April 5 
1971 Dick Bosman pitches a six-hit shutout as the Washington Senators beat the Oakland Athletics, 8 – 0. This will turn out to be the last Opening Day game to be played in Washington, D.C.
After the season, Senators owner Bob Short will move the franchise to the Lone Star State to resume play in 1972 as the Texas Rangers.
The nation’s capital will be without major league baseball until 2005, when the struggling Montreal Expos franchise that began play in 1969, is moved to Washington.
Senators Birthdays
William Edward (Wid) Conroy B Apr. 5, 1877 D Dec. 6, 1959
Wid Conroy, a 3rd baseman/shortstop who also spent a goodly amount of time playing in the outfield, began his major league career in 1901, the first year of play for the American League.
Conroy was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1900 when that team played in the American Association.
In 1901, Milwaukee was one of the original 8 teams when the American League began play and Conroy remained on the roster.
Primarily playing shortstop that season, Conroy would hit .256 in 131 games.
After the 1901 campaign, the Milwaukee Brewers would shift operation to St. Louis, where they played as the Browns. However, Conroy would not make the move, as he’d jump to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1902 season.
Conroy would hit .244 in 99 games for Pittsburgh in 1902. Again getting restless in the offseason, Conroy would jump back to the AL, this time to the New York Highlanders (later Yankees).
His wandering days over, Conroy would spend the next 6 seasons playing in a Highlanders uniform. Averaging 133 games a season from 1903 through 1908, Conroy would hit .272 in 1903 and .273 in 1905.
Sold to the Washington Senators before the start of the 1909 season, Conroy would conclude his major league career playing 3 years in Washington. With the Senators his best year at the plate was 1910 when he hit .254 in 103 games. His last major league appearance would come in early October of 1911.
Ronald Lavern Hansen B Apr. 5, 1938 Still Living
Signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1956, shortstop Ron Hansen would debut in the majors with the Orioles in April 
of 1958. Playing in 12 games, Hansen was 0-19 at the plate when he was sent down.
Hansen would only appear in 2 games for the Orioles in 1959.
Staying with the O’s in 1960, Hansen would hit .255 in 153 games. He’d hit .248 in 155 games in 1961, however he’d only appear in 71 games for the O’s in 1962 as he struggled at the plate.
Traded to the Chicago White Sox before the start of the 1963 season, (This was the trade that sent Luis Aparicio from the White Sox to Baltimore.) Hansen would spend the next 5 seasons with the White Sox.
Hansen would be on the move again before the start of the 1968 season, traded along with Dennis Higgins and Steve Jones to the Washington Senators for Tim Cullen, Buster Narum and Bob Priddy.
Hansen would play in 86 games for the Senators, his average dipping to .185.
On July 30, 1968 Hansen would pull off the first unassisted triple play in 41 years in the American League during a 10-1 loss to the Indians in Cleveland.
3 days later Hansen would be traded back to the Chicago White Sox for the same Tim Cullen who’d gone from Washington to Chicago during the offseason.
Hansen would finish the 1968 season with the White Sox playing in 40 games raising his BA to .230.
Hansen would spend one last season with the White Sox in 1969 and then would be purchased by the New York Yankees where he’d be a part time player in 1970 and 1971. He’d hit .297 in 59 games in 1970, the best season average-wise of his career.
Released by the Yankees before the start of the 1972 season, Hansen would be signed by the Kansas City Royals.
After 16 games, his BA at .133, Hansen would be released by the Royals, his last major league game coming in late June.
Thomas Gerald Phillips B Apr. 5, 1889 D Apr. 12, 1929
Tom Phillips, a pitcher from Philipsburg, PA, debuted in the major leagues in mid-September of 1915 with the St. Louis Browns.
Appearing in 5 games, Phillips would post a 1-3 record with a 2.96 ERA.
Phillips wouldn’t be back in a major league uniform until 1919 when he’d pitch in 22 games for the Cleveland Indians, going 3-2, his ERA at 2.95.
Out of the majors again in 1920, Phillips would appear in 1 game for the Senators in 1921, pitching a complete game and collecting the win.
With the Senators in 1922 Phillips appeared in 17 games. He’d compile a 3-7 record with a 4.89 ERA, his last major league appearance coming in mid-July.
