February 5
Senators Birthdays
John Joseph O’Brien B Feb. 5, 1873 D Jun. 10, 1933
Outfielder Jack O’Brien got his start in the majors way back in 1899 with the National League version of the Washington Senators. Playing in 127 games, O’Brien would hit .282.
Out of the majors in 1900, O’Brien would return in 1901 with the formation of the American League to play for the new Senators in their inaugural season. However, O’Brien would only play in 11 games for Washington as his batting average would drop to .178.
Released by the Senators in mid-May, O’Brien would be signed a week later by the Cleveland Blues where he’d finish the 1901 season, hitting .283 in 92 games.
Out of the majors again in 1902, O’Brien would show up on the roster of the Boston Americans in 1903, playing in 96 games, hitting .210 and making it into 2 games of the first ever World Series which would mark the end of O’Brien’s major league career.
Roger Thorpe Peckinpaugh B Feb. 5, 1891 D Nov. 17, 1977
Signed by the Cleveland Naps before the start of the 1910 season, shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh would first appear in a major league game in mid-September. Playing in 15 games, Peckinpaugh would hit an even .200, going 9 for 45. Out of the majors in 1911, Peckinpaugh would return with Cleveland in 1912, hitting .212 in 70 games.
After appearing in just 1 game with Cleveland in 1913, Peckinpaugh would be traded to the New York Yankees where he’d finish the season hitting .268 in 95 games.
Peckinpaugh would remain with the Yankees through 1921, briefly serving as a player/manager for 20 games in the 1914 season. He’d hit .305 for New York in 1919 and would appear in the 1921 World Series as the Yankees lost to the New York Giants.
Traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 1921 season, Peckingpaugh would be traded again in a 3-team deal that sent him to the Washington Senators with the Senators sending Frank O’Rourke to Boston and Jose Acosta and Bing Miller to the Philadelphia Athletics.
Peckinpaugh would anchor the Senators infield from 1922 through 1926, with the 1924 Senators winning their only World Series and the 1925 team losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games. Peckinpaugh was named Most Valuable Player in 1925, hitting .294 in 126 games.
Peckinpaugh’s playing time would be reduced to 57 games in 1926 as his batting average dropped to .238. After the season, Peckinpaugh would be headed to the Chicago White Sox, traded for Leo Mangum and Sloppy Thurston. 68 games in a White Sox uniform would mark the end of Peckinpaugh’s playing career.
Peckinpaugh would manage the Cleveland Indians from 1928 through 1933 and return for 1 last season in 1941, his best finish being 3rd place in 1929.
