October 18
Senators Birthdays
William Jones (Boileryard) Clarke B Oct. 18, 1868 D Jul. 29, 1959
Boileryard Clarke-one of the most interesting nicknames we’ve come across thus far, began his major league career way back in 1893 with the Baltimore Orioles, then playing in the National League. Primarily a catcher who would double as a first baseman, Clarke would debut with the Orioles in May of 1893 and would play 13 seasons.
Playing in Baltimore from 1893 through 1898, Clarke would have his best season at the plate in 1896, when he’d hit .297, going 89 for 300 in 80 games.
Sold to the National League Boston Beaneaters before the start of the 1899 season, Clarke would spend 1899 and 1900 in Boston, hitting .315 in 81 games in the 1900 season.
Jumping to the Washington Senators when the rival American League began play in 1901, Clarke would play in Washington from 1901 through 1904. He’d have his 2 most active seasons in 1901 & 1903, playing in over 100 games each season. He’d hit .280 in 1901 but his BA would drop each succeeding year with the Senators until he was released at the start of the 1905 season.
He’d be signed by the New York Giants the same day and would finish his major league career playing in 31 games for the Giants that year.
“Boileryard” Clarke career record
Roy Joseph Cullenbine B Oct. 18, 1913 D May 28, 1991
Outfielder and sometime 1st baseman Roy Cullenbine would play in the major leagues for 10 seasons, appearing in 1181 games. Only 64 of those games would be in a Senators uniform.
Debuting in 1938 with the Detroit Tigers, Cullenbine would play for the Tigers in 1938 and 1939.
Granted free agency in early 1940, he’d be signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. After just 22 games with the Dodgers in 1940, Cullenbine would be traded to the St. Louis Browns.
Cullenbine would play in 86 games for the Browns in 1940. In 1941 he’d have one of his best seasons, hitting .317 and being named to the All Star Team.
Beginning the 1942 season with the Browns, Cullenbine would play in 22 games for the Browns before he was traded again, this time to the Washington Senators, along with Bill Trotter for Mike Chartak and Steve Sundra.
After the already mentioned 64 games with the Washington team where he hit .286, Cullenbine would be on the move again, this time to the New York Yankees after he was waived by the Senators in late August.
Cullenbine would play in 21 games for the ’42 Yankees, hitting .364 and appearing in 5 games of the 1942 World Series when the Yankees lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Traded again after the 1942 season ended, Cullenbine would find himself with the Cleveland Indians, playing in 1943, 1944 and part of 1945. He’d be named to the All Star Team for a second time in 1944 when he hit .284 for the Indians playing in all 154 games that season.
Traded after 8 games with the Indians in in late April of 1945, Cullenbine would finish his career where it started, with the Detroit Tigers. He’d play in his second World Series in 1945, appearing in all 7 games as the Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs. He’d play in his final major league game at the end of the 1947 season.
Walter Louis Millies B Oct. 18, 1906 D Feb. 28, 1995
Catcher Wally Millies broke into the majors in 1934 as a 27 year old rookie, playing in 2 games with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Millies wouldn’t see any major league action in 1935 and would be purchased by the Washington Senators before the start of the 1936 season.
Playing for Washington, Millies would appear in 74 games in 1936, hitting .312 in 74 games. His BA would drop to .223 in 1937 as he’d only see action in 59 games.
Out of the majors in 1938, Millies would return with the 1939 Philadelphia Phillies. He’d hit .234 in 84 games in 1939 but his BA would drop to a horrific .070 in 26 games in 1940. One final appeance in 1941 in late May, when he’d go 0 for 2, would mark the end of Millies’ major league experience.
Burton Edwin Shotton B Oct. 18, 1884 D Jul. 29, 1962
Burt Shotton is best remembered as the manager of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers who was at the helm when Jackie Robinson integrated baseball. At that time Shotton was 62 years old-his baseball career began much earlier.
An outfielder, Shotton debuted in mid-September of 1909 with the St. Louis Browns. He’d hit .262 in 17 games in that inaugural season, but wouldn’t be back with the Browns until 1911. Playing in well over 100 games a year from 1911 through 1917 with the Browns, Shotton would hit .269 or better each season until 1917 when he slumped to .224.
After the 1917 campaign, Shotton, and Doc Lavan were traded to the Washington Senators for Bert Gallia and cash.
Shotton would spend just 1 season in a Senators uniform, hitting .261 in 126 games in 1918.
Waived by Washington, Shotton would be selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. He’d play for the Cardinals from 1919 through 1923, his playing time dwindling each season, making a final appearance in 1 game in April of 1923.
However he wasn’t finished with baseball-he’d return to the majors in 1928 as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. He’d be at the helm of the Phillies through 1933.
He’d serve as an interim manager for 1 game in 1934 for the Cincinnati Reds.
Brought out of retirement in Florida prior to the 1947 season, Shotton would have immediate success with the Dodgers, finishing in 1st place in 1947. The Dodgers would slip to 3rd in 1948 but would capture the pennant again in 1949. Shotton would finish his managerial career with the Dodgers in 1950 when they finished in 2nd.
Frederick Thomas Vaughn B Oct. 18, 1918 D Mar. 2, 1964
Infielder Fred Vaughn was nicknamed “Muscles”. He’d debut with the Washington Senators in August of 1944, playing in 30 games in his rookie year, hitting .257.
Returning to the Senators in 1945, Vaughn would play in 80 games, hitting .235 and muscling his way out of the major leagues at the end of the season.
