February 22
Senators Birthdays
Rinold George Duren, Jr. B Feb. 21, 1929 Still Living
Almost everyone of a certain age remembers Ryne Duren-the “Coke bottle” glasses, his reputation for wildness and hard throwing and his wild-partying ways.
Duren was first signed by the St. Louis Browns before the 1949 season. By the time he made it to the major leagues, the Browns had moved to Baltimore, becoming the Orioles in the process. Duren would appear in 1 game for the Orioles late in the 1954 season, giving up 3 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) 1 walk and striking out 2.
Traded to the Kansas City Athletics, Duren wouldn’t return to the majors until 1957. He’d pitch in 14 games for the A’s, posting an 0-3 record. Traded again, this time to the New York Yankees in mid-June, Duren would spend the remainder of 1957 in the Yankees farm system.
Starting the 1958 season with New York, Duren would appear in 44 games, posting a 6-4 record while earning 20 saves with a 2.02 ERA. He’d be named to the 1958 American League All Star Team and would also appear in the World Series that year, going 1-1 with 1 save, as the Yanks defeated the Milwaukee Braves.
Duren would again be named to the All Star Team in 1959, ending the season with a 1.88 ERA.
Duren would pitch in his second World Series in 1960 as the Yankees were defeated by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games.
Starting the 1961 season in New York, Duren would be traded in early May to the Senators fellow expansion team, the Los Angeles Angels. He’d finish the 1961 season going 6-12 with 2 saves for the Angels and once again being named to the All Star Team.
Duren would remain with the Angels in 1962 but would be purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies before the start of the 1963 season. He’d remain with the Phillies through mid-May of 1964 when he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds.
Released by the Reds in early April of 1965, Duren would be signed for his second stint in Philadelphia. After just 6 games Duren would be released by the Phillies.
His final stop in the majors would be with the expansion Senators who signed Duren 1 week after his release by Philly.
Duren would be on the Senators roster through late August. While with the Senators, Duren would appear in 16 games going 1-1 in 23 innings.
Admirably after his playing days ended, Duren eventually ended his wild ways and is now actively involved in the major leagues’ alcohol awarness program.
Where Are They Now? Ryne Duren
George Michael Genovese B Feb. 21, 1922 Still Living
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the start of the 1940 season, George Genovese would pass through the organizations of the Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers before being drafted by the Washington Senators in November of 1949.
Genovese would join the ranks of Senators Short Timers when he’d finally make it to the majors in 1950, appearing in 3 games for Washington, being credited with 1 at bat, 1 walk and 1 run scored.
Lyle Kenneth Luttrell B Feb. 21, 1930 D Jul. 11, 1984
Shortstop Lyle Luttrell would play in 57 games for the Senators during the 1956 and 1957 seasons.
First appearing in mid-May of 1956, Luttrell would play in 38 games, hitting .189. He’d be back for another 17 games in 1957, hitting an even .200 and playing in his last major league game in late May.
Roy Hampton Spencer B Feb. 21, 1900 D Feb. 8, 1973
Roy Spencer, a catcher by trade, would make his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925, playing in 14 games. Spencer would remain with the Pirates through 1927, appearing in 1 game of the 1927 World Series as the Pirates lost to the New York Yankees.
Out of the majors in 1928, Spencer would return in 1929 to spend 4 years on the Washington Senators roster. Spencer’s most active season would be 1931 when he’d appear in 145 games, hitting .275.
After the 1932 season, Spencer would be traded to the Cleveland Indians for Luke Sewell.
Spencer would spend 1933 on the Cleveland roster and would start the 1934 season there but would be sold to Buffalo of the International League in mid-May, having played in just 5 games for the Indians.
Out of the majors again in 1935, Spencer would join the New York Giants in mid-May of 1936, having been purchased from Baltimore, also of the International League.
Spencer would only play in 19 games for the Giants in 1936 and would be sold to the Brooklyn Dodgers in early May of 1937.
Spencer would finish his major league career in Brooklyn, playing in 51 games in 1937 and another 16 in 1938 before being released in mid-May.
Albert Charles (Doc) Waldbauer B Feb. 21, 1892 D Jul. 16, 1969
Another Senators Short Timer, pitcher Doc Waldbauer would be on the Washington roster for 5 days in 1917. Pitching in 2 games, Waldbauer would finish his career with a 0-0 record and a 7.20 ERA.
