Most commented posts
- Zimmerman at Aberdeen — 2 comments
- The World Champion 1880 Washington Nationals, The Players — 1 comment
- The Dummy Hoy Story — 1 comment
- The First Nationals — 1 comment
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Kevin Flynn
Author's posts
Nov 11
Veterans Day Special – James “Jimmy” Trimble III
During work on an article on the connection between Washington baseball and Japan I came upon the story of Mr. James, “Jimmy” Trimble. While some have read about him, I found it compelling enough to submit it. Trimble played for St. Albans was the best high school pitcher in the District. A natural athlete he …
Jun 17
Trouble at Home
It is the tenth of July in the hot summer of 1879. Washington is home, hosting the nine from Holyoke. Both teams play in the National Association. The Nationals boys seem to have recovered their batting qualities, and the way they pounded Mickey Welch shows that they are capable of handling any pitcher if they …
Jun 07
Hoy Returns
In 1892 Dummy Hoy, now 30 years old, and a four year veteran returns to the District. The landscape has greatly changed since he left in to play for the 1890 Brotherhood team in Buffalo. The rival American Association is dead and, the League, the National League, to non-baseball fans, rules the baseball world. Washington …
Oct 08
Washington’s First Post Season Series
On 8 October 1880, an Inter-league playoff series is hastily arranged between the Washington Nationals, champions of the National Association and the Chicago White Stockings, champions of the National League. The games will be played in Washington and Baltimore. The National League Champion Chicago White Stockings The White Stockings finished first in the National League …
May 04
The Great Grasshopper
In 1887 Sporting Life lists an All Star line-up from a noted Boston crank. Here is the list, Jim Whitney, P; Charlie Bennett, C; Cap Anson, lb; Hardy Richardson, 2b; Buck Ewing, 3b.; John Ward, SS; Jim O’Rourke. Lf; Paul Hines, Cf; Sam Thompson, Rf. Pretty good nine! But Jim Whitney? You may well ask. …
Jun 06
Sunday Baseball!
Having read Mark’s article on the historic first night game ever played in Washington we thought it might be interesting to post the account of the first Sunday game to be played in Washington. The first professional baseball games to be played in the area took place in Alexandria in 1885. On 14 May 1918, …
May 03
The District’s First World Series Game
The first World Series game to be played in the District took place in 1887. Frederick Stearns, President of the National Champion Detroit franchise challenged the American Association St, Louis Club to a post season World Series. The series would be played not only in the home series but on the road in other League …
May 02
Umpire Leaves game under police protection.
Thursday 2 September 1897 Pittsburgh 6 Washington 5 The concluding game of the series between the Pittsburgh’s and Washington’s at National Park was brought to a sensational finish in the eighth inning when Umpire Kick Kelly called the game with two out, two runs in, a man on third and one run necessary to tie …
Apr 30
1897 Violence on the Field
1897 saw an increase in rowydism. None suffered more than the umpires. While the 1897 Mercer Ladies day riot has gotten some press there was one incident in Cincinnati that gets little mention. Cincinnati, Aug. 4. On account of threatening weather only two thousand persons witnessed today’s double header. In the first game Billy Rhines …
Apr 29
The District’s First Professional Baseball Game
RM Larner, the distinguished sports writers takes pen in hand to reminisce about the first professional base ball game played in Washington, 5 July 1866. The first time the people of Washington were called upon to pay an admission fee to witness a game of baseball in this city was in the summer of 1866. …
