This Date in Washington Senators History – Milan steals home for the game’s only run

July 27

1915 – Rip Hagerman of the Indians and the Sens Bert Gallia lock horns in a pitchers duel, with Gallia allowing only a single hit in a 1-0 Washington victory. Clyde Milan steals home in the top of the 1st for the game’s only score.

1920 – Four spectacular grabs by Tribe LF Charley Jamison helps Cleveland to hold off the Nats, 5-4, in the first of two at League Park. Washington, thanks to a 9 run 2nd inning, explode in game two, a 19-6 win. Joe Judge and Braggio Roth cross the plate 4 times each.

1921 – Nats manager George McBride is knocked unconscious by a thrown ball prior to today’s 5-4 win over the WashingtonSenators1227White Sox in D.C. McBride suffers a concussion and begins to experience vertigo. Unable to pilot the Nationals on a full time basis, McBride is sent home and replaced by captain Clyde Milan. Milan will guide Washington to a 30-25 mark over the remainder of the year and will officially be named the manager of the Nats for 1922.

1962 – At D.C. Stadium, the weak Senator offense springs to life in a doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox. 6 different Senator players homer in today’s pair with Boston. Bob Johnson, Harry Bright, Chuck Cottier and Johnny Schaive homer in the opener, giving Dave Stenhouse his 10th win of the year, a 11-2 rout. In the nitecap, Ken Hamlin belts a grand slam, while Johnson and Don Lock also go deep in a 14-1 stomping. It is the first and only time, this year that the Sens score in double digits.

Senators Birthdays

Lawrence David Biittner B Jul. 27, 1945 Jan. 2, 2022

Larry Biittner was drafted by Washington in the 1968 amateur draft and first appeared in 2 games during the 1970 season. Brought up from Pittsfield (Eastern League) on July 10th, he’d be sent back down on July 22nd.

Starting the 1971 season with AAA Denver, Biittner would be brought up again in mid-May, and appear in 66 games, playing the outfield and also being tapped to play 1st base for a handful of games. Biittner would go 44 for 171 at the plate, good for a .257 BA with 4 doubles and 1 triple.

Moving to Texas with the franchise prior to the 1972 season, Biittner would remain a Ranger through 1973.

Traded to the Montreal Expos prior to the 1974 season, Biittner would remain in Montreal through mid-May of 1976. He’d hit a career high of .315 in 1975.

Traded again, this time to the Chicago Cubs, he’d remain a Cub through 1980. Granted free agency, Biittner would sign on with the Cincinnatti Reds where he would play in 1981 and 1982. Released by the Reds, Biittner would sign on with the Texas Rangers once more, appearing in 66 games during the 1983 season, ending his major league career at the end of the year.

Larry Biittner career record

Richard Lewis Kimble B Jul. 27, 1915 D May 7, 2001

Shortstop Dick Kimble joins the list of “Single Season Senators”, appearing in 20 games in 1945. He’d hit .245 with 1 double and 1 triple.

Dick Kimble career record

Don Wilson Lock B Jul. 27, 1936 Oct, 8, 2017

Fans of the early expansion Senators remember Don Lock as another of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal lineup of has beens and never weres. Lock homered in his debut game on July 17, 1962 and he would finish the 1962 season with 12 round trippers.

Originally in the New York Yankee organization, Lock would be traded to the Senators for Dale Long in mid-July and get his call to the big club just one week later.

Lock would remain a Senator through 1966 and hit a grand total of 99 home runs as a Senator, second only to Frank Howard. An outfielder, Lock would hit 27 homers in 1963, 28 in 1964 and in 1965 & 1966 would hit 16 each season.

Traded to the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1966 campaign, Lock would play in Philadelphia in 1967 and 1968. After only 4 games with Philadelphia in 1969, Lock would be traded again, this time to the Boston Red Sox where he’d finish the season, and his career.

Don Lock career record