January 31
1959 Former Senators and Red Sox player-manager Joe Cronin (See October 12th birthdays.) signs a seven-year pact to become head of the A.L.
Cronin was active as a major leaguer from 1926 through 1945, playing for the Pirates in 1926 and 1927, the Senators from 1928 through 1934 and the Red Sox from 1935 through 1945.
Senators Birthdays
William McKinley (Pinky) Hargrave B Jan. 31, 1896 D Oct. 3, 1942
Pinky Hargrave would make his major league debut with the Washington Senators in mid-May of 1923. Hargrave would play 3rd base, catcher and outfield in his rookie season, making it into 33 games, hitting .288.
Hargrave would find his niche as a catcher in his sophomore year but his hitting would suffer as he only managed a .152 average in 24 games.
After 5 games with the Senators in 1925, Hargrave would be headed west, along with George Mogridge, to the Senators seemingly favorite trading partner, the St. Louis Browns, in exchange for Hank Severeid.
Hargrave would finish the 1925 season with the Browns hitting .284. He’d return in 1926 for 92 games, hitting .281.
Traded to the Detroit Tigers before the start of the 1927 season, Hargrave would be out of the majors until 1928 when he’d have the most active season of his career, playing in 121 games for the Tigers. Hargrave would remain in a Detroit uniform until early September of 1930 when he’d be purchased by the Senators where he’d finish the season.
Starting 1931 in Washington, Hargrave would be traded to the International League Baltimore Orioles in August, along with Buck Jordan for Johnny Gill.
Drafted by the Boston Braves after the 1931 season, Hargrave would finish his major league career in Boston in 1932 and 1933.
“Pinky” Hargrave career record
John Franklin (Stuffy) Stewart B Jan. 31, 1894 D Dec. 30, 1980
Infielder Stuffy Stewart would only play in 176 games for 4 different teams in 8 seasons. Beginning with the St. Louis Cardinals, Stewart would play in 9 games in 1916 and another 13 in 1917.
Stewart wouldn’t return to the majors until 1922 when he’d make it into 3 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’d make it into 4 games with the 1923 Brooklyn Dodgers.
Out of the majors in 1924, Stewart would return in 1925 with the Washington Senators. His most active season would come in 1926 when he’d make it into 62 games. He’d play in another 56 games in 1927 and then take another hiatus from the major leagues in 1928.
Stewart would return with the Senators for 22 final games in 1929, being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in mid-September along with Jim Weaver for George Loepp.
“Stuffy” Stewart career record
Alva Mitchel (Rip) Williams B Jan. 31, 1882 D Jul. 23, 1933
Catcher/1st baseman Rip Williams would make his way to the major leagues as a 29 year old rookie in 1911 with the Boston Red Sox. Appearing in 95 games, Williams would hit .239.
Purchased by the New York Highlanders in February of 1912, Williams would be “the player to be named later” to complete a deal that sent John Knight to Washington in exchange for Gabby Street.
Williams would have his best season at the plate in 1912, hitting .318 in 61 games. His most active season would come in 1915 when he’d appear in 91 games.
Williams would be out of the majors in 1917 but would return in 1918 to play in 22 games for the Cleveland Indians, his last game coming in early June.
