Category: D.C. Baseball History

D.C. Baseball History

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

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 …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

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 …

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Mantle’s Tape Measure Home Run

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 …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

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 …

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Strasburg’s professional debut

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 …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

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 …

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Looking Back on Jackie Robinson Day – Washington Senators were Behind the Times

The Washington Senators failure to change with the time when it came to signing black ball players probably was one of the reasons the Senators stayed in the bottom tier of the American League. On September 6, 1954, Cuban born Carlos Paula played in his first game with the Washington Senators, making Paula the first …

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Rookie Joe McClain Posts the Expansion Senators’ First Win

Having lost their first game to the White Sox on Opening Day, April 10, 1961, the expansion Senators were idle for two days due to inclement weather. By Friday evening, April 14, the rain moved on, and a 27-year-old rookie pitcher walked to the mound to start the opener of a three-game series against the …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

April 14 1910 President William Howard Taft, 27th president of the United States starts an American tradition by throwing out the ceremonial “first pitch”. Catching the ball is Senators pitcher Walter Johnson who throws a one-hitter, winning 3-0 over the Philadelphia Athletics. The only hit for the A’s is a Frank Baker double. 1961 Washington’s …

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William H. Taft starts new tradition

Many great baseball traditions started here in the Nation’s Capital. One of the most famous of these traditions is throwing out the first pitch on opening day by the President of the United States. On April 14, 1910, William H. Taft started the tradition after umpire Billy Evans handed him the baseball. To the joy …

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