This Date in Washington Senators History by Art Audley
Senators Birthdays
All four of today’s birthday boys were born in th 19th century and played with the early Senators, the most recent being a 1925 stint with the Senators.
Norman Arthur (Kid) Elberfield B Apr. 13, 1875 D Jan. 13, 1944 Beginning his career as a 23 year old rookie, Kid Elberfield would debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in late May of 1898. A firey shortstop who was sometimes called “The Tabasco Kid”, Elberfield would appear in 14 games, hitting .237. Elberfield would join the Detroit team of the Western League after his short stint with the Phillies and would be picked up by the Cincinnati Reds in August of 1899 where he’d play in 41 games, raising his BA to .261. Out of the majors in 1900, Elberfield would be back in the majors in 1901 in the inaugural year of the American League with the Detroit Tigers. Hitting .308 in 121 games, Elberfield would be a regular in the Detroit infield for the next couple of seasons. Elberfield was hitting .341 in 1903 when he was traded to the New York highlanders in mid-June. He’d finish the season hitting .287 for New York. He’d remain with the Highlanders through 1909, one of his better years being 1906 when he’d hit .306 in 99 games. He’d slump to .196 in 1908 playing in only 19 games after a severe injury when he was spiked by Senators’ outfielder Bob Ganley. Elberfield would rebound to hit .237 in 1909. After the season he was sold to the Senators where he’d play in 1910 and 1911. He’d hit .251 in 1910 and .272 in 1911 as a 36 year old. Bothered by numerous injuries, Elberfield was sold to Montgomery of the Southern Association. From there he’d move to the Chattanooga Lookouts. In 1914, Elberfield would make it back to the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a coach and utility player. Elberfield would make it into 30 games with Brooklyn his last major league appearance coming in late September. Elberfield would go on to be a minor league scout and manager and also ran a youth baseball camp in Louisiana in the early 1940′s.
All four of today’s birthday boys were born in th 19th century and played with the early Senators, the most recent being a 1925 stint with the Senators.
Norman Arthur (Kid) Elberfield B Apr. 13, 1875 D Jan. 13, 1944 Beginning his career as a 23 year old rookie, Kid Elberfield would debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in late May of 1898. A firey shortstop who was sometimes called “The Tabasco Kid”, Elberfield would appear in 14 games, hitting .237. Elberfield would join the Detroit team of the Western League after his short stint with the Phillies and would be picked up by the Cincinnati Reds in August of 1899 where he’d play in 41 games, raising his BA to .261. Out of the majors in 1900, Elberfield would be back in the majors in 1901 in the inaugural year of the American League with the Detroit Tigers. Hitting .308 in 121 games, Elberfield would be a regular in the Detroit infield for the next couple of seasons. Elberfield was hitting .341 in 1903 when he was traded to the New York highlanders in mid-June. He’d finish the season hitting .287 for New York. He’d remain with the Highlanders through 1909, one of his better years being 1906 when he’d hit .306 in 99 games. He’d slump to .196 in 1908 playing in only 19 games after a severe injury when he was spiked by Senators’ outfielder Bob Ganley. Elberfield would rebound to hit .237 in 1909. After the season he was sold to the Senators where he’d play in 1910 and 1911. He’d hit .251 in 1910 and .272 in 1911 as a 36 year old. Bothered by numerous injuries, Elberfield was sold to Montgomery of the Southern Association. From there he’d move to the Chattanooga Lookouts. In 1914, Elberfield would make it back to the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a coach and utility player. Elberfield would make it into 30 games with Brooklyn his last major league appearance coming in late September. Elberfield would go on to be a minor league scout and manager and also ran a youth baseball camp in Louisiana in the early 1940′s.