This Date in Washington Senators History – ’33 Senators lead in the AL increases to 4 games

August 11

1933 Taking control of the AL race, Washington tallies 6 runs in the 9th inning to polish off Boston, 8-4, at 1933Fenway. Both squads use a record tying 11 pitchers in the tilt. The Senators lead in the American League increases to 4 games.

1961 The M&M Boys, Mantle and Maris, continue their pursuit of Babe Ruth‘s single season home run record at Griffith. Maris clouts his 42nd, a solo homer off Pete Burnside, and Mantle smacks his 44th, a 2-run shot off Burnside, in New York’s, 12-5, victory over the Nats. Joe McClain loses his 13th game.

Senators Birthdays

Calvin Asa Cooper B Aug. 11, 1922 D Jul. 4, 1994

One Game Wonder Cal Cooper was served a particularly bitter cup of coffee on September 14th of 1948. Pitching for 1 inning, Cooper gave up 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk and 1 wild pitch, departing the Senators, and the major leagues, with a lifetime ERA of 45.00.

Cal Cooper career record

Stephen Joseph Korcheck B Aug. 11, 1932 D Aug 26, 2016

I would imagine that Steve Korcheck would qualify as a “Senators Short Timer”, for even though he played in parts of 4 different seasons, he would only ever make it in to 58 games.

A catcher, Korcheck would first appear in 2 games in 1954, going 1 for 7 at the plate.

In 1955, Korcheck would appear in 13 games, going 10 for 36 at bat, good for a .278 BA.

He wouldn’t see the major leagues again until 1958 when he’d appear in 21 games, and again in 1959 when he’d up that total by 1, putting 22 games under his belt during the 1959 season.

Unfortunately Korcheck’s hitting would drop off dramatically in 1958 and 1959 and his last major league appearance would be in late September of ’59.

Steve Korcheck career record

Conrado Eugenio Marrero B Aug. 11, 1911 D Apr 23, 2014

Pitcher Connie Marrero, another member of the much noted “Cuban Connection”, would pitch for the Senators from 1950-1954, compiling a record of 39-40 in 118 games. He’d go 11-9 in 1951 and represent the Senators in the All Star Game, although he wasn’t tapped to play.

As of this writing Connie Marrero is one of the oldest still living major league veterans, this being his 97th birthday. A thread discussing Connie Marrero can be found here: Connie Marrero thread

Connie Marrero career record

Louis Norman (Bobo) Newsom B Aug. 11, 1907 D Dec. 7, 1962

Has there ever been a more travelled player than Bobo Newsom? In a career that spanned from 1929 through 1953 (although he did not play in the majors in 1931, 1933, 1949, 1950 or 1951) Newsom played for 9 different teams and played for some of them more than once.

I hope that regular readers of this thread will forgive me, but I’m going to dispense with the usual year by year career rundown. Suffice it to say that Newsom played for the Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers (twice, once when the franchise was known as the “Robins”), Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, New York Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Athletics (twice), St. Louis Browns (three times), and capped it off by spending 5 separate stints with the Washington Senators!

Note that Newsom makes our list of the “Fab Fourteen” who have the dubious distinction of having played for the Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators. Newsom actually could make the list twice!

Newsom appeared in 2 World Series, with the Detroit Tigers in 1940 and the New York Yankees in 1947, compiling a 2-2 W/L record in World Series play.

Newsom was also selected to the All Star teams of 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1944, although he didn’t play in 1938 or ’39.

Bobo Newsom’s stints with the Washington Senators:

Round #1 Newsom’s first stint with the Senators began in May of 1935, when he was purchased from the St. Louis Browns.

He’d stay in Washington until June of 1937 when he was traded, along with Ben Chapman, to the Boston Red Sox for Mel Almada and Rick & Wes Ferrell.

Round #2 Newsom would come back to Washington in March of 1942 when he was purchased from the Detroit Tigers. In late August of that same year, the Brooklyn Dodgers would purchase Newsom from the Senators.

Round #3 In August of 1943 the Senators would purchase Newsom from the St. Louis Browns for a second time. In December of that year, he would be traded to the Philadelphia Athletics for Roger Wolff. During this brief stay in Washington, Newsom would be the first major league player to sport the number “00” on his uniform.

Round #4 The A’s would release Newsom on June 3rd of 1946. He’d be signed by Washington the next day. A little over a month later, in mid-July, Newsom’s services would be purchased by the New York Yankees.

Round #5 Newsom would return to the Senators for 1 last time in 1952, appear in 10 games and be released again in mid-June. He’d be picked up by the Philadelphia Athletics the same day and would finish his major league journey there in September of 1953.

“Bobo” Newsom career record

Harry Glenville (Doc) Tonkin B Aug. 11, 1881 D May 30, 1959

One Game Wonder Doc Tonkin tasted his major league cup of coffee on August 19th of 1907. Another pitcher, Tonkin would give up 6 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) and depart with an ERA of 6.75.

“Doc” Tonkin career record