Category: D.C. Baseball History

D.C. Baseball History

American League players drawn by Vic Johnson – Eddie Yost

From the Mickey Vernon Museum, American League Baseball players drawn by Vic Johnson. This caricature of Eddie Yost is just one of a series of 19 caricatures of American League baseball players drawn by Vic Johnson during 1957. This caricature of Eddie Yost and the other 18, is taken from a composite collection of those illustrations and …

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Mickey makes the Majors

Mickey Vernon died on September 24, 2008.  Two months before he died, he and I were taking a trip to the Philadelphia A’s Historical Society to visit his old friend Ernie Montella the executive director.  While in the car, I asked him to proof read a card set that we were producing to celebrate his baseball career.  I was happy when Mickey gave …

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Veterans Day Special – From Senator To Sailor

The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, located in Delaware County, PA,  is a non-profit museum with the purpose of celebrating the life and career of Mickey himself and the athletes of his home county.  It is funded strictly by donations. Mickey Vernon died on September 24, 2008.  Two months before he died, he and I were taking a trip to …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – 1924 Pennant Race – 1969 Senators’ are Winners

1924 Pennant Race – The Senators lead Yanks by One game September 26 – Boston, MA The Boston Red Sox beat the first place Washington Senators 2-1 in front of 12,000 spectators at Fenway Park. The Senators’ loss and the Yankees’ 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics left the Senators with only a one game …

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Better Late than Never

Better Late than Never On this day in the year of 1954 the Washington Senators played a black ballplayer for the first time. His name was Carlos Paula and he was from Havana, Cuba. The 26 year-old Paula started in left field for the Senators on September 6, 1954 seven years after Jackie Robinson made his Major …

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When the Stars (and so Much Else) Came to Washington

So many years have passed since the nation’s capital last hosted baseball’s All-Star game that most people have forgotten the unique, unforgettable events that took place before and during the 1969 midsummer classic as well as one of the many fiascos one Robert E. Short committed during his sad, incompetent tenure as the Washington Senators’ …

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The Big Train gives up First Earned Run in 55 Innings

May 14, 1913 – Washington Senators’ Walter Johnson streak of consecutive shutout innings pitched ended at 55 2/3 innings. The Senators star pitcher gave up a run against the St. Louis Browns in the 4th inning of the game that was played at Sportsman’s Park. Johnson improved his record to 8-0 as the Senators outscored …

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Remembering Mickey Vernon on his Birthday

James Barton “Mickey” Vernon who was born on April 22, 1918 in Marcus Hook, PA, made his Major League and Washington Senator debut on July 8, 1939. In his first game Vernon went 1 for 5 at the plate and played first base as the Senators beat the Philadelphia Athletics 6-3. During the rest of …

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IN THE SPRING…

“IN THE SPRING A YOUNG MAN’S FANCY LIGHTLY TURNS TO THOUGHTS OF LOVE”.….and baseball! The great, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate of the UK, penned these famous words in his poem, Locksley Hall….and as baseball players and fans for many generations have added…..and baseball! With the 2012 spring training season “just around the corner” I …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History

Twins Executive Vice President Joe Haynes suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow at his Hopkins , Minnesota home on January 6, 1967 and died at the age of 49. Haynes was signed by the Washington Senators as a free agent in 1937. During spring training in 1938 Haynes met and became smitten with Thelma …

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