March 4
Senators Birthdays
Jose Acosta B Mar. 4, 1891 D Nov. 16, 1977
A early member of the Senators Cuban Connection, pitcher Jose Acosta would arrive in the major leagues as a 29 year old rookie. Pitching for the Senators in 1920 and 1921, Acosta would post an identical record of 5-4 in both seasons.
A part of a 3 way trade between the Senators, Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox in January of 1922, Acosta would go to the Philadlephia Athletics with the Senators receiving Roger Peckinpaugh from Boston. Less than a month later, Acosta would be purchased by the Chicago White Sox.
He’d appear in just 5 games for Chicago, posting an 0-2 record, his last major league appearance coming in mid-May of 1922.
Jesse Baker (born Michael Myron Silverman) B Mar. 4, 1895 D Jul. 29, 1976
One Game Wonder Jesse Baker would have his cup of coffee with the Senators on September 4th of 1919. Playing shortstop, Baker would not be credited with an official at bat but would collect 1 RBI.
Thomas Alan Grieve B Mar. 4, 1948 Still Living
The first round draft pick of the Washington Senators in 1966, outfielder Tom Grieve would make his major league debut with Washington in early July of 1970. Playing in 47 games, Grieve would hit .198 with 5 doubles, 1 triple and 3 home runs among his 23 hits.
Out of the majors in 1971 Grieve would return to the majors in 1972 with the former Senators franchise now in Texas. Grieve would remain with the Rangers through 1977. He’d hit .309 in 66 games in 1973 and would stroke 20 homers in 1976.
In December of 1977 Grieve would be a part of a 4 team trade that would find him playing for the New York Mets in 1978.
Traded again after the 1978 season, Grieve would play in 9 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, his last major league appearance coming in early May. He’d be released 1 week later.
Silas Clarke (Lefty) Herring B Mar. 4, 1880 D Feb. 11, 1965
Lefty Herring began his major league baseball journey by appearing with the National League Washington Senators in 1899. Pitching in 2 games, Herring would leave with an ERA of 0.00 and a batting average of 1.000, having gone 1 for 1 at bat with a walk and 1 run scored.
Out of the majors until July of 1904, Herring would return with the Senators of the American League in their 3rd season. Now a 1st baseman/outfielder, Herring would play in 15 games, hitting .174. His last major league game would be in early September.
Robert Wallace Johnson B Mar. 4, 1936 Still Living
Originally a part of the Detroit Tiger organization, infielder Bob Johnson would be drafted by the Kansas City Athletics after the 1959 season and would make his major league debut with the A’s in 1960. Playing in 76 games that first season, Johnson would hit .205 in 76 games for KC.
Selected by the Washington Senators in the expansion draft of 1960, Johnson would play in 61 games for Washington hitting a respectable .295.
Playing in 135 games for Washington in 1962, the most active season of his career, Johnson would hit .288 with 134 hits including 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBI’s.
After the season, Johnson would be traded, along with Pete Burnside, to the Baltimore Orioles for Marv Breeding, Art Quirk and Barry Shetrone.
Johnson would remain in Baltimore through May of 1967, when he was sold to the New York Mets. He’d finish the 1967 season, playing in 90 games for the Mets where he’d hit .348.
Traded to the Cincinnati Reds after the season, Johnson would play in just 16 games for the Reds before he was on the move again, this time traded to the Atlanta Braves where he’d finish the 1968 season.
Another off season, another trade-Johnson would be traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he’d start the 1969 season playing in 19 games before he was traded (again!) this time to the Oakland Athletics where he’d finish the 1969 season appearing in 51 games.
Johnson would start the 1970 season with Oakland but was released after 30 games in early July.
Casimir Eugene (Cass) Michaels B Mar. 4, 1926 D Nov. 12, 1982
2 time All Star Cass Michaels also has the “distinction” of being another member of the “Fab Fourteen”, players who have played for the Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators during the course of their careers. Making it even more special for Michaels is the fact that he played for all 3 teams in 1 season, 1952.
However, let us start at the beginning when Michaels was signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1943. He’d make his major league debut as a 17 year old rookie in mid-August playing in 2 games.
He’d make it into 27 games in 1944 and would finally start playing on a regular basis in 1945, hitting .245 while playing in 145 games primarily as a shortstop.
Michaels would hit .308 in 1949 and would be selected as the starting 2nd baseman for the American League All Star Team.
Starting the 1950 season in Chicago, Michaels would be hitting .312 after 36 games when he was traded to the Washington Senators, along with Bob Kuzava and Johnny Ostrowski for Al Kozar, Eddie Robinson and Ray Scarborough.
Michaels would finish the 1950 season in Washington playing in 106 games, hitting .250 and would be selected to the All Star Team for 1950.
He’d play in 138 games for Washington in 1951, hitting .258. Starting the 1952 season in Washington, Michaels would play in 22 games before he was traded to the St. Louis Browns in mid-May for Fred Marsh and Lou Sleater.
For the Browns, Michaels would appear in 55 games hitting .265 when he was released in early August and would be signed by the Philadelphia Athletics where he’d play in another 55 games hitting .250.
Michaels would play in 117 games for the Athletics in 1953 and, after the season, would be purchased by the Chicago White Sox.
Michaels would spend 1 last season in the majors playing in 101 games, hitting .262 for Chicago, his last major league appearance coming in late August of 1954.
