May 18
1906 – In the 6th inning, Washington’s game against Chicago is interrupted when Senators P “Long” Tom Hughes goes after a heckler in the stands. The “Hitless Wonder” White Sox rout the Sens 10-0 in Washington.
1913 – Ty Cobb‘s steal of home in the bottom of the 7th is the only run that Walter Johnson allows as the Sens nip the Tigers 2-1.
1930 – The Nats lead in the AL is trimmed to 1 game as Lefty Grove and the Philadelphia A’s win 2-1 at Griffith. Sens P Lloyd Brown is the tough luck loser as he surrenders only 3 hits.
1954 – The Senators first visit to Baltimore since 1902 is a success as Mickey McDermott gets the victory in the 3-1 win.
1956 – 1B Pete Runnels goes 5 for 6, including hitting the go ahead single in the top of the 11th, as the Senators top Cleveland 5-4 in 11 innings. Sens C Clint Courtney raps 3 doubles in the game.
1964 – Sens CF Don Lock goes yard twice and drives in 4, but a costly error by Nats 3B Don Zimmer opens the floodgates for a Detroit rally in the top of the 9th. The Tigers go on to score 3 in the inning for a 7-6 Detroit victory.
1965 – Featuring a Frank Howard grand slam, the Sens drop 7 runs on Detroit in the top of the 5th as the Nats roll to a 15-9 win.
1967 – At RFK, Sens P Pete Richert shuts out the Orioles 2-0. 11 days later, Baltimore losing pitcher Frank Bertaina and O’s farmhand Mike Epstein will be traded to Washington for Richert.
1968 – Frank Howard concludes his record setting week by tying the AL record with homers in 6 straight games in the Senators 8-4 win at Detroit. His 10 homers in 6 games are a major league record, as is his 10 homers during a single week (Sunday through Saturday).
Senators Birthdays
Gilbert Fitzgerald (Gil) Coan B May 18, 1922 D Feb 4, 2020
Gil Coan was an outfielder who player 11 years in the major leagues, getting his start with the Senators in 1946. He appeared in over 100 games a year from 1948 through 1952, managing back to back batting averages of .303 in 1950 & ’51. After a drop in production in 1953 he was traded to the newly relocated Baltimore Orioles for Roy Sievers. Gil spent 1954 and part of 1955 in Baltimore, also playing for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Giants that same season. His career came to an end in 1956 after only 4 games with the Giants in April of that year.
Kenneth Lee Hamlin B May 18, 1935 Still living
Primarily a shortstop during his 7 year career, Ken Hamlin played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957 & 1959, spent the 1960 season with the Kansas City Athletics, 1961 with the Los Angeles Angels before finishing his major league career with the Senators in 1962, 1965 & 1966. His most active season was 1960 when he appeared in 140 games for Kansas City. In 1965 he hit .273 with 4 home runs for the Senators.
