August 15
1916 – His record falling to 0-3 against Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson does not receive run support in dropping a 1-0, 13 inning decision to Boston. The Big Train gives up only 5 hits in 12 innings. Ruth allows only one hit from the 7th inning on, an infield single to the speedy Clyde Milan. Milan also robs the Bambino of a home run in the bottom of the 12th inning.
1923 – Against Chicago, Nat P George Mogridge becomes the only pitcher to steal home in extra innings when he scores in the top of the 12th in the Senators 5-1 victory.
1941 – In “The case of the missing groundskeepers”, Washington devises a unique way to lose a game. The Nats seemingly defeat the Red Sox at Griffith, 6-3, in an 8 inning, rain shortened contest. But Clark Griffith‘s son-in-law and Boston manager Joe Cronin protests the game because Washington did not cover the field in case the game is resumed. The protest is upheld by AL President Will Harridge on August 28th and Harridge awards Boston the game via forfeit.
1965 – Capping a 9-8 road trip, the Senators complete a rare sweep of the Orioles, 4-2. Senator scoring consists of RBI singles from Mike Brumley, Willie Kirkland and winning pitcher Pete Richert. Woodie Held adds insurance with his 13th long ball in the 9th to stake Washington to a 4-0 lead. Richert runs into trouble in the bottom of the 9th, but Ron Kline induces Boog Powell to line to right for the game’s final out.
Senators Birthdays
Joseph Felix Casey B Aug. 15, 1887 D Jun. 2, 1966
Catcher Joe Casey would only ever appear in 50 major league games over the span of 4 seasons. Only 9 of those games were with the Senators.
Making his major league debut with the 1909 Detroit Tigers, Casey played in 3 games in 1909, 23 games in 1910 and 15 games in 1911.
Casey would then take a 6 year hiatus from the major leagues, returning for 9 games with the 1918 Washington Senators. He’d go 4 for 17 at the plate, a .235 BA, with 2 RBIs and play in his last game in late August.
Charles Edward Moyer B Aug. 15, 1885 D Nov. 18, 1962
Senators Short Timer Ed Moyer pitched in 6 games during the 1910 season. In 25 IP, he’d give up 22 hits, 15 runs (9 earned) and depart with an 0-3 record and an ERA of 3.24.
Charles Andrew (Cap) Peterson B Aug. 15, 1942 D May 16, 1980
Utility man Cap Peterson first appeared in the majors with the 1962 San Francisco Giants, playing in 4 games in September. He’d stay with the Giants through 1966, playing all infield positions except catcher and in the outfield.
Traded to the Washington Senators, along with Bob Priddy for Mike McCormick after the 1966 season, Peterson would find his niche as an outfielder and enjoy his most active season in 1967, playing in 122 games and hitting .240 with 17 doubles, 2 triples 8 homers and 46 RBI.
Staying with the Senators in 1968, he’d only hit .204 and his playing time would decrease to 94 games.
Prior to the start of the 1969 season, Peterson would be traded to the Cleveland Indians for minor leaguer George Woodson. He’d play in 76 games for the Indians, his major league career ending at the end of the ’69 season.
John Joseph (Jack) Warner B Aug. 15, 1872 D Dec. 21, 1943
Jack Warner began his 14 year major league career way back in 1895 with the Boston National League franchise, then known as the “Beaneaters”. Prior to the end of the season, he’d be on the roster of the Louisville Colonels when that Kentucky city was a major league outpost.
Beginning the 1896 season in Louisville, Warner would be back on the eastern seaboard with the New York Giants after 33 games in a Louisville uniform.
Warner would stay with the Giants through the 1901 season, but in 1902 would jump to the Boston American League franchise.
In an example of the “grass being greener on the other side of the fence”, Warner would jump back to the Giants for the 1903 season and stay there through 1904.
Purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals, Warner would start the 1905 season in St. Louis but would be purchased again in early August, this time by the Detroit Tigers.
Warner would stay on the Detroit roster for just over 1 year, when he’d be purchased one last time, this time by the Washington Senators in mid-August of 1906. A catcher, Warner would finish his major league career in Washington, playing in 32 games in 1906, 72 games in 1907 and 51 games in 1908.
Warner’s best year in Washington was in 1907 when he went 53 for 207, good for a .256 BA with 5 doubles and 17 RBIs.
