Notes on the past season. After the game we received an email from our friend Dave, an avid Nationals fan. Dave writing, “They came up short but it was a hell of a run. I’m sad but never really expected it this year. Go Nats 2013.” It was a great run, no doubt about that. …
Oct 16
The Nats win Two! But get credit for one.
The Nats win Two! 1884, the Washington Nationals have lost the first three games in a four game series with the powerful St. Louis Union nine. The St. Louis Club, also called the Maroons, are 83 and 11, the Nationals having remade the team are 39 and 51. Today they hope 23 year old Bill …
Oct 15
William E “Bill” Stearns
Born 26 June 1871, in the District. Stearns went on to play five seasons in the National Association, the predecessor to the National League. Although his major league statistics are marginal, 13-64 with an ERA of 4.28, he was the youngest player in the association in 1871 and played on some bad teams. In 1871 …
Oct 15
Looking back through tear-stained eyes
Let’s face it, for the fans of 29 teams, the end of the baseball season is hard to take. To be sure, it’s harder in some cities than in others. Here in Washington, after watching seven regular seasons mercifully conclude with the reality of a losing team, we got not only our first winning season, …
Oct 13
Retired Pitcher Living in Annapolis Denied Pension & Health Insurance by MLB
My book tells the true story about a group of former big-league ballplayers denied pensions as a result of the failure of both the league and the union to retroactively amend the vesting requirement change that granted instant pension eligibility to ballplayers in 1980. As you may know, prior to that year, ballplayers had to …
Oct 12
A little Washington baseball Deja Vu
Last night the 44,000 fans at Nationals Park witnessed a similar outcome to a must win baseball game as 34,000 Washington fans witnessed eighty eight years and two days earlier. On October 9, 1924 the New York Giants held a three games to two lead over the Washington Senators. Game six was played at Griffith …
Oct 12
It’s all Werthwhile now
After Chad Tracy grounded out to end the eighth inning and leave the score tied at 1-1 in Thursday’s National League Division Series Game 4, a friend turned to me and asked, “Deep down, in your heart of hearts, you really wanted a walkoff, didn’t you?” Who would want anything else? Didn’t every one of …
Oct 03
Nats making the playoffs – A personal baseball story
During the past week I have received a dozen request to share my thoughts about our Nats making the playoffs. Here is a story I shared with my family a few weeks ago. Since 2006 my wife Linda and I have been dedicated Washington Nationals season ticket holders. Over the first half decade of being …
Oct 02
WE were the children of the Greatest Generation
WASHINGTON, D.C. 1950 Our parents had endured the Great Depression, our fathers the Great War. Our mothers were homemakers. Families were families – neighborhoods were neighborhoods. We were raised in homes without air conditioning. We played music on the victrola. We listened to baseball games on the radio. We bought groceries at the A&P. Boys …
Oct 02
Giving Thanks
Rain started during the game and continues as this article is being written. Maybe it is an sign sent to wash away the many years of setback and angst. If so that might be a good thing. For baseball fans in the District these are great times indeed. The 2012 Nationals have weathered injuries and …
