Marty Niland

Author's posts

Wilson Ramos deserves a hearty ‘horns up’ from fans this week

When Nationals Park is filled with hometown fans, there’s no love lost crowd for opposing players, especially on a division rival like Philadelphia. However, when the Phillies play in Washington this week, even the most diehard Nats partisans should give a hearty cheer and a “horns up” for the newest Phillie, catcher Wilson Ramos. Nats …

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Nats’ historic run of winning seasons is at risk

Sunday night’s walk-off loss to Chicago might have been a crushing moment for the Nationals and their fans, a potential gut punch to the season and possibly a way of baseball life that fans may have taken for granted. By surrendering a two-out, two-strike grand slam in the bottom of the ninth, a team that’s …

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Nats need streak like they had in 2014 to get back in the race

The Nationals have played their best baseball of the season since the All-Star break, and especially since Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline, yet they’re still looking up at Atlanta and first-place Philadelphia in the National League East standings. What they really need right now is a winning streak, one like the amazing 10-game run they put …

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Hall of Fame still elusive for Ex-Senators’ manager Hodges

Sunday’s Hall of Fame inductions made it a great day for anyone who was a baseball from the 1980s through the 2000s. Seeing the enshrinement of Vladimir Gurrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris, Jim Thome and Alan Trammel brings back decades of memories. And while a few recent inductees, such as catcher Ivan Rodriguez …

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Hail to the Chief! Remembering dominant closer Chad Cordero

Many Nationals fans were dismayed by Sunday’s news that closer Sean Doolittle will remain on the disabled list for a few more weeks after a setback in his recovery from a left foot injury. Although Doolittle has excelled as a closer since coming in trade from Oakland last season, he still has a way to …

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Cracker Jack Old Timers game brought stars to baseball-hungry Washington

Now that the starting lineups have been announced and the rosters filled, Washington is abuzz about the 89th major league All-Star game. Many historians will tell you will that the July 17th game will be the fifth All-Star meeting in the nation’s capital, the first since 1969, and they’d be technically correct. However, each summer …

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Celebrating baseball’s evolution and sense of community

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden’s baseball roots aren’t in Washington, but she knows the sense of pride that baseball fans in the nation’s capital feel toward their team and national pastime. “They represent the capital, and the team in the capital, and this is the all-American game,” she said, previewing the Library of Congress’ new …

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Legendary catcher Berg’s story comes to life on screen

Moe Berg is known as a man who possibly changed history, although the former Washington Senators catcher is best remembered for decidedly non-baseball skills. Anyone who has visited the International Spy Museum has likely seen Berg’s photo and read his story, and some who have been inside CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., may have seen …

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Paul Casanova displayed his tenacity in historic contest

Endurance is the most remarkable trait of professional athletes. Whether it’s Alex Ovechkin grinding through 13 NHL seasons before winning the Stanley Cup or Max Scherzer powering through eight innings to strike out 13 batters, remarkable displays of strength and stamina make for compelling competition. On June 12, 1967, 41 years ago Tuesday, Senators catcher …

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McMullen draws birthday love from DC fans

Washington baseball fans still love Ken McMullen. The former Senators third baseman’s 76th birthday was June 1, and there were dozens of likes and comments on a post recognizing the occasion on two DC Baseball History Facebook pages. The post included a photo of McMullen wearing a Senators uniform, in a fielding pose and wearing …

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