August 4
1908 – In a 7-5 loss at Cleveland‚ the Nationals’ Otis Clymer and Jim Delahanty draw suspensions for verbally abusing umpire Silk O’Loughlin. Delahanty‚ fined $50 by Ban Johnson, is banned from the Cleveland ballpark for one year for his behavior‚ though he denies that the language he used could be heard all over the park. The ban will end at the start of the 1909 season.
1911 – It’s twice as nice for the Nats, brooming Chicago, 1-0 in 11 innings, and 3-2. Walter Johnson, as usual, goes the distance in the overtime affair. Sox SS Lee Tannehill, in the opener, becomes the first shortstop to record two unassisted double plays in the same game.
1918 – Behind a 6 run top of the 1st in Detroit, the Senators sail past the Tigers, 7-0. Ty Cobb is hitless off winning pitcher Doc Ayers. The Sens miss numerous opportunities to put away the Bengals in game two, a 7-6 loss in 18 innings. Cobb nails Clyde Milan at home in the 13th, while Tiger SS Donie Bush guns down 2 Nationals at the plate in the 14th. Cobb’s double in the 18th off Johnson makes Detroit the victors. Johnson allows 16 hits and 8 walks in 17.2 innings.
1939 – In Washington’s 6-5 home win over the Pale Hose, Chicago’s Mike Kreevich equals a ML record by bouncing into 3 consecutive double plays.
1945 – In a 12 run, Boston top of the 4th, Red Sox Tom McBride drives home 6 runs in the inning, tying a ML mark.
Bert Shepard
The Red Sox win, going away, 15-4. World War II hero Bert Shepard is summoned by manager Ossie Bluege and pitches 5.1 innings, giving up 1 run and 3 hits, in his first, and final, action in the major leagues. In the opener, Washington P Wally Holborow records his 1st, and only, victory as a Nat, a 4-0 blanking.
1964 – The struggling Senators score all their runs on singles in a 4-2 victory at Cleveland. The Tribe’s Pedro Ramos is chased from the box after 1 plus innings. Don Blasingame has 2 RBI’s, with Eddie Brinkman and Fred Valentine accounting for the other 2 Washington runs.
Senators Birthdays
James Alton Coates B Aug. 4, 1932 D Nov. 15, 2019
Jim Coates was signed by the New York Yankees in 1951 but wouldn’t appear in the majors until 1956. Pitching just 2 innings, he wouldn’t return to the Yankees roster until 1959.
Coates would remain with the Yankees through 1962, going 13-3 in 1960 and 11-5 in 1961. He’d also pitch in the World Series of 1960, 1961 & 1962, and be a part of the All Star teams of 1960 & 1961.
Traded by the Yankees to the Senators for Steve Hamilton, Coates would pitch in 20 games for the 1963 Senators, compiling a 2-4 record with an ERA of 5.28.
In July of ’63, Coates would be purchased by the Cincinnati Reds where he’d finish the season.
Coates would not appear in the majors in 1964 and in late July of 1965 would be traded by the Reds to the California Angels. He’d play in portions of the 1965, 1966 & 1967 seasons for the Angels and would end his major league career in late September of 1967.
Henry Peter Coppola B Aug. 4, 1912 D Jul. 10, 1990
Senators Short Timer Henry Coppola played for the Senators in 1935 and 1936.
First appearing for the Senators in mid-April of 1935, Coppola would pitch in 19 games, compile a 3-4 record in 59 innings and finish the season with a 5.92 ERA.
He’d return with the Senators in 1936 but would only pitch in 6 games, finishing with no official W/L record and a 4.50 ERA, playing in his last game in early May of that year.
Dennis Dean Higgins B Aug. 4, 1939 Still Living
First signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1958, Dennis Higgins wouldn’t make his major league debut until April of 1966. Pitching for the White Sox in 1966 & 1967, Higgins would be traded, along with Ron Hansen and Steve Jones to the Senators in exchange for Tim Cullen, Buster Narum and Bob Priddy.
On the Senators roster in 1968 and 1969, Higgins would have 2 of his most active seasons, going 4-4 in 1968 with a 3.25 ERA and returning in 1969, going 10-9 with a 3.48 ERA.
After the 1969 season, Higgins found himself being traded again, this time with Barry Moore, going to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Dave Nelson, Horacio Pina and Ron Law.
After 1 season in Cleveland, Higgins was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals where he’d play in 1971 & 1972, finishing his 7 year major league career.
