This Date in Washington Senators History – Big Train rolls over St. Louis 1-0 in 15 innings

July 25

1913 – The Senators and Browns battle to a 15-inning, 8-8 deadlock that is called on the account of darkness. In the top of the 4th inning, Clark Griffith calls upon Walter Johnson to relieve for ineffective Nats hurlers Joe Engel and Tom Hughes. Barney sets a ML record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher by fanning 15 in the last 11 innings. Another ML record is set, albeit, a dubious one when St. Louis P Carl Weilman strikes out 6 straight times. Weilman’s record will be tied by 6 other players, including one Frank Howard in 1970.

1918 – The Big Train is masterful yet again. Johnson allows only a single hit, a triple from George Sisler, in the first 11 frames of a 1-0, Nats win in 15 innings. In all, Johnson gives up only 4 hits to St. Louis.

1937 – Browns skipper Jim Bottomley is feted with gifts and flowers by St. Louis fans in the first game of a doubleheader. The Sens crash the lovefest by knocking out the Browns, 15-10, in the opener. Buddy Lewis rips 5 hits, with Senator teammate Mel Almada tying an AL record with 5 runs scored. Lewis and Almada remain hot in the nitecap, a 15-5 Washington rout. Lewis adds 3 more safeties for a total of 8 in the DH. Almada touches the plate 4 more times, setting a ML record for runs scored in an 18 inning span.

1970 – Howard goes deep for the 27th time this year in a 5-0 Senator whitewashing at California. Sens P Jim Shellenback holds the Halos to 2 scratch singles in the complete game shutout.

Senators Birthdays

William Morgan Andrus B Jul. 25, 1907 D Mar. 12, 1982

Bill Andrus played in 6 major league games at 3rd base. First appearing with the 1931 Senators in mid-September, Andrus would play in 3 games, and go 0-7 at bat.

Andrus would not return to the majors until 1937, when he’d appear in another 3 games for the Philadelphia Phillies. He’d go 0-2 at bat and play in his final major league game on May 11th.

Bill Andrus career record

Frank Carl (Doc) Reisling B Jul. 25, 1874 D Mar. 4, 1955

Doc Reisling broke into the major leagues in 1904 with the Brooklyn franchise, then known as the “Superbas”. A pitcher, he’d post a 3-4 record with a 2.12 ERA in his rookie season. In 1905, he’d only appear in 2 games, pitching in 3 inninngs and finishing the season with an 0-1 record.

After a 3 year hiatus, Reisling would return to the majors in 1909 with the Washington Senators where he’d manage a 2-4 record with a 2.43 ERA. His last year in the majors was 1910, also with the Senators, was also his most active, when he’d appear in 30 games, pitching 191 innings, leaving with a 10-10 record and an ERA of 2.54.

“Doc” Reisling career record

Carlos Santiago (Sandy) Ullrich B Jul. 25, 1921 D Apr. 21, 2001

Another member of the oft-mentioned “Cuban Connection”, Sandy Ullrich made his major league debut in May of 1944 with the Senators. Pitching in 3 games that season, he’d finish the season with no record and a 9.31 ERA.

Returning to Washington in 1945, he’d be somewhat more successful, pitching in 28 games, posting a 3-3 record in 81.3 innings pitched, finishing the season with a 4.54 ERA. Ullrich’s last game for the Senators, and in the majors, would be in mid-September of 1945.

“Sandy” Ullrich career record