<— FEBRUARY 4     FEBRUARY 6 —>

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1852 Charlie Hautz

Hautz played briefly in the National Association with a St. Louis entry for 19 games.  He also appeared in a handful of games with Pittsburgh in 1884.  Along the way, he was a semi-pro star and umpire, including working as an umpire in the first season of the National League.

1856 Harry Smith
1857 Jack Lynch
1873 Jack O’Brien
1883 Dick Scott
1888 Bill Rariden
1889 Jim Neher
1890 Max Flack
1891 Roger Peckinpaugh
1894 Ruben Jones
1905 Monchile Concepcion
1905 Joe Hutcheson
1906 Reginald Hopwood
1910 Matt Carlisle
1912 Buford Nunley
1913 Herb Souell
1914 John Gaddy
1915 George Walker
1916 Dewey Williams
1918 Cy Buker
1923 Chuck Diering
1923 Jesse Williams
1925 Jack Maguire
1926 Hank Workman
1928 Don Hoak
1929 Al Worthington
1930 Eric Rodin
1934 Hank Aaron
1936 Lee Thomas
1941 Roberto Rodriguez
1946 Norm Miller
1946 Vic Correll
1947 Barry Raziano
1955 Mike Heath
1966 Ray Giannelli
1968 Andres Santana
1968 Roberto Alomar
1969 David Holdridge
1970 Chris Brock
1975 Derrick Gibson
1977 Adam Everett
1977 Javier Martinez
1977 Abraham Nunez
1978 Devern Hansack
1985 Eric O’Flaherty
1986 Ryan Webb
1987 Mark Hamburger
1992 Kaleb Ort
1993 Mark Zagunis
1995 Caleb Hamilton
1996 Austin Warren
1997 Grant Koch
1998 Edgar Navarro
1998 Nick Lodolo
2000 Daniel Palencia

OBITUARIES:

1888 Martin Powell

Powell, a first baseman for Detroit and the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of the Union Association, died of consumption (tuberculosis) in Fitchburg, MA, just three seasons removed from his last days as a player.

“Base Ball Notes,” Indianapolis Journal, February 14, 1888: 8.

1897 Old Hoss Radbourn

Paresis took the great Charles Radbourn, possibly the end result of syphillis, in Bloomington, IL.  Two years earlier, he lost sight in one eye due to the accidental discharge of a gun.  Regardless, he worked a saloon after his baseball days were over.

“Charles Radbourne Passes Away,” Chicago Tribune, February 6, 1897: 3.

1900 Harry Diddlebock

The team manager and sports writer died when he developed erysipelas after a bad cold and the infection traveled to his heart.

“Harry Diddlebock Dead,” Scranton Tribune, February 6, 1900: 1.

1911 Dad Clarkson

Arthur Clarkson died of peritonitis, caused by a gastric ulcer, at a hospital in Somersville, MA.  He had given up baseball and become a tailor.

Massachusetts Death Record
“Great Baseball Family, Boston Globe, February 6, 1911: 8.

1913 George Frazer

Makes the encyclopedia because he was considered the manager of the 1890 Syracuse Stars of the American Association.  Spent most of his life in and around Syracuse, but apparently died in New York City (though FindAGrave.com says Philadelphia).  Must have played some; he also was an owner of the team at some point, earning the nickname “The Napolean of Base Ball.”  His marriage to May was a disaster from what little I read; it ended with them fighting over ownership of certain properties and May winning a lawsuit to retain ownership of those properties after they divorced.  I need to spend more time with this…

1915 Ross Barnes

Died in his hotel home after a brief illness. I don’t know if people these days have any idea how highly people of Barnes’ era thought that Roscoe was as a player.

“Roscoe Barnes Taken by Death,” Chicago Tribune, February 6, 1915: 12.

1916 Bill Irwin

Despite a decade catching in various regional minor and semi-pro leagues, Philadelphia native William Edward Irwin’s major league career was an accident. Ty Cobb had been suspended for punching someone in the stands and the rest of the Tigers, in protest, sat out the May 18, 1912 game in Philadelphia against the Athletics. The Tigers scrounged around for players (many from nearby St. Joseph College) and Irwin, who had played minor league and semi-pro baseball was called upon to play. The starting third baseman, Billy Maharg (better known for his 1919 World Series fix role) was pulled after an injury and Irwin substituted. In his three at bats, Irwin cracked two doubles – one off of Hall of Famer Herb Pennock. After a couple of innings at third base Philadelphia lobbed a few bunts his way. So, Irwin was moved to his regular position behind the plate.

