December 28
1944 Former Senators 3rd baseman Buddy Lewis is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for precision flying over the Burma War Theater.
1967 Chairman of the Board James M. Johnston dies in Washington, DC.
Senators Birthdays
Auerlio Ituarte Rodriguez, Jr. B Dec. 28, 1947 D Sep. 23, 2000
Once again we present a long time (17 seasons) major leaguer who played 2017 games with just 142 coming in a Senators uniform.
Aurelio Rodriguez, primarily a 3rd baseman, began his major league career with the California Angels in 1967. Rodriguez would play in 29 games that first season, hitting .238.
Back with the Angels in 1968, Rodriguez would play in 76 games and follow that up by appearing in 159 games in both 1969 and 1970.
After 17 games in 1971, Rodriguez would be traded along with Rick Reichardt to the Senators for Ken McMullen. Rodriguez would play in 142 games for Washington, hitting .247.
After the 1970 season, Rodriguez would be a part of the ill-fated (for Washington) trade that would send Ed Brinkman, Joe Coleman, Jim Hannan and Rodriguez to Detroit for Elliott Maddox, Denny McLain, Norm McRae and Don Wert.
Rodriguez would play with the Tigers from 1971 through 1979, one of his most successful seasons being 1978 when he’d hit .265.
Rodriguez would be purchased by the San Diego Padres where he’d start the 1980 season. After 89 games, Rodriguez would be purchased by the New York Yankees where he’d finish the 1980 season and play in just 27 games in 1981.
Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in November of 1981, Rodriguez would never play for the Jays, being traded once again before the start of the 1982 season to the Chicago White Sox.
Rodriguez would play for the White Sox in 1982, be granted free agency after the season and signed by the Baltimore Orioles. After 45 games in an O’s uniform Rodriguez would be released in mid-August, signed by the White Sox approximately 2 weeks later where he’d finish the season and his career.
Rodriguez would win a Gold Glove in 1976 and experience post-season play in the ALCS in 1972, 1980, 1981 and 1983 and the World Series of 1981.
