Category: D.C. Baseball History

D.C. Baseball History

Big Train’s Throw Across the Rappahannock River

February 22, 1936 Fredericksburg, Virginia To celebrate George Washington’s 204th birthday the town of Fredericksburg planned a daylong celebration. To cap off the day the city invited baseball legend Walter Johnson to duplicate George Washington’s legendary throw of a silver dollar across the Rappahannock River. As the story goes U.S. Rep. Sol Bloom, D-N.Y. believed …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

February 22 Senators Birthdays Rinold George Duren, Jr. B Feb. 21, 1929 Still Living Almost everyone of a certain age remembers Ryne Duren-the “Coke bottle” glasses, his reputation for wildness and hard throwing and his wild-partying ways. Duren was first signed by the St. Louis Browns before the 1949 season. By the time he made …

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A few of my favorite stories from last season

Last year I was invited by Pete Kerzel at MASN to be part of MASNsports.com’s season-long initiative to welcome guest bloggers. Here are few of my favorites. I hope you like them please keep in mind these stories were written last summer. Mark Hornbaker: You never know what will happen at a game By Mark …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

February 21 1969 Ted Williams returns to baseball full-time, signing a five-year contract to manage the Washington Senators. Senators Birthdays Joseph Anthony Foy B Feb. 21, 1943 D Oct. 12, 1989 Originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins before the start of the 1962 season, Joe Foy would be drafted by the Boston Red Sox in …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

February 20 Senators Birthdays Edgar Charles (Sam) Rice B Feb. 20, 1890 D Oct. 13, 1974 Hall Of Famer Sam Rice should need no introduction-a Senator from 1915 through 1933, played on all 3 pennant winning teams for Washington, hit over .300 in 14 of the 20 seasons he played. Originally joining the Senators in …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

February 19 Senators Birthdays Walter William Herrell B Feb. 19, 1889 D Jan. 23, 1949 One Game Wonder Walt Herrell would pitch for 2 innings on June 10 of 1911. He’d surrender 5 hits, 2 walks and 4 runs, departing the Senators Coffee Shop with an ERA of 18.00. Walt Herrell career record

Well, the Man wanted a tryout

During spring training in 1933, a visitor arrived in Biloxi, Mississippi wearing a four-day beard and covered in lawyers of country grime. He was out of work, so he rode the train cars from town to town in search of a job. He had some pitching experience, so why not seek a tryout with rookie …

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Spring Training – 69 Senators

Part 1 of a Five Part Series on 1969 Spring Training “Bob Short’s Picnic Table Diplomacy” 1969’s spring training may have been the most unique in Washington baseball history. Change abounded. The club sported a new owner, Robert E. Short, a celebrity manager, Ted Williams, and even new uniforms (the elegant navy blue pinstripes replaced …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

February 18 1954 The Washington Senators trade Gil Coan to the Baltimore Orioles for Roy Seivers. Senators Birthdays George Anthony Mogridge B Feb. 18, 1889 D Mar. 4, 1962 Pitcher George Mogridge would make his big league debut with the Chicago White Sox in mid-August of 1911. Mogridge would post an 0-2 mark in 4 …

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BREAKING THROUGH: Ending the Color Barrier in D.C.

In honor of Black History Month I want to share a story that was written by Karen and Kevin Flynn. Dates carry an importance for us, birthdays and anniversaries are remembered and cherished. In sports, dates also carry significance. Fans can easily tell you when a promising rookie made his first major league start or …

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