This Date in Washington Senators History – ’45 Senators trim Tigers lead to only 1.5 games

August 18 1918 – The Senators defeat the Browns for the first time at home this year, 2-1. Winner Jim Shaw pitches a 4 hitter. Washington, for all intents and purposes, is eliminated from pennant contention, remaining 5.5 games back with 14 games left in the war shortened season. 1938 – New Yankee pitcher Wes …

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The Night the Lights Went Out at Griffith Stadium

This Date In Washington Baseball History – August 18, 1942 On December 8, 1941, prompted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States formally entered World War II.  Soon afterward, many prominent major league and minor league baseball players either enlisted or were drafted into the United States Armed Forces. Faced with losing …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – ’24 Senators beginning to heat up

August 17 1909 – Starting for the second day in a row, Walter Johnson yields 4 hits in 12 innings of a 1-0 Nationals victory over Philadelphia. 1919 – A then Tiger record crowd of 31,500 descend upon Navin Field to witness Detroit’s, 4-2, 11 inning loss to the Nats. Both teams combine to hit …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – ’33 Senators increase lead over Yanks to 6.5 games

August 16 1909 – The A’s storm Walter Johnson for 6 runs in 5 innings of a 6-1 Nats loss. Johnson accounts for the Nats lone run with his first big league homer. Johnson’s blast, only the 3rd homer that clears the Washington LF fence, goes through a window of an adjacent building. 1912 – …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – “The case of the missing groundskeepers”

August 15 1916 – His record falling to 0-3 against Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson does not receive run support in dropping a 1-0, 13 inning decision to Boston. The Big Train gives up only 5 hits in 12 innings. Ruth allows only one hit from the 7th inning on, an infield single to the speedy …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – The Babe gets the win over The Big Train

August 14 1908 – Walter Johnson fires a 2 hitter over Chicago, 1-0. Johnson’s no hit bid is foiled by Pale Hose P Doc White in the top of the 9th. 1915 – The Babe and the Big Train square off for the first time as opposing pitchers. Ruth and the hometown Red Sox come …

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This Date in Washington Senators History

1944 – The Nats take the broom to the Tribe in Washington, 2-1 and 4-1. P Mickey Haeffner wins the opener. Behind Stan Spence‘s 3 run homer in the 1st, Early Wynn is the victor of the second game. Nats SS John Sullivan starts an AL record 5 double plays and goes 3-for-3 in the finale.

This Date in Washington Senators History – A Day to forget in ’53

August 12 1916 – In relief of starter Harry Harper, Walter Johnson allows 2 runs in the 9th for a 2-1 loss at Boston. Harper and Babe Ruth both pitch 7 innings, with Harper fanning Ruth twice. 1924 – With rookie Earl McNeely making his first start in CF for the Nationals, Johnson pitches another …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – ’33 Senators lead in the AL increases to 4 games

August 11 1933 Taking control of the AL race, Washington tallies 6 runs in the 9th inning to polish off Boston, 8-4, at Fenway. Both squads use a record tying 11 pitchers in the tilt. The Senators lead in the American League increases to 4 games. 1961 The M&M Boys, Mantle and Maris, continue their …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators are granted a license to sell beer at Griffith

August 9 1921 – In the longest game in the majors this season, the Browns hang a loss on the Senators, 8-6 in 19 innings at Griffith. Brown starter Dixie Davis yields 13 hits over the first 11 frames, but allows no Washington safeties over the last 9 innings. George Sisler is 6-for-9 and the …

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