Jul 01
Washington’s Walter Johnson almost pitched perfect game during his July 1, 1920 no-hit game against the Boston Red Sox. I was amazed to find out that the Big Train missed pitching a perfect game by one error. The Big Train pitched a perfect game through six innings. In the bottom of the seventh inning Boston’s …
May 04
In 1887 Sporting Life lists an All Star line-up from a noted Boston crank. Here is the list, Jim Whitney, P; Charlie Bennett, C; Cap Anson, lb; Hardy Richardson, 2b; Buck Ewing, 3b.; John Ward, SS; Jim O’Rourke. Lf; Paul Hines, Cf; Sam Thompson, Rf. Pretty good nine! But Jim Whitney? You may well ask. …
Feb 07
February 7 Senators Birthdays Baldomero (Mel) Almada B Feb. 7, 1913 D Aug. 13, 1988 Mexican born outfielder Mel Almada made his way to the major leagues in September of 1933, first playing for the Boston Red Sox. Almada’s first full season of play would be 1935, when he’d hit .290 in 151 games. Traded …
Jan 29
By Jeff StuartOn Jun 29, 1963; The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they had recalled infielder Ken McMullen from Spokane to replace Don Zimmer who had recently been traded to the Washington Senators.McMullen signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers upon graduation from Oxnard High School. He was one of the last of baseball’s bonus babies.His …
Jan 09
January 9 Senators Birthdays William Frederick Conroy B Jan. 9, 1899 D Jan. 23, 1970 Senators Short Timer Bill Conroy played in 18 games with the 1923 Senators at 1st and 3rd base. He’d depart the scene with a lifetime .133 batting average. Bill Conroy career record Leroy Louis Dietzel B Jan. 9, 1931 Still …
Dec 17
December 14, 1928 The Washington Senators purchased George Sisler’s contract for $25,000 from the St. Louis Browns. The veteran 35 year-old first baseman will play in 20 games for the Senators before the team sold his contract to the Boston Braves for only $7,500 on May 27, 1928. For Sisler the move to Boston was …
Aug 02
By Jeff Stuart “A good friend of mine used to say, ‘This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.’ Think about that for a while.” Nuke Laloosh in the Movie BULL DURHAM Sometimes the game is …
Jul 18
By Jeff StuartOn Dec 10, 1952, the Washington Senators traded Cuban Mike Fornieles to the Chicago White Sox for Chuck Stobbs, a 23 year old who broke in with the Red Sox at the age of 17 and already had 40 big league wins.”He doesn’t overpower anybody with his speed,” said manager Bucky Harris.”But he …
Jul 14
By Jeff StuartIn the 1950s, two of the most interesting Washington Senators, Dick Hyde and Ted Abernethy reintroduced submarine pitching to baseball. They were not the first. Russ Christopher of the Indians threw that way in the early 40’s and before that there were Carl Mays and Elden Auker. Pittsburgh’s Kent Tekulve and Kansas City’s …
Jun 09
By Jeff Stuart With a torrential rain storm raging outside on Tuesday evening, July 22 the All-Stars remained dry and shot the breeze in the clubhouses. A photographer took the opportunity to snap a picture of Reggie Jackson of Oakland and Frank Howard of the Senators. Jackson had 37 home runs at mid season. Hoeard …
