Tag: Clark Griffith

The Beginning of the Griffith Era

October 30, 1911 After meeting with the Washington Senators board of directors, Clark Griffith is named manager of the Washington Senators baseball club. It is also announced that Clark Griffith became the largest stockholder of the club when he purchased 10% of the club’s stock. The Senators’ new skipper will have his hands full as …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – The Big Race

April 4 1948 Prior to an exhibition game in Orlando between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Senators, A’s owner-manager Connie Mack, age 85, and Senators’s owner Clark Griffith, age 78, stage a footrace. After entering the field in an ambulance, Mack and Griffith race from 3rd base to home plate and finish in a tie. …

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John James Jachym purchases 40% stake in Senators

December 27, 1949 It is reported that  John James Jachym of Jamestown, New York; became 40% stakeholder of the Washington Senators.  With a major investment of $400,000 from Pennsylvania oil man Hugh A. Grant, was able to purchase the 40% stake in the ball-club from the William Richardson estate for $550,000. The transaction upsets majority owner …

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Yanks Kidnap Shepard

On 18 March 1945, the Old Fox declared war on the Yankees for kidnapping Bert Shepard. Shepard had been working out in College Park when Colonel Lee MacPhail, who was affiliated with the Yankees, showed up and disappeared with the young lefty. MacPhail then held a news conference in Atlantic City that had the wires …

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The Washington – New York Connection

With the high flying Nationals returning home to host the New York Yankees it is fitting to address the unique history that exists between New York and Washington. 1903 In 1903 Ban Johnson was able to finally put an American League franchise in New York. The Baltimore Orioles are renamed the New York Highlanders and …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

February 9 1924 – Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith names 2B Bucky Harris, last year’s team captain as the new Nationals’ manager. Harris, had annoyed Griffith by playing pro basketball over the winter, in violation of his contract. The Senators would go on to win the American League pennant and their only World Series against …

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The Legacy of Griffith Stadium

I would like to discuss the “Legacy of Griffith Stadium” and some of those wonderful memories of a time in the not so distant past – unfortunately memories are just about all that is left for those who remember major league baseball in Washington DC before the current Washington Nationals. This may serve as a …

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Growing Up at Griffith Stadium

In keeping with our theme of ‘timeless baseball” I thought it might be of interest to remember some of my childhood days as the son of a major league baseball player. I was very fortunate to have literally “grown up” at Griffith Stadium in Washington DC, where my dad had patrolled the outfield for the …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Griffith wants more Night Games

On November 29, 1942 in Chicago, baseball owners start to gather at the Palmer House to discuss some of the bigger issues that will arise at baseball’s annual winter meeting that will start later in the week. One of the biggest topics is a request from the Washington Senators’ president Clark Griffith. Clark Griffith will attempt …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – August 7, 1915

Sam “Man O’ War” Rice makes his major league debut as a relief pitcher at the age of 25. Rice is put in the game after the Chicago White Sox took an early lead against the Senators. The Senators were not able to come back and give Rice the win in his debut as the …

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