This Date in Washington Senators History – Pinelli’s hidden ball trick nabs Rice

1920 – Rice is nabbed at third base, courtesy of a hidden ball trick by Detroit’s Babe Pinelli. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they cannot fool the Sens into a defeat. The Sens win handily in the Motor City, 6-1.

This Date in Washington Senators History – Sid Hudson’s bid for a no-hitter

1940 – Today’s game in St. Louis is filled with dramatic overtones, as Nats rookie P Sid Hudson bids for a no-hitter. The Browns Rip Radcliffe rips a lead-off double in the 9th to squash the no hitter. With the Nats precariously nursing a 1-0 lead, Radcliffe advances to third on a passed ball. With Radcliffe on third and no outs, Hudson bears down to retire the final 3 St. Louis batsmen for the tense 1-0 win.

This Date in Washington Senators History

1969 – The Tigers finally get a taste of their own medicine. Seeming to have a knack for coming back from late inning deficits to hand the Nats heartbreaking defeats over the years, the shoe is on the other foot tonight in Detroit. The Tigers score 3rd and 5th inning runs to gain a 2-0 advantage. In the top of the 6th, a Frank Howard homer and a Bernie Allen double knots the affair at 2-2. The score stays the same until the top of the 10th, when the Sens bat around and kick the Tigers for 5 runs. Brant Alyea‘s 2-run homer in the inning is the icing on the cake in the 7-2 Washington win.

This Date in Washington Senators History

June 19 1909 – 7 walks, 4 wild pitches and 1 hit batsman is the Big Train’s line for the day. A loss? Nope. Johnson strikes out 10 Highlanders and picks up the 7-4 win in the opener of a doubleheader at Hilltop Park. New York takes the finale, 6-3. 1949 – 21,818 fans come …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators extend win streak to 17

1912 – Due to the Titanic disaster, President William Howard Taft belatedly throws out the ceremonial first ball. The Senators increase their winning streak to 17 games with a 6-4 victory over Philadelphia.

Trouble at Home

It is the tenth of July in the hot summer of 1879. Washington is home, hosting the nine from Holyoke. Both teams play in the National Association. The Nationals boys seem to have recovered their batting qualities, and the way they pounded Mickey Welch shows that they are capable of handling any pitcher if they …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators sign Jim Kaat

1957 – Hope College product Jim Kaat is signed to his first professional contract by Washington. The smooth fielding Kaat will go on to win 283 games over a 24 year career which spans 4 decades (1959-1983).

This Date in Washington Senators History – Johnson becomes the AL’s first 10 game winner.

1925 – Walter Johnson becomes the AL’s first 10 game winner. The 3-0 win moves the 2nd place Nats to within 1 game of league leading Philadelphia.

This Date in Washington Senators History – ’61 Senators improve record to 30-30

1961 – It is a rarity that a team that loses 100 games holds a positive major league record, but the 1961 Senators can take some pride in one record. After today’s 5-2 victory in Baltimore, the expansion Senators sits in 4th place with a 30-30 record. It is the latest date that any expansion club will be at .500. The Sens will subsequently drop their next 10 games

This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators win 14th in a row

1912 – The streaking Sens win their 14th in a row. With Clyde Milan stealing 5 bases in 3 innings, Washington hands the Naps their 6th straight defeat with a 13-8 victory.