This Day in D.C. Baseball History – 1924 Pennant Race – 1969 Senators’ are Winners

1924 Pennant Race – The Senators lead Yanks by One game

September 26 – Boston, MA

The Boston Red Sox beat the first place Washington Senators 2-1 in front of 12,000 spectators at Fenway Park. The Senators’ loss and the Yankees’ 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics left the Senators with only a one game lead over the Yankees with three games remaining in the season.

During the loss to the Red Sox, two of the Senators’ players had their streaks come to an end. Walter Johnson who gave up two runs in seven innings had his 13-game winning streak end and Sam Rice‘s 31-game hitting streak came to an end when he went 0 for 4 at the plate.

The Senators Win guarantees team Winning Season

September 26, 1969 – Washington D.C.

The Washington Senators’ extended their winning streak to four games when they beat the Cleveland Indians 4-1 in front of 6,772 spectators at RFK stadium. The Senators’ right-fielder Lee Maye produced all of the runs the Senators needed when he hit a grand slam in the fifth inning. The Senators’ starter Joe Coleman pitched the entire game and won his 11th game of the season.

The Senators’ victory was the teams 82nd of the season and guaranteed the team “expansion Senators” their first ever winning record. The team will go on to post a 86-76 record for the season and finish in fourth place, 23 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League’s east division.

The 1969 season was the first time Washington had a winning record in baseball since the 1952 Senators went 78-76.