This Date in Washington Senators History – Mike Epstein makes his Senators debut at Yankee Stadium

June 5

1947 – Sherry Robertson and Al Evans each go deep for the Sens, as Early Wynn picks up the shutout, 3-0 in Cleveland.

1961 – Before tonight’s contest vs. Cleveland, the Nats trade P Hal Woodeshick to Detroit for 2B Chuck Cottier. Perhaps the Sens could have used Woodeshick’s services in the game. The Tribe draws 7 walks, rap 15 hits and score 7 runs off three different Washington pitchers in the 7-5 loss for Washington.

1967 – Mike Epstein makes his Senators debut at Yankee Stadium. In the 4th, Epstein gives the Sens a 2-0 lead when he hits a 2-run inside the park home run off the Yank’s Thad Tillotson. However, the 6th place Yanks score 2 in the bottom of the 8th off Darold Knowles to take home the victory, 4-2.

1968 – A 3-1 win over visiting Oakland extends the Nats modest win streak to 3 games. Frank Howard‘s 2-run homer in the 6th, his 21st, provides the margin of victory.

1969 – Holding the 1st overall pick in the amateur draft, the Sens select future All Star and AL MVP Jeff Burroughs.

1970 – Making his major league debut in RFK, Minnesota P Bert Blyleven yields a leadoff home run to RF Lee Maye. Blyleven will settle down and pitch 7 effective innings in the 2-1 Twins win.

Senators Birthdays

Wade Hampton Lefler B Jun. 5, 1896 D Mar. 6, 1981

For those of us old enough to recall the “Twilight Zone” television program hosted by Rod Serling, the brief career of Wade Lefler would have lent itself perfectly for one of Mr. Serling’s opening introductions…”Presented for your consideration, the brief career of one Wade Hampton Lefler, who appeared in the major leagues for a grand total of 6 games in 1924. Playing in one game with the Boston Braves, Mr. Lefler would reappear on the roster of the Washington Senators for 5 games in the fall of that season. Batting .625, Mr. Lefler would depart from the major league scene with a career batting average of .556″.

Wade Lefler career record

Albert Leonard (Beany) Jacobson B Jun. 6, 1881 D Jan. 31, 1933

Beany Jacobson joined the roster of the Senators as a pitcher in 1904. After a 2 year stint in Washington, he spent 1906 and the early part of 1907 with the St. Louis Browns. He joined the Boston Red Sox (known then as the “Americans”) for 2 games, also in 1907, where his major league career ended.

With the 1905 Senators, Jacobson was 7-8 with a 3.30 ERA.

“Beany” Jacobson career record

Frank Elmer Huelsman B Jun. 5, 1874 D Jun. 9, 1959

Another player from the very early part of the last century, Frank Huelsman‘s baseball career actually started in 1897 when he played in 2 games for the old St. Louis Browns of the National League.

In 1904 he would resurface in the 3 year old American League and appear with half the teams then extant in 1 season! 4 games with the Chicago White Sox, 4 with the Detroit Tigers, 20 with the St. Louis Browns and 84 with the Senators-112 games for 4 different teams in 1 season. In 1905, he returned with the Senators, appearing in 121 games, hitting .271, only to disappear from the major league scene after the season ended.

Frank Huelsman career record

Charles Furman Gooch B Jun. 5, 1902 D May 30, 1982

Another “One Season Wonder”, Charlie Gooch appeared in 39 games with the 1929 Senators, playing both 1st & 3rd bases (with one game at shortstop), and hitting .281.

Charlie Gooch career record