August 5
1902 – Rookie pitcher Otto Hess of the Bronchoes, making his second start since being signed at an open tryout, struggles his way to a 7-6, 10 inning victory in Cleveland. SS Johnny Gochnauer, who sustained a broken finger earlier in the contest, doubles in the tying run in the 8th and belts another two bagger for the win in the 10th. The Nats test Hess’ mettle by dropping down 14 bunts, 3 of which are misplayed by Hess. Casey Patten of Washington absorbs the loss.
1909 – With today’s home doubleheader with Cleveland, the Nationals complete a ML record of playing 8 straight doubleheaders. In today’s twin bill, Washington falls in the opener, 9-4 and wins the finale, 2-0. The Boston Braves will break the Nationals record in 1928.
1912 – At Comiskey Park‚ the White Sox see their chance for victory go out the window when Walter Johnson comes on in relief in the 8th. With the score tied, 7-7, Johnson pitches 2 hitless frames and drives home the winning run in the 10th, for the 8-7 victory. The Big Train is now 9-1 against the Pale Hose this season.
1929 – Walter Johnson‘s first season in the managerial seat has been trying, with the Sens sitting in 6th place, 21 games below .500. But Barney maybe smiled today with the offensive fireworks his club put on display against Detroit. Every Nat starter in the lineup collects a hit, with Sam Rice and Buddy Myer blazing the way with 4 apiece. Washington accumulates 21 hits overall in a 21-5 steamrolling of the Tigers in Griffith. Lost in this laugher is Bengal great Charlie Gehringer‘s 3 triples off winner Lloyd Brown.
1949 – Luke Appling of the White Sox establishes the then ML record of appearing in his 2,154th game at SS, passing Rabbit Maranville‘s mark. Mickey Haefner, purchased by Chicago from the Senators less than a month ago, defeats his hapless former team, 4-1, in the nation’s capital.
1959 – In the first of two against the Tribe in D.C., the Senators, losers of 17 straight, look to be on their way to a win. But Cleveland has other ideas, dropping a 6 spot on the Sens in the 7th inning of a 7-3 Sens loss. 19 year old Zoilo Versalles hits his first big league homer to deep center in the 3rd off winning pitcher Mudcat Grant. In the 2nd match, Washington finally gets off the mat and ends their losing streak at 18, winning, 9-0. Harmon Killebrew unleashes his 34th long ball of the year, a 3-run blast to left. Killebrew drives home 4 on a 2-for 4 performance at the plate. Bob Allison is also 2-of-4, with 2 RBI, while P Tex Clevenger contributes 1 RBI.
1962 – Tom Cheney pitches magnificently in the first of two in Fenway, a 2-0 Senator victory. Boston batsmen cannot solve Cheney, scratching out only 4 hits and striking out 8 times against the Washington righthander. In game two, Sens 3B Bob Johnson‘s throwing error in the 11th inning allows the winning run to score in a 5-4 Red Sox win.
1966 – The high flying Orioles are grounded by the Nats at Memorial Stadium, 4-2. Ken McMullen and Fred Valentine hit back-to-back home runs in the 1st off Eddie Watt. Sens P Bob Humphries pitches 7.1 innings of 2 hit relief to gain the win.
Senators Birthdays
Walter Howard (Slim) McGrew B Aug. 5, 1899 D Aug. 21, 1967
Slim McGrew played in parts of 3 seasons for the Senators but only appeared in a grand total of 10 games.
First taking the mound for the Senators in mid-April of 1922, McGrew would only appear in 1 game that season. He play in 3 games in 1923 and 6 games in 1924, departing the Senators, and the majors, with an 0-1 record and an ERA of 6.60.
