September 21
1901 The Nationals and Blues combine to commit 22 errors in a doubleheader, an AL record that still stands. Washington sweeps Cleveland by the one sided scores of 18-7 and 11-3.
1909 Taking the mound for the first time since August 29th due to a sore arm, Walter Johnson shuts out Detroit, 2-0, in Washington. It is just the Big Train’s 13th victory of the year. The pack leading Tigers gain a 2.5 game lead over Philadelphia with a game one, 3-1, win over the Nationals.
1914 Johnson fans 12 in 13 innings at Chicago in the Nats 6-1 defeat of the White Sox
. Johnson is a bit wild this afternoon, uncorking 4 wild pitches. With the Big Train and Chicago P Red Faber locked in a stalemate through 12 frames, the Nats explode for 5 runs in the 13th, to win going away.1916 Cleveland bests visiting Washington, 3-2. Rookie Tris Speaker is 4-for-6 with a run batted in off Walter Johnson.
1926 At Sportsman Park, the Senators light up St. Louis pitching like a Christmas tree for 17 hits and 11 runs. Washington wins handily, 11-6. Goose Goslin cracks 4 hits, including his 17th HR. All 17 of Goslin’s homers have come away from the spacious Griffith Stadium, the highest home run total for a player who has hit none at home.
1933 It’s time to pop the corks! The Senators are AL champions by virtue of a 2-1 win over the Browns. The
partisan Washington crowd enthusiastically cheers on Lefty Stewart to the victory and the Senators first AL flag in 8 seasons.
1937 The Indian’s Hal Trosky chugs to an inside-the-park grand slam and P Johnny Allen wins his 13th straight, as the Tribe bounce the Nats, 6-3. Former Indian Wes Ferrell is the loser for Washington.
1958 At Fenway‚ Ted Williams doubles home a run, in the Red Sox, 2-0, shutout. However, Williams flings a bat into the crowd after being called out on strikes in the 3rd. The flying bat strikes Gladys Heffernan, Joe Cronin’s housekeeper, in the face. Fortunately, Hefferman is not seriously hurt and Williams is extremely apologetic. AL President Will Harridge fines Williams for the incident.
1971 Bob Short’s dirty deed is now officially done. At the special AL owners meeting in Chicago, Joseph Danzansky, president of Giant Food Inc., makes an 11th hour bid to purchase the franchise. The AL owners reject his bid, citing Danzansky’s financing as “thin”. After Danzansky’s presentation was turned down, Short adressed the owners and stated, “You know what I want. I want to move to Texas.” At 11:30 p.m., the AL owners grant Short’s wish by a 10-2 vote. Major League Baseball will not return to the capital for 34 years. (Source: Washington’s Expansion Senators, by James R. Hartley)
Senators Birthdays
James Clark (born James Petrosky) B Sep. 21, 1927 D Oct. 24, 1990
One Season Wonder Jim Clark spent 3 weeks on the Senators roster in 1948, batting .250 in 12 at bats, playing in 1 game each at shortstop and third base.
Joseph Walton Haynes B Sep. 21, 1917 D Jan. 6, 1967
Pitcher Joe Haynes spent 14 years in the major leagues beginning in 1939 with the Washington Senators. Purchased by the Chicago White Sox after the 1940 season, his most successful year would be 1947, when he posted a 14-6 record. He’d be named to the 1948 All Star Team but would not play in the game.
After 8 seasons in a White Sox uniform, he was traded after the 1948 season to the Cleveland Indians. However he’d be traded again, just 3 weeks later, back to the Washington Senators, along with Ed Klierman and Eddie Robinson in exchange for Mickey Vernon amd Early Wynn.
Haynes would spend 4 more years with the Senators, his best year in a Washington uniform would be 1950 when he’d go 7-5. Haynes would be released by Washington after the 1952 season, bringing his major league career to a close.
Elmer John Smith B Sep. 21, 1892 D Aug. 3, 1984
Outfielder Elmer Smith debuted with the Cleveland Indians as a 21 year old rookie in 1914, one day before his 22nd birthday. Traded to the Washington Senators along with Joe Leonard for Joe Boehling and Danny Moeller, Smith would appear in 45 games with Washington in 1916, hitting .298. Starting the 1917 season in Washington, Smith would play in 35 games for the Senators before the Indians thought better of the trade and purchased him back from Washington.
Smith would stay in Cleveland through 1921, although he wouldn’t play during the 1918 season, appearing in the 1920 World Series with the Indians against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Traded to the Boston Red Sox, Smith would play in 73 games for Boston before being traded again, this time to the New York Yankees. Smith would appear in 2 games for the Yankees in the 1922 World Series against the New York Giants.
Traded to Louisville of the American Association prior to the 1924 season, Smith would end his major league career in 1925, playing in 96 games for the Cincinnati Reds.
