May 15
1901 – The first ever shutout in American League history belongs to Washington. Watty Lee blanks the Boston Americans 4-0 in Boston.
1918 – Walter Johnson and Chicago’s Lefty Williams each go the distance for 18 scoreless innings. The Nats push a run across in the bottom of the 18th to win 1-0.
1941 – Johnny Bloodworth collects the Sens only hit in the bottom of the 7th as the Brown’s Denny Galehouse whitewashes the Sens 7-0.
1952 – At Detroit, Virgil “Fire” Trucks throws a no hitter as the Tigers beat Washington 1-0. Vic Wertz hits a 2 out, 9th inning, game winning home run off the Sens Bob Porterfield for Detroit’s only run.
1965 – The 17 year career of Roy Sievers comes to an end as the Senators release the former Rookie of the Year. Over his career, Sievers had a lifetime batting avg. of .267, with 318 HR and 1,147 RBI. Sievers’ best seasons were in Washington, where he compiled 4 seasons of knocking in 100 plus RBI. The slugger, in addition to his two stints as a Senator, also played for the Browns, White Sox and Phillies.
1970 – The late inning heroics of Frank Howard go for naught as relievers Horatico Pina and Darold Knowles are unable to preserve a 3-2, 9th inning lead over Baltimore. Howard’s solo homer, his 12th of the year, in the bottom of the 8th gives the Sens the lead, but the Orioles promptly tie it back up in the 9th. In the top of the 11th, Curt Motton‘s RBI single gives Baltimore the 4-3 victory.
1971 – The Senators battle back from an 8th inning 3-0 deficit to outlast Detroit 4-3 in 15 innings at RFK. Recently acquired Don Mincher‘s solo homer in the 15th wins it for the home team.
Senators Birthdays
Another quartet of Senators birthdays to note this May 15th…
Joseph Patton (Joe) Evans B May 15, 1895 D Aug. 9, 1953
An 11 year major leaguer who spent most of his career with the Cleveland Indians, Joe Evans spent the 1923 season with the Senators, doing duty in the outfield, and at first and third base. A lifetime .259 hitter, Evans managed a .263 BA in Washington. He’d finish his time in the majors with the St. Louis Browns in 1924 & 1925.
Lloyd Benjamin (Ben) Spencer B May 15, 1890 D Sep. 1, 1970
Eight games with the Senators in September of 1913, with a .286 BA make up the career of Ben Spencer. His grandson, long time major leaguer Jim Spencer, is probably better remembered.
Claude AlFred Thomas B May 15, 1890 D Mar. 6, 1946
Pitching in 7 games for the 1916 Senators, Claude Thomas makes the record books with a 1-2 W/L record and an ERA of 4.13.
James Charles (Jimmy) Wasdell B May 15, 1914 D Aug. 6, 1983
Jimmy Wasdell played in the majors for 11 years. Starting with the Senators in 1937, he would also appear in the uniforms of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians. He would appear in 1 game with the Indians in April of 1947 at the end of his major league service.
An outfielder/1st baseman during his time in Washington, he never saw much playing time. In 1938 he would appear in 53 games. His best year at bat while in a Senators uniform would be 1939 when he hit .303 while appearing in only 29 games. His most active seasons would be with the Phillies in 1943-1945.
