November 17
1960 The American League awards the new Washington expansion franchise to “The Senators Inc.”, a group of 10 investors headed by Elwood “Pete” Quesada‚ an administrator with the Federal Aviation Agency. Other investors of “The Senators Inc.”: Katherine Graham of the Washington Post, Floyd Akers, chairman of the D.C. Armory Board, former Ireland ambassador George Garrett, George Bunker, chairman of Martin Aircraft, James Johnston, James Lemon, Robert Levi, John Sweeterman and George Wheeler.
Senators Birthdays
Edward Miguel (Mike) Garcia B Nov. 17, 1923 D Jan. 13, 1986
Mike Garcia, also known as “The Big Bear” debuted with the Cleveland Indians in early October of 1948. He’d appear in just 1 game but would be a mainstay of the Indians pitching staff from 1949 through 1959. In his first full season, Garcia would post a 14-5 record with a 2.36 ERA, appearing in 41 games. Garcia would win 20 games in 1951 and 22 in 1952.
He’d lead the American League in ERA in 1949 and 1954 and shutouts in 1952 and 1954. Garcia would be named to the All Star Teams of 1952, ’53 & ’54 and would appear in 2 games of the 1954 World Series, being charged with 1 loss, as the Indians were swept by the New York Giants.
As his career wound down, Garcia was released by the Indians in 1959. He’d be signed by the Chicago White Sox for the 1960 season, where he’d appear in a total of 15 games. He was released by the White Sox in late May but would be re-signed in early September.
Released by the White Sox after the 1960 season, Garcia would have one last fling in the majors when he was signed by the expansion Senators in mid-July of 1961. Pitching in 15 games, Garcia would go 0-1 in 19 innings with a 4.74 ERA. He’d make his last appearance in the majors in early September and was released by the Senators 3 days later.
Richard Henry Weik B Nov. 17, 1927 D Apr. 21, 1991
Signed by the Senators in 1946, pitcher Dick Weik arrived on the major league scene in early September of 1948. Pitching in 3 games, Weik would go 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA.
Returning to Washington in 1949 Weik would go 3-12 in 27 games. He’d post a 1-3 record in 1950 before being traded in mid-June to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Mickey Vernon. Finishing 1950 in Cleveland, Weik would post a 1-3 record with the Tribe.
He wouldn’t appear in the majors in 1951 or 1952 and would be traded to the Detroit Tigers in mid-June of 1953. Weik would appear in 12 games for the Tigers in 1953 and 9 games in 1954, going 0-1 each season, making his final major league appearance in early July of 1954.
Norbert Henry Zauchin B Nov. 17, 1929 D Jan. 31, 1999
Signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1948, 1st baseman Norm Zauchin would get his first taste of the big leagues in 1951, playing in 5 games.
Zauchin wouldn’t be back until 1955 when he’d play in 130 games for the Red Sox, hitting .239 with 27 home runs but also leading the American League in strikeouts with 105. His playing time would be cut to 44 games in 1956 but in 1957 he’d have a career best .264 BA, playing in 52 games.
Traded to the Washington Senators, along with Albie Pearson for Pete Runnels before the 1958 season, Zauchin would play in 96 games for the 1958 Senators, hitting .228 with 15 homers.
Zauchin would appear in just 19 games for the Senators in 1959, his BA slipping to .211 when he was released in early May, marking the end of his major league career.
