March 10
An unusual day for Senators birthdays on this date-one very early Senator and 3 One Game Wonders, all of them born in the 19th century, making the Senators Coffee Shop a busy place this March 10th.
Senators Birthdays
Eugene Napolean DeMontreville B Mar. 10, 1873 D Feb. 18, 1935
Shortstop Gene DeMontreville came to the major leagues way back in August of 1894 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Playing in 2 games, DeMontreville would strike out 4 times and get 2 hits in 8 at bats before being released.
DeMontreville would make his way back to the majors in 1895 with the National League Washington Senators. Appearing in 12 games, DeMontreville would hit .217 in 46 plate appearances.
DeMontreville would remain with Washington for the next 2 seasons, appearing in 133 games each year. After the 1897 season, DeMontreville would be traded to the National League Baltimore Orioles where he’d play in 1898.
Traded to the National League Chicago franchise, then known as the Orphans, DeMontreville would play in 82 games for Chicago before being traded back to Baltimore. One day later he’d be traded to the Brooklyn team, then known as the Superbas but would be returned to Baltimore one week later before playing in a game for Brooklyn. DeMontreville would finish the season playing in 60 games for the Orioles. DeMontreville would end up with Brooklyn anyhow, where he’d spend the 1900 season hitting .244 in 69 games.
Purchased by the National League Boston franchise, then known as the Beaneaters, DeMontrevile would play 2 full seasons in Boston, hitting .300 in 1901. Jumping to the American League Washington Senators, then in their 3rd year of play for the 1903 season, DeMontreville would hit .273 in just 12 games.
He’d finish his major league career playing in 4 games for the St. Louis Browns, his last major league appearance coming in late April at the age of 31.
Gene DeMontreville career record
Russell Elwood Ennis B Mar. 10, 1897 D Jan. 21, 1949
The first of our One Game Wonders is Russ Ennis who would make his major league debut and curtain call on September 19th of 1926. A catcher, Ennis would go 0-1 at bat.
Francis Patrick Loftus B Mar. 10, 1898 D Oct. 27, 1980
Our second One Game Wonder, Frank Loftus, would make his only major league appearance 1 week after Russ Ennis made his, on September 26th of 1926. Pitching 1 inning, Loftus would surrender 3 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs, 1 earned and would depart with a lifetime ERA of 9.00.
William Jacob Propst B Mar. 10, 1895 D Feb. 24, 1967
The last of today’s One Game Wonders, Frank Propst didn’t even get a chance to play in the field. He’d go hitless in 1 at bat on August 7th of 1923, his only appearance in the major leagues.
