September 29
1913 On George McBride Day, honoring the Nats SS, Walter Johnson collects his 36th victory of the year, beating the A’s, 1-0.
1924 Babe Ruth wakes his slumbering teammates to deliver the bad news: The Senators are the
American League champions. With the Yankees rained out in Philadelphia, Washington clinches their first pennant in Boston by a 4-2 score.1933 In front of their upcoming World Series opponents, the Giants, the Senators roll to an early 5-0 advantage over the Yankees to win in the Bronx, 8-5. Heinie Manush doubles and homers for 3 RBI. Lou Gehrig consecutive game streak remains intact after getting married at noon before today’s game.
1963 Mercifully, the season comes to a close for the Sens in Chicago. Washington avoids loss number 107 by whipping the White Sox, 9-2. Claude Osteen strikes out 9 in the complete game. Osteen is backed by 13 hits, with Minnie Minoso leading the way with 3. Ken Hunt, purchased earlier in the month from the Dodgers, hits his 1st HR as a Nat. Dave Nicholson of the Pale Hose strikes out for a ML record 175th time in 126 games!
Senators Birthdays
Michael Francis McCormick B Sep. 29, 1938 D Jun. 6, 2020
There have been 3 players known as “Mike McCormick” in major league history.
The first spent the 1904 season as a 3rd baseman with the Brooklyn Superbas.
The second was an outfielder who played from 1940 through 1951, finishing his career with the original Senators and was covered on May 6th.
The Mike McCormick of note on today’s Senators birthday list began his career in 1956 with the New York Giants. A pitcher, Mike McCormick #3 would remain with the franchise as it shifted to San Francisco after the 1957 season and would have some active seasons in the “City by the Bay”, posting records of 11-8 in 1956, 12-16 in 1959, 15-12 in 1960 and 13-16 in 1961, making the All Star team in 1960 and 1961.
After the 1962 season, McCormick would be traded to the Baltimore Orioles. After 2 years in Baltimore, McCormick was traded again, this time to the expansion Senators for minor leaguer Steve Herman and $20,000.
Pitching in Washington for the 1965 and 1966 seasons, McCormick would post records of 8-8 and 11-14.
Traded again after the 1966 season, back to the franchise where it started, the Giants for Bob Priddy and Cap Peterson, McCormick would have the best season in his career, going 22-10 with a 2.85 ERA and winning the Cy Young Award.
McCormick would stay in San Francisco through mid-July of 1970 when he was traded to the New York Yankees.
Released by the Yankees prior to the start of the 1971 season, he’d be signed by the Kansas City Royals. After just 4 games in Kansas City, he’d be released again in early June, ending his major league career.
