Category: D.C. Baseball History

D.C. Baseball History

This Date in Washington Senators History

January 24 An unusual day, with 5 Senators Short Timers all having been born on this date… Senators Birthdays Robert Leon Berman B Jan. 24, 1899 D Aug. 2, 1988 Catcher Bob Berman would be on the Senators roster for 9 days in 1918. He’d appear in 2 games, catching 1 and going 0-2 at …

Continue reading

This Date in Washington Senators History

January 23 1958 –  Another poor trade for the Senators as they exchange shortstop Pete Runnels to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Albie Pearson and first baseman Norm Zauchin. Runnels will win two batting titles, in 1960 and 1962, having missed a third title by six points in 1958. Pearson will play in just …

Continue reading

This Date in Washington Senators History

January 22 The Washington Senators newsfront is about as bleak as the weather this time of year with nothing of interest worth reporting. Even the birthdays are bleak today as we report on 2 Senators Short Timers… Senators Birthdays John Alexander Milligan B Jan. 22, 1904 D May 15, 1972 John Milligan begans his days …

Continue reading

This Date in Washington Senators History

January 21 Senators Birthdays Sabath Anthony (Sam) Mele B Jan. 21, 1922 Still Living Outfielder and sometime 1st baseman Sam Mele began his major league journey in 1946 when he was signed by the Boston Red Sox. Making his debut in the majors at the start of the 1947 season, Mele would hit .302 in …

Continue reading

This Date in Washington Senators History

January 20 Senators Birthdays Jesse Terrill Hill B Jan. 20, 1907 D Aug. 31, 1993 Outfielder Jesse Hill first made his way to the majors as a 28 year old rookie in 1935 with the New Yrok Yankees. Playing in 107 games, he’d hit .293, scoring 69 runs, collecting 115 hits and stealing 14 bases. …

Continue reading

The Legacy of Griffith Stadium

I would like to discuss the “Legacy of Griffith Stadium” and some of those wonderful memories of a time in the not so distant past – unfortunately memories are just about all that is left for those who remember major league baseball in Washington DC before the current Washington Nationals. This may serve as a …

Continue reading

This Date in Washington Senators History

1965 Coaches Danny O’ Connell and Hobie Landrith resign. They are replaced by Rube Walker and Joe Pignatano. Pignatano and Walker are both former major league catchers and both spent time on the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Senators Birthdays Arnold (Chick) Gandil B Jan. 19, 1888 D Dec. 13, 1970 1st baseman Chick Gandil …

Continue reading

So Close To 300

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 …

Continue reading

This Date in Washington Senators History

January 18 1969 The last-place Washington Senators name former Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams as their new manager. Williams signs a five-year contract worth a reported salary of $75,000 per season. In Williams’ inaugural season as a manager, the Senators will finish with a record of 86-76, the best mark (and their only over …

Continue reading

Growing Up at Griffith Stadium

In keeping with our theme of ‘timeless baseball” I thought it might be of interest to remember some of my childhood days as the son of a major league baseball player. I was very fortunate to have literally “grown up” at Griffith Stadium in Washington DC, where my dad had patrolled the outfield for the …

Continue reading