SABR Game Story by Paul Hofmann
Irwin’s SABR BioProject Essay by Bill Lamb

A day later Cobb was reinstated and the regular Tigers went back to their jobs the next game. Irwin’s MLB career ended right there. (After his baseball days, he worked as a special officer for the Pennsylvania Railroad.)

“Athletics Smother Recruits,” Detroit Free Press, May 19, 1912: 21.

Like his major league career, Irwin’s demise was an accident, too.

According to published reports Irwin entered a Philadelphia saloon with William Fitzmeyer through the front door, but after an argument and the resulting fight, he left through a large bulk glass window. Some witnesses claimed Fitzmeyer lunged at Irwin, tossing the former ballplayer out the window and onto the sidewalk. On the way, Irwin’s neck was slashed by a jagged piece of glass, slicing his jugular vein. Despite efforts to stem the bleeding, Irwin bled to death in the ambulance on the way to the Woman’s Homeopathic Hospital in Philadelphia.

“Argument has Fatal Ending,” Carbondale Daily News, February 7, 1916: 1.
PA Death Certificate

However the inquiry included testimony from Irwin’s brother that he had not been thrown through the window. Rather, at some point Bill Irwin backed up near the window and slipped – falling through the window.

For what it’s worth, the initial reporting refered to the victim as Ed Irwin – which, as of this writing, is how Baseball-Reference.com refers to him. In truth, the baseball world knew him as Bill Irwin. In addition to his minor league and semi-pro playing, he had helped out the Phillies during a recent spring training by serving as a bullpen catcher.

Philadelphia Evening Ledger, February 9, 1916: 12.
“Where They Are Playing Now,” Danville Morning News, May 22, 1912: 3.

We don’t know Irwin’s birthdate, so Irwin was 33 or 34 when he passed to the next league. His wife didn’t know it either – she thought he was 31.

1918 Carl Druhot

Druhot died from head injuries sustained in a Portland shipyard a few weeks prior.

“Old-Time Star Succumbs,” Portland Oregonian, February 6, 1918: 8.

1920 Tom Catterson

Catterson, briefly a Brooklyn outfielder, died of pneumonia after a brief illness. He was half-past 35… Apparently given a happy disposition, he was born in Rhode Island and spent the bulk of his life in Maine where he was genuinely beloved.

“Tom H. Catterson Dies at Portland,” Lewiston Evening Journal, February 5, 1920: 6.
“Tommy Catterson’s Record on Diamond,” Lewiston Daily Sun, February 10, 1920: 6.

1926 George Pierce
1932 Barney Dreyfuss
1936 Fred Blank
1937 Al Bradley
1939 Joe Crisp
1940 Frank Decker
1940 Byrd Lynn
1947 Ed Callahan
1950 Ralph Shafer
1952 Esty Chaney
1952 Mike Hopkins
1954 Ed Warner
1954 John Lyles
1965 Bill Brinker
1969 Hack Spencer
1970 Rudy York
1975 Ad Swigler
1981 Jake Stephens
1986 Joe May
1993 Ed Boland
1998 Marv Olson
2001 Jerry McQuaig
2015 Windy McCall

“The boy with the talented tonsils…” pitched for Boston, Pittsburgh and the Giants.

Milton Richman, “Giants Buy Windy McCall For $60,000,” Nashville Banner, October 9, 1953: 35

2019 Joe Presko

Tigers and Cardinals pitcher of the 1950s, he lived a long life – married for 70 years (!), passing away in his home in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 90.

Obit, Kansas City Star, February 9, 2019: A9.

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!!

1999 On Henry Aaron’s 65th birthday, Major League Baseball announces the creation of the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best hitter in each league.

TRANSACTION WIRE:

1891 Brooklyn signs infielder/lawyer John Montgomery Ward.

1928 Connie Mack signs outfielder Tris Speaker to play for his Athletics.

1930 Cincinnati is dealing… They purchase Leo Durocher from the Yankees and trade Dolph Luque to Brooklyn for Doug McWeeny.

1984 The Yankees send George Frazier and Otis Nixon to Cleveland for Toby Harrah – and also swap players to be named later.

1991 Minnesota signs free agent pitcher Jack Morris.