in 17 games with the Tigers in 1913.
Onslow would be out of the majors until 1918 when he’d briefly appear in 2 games for the Cleveland Indians. Nine years later Onslow would resurface one last time, this time playing in 9 games for the Washington Senators, hitting .222 in 9 games, his last major league appearance coming in mid-September of 1927.
Edward David Phillips B Feb. 17, 1901 D Jan. 26, 1968
Another player who never managed to stay in one place very long was catcher Eddie Phillips who played for 6 different teams in 6 seasons. First appearing with the Boston Braves in 1924, Phillips would be 0-3 at bat.
Phillips would not return to the majors until 1929 when he’d play for the Detroit Tigers, hitting .235 in 68 games. Out of the majors again in 1930, Phillips would return in 1931 playing in 106 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .232 in 353 AB.
1932 would see Phillips in 9 games in the uniform of the New York Yankees. Out of the majors again in 1933, Phillips would make it into 56 games with the 1934 Washington Senators, hitting .195.
Purchased by the Cleveland Indians, Phillips’ last season in the majors would be 1935 when he’d play in 70 games, hitting .273, his last major league appearance coming in late September.
