May 23
1901 – An inglorious record is set today by the Nats in Cleveland. Up 13-5 on the Blues with 2 outs and no runners on base in the 9th, the Blues set a major league record by plating 9 runs for a stunning 14-13 win.
1924 – Striking out a career high 14 and allowing only 1 safety, Walter Johnson records his 103rd career shutout with a 4-0 victory over the White Sox in D.C. The only hit by the Pale Hose belongs to Harry Hooper.
1927 – In the 1st inning of today’s game at Griffith, the Yankees appear on the road to another victory as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig slug back-to-back homers. Sens P Sloppy Thurston settles down and the Senators score 3 runs to down the Yanks 3-2.
1929 – In Shibe Park, the A’s take both ends of a doubleheader, both by 9-8 scores. The Senator’s offense scores 8 runs in the first two innings of the opener, but the Mackmen battle back for the 9-8 win. In game 2, Rube Wahlberg goes the distance for Philadelphia. Senators OF Ossie Bluege homers in both games.
1956 – In a 17 inning marathon at Kansas City, the Sens fall to the A’s 7-6. After Roy Sievers scores on a Whitey Herzog double in the top of the 17th to give the Senators a 6-5 lead, the A’s score 2 in the bottom half courtesy of a solo home run by Jim Finigan and a wild pitch by P Camilio Pasqual that allows Clete Boyer to score the winning run. Sens SS Jim Snyder wears an 0-for-8 collar for the game.
1963 – New Nats manager Gil Hodges is acquired in a trade from the Mets for OF Jimmy Piersall. Hodges arrives in Baltimore just in time to watch the Orioles’ Robin Roberts 2 hit the Sens 6-0. Senators starter Claude Osteen is battered for 6 runs and 7 hits in 2.1 innings of work. Light hitting SS Ed Brinkman gets the only 2 hits off of Roberts.
1971 – Denny McLain returns to Detroit for the first time with his new team. Two of his former teammates, Al Kaline and Norm Cash, welcome him back by each slugging 2 run homers as the Tigers smoke the Sens 5-0. In the nitecap, the Tigers maul the Senators and starter Mike Thompson 11-0.
Senators Birthdays
Harry Stephen Patrick Chesley AKA Harry Child B May 23, 1905 D Nov. 8, 1972
Pitcher Harry Child appeared in 5 games for the 1930 Senators, pitching a grand total of 10 innings with a career ERA of 6.30.
Jose Luis (Chile) Gonzales Gomez B May 23, 1909 D Dec. 1, 1992
Infielder Chile Gomez started his career with the 1935 Philadelphia Phillies. He appeared in 108 games for the Phillies in 1936 and then disappeared from the major league scene until 1942 when he returned for 25 games with the 1942 Senators. Never a very potent hitter, Gomez’ best year was 1936 when he stroked 77 hits, with 28 RBI, for the Phillies.
George Willis Hudlin B May 23, 1906 D Aug. 5, 2002
Pitcher Willis Hudlin spent 16 years in the major leagues, mainly with the Cleveland Indians. Starting with the Indians in 1926, Hudlin appeared in 25 or more games every year from 1927 through 1939. In 1940 however, Hudlin was bounced around like a pinball. Starting with the Indians at the beginning of the season, Hudlin played for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and New York Giants all within the span of that 1 season. He would make one last major league appearance in 1944 with the pennant winning St. Louis Browns.
Hudlin’s brief tenure with the Senators lasted from May 18-July 13, 1940 when he appeared in 8 games, starting 6 and going 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA.
Francis Mortimer (Frank) Kelliher B May 23, 1899 D Mar. 4, 1956
Another “One Game Wonder”, up for a very short cup of coffee with the 1919 Senators, Frank Kelliher appeared for 1 at bat on September 19, 1919. He did not get a hit nor did he appear in the field.
Frank Octavius Mancuso B May 23, 1918 D Aug. 4, 2007
Frank Mancuso was the younger brother of Gus Mancuso who played in the major leagues for 17 years. Frank Mancuso was a fine player as well, getting his start as a professional baseball player in 1937 in the farm system of the New York Giants. He actually spent the entire 1939 season with the Giants but never appeared in a game, being relegated to the role of bullpen catcher.
His baseball career interrupted by World War II, Frank was seriously injured during parachute training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He spent 5 months in an Army hospital and had to endure a number of operations. After recovering, his injuries rendered him unfit for further military service. However, through hard work and determination, he was able to make it back to the major leagues even if it was in a limited capacity.
Playing for the St. Louis Browns from 1944-1946, his most active season was 1945 when he appeared in 119 games, hitting .268 with 98 hits, including 13 doubles, 3 triples and 1 home run. He finished his major league career in 1947 with the Senators, hitting .229 in 43 games.
