March 12
Senators Birthdays
Joseph William Engel B Mar. 12, 1893 D Jun. 12, 1969
Washington, DC native Joe Engel arrived in the major leagues in late May of 1912. A pitcher, Engel began his career with the Washington Senators posting a 2-5 record in 17 games in his rookie season. Engel would go 8-9 in 1913. He’d post his only winning record the following year when he went 7-5 in 35 games with a 2.97 ERA.
Engel would pitch in 11 games for the Senators in 1915, his record dropping to 0-3. Out of the majors in 1916, Engel would reappear with the 1917 Cincinnati Reds. Pitching in 1 game, Engel would be charged with the loss.
Out of the majors again in 1918, Engel would return to pitch in another solitary game this time with the Cleveland Indians. It was an appearance that Engel probably preferred to forget as he surrendered 3 walks and 3 runs without recording an out, compiling an infinite ERA for the 1919 season.
Engel would make 1 last appearance with the Washington Senators in early August of 1920, pitching 1 and 2/3 rds of an inning, throwing 3 wild pitches, hitting 1 batter, walking 4 and giving up 4 runs.
Rene (Miranda) Monteagudo B Mar. 12, 1916 D Sep. 14, 1973
Another member of the oft-mentioned Cuban Connection, Rene Monteagudo made his major league debut with the Senators in early September of 1938. Pitching in 5 games, Monteagudo would post a 1-1 record.
Out of the majors in 1939, Monteagudo would return to the Senators in 1940, pitching in 27 games, compiling a 2-6 record with a 6.08 ERA. Taking another break from the major leagues, Monteagudo would return with the Senators again in 1944, this time as an outfielder. Playing in 10 games, Monteagudo would go 11 for 38 at bat, good for a .289 BA.
Monteagudo would have 1 last season in the majors with the 1945 Philadelphia Phillies where he would serve as both a pitcher and outfielder. He’d pitch in 14 games and would also play the outfield hitting .301 in 193 AB, his last major league appearance coming at the end of the 1945 season.
Horacio (Garcia) Pina B Mar. 12, 1945 Still Living
Mexican born Horacio Pina came to the majors via Puebla of the Mexican League. Sold to the Cleveland Indians before the start of the 1967 season, Pina would make his major league debut with the Indians in mid-August of 1968. Pitching in 12 games that first year, Pina’s record would be 1-1 in 12 games with a 1.72 ERA. Pina would remain with Cleveland in 1969 where he’d go 4-2 in 31 games, his ERA rising to 5.21.
Traded to the Washington Senators, along with Ron Law and Dave Nelson for Dennis Higgins and Barry Moore, Pina would spend the next 2 seasons in a Senators uniform. In 1970 Pina would have the most active season of his career, appearing in 61 games compiling a 5-3 record with a 2.79 ERA. He’d post a 1-1 record in 56 games in 1971 as the Senators played their last season in Washington.
Moving with the franchise to Texas in 1972, Pina would pitch 1 season for the Texas Rangers. After the season he’d be traded to the Oakland Atheltics where he’d spend 1973. A fortunate trade for Pina-he’d appear in his only post season, pitching in both the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles and in the World Series against the New York Mets as Oakland was victorious in 7 games.
Pina would be on the move again after the season, being traded to the Chicago Cubs where he’d start 1974. Pitching in 34 games, his record at 3-4, Pina would be traded yet again in late July to the California Angels where he’d finish the season going 1-2 in 11 games. Released by the Angels during spring training in 1975, Pina would make his way back to the Mexican League.
In 1978, Pina would be back in the majors for 1 last showing after he was purchased from Aguascalientes of the Mexican League by the Philadelphia Phillies. Pina would pitch in 2 games for the Phillies, his last major league appearance coming on October 1st of 1978. He’d be returned to Aguascalientes 2 weeks later.
