D.C. Baseball History
Apr 20
April 20 1944 –Elmer John Gedeon, an outfielder who played in 5 games with the 1939 Senators, is killed when his Army Air Corps plane is shot down over St. Pol, France. He was the first major leaguer to be killed in WWII and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. (See April 15th birthday.) Senators …
Apr 20
On this day in 1951 the Washington Senators invited Harry S. Truman the 33rd President of the United States of America to throw out the first pitch at the team’s home opener on April 20, 1951. The President who is baseball fan accepts the invitation. The President must have been aware that he may not …
Apr 19
April 19 1920 Al Schacht, who later became the “Clown Prince of Baseball,” was all business as he pitched the Senators to a 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. 1961 The expansion Senators lose their first road game in Chicago by a score of 6-1. Former Senators pitcher Early (Gus) Wynn gets the 286th victory …
Apr 18
April 18 1960 – Playing their last season in Washington, the original Senators start the season with a 10-1 win over the Boston Red Sox. Ted Williams, playing in his last season, would hit a 500 foot home run in his first at bat, giving him a career total of 493, tying him with Lou …
Apr 17
By Jeff Stuart In their inaugural 2005 season the Washington Nationals played exceptionally well for the first half of the season. At the mid-season point, after winning 9 of 10 and sweeping the Pirates at home and the Cubs in Chicago, their record stood at 51-30. They were in first place on July 4. Then …
Apr 17
April 17 1913 Having already defeated the newly renamed New York Yankees on Opening Day in Washington, the Senators travel to New York for the Yankees first ever game at the Polo Grounds. The Senators spoil New York’s debut, winning 9-3. 1951 In the first ever “Opening Day” night game, the Senators defeat the Philadelphia …
Apr 17
He did not play for the Senators but he sure made a lot of history when he played against the Senators in Washington. The person I am referring to is Mickey Mantle. Mickey Mantle must have loved spring time in the Nation’s Capital as he hit some of the longest home runs ever recorded. It …
Apr 16
April 16 1940 On Opening Day at Griffith Stadium, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt throws the ceremonial first pitch. The Washington Senators, enroute to a 64-90 record and 7th place finish, lose to Lefty Grove and the Boston Red Sox by the score of 1 – 0. 1940 Washington Senators roster Senators Birthdays Bernard Keith …
Apr 16
April 16, 2010 Harrisburg, PA Washington Nationals 21 year-old prospect ,Stephen Strasburg can’t control the rainy weather on the day of his professional debut. At Metro Bank Park, a record 7,895 crowd withstand multiple rain and lightning delays. For a brief time the power actually went out at the stadium. Strasburg will only throw 2.1 …
Apr 15
April 15 April 15, 1957-President Dwight Eisenhower throws out the traditional first pitch of the year. The ball that the President tossed was the 10th millionth Spalding baseball to be used in Major League Baseball play. Camilo Pascual suffers the defeat as the Senators fall to the Orioles 7-6 in 11 innings in front of …
