September 7
1907 – After getting swept yesterday at Boston, Washington turns the tables on the Red Sox today. Walter Johnson outduels Boston’s Cy Morgan, 1-0, the first of the Big Train’s 38 career 1-0 wins. Washington wins the second game, 4-1.
1908 – Carrying only 3 pitchers on the trip to New York, Nationals manager Joe Cantillion once again turns to his young phenom, Walter Johnson. Barney, despite getting struck in the ribs by a Jack Chesbro spitball, delivers again, collecting his 3rd shutout in 4 days against the Highlanders, 4-0. Johnson had blanked New York in the first two games of this series, 3-0 and 6-0. In the second game of this holiday doubleheader, the Highlanders finally score off Nats P Tom Hughes, but the Nationals coast, 9-3.
1925 – Losers of 10 straight, 2nd place Philadelphia needs a sweep of a 4 game home series against the Senators to get back into the pennant chase. Front running Washington promptly dashes the A’s hopes by sweeping a twinbill, 2-1 and 7-6. Winner Walter Johnson strokes 3 hits off Lefty Grove in the A.M. game. In the P.M contest, 36,000 look on as the A’s drop their 12th straight, falling 9 games off the pace.
1928 – Now bystanders in the pennant race, the Nats bounce the Yankees in a pair in the Bronx, 11-0 and 6-1. Nats P Bump Hadley and Firpo Marberry record the victories. The Yanks, who had a 13.5 game lead on July 1, are now tied atop the standings with Philadelphia.
1941 – In a Sunday doubleheader at Shibe Park, the Sens broom the A’s, 3-2 and 4-2. Rookie Early Wynn collects the 1st of his 300 career victories in the nightcap, scattering 6 hits. Sadly, only 73 of those 300 wins comes in a Washington uniform.
1953 – Bobo Newsom, now an Athletic and in his final season, gets roasted by the Senators in the first of two, 13-2. Eddie Yost scores 5 times in the rout. The Senators complete the job in game two, behind Bob Porterfield, winning, 6-3.
1954 – A crowd of 460 gather in Griffith Stadium, the smallest attendance in Griffith Stadium history, to witness the Nats win over the A’s. Washington’s Ed Fitz Gerald‘s run scoring single in the 8th proves to be the difference in the 5-4 victory.
1969 – Not known for his long ball prowess, Del Unser‘s 10th inning, pinch hit, home run off Jim Lonborg is the pivotal blow in the Nat’s 3-2 win in Fenway. Frank Howard powers his 44th homer of the year off Lonborg in the 6th. Casey Cox (11-5) pitches 5 innings of no run relief for starter Jim Hannan, who is chased from the rubber after the 4th.
Senators Birthdays
John Anthony Flynn B 9/7/1883 D 3/23/1935
First baseman John Flynn began his 3 year major league career as a 26 year old rookie with the 1910 version of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Playing in 96 games, Flynn would hit .274 with 10 doubles, 2 triples and 6 home runs. Back with the Pirates in 1911, Flynn’s BA would drop over 70 points and he’d be sold to St. Paul of the American Association in August of that year.
Drafted by Washington, Flynn would play in 20 games for the Senators in 1912 where his BA would drop another 34 points and he’d be gone from the Senators, and the major leagues, in mid-May.
Henry Edson (Eddie) Matteson B Sep. 7, 1884 D Sep. 1, 1943
Eddie Matteson spent 2 years in the majors, pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1914 and spending a portion of 1918 with the Washington Senators.
Debuting with the Phillies in late May of 1914, Matteson would post a 3-2 record with a 3.10 ERA.
Returning to the major leagues in 1918, Matteson would go 5-3 for the Senators with a respectable 1.73 ERA but would disappear from the majors after that season.
“Eddie” Matteson career record
William Fort McAfee B Sep. 7, 1907 D Jul. 8, 1958
Bill McAfee began his 5 year major league sojurn in 1930, appearing in 2 games for the Chicago Cubs. Traded to the Boston Braves, McAfee would appear in 18 games for the Braves in 1931, posting an 0-1 record with a 6.37 ERA.
In early August of the 1931 season, McAfee was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, then of the International League.
Making his way on to the Senators roster for the 1932 season, McAfee would have his best year, going 6-1 in 8 games with a 3.92 ERA. 1933 would find McAfee still with the Senators, pitching in 27 games where he’d go 3-2 but would see his ERA rise to 6.62.
Sent to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1933 season as the “Player to be named later” in a trade for Ed Chapman, McAfee was purchased by the St. Louis Browns prior to the start of the 1934 season.
McAfee would have his most active season with the Browns, pitching in 28 games for 61.2 innings. He’d finish the season with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 5.84, marking the end of his major league career.
