May 19
1919 – The Nats are shutout in Detroit 6-0. The loss begins a season high 11 game losing streak that will drop the Sens into 7th place, where they will stay for the rest of the season, finishing 56-84.
1923 – After Walter Johnson gives up 3 runs in the 9th, Allan Russell relieves Johnson as the Senators defeat the Sox 6-4 at Comiskey. Johnson’s 2 run single in the top of the 9th proves to be the difference.
1925 – The Big Train’s bat does the talking again. Batting as a pinch hitter in the 9th, Johnson hits a game winning, opposite field homer in Cleveland as the Senators edge the Indians 4-3. Johnson becomes only the second right handed batter to clear the 45 foot right field wall at League Park. The Senators improve to 20-9 on the young season, 1 game back of Philadelphia, with the win.
1946 – The Nats broom the White Sox in a twinbill at Chicago. Pale Hose P Ted Lyons absorbs the 4-3 loss in the opener. In game 2, Mickey Vernon hits for the cycle as the Nats hit around Ed Lopat for a 7-1 victory.
1952 – Clark Griffith sells C Sherry Robertson, his nephew, to the Philadelphia A’s. Robertson will return to Washington in 1953 in a front office capacity.
Sherry Robertson
1966 – In Cleveland, SS Ed Brinkman and P Mike McCormick hit back to back homers off Luis Tiant in the 5th. Washington wins easily, 7-2.
1968 – A triple dose of bad news for the Sens today in Detroit. First, Frank Howard‘s consecutive home run streak is halted at 6 games by Detroit’s Earl Wilson. Second, the Nats lose the game 5-4. Third, behind the home runs of Dick McAuliffe and future Hall of Famers Al Kaline and Eddie Mathews, the Nats are whitewashed in the nitecap of this doubleheader 7-0.
Senators Birthdays
Baldomero Pedro Fernandez (Merito) Acosta B May 19, 1896 D Nov. 17, 1963
Merito Acosta was one of the very early members of the Senators’ “Cuban Connection”, playing the outfield for Washington from 1913-1918, with a break in 1917. After 3 games with the 1918 Senators he went to Philadelphia to play for the Athletics. Used sparingly, his most active season was 1915 when he appeared in 72 games for Washington. However, his best year at bat was his last, when he hit .302, with 51 hits for the A’s. Merito Acosta is the brother of Jose Acosta, who pitched for the Senators in 1920 & 1921.
Jacob Willard (Jake) Early B May 19, 1915 D May 31, 1985
A catcher who played 9 years in the major leagues, Jake Early appeared in a Senators uniform from 1939-1943, then had his career interrupted due to military service in 1944 & 1945. He returned to the Senators in 1946. He was traded to the St. Louis Browns for catcher Frank Mancuso prior to the 1947 season. After playing for the Browns in 1947, he was purchased by the Senators and returned to Washington, finishing his career in 1949. His most active season was 1943 when he appeared in 126 games, his best year at the plate 1941 when he hit .287 with 10 home runs.
Hugh Henry (Hughie) Tate B May 19, 1880 D Aug. 7, 1956
Another “One Season Wonder” for the Senators, Hughie Tate‘s career consisted of appearing in 4 games in late September 1905 where he played left field and went 4 for 13 at bat with one triple, good for a .308 BA.
