Over the years Washington players have taken different, often bizarre routes, to the majors. Some like Bert Shepard had to make a detour on the way that took him over Nazi Germany. Lew Drill’s case is unique. He probably never desired a professional career. He was a student at Georgetown working towards his law degree. …
Category: Uncategorized
Aug 01
The “Sad Sack” Senator
Harry Sterling Wolverton arrived in Washington on October 1901, along with Ed Delehanty, John Townsend and Al Orth. All had been pirated from the Philadelphia Phillies. Delehanty was the big catch. He was the premier heavy hitter in baseball. His line drives were feared by League third baseman and were coined Del’s bunts. There was …
Jul 22
The Art of Pitching by Al Orth
Al Orth wrote this article in the spring of 1902 just after jumping from the Phillies to Washington. Orth was 29 years old in 1902 and a veteran of 7 years in the majors. In 1902 he was 19-18 with an ERA of 3.97. In his 15 years in the majors he won 104 games. …
Jul 19
Good Ol’ Days: Fans Get Behind Nats in Turn-Back, Comeback Win
Remember when most of the noise at a baseball game came from the fans, themselves, and not from loud music or recorded sound cues, or in response to from flashing scoreboard signs imploring everyone to “get loud?” Remember when the fans knew on their own when to clap in rhythm to urge the pitcher to …
Jul 08
“Bam-Bam” Makes the Cut: Harper Heading to All-Star Game
Keeping tabs on Bryce Harper‘s All-Star bid this season has been just like watching him play. Even when he struggles, the guy known to teammates as “Bam-Bam” keeps trying, keeps pushing and remains aggressive, diving after balls, stealing bases and sliding in head first. In the end, his tenacity and aggressiveness paid off, and he …
Jul 03
Our newest contributor Russ White
Folks when I started DCBH last December I knew I would invite a few D.C. baseball historians to contribute stories to the site. I wanted to try to bring to our readers a full range of stories about the players and teams that make up Washington baseball history. I believe our newest contributor Russ White …
Jun 21
This week’s Glovegate Wasn’t Nats’ first, or Worst
For many longtime Nats fans, Tuesday night’s feud between Nationals manager Davey Johnson and Tampa Bay skipper Joe Maddon over reliever Joel Peralta‘s pine tar-laden glove sparked memories of the team’s first season in Washington. In fact, it was nearly seven years to the day, on June 14, 2005, and many of the key folks …
Jun 19
Another Failed Test, But No Time to Wallow
Another big weekend series against one of baseball’s top teams, another setback. Instead of showing that they can play with the hottest team in baseball, the Nats let the New York Yankees have their way at Nats Park, losing two games that weren’t even close and a 14-inning heartbreaker that showed there is still considerable …
Jun 17
Thinking about Dave Stenhouse on this Father’s Day
To all the dads out there, I wish you a happy Father’s Day today. And here’s a special shout out to former Washington Senator Dave Stenhouse. Dave, who started the 1962 All-Star Game as a rookie hurler for the Senators, is the father of former major leaguer Michael Stenhouse and Dave Stenhouse, Jr., who regrettably never got …
Jun 14
Why is MLB Trying to Pay A Dead Washington Senator?
Outfielder Roberto Ortiz, who was born in Camaguey, Cuba in 1915, had a respectable, if abbreviated, career in The Show. In parts of six seasons, all of six games of which were played for the then-Washington Senators, from 1941-1944, and then 1949-1950, he appeared in a total of 213 games, came up to the plate …
