June 11
1908 – Making his initial appearance of the year since having surgery to remove an abscess behind his right ear, Walter Johnson is hit hard in a 4-2 defeat at St. Louis. Johnson departs in the 4th inning and will not pitch again until June 25.
1925 – The 1924 World Series flag is raised at Griffith, but Detroit spoils the festivities with a 7-4 win over the Sens. Ty Cobb knocks in 2 for the Tigers, as “Big Train” Johnson is derailed.
1932 – Washington purchases the contract of RHP Tommy Thomas from the White Sox. The former 19 game winner will be used primarily as a reliever in parts of 4 seasons in Washington, before being traded to the Phillies in May, 1935.
1935 – Al Simmons of the White Sox clubs a grand slam, but the Nats eek out a 9-8 win at Comiskey Park. The Sox come back to split the doubleheader, with a 9-3 victory over Washington.
1937 – On “Zeke Bonura Day” in Chicago, the White Sox slugger collects 3 hits and 5 RBI. The Pale Hose whip the Sens, 14-8.
1958 – The Sens stop Chicago, 5-2, in D.C. behind the 6 hit pitching of Russ Kemmerer. RF Neil Crisley drives in 2 with a 2-run triple, with Roy Sievers, Ken Aspromonte and Kemmerer also picking up RBI’s for Washington.
1968 – The visiting Orioles batter Nats starter Frank Bertaina for 4 runs in 1.1 innings in an 8-4 O’s victory. The loss drops the 24-32 Senators into 10th place, where Jim Lemon‘s men will reside for the remainder of the season.
1969 – The improving Senators dig out from a 4-0 hole, but the A’s pull out a 6-4 win in 13 innings. Reggie Jackson‘s second homer of the night in the top of the 13th off loser Frank Bertaina puts Oakland ahead for good. Sens 2B Bernie Allen collects 3 hits, including a home run off Catfish Hunter, and 2 RBI in a losing cause.
Senators Birthdays
Jacinto (Jack) del Calvo B Jun. 11, 1894 D Jun. 15, 1965
Another early member of the Senators’ “Cuban Connection”, Jack Calvo spent 2 separate stints with the Senators in 1913 and 1920. An outfielder, he appeared in 17 games each season, with dramatically different results. His 1913 playing time saw him go 8 for 33, good for a .242 BA. Unfortunately his time in 1920 saw his BA drop by 199 points when he went 1 for 23, for a .043 BA. He would leave the Senators in June of 1920 and be gone from the major leagues.
