Cecil started his MLB career with the Senators in 1933 at age 19. He got into 18 games, had 43 ABs and hit .302 while playing 3B. Unfortunately, he did not get a chance to play in the World Series that season, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. It was also the last time the Senators would win a Pennant until they were the Minnesota Twins in 1965. Travis would hit .319 and .318, respectively, in 1934 and 1935 before he made the move to SS and his career took off.
As a SS in 1936, hit hit .317, 2, 92 with 10 3B. He also added a career high 34 2Bs. He became a dependable bat in a lineup that featured Ben Chapman, John Stone and Joe Kuhel. A year later, he hit .344, 3, 66 with 184 hits in a lineup that had Hall of Fame OF Al Simmons and HOF catcher Rick Ferrell. In 1938, Travis hit .335, 5, 67 with 96 RS and 190 hits.
After a down season in 1939 where he hit .292, 5, 63 with 9 3Bs, he had a great 1940 season. In 1940, he hit .333, 2, 76 and 37 2Bs and 11 3Bs as he was similar to his 1936-1938 form. However, in 1941, he was a star, hitting .356, 7, 101 with 39 2Bs, 19 3Bs, 106 RS and 218 hits. After the 1941 season, like many other ball players, Travis was pushed into the service initially playing baseball in the army.
He played ball in he army from 1942-1944 before finally getting called into duty in November of 1944. He suffered frostbite during the Battle of the Bulge on his toes and had part if his foot amputated. Once he returned to the Senators in 1945, he was not the same player. He was a role player from 1945-1947 before retiring with a .314 average, 27 HR, 657 RBI, 1594 hits and 265 2Bs. Through 1941 (age 28), he was at .332, 25, 581 with 1370 hits and 238 2Bs. According to Bill James, Cecil Travis was on pace to finish a 15 season career with about 2843 hits, 511 2Bs, 179 3Bs and 64 HR. Those numbers as a SS would without a doubt put him in the Hall of Fame. Hopefully the Pre-integration committee gives Travis a little more consideration to be on the Veterans Comittee ballot. In all honesty, if the Veterans Comittee thinks Ferrell is a HOF, why not give Travis more consideration?