June 20 
1905 – St. Louis extends the Nationals losing streak to 7 with a 12-3 blowout in Washington. The defeat sends the Nationals into the cellar of the AL.
1913 – The woeful Yankees easily take the opener of a doubleheader, 9-3, in D.C. Second game Sens starter Bert Gallia looks to set a tone in game 2 by plunking 3 of the first 4 Yanks batters he faces. However, New York makes Gallia pay and Gallia is chased. Relievers Joe Engel and Tom Hughes will pick up where Gallia left off and will continue to bean New York hitters. In all, a record 6 Yanks batters are hit by pitches, with lead-off hitter Bert Daniels getting nailed 3 times. Last place New York is bruised, but still wins game 2 by an identical 9-3 score.
1926 – A contingent of fans from Coffeyville, KS are on hand in St. Louis to cheer on their hometown hero Walter Johnson. Despite the support, the Big Train cannot hold a 4-0 lead and takes the loss, 7-4. The Browns pivotal blow is a Ken Williams‘ 3-run, pinch home run in the 7th.
1956 – In a battle between two of the AL’s cellar dwellers, the 7th place Nats upend the 8th place A’s, 5-4, in Kansas City. A’s southpaw Tommy Lasorda pitches the 9th, walking 3 and giving up an unearned run.
1961 – Al Kaline makes his 3B debut in Detroit’s 5-4 victory over the collapsing Senators. If the position switch fazed Kaline, it didn’t show in his hitting. The stand in third sacker is 2-for-4 with 2 RBI’s in the Bengals win at Griffith.
1969 – The Tigers finally get a taste of their own medicine. Seeming to have a knack for coming back from late inning deficits to hand the Nats heartbreaking defeats over the years, the shoe is on the other foot tonight in Detroit. The Tigers score 3rd and 5th inning runs to gain a 2-0 advantage. In the top of the 6th, a Frank Howard homer and a Bernie Allen double knots the affair at 2-2. The score stays the same until the top of the 10th, when the Sens bat around and kick the Tigers for 5 runs. Brant Alyea‘s 2-run homer in the inning is the icing on the cake in the 7-2 Washington win.
Senators Birthdays
Donald Odell (Red) Barbary B Jun. 20, 1920 D Sep. 27, 2003
Red Barbary is added to the list of “One Game Wonders” who have appeared with the Senators over the years. In Red Barbary‘s case, that game was on May 22nd, 1943. He went 0-1 at the plate and did not appear in the field.
James Christopher Delahanty B Jun. 20, 1879 D Oct. 17, 1953
Jim Delahanty was one of 5 Delahanty brothers who appeared in the major leagues. His brother Ed, who also played for the Senators, and whose mysterious death has been the subject of much speculation and conjecture, will be covered at a later date.
Jim Delahanty began his major league career in 1901 with the Chicago Orphans of the National League. From 1902 through 1915 (with breaks in 1903 & 1913) his career looks like a travelogue with stops in New York (Giants), Boston (Beaneaters), Cincinnati (Reds), St. Louis (Browns), Washington (Senators) Detroit (Tigers) and Brooklyn (Tip-Tops, of the Federal League).
In 1907 Delahanty started the season with the St. Louis Browns, playing in 33 games. He moved on to Washington, appearing in 108 games with the 1907 Senators, 83 games in 1908 and 90 games in 1909 before moving to the Detroit Tiger roster in mid-season.
During his tenure with the Senators his best year was 1908 when he hit .317, going 91 for 287.
Career wise, his best season would be in a Tigers uniform when he hit .339 in 1911. Primarily a second baseman, Delahanty appeared at every position but catcher during his 13 year career.
George Barclay (Win) Mercer B Jun. 20, 1874 D Jan. 12, 1903
Win Mercer began his career with the National League Washington Senators in 1894. Playing in Washington from 1894-1899 he would join the New York Giants in 1900 when the National League contracted from 12 to 8 teams.
When the rival American League began it’s first year of play in 1901, Mercer would find himself in familiar territory as a member of the American League Washington Senators in their inaugural season. Appearing in 51 games as a pitcher, 1st & 3rd baseman and in the outfield, he would hit an even .300 and post a record of 9-13 with a 4.56 ERA. 35 games with the 1902 Detroit Tigers would mark the end of his major league career.
David Earl Nelson B Jun. 20, 1944 D Apr 23, 2018
Infielder Dave Nelson began his major league career with the 1968 Cleveland Indians. After 2 seasons in Cleveland, he was traded to the Washington Senators (along with Horacio Pina and Ron Law for Dennis Higgins and Barry Moore) where he would spend 1970 and 1971 playing at 2nd & 3rd base. In the last year of the expansion Senators existence, Nelson would hit .280 with 5 home runs in 85 games.
Moving with the franchise to Texas in 1972, he would remain with the Rangers through 1975 and finish his days in the majors with the Kansas City Royals in 1976 & 1977.
Arthur William Schult B Jun. 20, 1928 D Jul 25, 2014
Art Schult would make his first appearance in the majors with the 1953 New York Yankees when he took part in 7 games.
He wouldn’t return to the majors until 1956 when he took part in 5 games with the Cincinnati Reds. After 21 games with the Reds in 1957, he became a member of the Washington Senators squad, splitting his time between 1st base and the outfield, hitting .263.
He’d return to the big leagues in 1959 to spend time with the Chicago Cubs in 1959 & 1960.
Clair Lee (Duke) Shirey B Jun. 20, 1898 D Sep. 1, 1962
Pitcher Duke Shirey escapes the “One Game Wonder” label by virtue of having appeared in 2 games with the 1920 Senators. Pitching in just 4 innings, he gave up 5 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) and left with an 0-1 record and an ERA of 6.75.
