This Date in Washington Senators History – ’69 Senators win 50th game

July 15

1909 – The Tigers take a pair in Detroit, 9-5 and 7-0. Two inside-the-park home runs from Ty Cobb pace the WashingtonSenators1227Bengals. For the 5th time in 8 games, the Nats are shutout.

1915 – In the first of two in St.Louis, Browns rookie pitcher/1B George Sisler pitches a complete game in defeating Washington, 5-2. The Browns finish the sweep with a 4-3, win in game two.

1933 – The Sens move to a half game lead in the AL by taking two from the Browns at Griffith. P Lefty Stewart takes the opener, 1-0, and Bobby Burke gets the nitecap victory, 2-0.

1964 – With every Nats starter, except for Chuck Hinton, collecting a hit and with the offense getting a hit in every inning except the 3rd and the 5th, Washington posts 13 safeties of Mudcat Grant. A recipe for a sure victory, right? Not for the Senators on this night. Incredibly, the Senators fail to plate a single run in losing at Minnesota, 6-0. Grant strands 12 Nats base-runners in the CG victory.

1969 – President Nixon and Apollo astronaut Frank Borman are on hand to witness Ted Williams‘ squad winning their 50th game of the season, a 7-3 decision over Detroit. Light hitting Sens 2B Tim Cullen stars for Washington with a single, double and home run for a total of 4 RBI. Barry Moore picks up his 8th win of the year, with Dave Baldwin chipping in 3.1 innings for his 3rd save. The Tigers only highlight is inducing Eddie Brinkman into a 5-4-3 triple play in the bottom of the 5th.
Senators Birthdays

Charles Bruce Edwards B Jul. 15, 1923 D Apr. 25, 1975

Catcher Bruce Edwards came up with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. Staying with the Dodgers midway through the 1951 season, he would make appearances in the World Series of 1947 and 1949. Traded to the Cubs in a multi-player deal, he would play in Chicago in 1951, 52 & 1954.

Purchased by the Senators during the offseason, he’d appear in a Washington uniform for 30 games in 1955, hitting .175.

Edwards would briefly play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956, appearing in 7 games.

Bruce Edwards career record

Michael Edward Heydon B Jul. 15, 1874 D Oct. 13, 1913

First playing for the Brooklyn franchise, then known as the Superbas, in 1898 for 3 games, catcher Mike Heydon would make another 3 game appearance with the National League version of the Senators in 1899. 1901 would find him playing in 16 games for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Heydon would return to the majors in 1904 when he played in 4 games for the Chicago White Sox. Purchased by the American League Senators during the offseason, he’d play in Washington from 1905 through 1907. Not much of a hitter, Heydon’s most active season would be 1905 when he appeared in 77 games.

Mike Heydon career record

Jesse Roy Levan B Jul. 15, 1926 D Nov. 30, 1998

Jesse Levan made his major league debut in late September of 1947 when he played in 2 games for the Philadelphia Phillies. It would be 7 years before he returned to the majors with the Washington Senators in 1954.

Appearing in 7 games in 1954 and another 16 in 1955, he hit an even .300 for the Senators in ’54, going 3 for 10. His BA would drop over 100 points in 1955 and he’d be gone from the Senators, and the majors, in May of that year.

Jesse Levan career record

Alvin Jacob Powell B Jul. 15, 1908 D Nov. 4, 1948

Jake Powell first played for the Senators in 1930 appearing in 3 games. Powell would return to the Senators roster in 1934 for another 9 games. He’d finally stay with the Senators in 1935, playing in 139 games and hitting .312.

In mid-June of 1936 Powell would be traded to the New York Yankees for Ben Chapman. Staying with the Yankees through 1940, he’d play in the World Series of 1936, 1937 & 1938.

Powell would not play in the majors in 1941 or 1942 but would return to the Senators in 1943. He’d remain in Washington through a portion of the 1945 season, when he’d finish the year, and his career, on the roster of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Jake Powell career record