January 24
An unusual day, with 5 Senators Short Timers all having been born on this date…
Senators Birthdays
Robert Leon Berman B Jan. 24, 1899 D Aug. 2, 1988
Catcher Bob Berman would be on the Senators roster for 9 days in 1918. He’d appear in 2 games, catching 1 and going 0-2 at bat.
Henry Gehring B Jan. 24, 1881 D Apr. 18, 1912
Pitcher Henry Gehring would debut in mid-July of 1907 with the Senators. Pitching in 15 games he’d post a 3-7 record with a 3.31 ERA.
Returning with the team in 1908, Gehring would pitch in 3 games, collecting 1 loss. His ERA swelling to 14.40, Gehring would make his last major league appearance in mid-May.
Grant Gillis B Jan. 24, 1901 D Feb. 4, 1981
Infielder Grant Gillis first came up with the Senators in September of 1927. Playing in 10 games at shortstop, he’d post a .222 batting average, going 8 for 36.
With the Senators in 1928, Gillis would play in 24 games, playing 2nd and 3rd base in addition to shortstop, posting a .253 BA.
Traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 1928 season, along with Elliot Bigelow, Milt Gaston, Hod Lisenbee and Bobby Reeves for Buddy Myer, Gillis would play in 28 games for Boston, hitting .247, his last major league appearance coming in late June of 1929.
Warren Harvey (Curly) Ogden B Jan. 24, 1901 D Aug. 6, 1964
Pitcher Curly Ogden spent the most time in a Senators’ uniform of today’s 5 birthday boys-2 and a half seasons.
Beginning his major league playing days with the Philadelphia Athletics in July of 1922, Ogden would post a 1-4 record in 15 games in his initial season.
He’d be 1-2 with the A’s in 1923 and after going 0-3 in 5 games for Philadelphia in 1924, Ogden would be sold to the Senators.
Finishing the 1924 season with Washington, Ogden would go 9-5 in 16 games with a 2.75 ERA and would make a post-season appearance in the World Series as the Senators won their only World’s Championship.
Ogden went 3-1 with the Senators in 1925, pitching in 17 games. He’d have a 4-4 record after 22 games in 1926 when his major league journey ended in late July.
Ernest Eugene Oravetz B Jan. 24, 1932 D Dec. 3, 2006
One of the smallest players to ever make the major leagues, Ernie Oravetz is listed at 5 feet, 4 inches and 145 pounds. However, he was in professional baseball for over 10 years and patrolled the outfield for the Senators in 2 seasons.
Originally signed by Washington before play began in 1951, Oravetz would finally reach the majors in 1955, playing in 100 games for the Senators, hitting .270 with 5 doubles and 1 triple (but no home runs) among his 71 hits.
Returning with the Senators in 1956, Oravetz would play in 88 games hitting .248, his last major league game coming at the end of the 1956 season.
Oravetz would remain in the Senators organization, changing his affiliation when the original Senators relocated to Minnesota after the 1960 season. In mid-May of 1961 Oravetz was traded, along with some cash, to the LA Dodgers for Joe Altobelli and Ed Palmquist but he’d never return to major league play.
