BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1865 Billy Nash
1867 Jake Stenzel
Originally a catcher, but such a fine athlete he moved easily to centerfield. Got his start playing as an amateur in his hometown of Cincinnati, then signed with Wheeling, West Virginia, where he changed his name from Stelzle to Stenzel… Cap Anson signed him for Chicago in 1890, but as a catcher. That failing, he became an outfielder while playing in Spokane, Portland, and Columbus. He returned to the majors in 1893 with Pittsburgh where Stenzel became a batting force, clearing .350 for the middle part of the 1890s for the Pirates and later the Orioles. On 6 June 1894, he was among the first to hit two homers in the same inning against Boston. He was traded to Baltimore prior to the 1897 season for Steve Brodie – and helped the Orioles take the Temple Cup from Boston.
His demise was swift – he lost his batting eye and was done by 1899. He opened a bar that was close to the ballpark in Cincinnati and remained at that location for nearly 20 years. Just after the new year in 1919, he came down with an illness that stole his life quickly, too – he was just 51 years old.
“Jake Stenzel”, Pittsburgh Press, 24 December 1912, Page 8.
“When the Pirates Made 4 Homers In One Inning”, Brooklyn Eagle, 14 January 1923, Page 49.
“Jake Stenzel, Star Slugger of the Old Pirates Team, Dies”, St. Louis Star & Times, 06 January 1919, Page 15.
“Jake Stenzel, Ex-Pirate Star, Answers Call”, Pittsburgh Daily Post, 07 January 1919, Page 11.
William Akin assembled Stenzel’s SABR Bio.
1869 Kirtley Baker
1869 John Weyhing
1872 Jack Katoll
Came up with Chicago in the National League, but jumped to the American League in 1901 and was okay (11 – 10, 2.81 ERA, though he allowed a bunch of unearned runs). When Baltimore was jolted by the exit of the evil John McGraw, he moved there and finished the season with the Orioles, where he went 5 – 10 in 13 starts and two relief appearances. After that, he was banished to the minors and semi-pro leagues for good.
1876 Bill Hanlon
1882 John Kull
1884 Willy Fetzer
1886 Doc Cook
1887 Henry Keupper
Henry Keupper was a side-armed lefty, tall and stout, who jumped from his minor league post in Bloomington to pitch for the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League. Henry Keupper went 8 – 20 for St. Louis, but because he was a “jumper” – and the National and American Leagues were trying to get rid of the Federal League – the National Commission frowned about jumpers to that league and Keupper would be banished from professional baseball for good.
1889 Paul Musser
1892 Howard Fahey
1892 George Harper
1904 Bobby Reeves
1907 Rollie Hemsley
1914 Hal Kelleher
1915 Buster Adams
1917 Al Gerheauser
1923 Mel Hoderlein
Mel was a Cincinnati area infielder – quick and agile – who spent the better part of a decade as a minor leaguer waiting for a chance to play in the big leagues.
A high school star at Batavia High School, he went to the minors right away in 1942. Nearly to AAA, the Red Sox took over ownership of his minor league franchise and suddenly he was stuck behind Vern Stephens, Bobby Doerr, Billy Goodman, and an aging Lou Boudreau. After three years, two as an all star infielder for Louisville, he finally got a chance when injuries opened a spot in 1950. He was traded to the White Sox and Washington where he closed out his major league career in 1954.
He returned to Cincinnati to work in production control for Cincinnati Milacron, but never gave up his love of baseball. He helped form the Mount Carmel-Glen Este Booster Club, where they formed youth baseball programs and found and maintained ball fields and parks. His long baseball life, successful at so many different levels, contributed to his enshrinement in the Clermont County Sports Hall of Fame.
Hoderlein passed on 21 May 2001.
Andrews, Cindi. “Melvin ‘Mel’ Hoderlein, Sr. played for Red Sox, Senators”, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 May 2001, Page 20.
1925 Jack Banta
1935 Charlie Dees
1937 Jim Campbell
1938 Don Mincher
1951 Ken Reitz
1951 Mike Bruhert
1956 George Vukovich
1957 Doug Jones
1958 Tom Klawitter
1962 Charlie Mitchell
1973 Kevin Hodges
1973 Ryan Nye
1973 Rob Ryan
1979 Jason Romano
1980 Doug Bernier
1986 Phil Hughes
1987 Juan Francisco
1987 Sam Freeman
1989 Robbie Ross
OBITUARIES:
1906 Joe Strauss
1907 Billy Klusman
1922 Dan O’Leary
1926 John Gillespie
1928 Frank Cox
1940 Bert Adams
1940 Axel Lindstrom
1957 Jack Burns
1959 Jim Hitchcock
1959 Joe Ogrodowski
1963 Jud Wilson
1965 Johnny Humphries
1967 Roy Castleton
1969 Jack Perrin
1974 Joe Burns
1984 Jim Roberts
1986 Loy Hanning
1987 Fred Newman
1991 Bud Swartz
1992 Vern Curtis
2003 Jack Bruner
2006 Chink Zachary
2011 Richie Myers
2012 Darrel Akerfelds
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!
1933 Arky Vaughan has a five-for-five day with five RBI – and completes the cycle.
1962 Rocky Colavito gets seven hits (in ten at bats) in an extra inning loss for the Tigers. In 22 innings, Colavito gets six singles and a triple, but the Yankees had the last laugh.
1991 Dave Winfield logs a five-for-five day – and completes the cycle for the Angels.
2003 Brad Wilkerson completes his first of two career cycles – this one for the Expos on a four-for-four day with four RBI.
TRANSACTION WIRE:
1912 Washington selected Hippo Vaughn off of waivers – he had just been waived by the Highlanders.
Also, pitcher Bill James was purchased from Seattle by the Boston Braves.
1958 Los Angeles signed amateur infielder/outfielder Ron Fairly.
1963 Washington purchased Don Zimmer from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1964 Minnesota signed amateur infielder Rod Carew.
1993 Florida sent Trevor Hoffman, Andres Berumen and Jose Martinez to the Padres for Gary Sheffield and Rich Rodriguez.
2004 Three team deal – Houston sends Octavio Dotel to Oakland and John Buck to the Royals. Kansas City sent Carlos Beltran to the Astros. And Oakland sent Mark Teahan and Mike Wood to the Royals.
2012 Boston shipped Kevin Youkilis to the White Sox for Brent Lillbridge and Zach Stewart.
Mighty Casey Baseball 