Tag: Walter Johnson

The Passion of Senators Fans in 1969: The Raucous Welcome for the Nats at Friendship Airport

(Part 1 of a 3-part series) Starved for a winner, Washington baseball fans went a little crazy when it looked like they might actually get one in 1969. Once the thrill of having Ted Williams on board as manager wore off, the team had to prove themselves in the standings. After 16 years of losing …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Johnson pitches his 5th Opening Day shutout

April 23 1903 – The New York Highlanders won their first major-league game with a 7-2 decision over the Washington Senators. Pitcher Harry Howell gets the win for New York. 1919 – Walter Johnson records his 5th Opening Day shutout, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 1-0 in 13 innings. Click here for the Box Score. 1969 …

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The Beginning of the Big Trian’s Greatest Season

April 10, 1913 Behind the superb pitching of Walter Johnson the Washington Senators beat the newly named New York Yankees 2-1. With the Yankees only run being an unearned run Walter Johnson begins a streak of shutout innings that will reach a record 56 innings. Walter Johnson will go on to have his greatest season …

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Walter Johnson – Gone But Not Forgotten

On this day in 1946, Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Perry Johnson succumbs to a brain tumor. The 59 year-old Johnson was diagnosed with the brain tumor eight months earlier when he traveled from his farm in Germantown to the Georgetown University Hospital complaining of severe headaches. The news about Johnson’s death was not a …

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Almost Perfect – Big Train’s No Hitter

As most of you know by now Phil Humber of the Chicago White Sox tossed a perfect game yesterday. Humber’s perfect game was the 21st perfect game in Major League history. This morning I wanted to see how close Washington’s Walter Johnson came to pitching a perfect game during his July 1, 1920 no-hit game …

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“Wait’ll next year and hope?” Nope. Nats fans demand more

Baseball is said to be a timeless game. The rhythm of the game and the season bring generations together, and phrases like ‘Bang! Zoom!’ and ‘See you later!’ take on a special meaning around here every spring, summer and fall. Year after year, we pack the ballpark, gather around the television, tune in to broadcasts, …

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A Nats fan’s response to a youngster in search of a team

You may have heard the story of Pete Van Vleet of Ashland, Virginia, who wrote to every major league team, asking each to make a case for his newborn son, Jack, to be their fan. The 42-year-old Richmond native, a former colleague at The Associated Press, did not have a home team to root for …

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Telegram for Mr. Johnson

Before Walter Johnson was known as the Big Train, he was the Weiser Wonder. In the summer of 1907, Walter Johnson was pitching for the Weiser “semi-pro” team in the Idaho State League. The 19-year old hurler was so dominating that he caught the attention of many Major League scouts from the east. On June …

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Streaks to remember: Stras and the Big Train

Stephen Strasburg has been in great company while streaking through this season, blowing past franchise marks for consecutive victories set by Pedro Martinez, Dennis Martinez and Livan Hernandez, and matching Jake Arietta for the major league lead in wins. If that’s not enough, the Nationals star now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with arguably the greatest pitcher of …

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Bam-Bam and the Big Train, a pair of D.C. legends

As if Bryce Harper had not already endeared himself to Washington baseball fans, his legend grew even further when he stepped into the batter’s box at Nationals Park on the Fourth of July, wielding a star-spangled bat emblazoned with the D.C. skyline, and launched a two-run homer to spark a 3-for-4 day. Add that to …

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