December 8
Senators Birthdays
Garrabrant Ryerson Alyea B Dec. 8, 1940 Still Living
Originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 1962 season, Brant Alyea would be drafted by the expansion Senators in the fall of that year.
Making a number of stops in the Senators organization, Alyea would get his first taste of the majors in September of 1965, playing in 8 games.
On September 2, 1965 Brant became one of nine players to hit a home run on his first Major League pitch.
After the ’65 season Brant would not return to the majors until 1968 when he palyed in 53 games, hitting .267 with 11 doubles, 6 home runs and 23 RBI’s.
Alyea’s most active season in the majors would be 1969 when he’d play in 104 games, hitting .249.
Traded to the Minnesota Twins before the start of the 1970 season for Joe Grzenda and Charlie Walters, Alyea would spend 1970 and 1971 playing in the Twin Cities.
Drafted by the Oakland Athletics after the 1971 season, Alyea would would be traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in mid-May of 1972, only to be returned to the Athletics 2 months later. In his last major league season Alyea would play in 20 games for Oakland and 13 for St. Louis, his last major league appearance coming at the end of the 1972 season.
Edwin Albert Brinkman B Dec. 8, 1941 D Sep. 30, 2008
The recent death of Eddie Brinkman was discussed in this thread: Eddie Brinkman 1941-2008
Eddie Brinkman debuted with the Washington Senators in September of 1961 as a 19 year old 3rd baseman. He’d return to the Senators for the 1962 season mainly playing at shortstop.
Brinkman would be a mainstay on the Senators roster beginninng in 1963, when he’d appear in 145 games, through 1970. Always known as one of those “good field, no hit” shortstops, Brinkman’s hitting would dramatically improve in 1969, when he reaised his batting average to .269, the first year under manager Ted Williams. Brinkman would manage to hit .262 in 1970.
After the 1970 season, Brinkman was a part of a major trade that still has fans of the expansion Senators shaking their heads and asking “What the heck were they thinking?!?” when reviled Senators owner Bob Short sent Brinkman along with Joe Coleman, Jim Hannan and Auerlio Rodriguez to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Elliott Maddox, Norn McRae (who never appeared in the major leagues again), Don Wert (who was suffering with back problems and only played 20 games as a Senator, hitting 2 for 40(!!!) before being released), and a washed up and baggage laden Denny McLain, who went 10-22 with a 4.28 ERA in 1971, leading the American League in losses. Great trade Bob!
Brinkman would respond by winning a Gold Glove in 1972 and be named to the All Star team although his batting average would drop to more familiar territory, .228.
With the Tigers through 1974, Brinkman would be traded to the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the start of the 1975 season. After playing in just 28 games with the Cardinals, Brinkman would be traded again in early June to the Texas Rangers. He’d only play in 1 game for Texas before being purchased by the New York Yankees where he’d finish the season and his career.
John Thoney B Dec. 8, 1879 D Oct. 24, 1948
Jack Thoney would play in 264 games in 6 seasons for 5 different teams. Only 17 of those games would be in the uniform of the Washington Senators. Primarily an outfielder, Thoney would also play at 2nd and 3rd bases and shortstop during his short but very unsettled career.
Debuting in 1902 with the Cleveland American League franchise, then known as the Bronchos, Thoney would play in 28 games for Cleveland and was purchased by the original Baltimore Orioles, playing in 3 games to end the 1902 season.
Back in Cleveland for 32 games in the 1903 season, Thoney would start 1904 with the Senators. Playing in 17 games for Washington, Thoney would be purchased by the New York Highlanders (the newly transplanted Baltimore Orioles) where he’d finish the 1904 season.
Out of the majors for the next 3 seasons, Thoney would resurface in 1908, playing in 109 games for the Boston Red Sox, hitting .255.
Thoney would make brief appearances with the Red Sox in 1910 and 1911, playing in his last major league game in mid-August of 1911.
