This Date in Washington Senators History – ’24 Senators beat Yankees to take 1/2 game lead

August 28

1909 – William “Dolly” Gray of Washington enters the record book by walking 8 White Sox in the bottom of the 2nd inning‚ with 7 free passes in a row (both ML records). The Sox score 6 runs, on 1 hit, in the inning for the 6-4 win.

1913 – The 14 game win streak of Walter Johnson comes to a close at Boston. Steve Yerkes of Boston singles in the 11th and reaches third base when CF Clyde Milan allows the ball to skip through his legs. Yerkes scores on a single for the 1-0 Red Sox victory. Johnson walks none and fans 10.

1924 – A mere half game separates the 1st place Yanks and the 2nd place Nats with the opening of a crucial four WashingtonSenators1227game series in the Bronx. The New Yorkers, with the help of 2 home runs from Babe Ruth, take a 6-4 lead into the 8th inning. Washington erupts for 8 unanswered runs in the 8th, to take the match, 11-6. Goose Goslin hits for the cycle for the Nats.

1954 – Mickey Vernon‘s 3-for-4 day, including a double and a triple, is not enough for home Washington. The Sens cough up a 2-1, 8th inning lead, to lose to the Indians, 5-2. A rare error from Vernon on a sacrifice bunt and a Vic Wetz single enable the Tribe to take the lead for good in the 8th. Eddie Yost and Jim Busby knock in the Nats 2 runs off winner Mike Garcia.

1959 – Yankees P Art Ditmar has as many hits as the entire Senators lineup on this night. Ditmar homers and drives home 3 and smothers the Sens on a 2-hitter, a 5-0 Bombers win in D.C. Nat killer, Mickey Mantle, goes 0-for-5, with 2 punch outs.

1962 – For the second consecutive night, the Senators blank the Orioles at D.C. Stadium, 4-0. Don Rudolph of the Sens collects the shutout and his 8th win. Ken Hamlin and former O’s farmhand, Chuck Hinton, drive in 1 RBI apiece. Harry Bright scoops up the other 2 RBI’s when he homers with a man aboard off reliever Milt Pappas in the 8th.

1965 – Looking dead in the water after Baltimore scores 3 times in the top of the 9th, the Nats answer back with a 3 spot of their own to claim a 5-4 victory. The Nats load the bases with none out when Jim King‘s pinch hit, 2-run single off Harvey Haddix caps off the come from behind win.

1968 – Bernie Allen‘s RBI single and Frank Howard‘s 2-run homer is just enough for a Nats win in Baltimore, 3-2. Jim Hannan allows 8 hits in 8 plus innings, but is able to escape numerous jams thanks to 2 double plays and 3 strikeouts. After Hannan walks the leadoff hitter in the 9th, Dennis Higgins comes on and retires Elrod Hendricks, Dave May and Don Buford for his 9th save.

Senators Birthdays

Ronald Arthur Miller B Aug. 28, 1918 D Jan. 6, 1998

One Game Wonder Ronnie Miller was served his cup of major league coffee on September 10th of 1941. Pitching 2 innings for the Senators, Miller would give up 2 hits, 1 walk and 1 run, departing the Senators, and the majors, with a 4.50 ERA.

Ronnie Miller career record

Robert Frank (Braggo) Roth B Aug. 28, 1892 D Sep. 11, 1936

Braggo Roth‘s other nickname was “The Globetrotter”. While he may not have spanned the globe, Roth did manage to show up on the rosters of 6 of the then 8 existing American League teams in an 8 year career that started in 1914 and ended in 1921.

First appearing with the Chicago White Sox in September of 1914, Roth would hit .294 in 34 games. Roth would return with the White Sox in 1915, playing in 70 games in a Chicago uniform before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in late August.

Roth lead the American League in home runs in 1915 with 7 during the “deadball” era.

Prior to the start of the 1919 season, Roth would be traded again, this time to the Philadelphia Athletics. After only 48 games with the A’s, Roth would be traded again, this time to the Boston Red Sox where he’d finish the 1919 season, playing in 63 games.

On the move again after 1919, Roth would be traded to the Senators along with Red Shannon, in exchange for Mike Menosky, Harry Harper and Eddie Foster.

Spending 1920 in Washington, Roth would play in 138 games, patrolling the outfield and hitting .291 with 23 doubles, 8 triples and 9 home runs.

Traded one last time after the season, Roth would play for the New York Yankees in 1921, appearing in 43 games, hitting .283. His major league career would end after the 1921 season.

An insightful article on Braggo Roth from the SABR: “Braggo” Roth biography from SABR

“Braggo” Roth career record

Donald Snyder Savidge B Aug. 28, 1908 D Mar. 22, 1983

Senators Short Timer Don Savidge would pitch for 6 innings in 3 games during August of 1929. The official line on Savidge: 12 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, 2 strike outs and 1 wild pitch.

Don Savidge career record