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 …
Sep 28
The World Champion 1880 Washington Nationals, The Players
This nine ranks right after the 1867 club as the strongest to play for Washington prior to 1901. I would rank the 1885 Nationals third just behind them. For many years after 1880 you would read about the exploits of this team. This is another in a series of articles about the 1880 Washington Nationals. …
Sep 26
Do the Nats have the right uniforms for a championship?
Wearing the right uniform can make all of the difference. Way back in 1915 the Washington Times posted a cartoon that claimed uniforms play a prominent part in winning championships. The 1915 Senators uniforms were not up to snuff as the Washington Senators ended the season 85-68 and were in 4th place 17 games behind …
Sep 23
John “Jack” Lynch Early Nationals 20 game Winner
This is the first in a series of articles about the great 1880 Washington National’s baseball club which had claim to the title “World Champions.” The Nationals were the champions of the National Association and defeated the National League champion Chicago White Stockings in a post season series by four games to three and one …
Sep 21
This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Senators’ Clinch AL Pennant
September 21, 1933 The Washington Senators’ behind the pitching of Lefty Stewart beat the St. Louis Browns 2-1 to clinch the American League Pennant. The pennant was the first for the Senators since they won the 1925 American League Pennant. The play of the game came occurred with the Browns at bat in the top …
Sep 20
Former Senator pitcher John Francis (Jack) Kralick passed away
One of the original Minnesota Twins, pitcher John Francis (Jack) Kralick who was born on June 1, 1935 in Youngstown, Ohio passed away at his home in San Blas, Mexico on September 18 at the age of 77. The Chicago White Sox signed Jack Kralick prior to the 1955 season after Kralick had played baseball …
Sep 17
Bill Joyce, the Forgotten Manager
Time for Baseball-Reference.com to wake up and give Bill Joyce his due for managing the 1896 Washington Senators. In 1903, Paul W Eaton, Washington correspondent while lamenting the Ban Johnson administration in Washington writes, “A successor to Tom Loftus has not yet been named by President Johnson. He is negotiating with two men. By the …
