March 1
Today we note two players who finished their careers with the Washington Senators…
Senators Birthdays
Robert Royce Usher B Mar. 1, 1925 Still Living
Signed by the Cincinnati Reds before the start of the 1943 season, outfielder Bob Usher would make it to the majors in 1946 as a 21 year old rookie.
Playing in 92 games his rookie season, Usher would hit .204. He appear on only 9 games in 1947 his average would drop to .182.
Out of the major leagues in 1948 and 1949, Usher would return with the Reds in 1950, this time making it in to 106 games as he’d raise his BA to .259.
His most active season would be 1951 when he’d appear in 114 games, although his average would drop again to .208.
Traded to the Chicago Cubs after the 1951 season, Usher would appear in just 1 game for the Cubs in 1952. Relegated to the Cincinnati farm system, Usher would be released in September of 1955 and signed by San Diego, then of the Pacific Coast League. He’d remain in San Diego through 1956 and then was picked up by the Cleveland Indians before the start of the 1957 season.
Playing in just 10 games for the Indians, Usher would be traded to the Washington Senators in mid-May for Dick Brodowski and Dick Tettlebach. Usher would finish the 1957 season, and his major league career, wth the Senators having one of the best seasons of his career hitting .261 in 96 games with 77 hits including 7 doubles, 1 triple and 5 home runs.
Henry Washington Wyse B Mar. 1, 1918 D Oct. 22, 2000
Originally signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1940, pitcher Hank Wyse would debut with the Cubs in early September of 1942. Appearing in 4 games, Wyse would post a 2-1 record with a 1.93 ERA.
Wyse would remain with the Cubs through 1947 and would have an outstanding season in 1945 posting a 22-10 record with 2.68 ERA. Wyse would be selected to the 1945 National League All Star Team and would pitch in 3 games of the 1945 World Series, being charged with 1 loss as the Cubs lost to the Detroit Tigers.
Wyse would not appear in the majors in 1948 or 1949. After the 1949 season, Wyse would be drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics. He’d appear in 41 games for the A’s in 1950, posting a 9-14 record his ERA swelling to 8.63.
Wyse would appear in 9 games with Philly in 1951, his W/L record at 1-2 when he was purchased by the Washington Senators in mid-May.
With the Senators Wyse would appear in just 3 games, his ERA reaching 9.64 as he’d make his last major league appearance in mid-June, having spent less than 1 month in a Senators uniform.
