January 21 Senators Birthdays Sabath Anthony (Sam) Mele B Jan. 21, 1922 Still Living Outfielder and sometime 1st baseman Sam Mele began his major league journey in 1946 when he was signed by the Boston Red Sox. Making his debut in the majors at the start of the 1947 season, Mele would hit .302 in …
Jan 20
This Date in Washington Senators History
January 20 Senators Birthdays Jesse Terrill Hill B Jan. 20, 1907 D Aug. 31, 1993 Outfielder Jesse Hill first made his way to the majors as a 28 year old rookie in 1935 with the New Yrok Yankees. Playing in 107 games, he’d hit .293, scoring 69 runs, collecting 115 hits and stealing 14 bases. …
Jan 19
The Legacy of Griffith Stadium
I would like to discuss the “Legacy of Griffith Stadium” and some of those wonderful memories of a time in the not so distant past – unfortunately memories are just about all that is left for those who remember major league baseball in Washington DC before the current Washington Nationals. This may serve as a …
Jan 19
This Date in Washington Senators History
1965 Coaches Danny O’ Connell and Hobie Landrith resign. They are replaced by Rube Walker and Joe Pignatano. Pignatano and Walker are both former major league catchers and both spent time on the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Senators Birthdays Arnold (Chick) Gandil B Jan. 19, 1888 D Dec. 13, 1970 1st baseman Chick Gandil …
Jan 18
So Close To 300
The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, located in Delaware County, PA, is a non-profit museum with the purpose of celebrating the life and career of Mickey himself and the athletes of his home county. It is funded strictly by donations. Mickey Vernon died on September 24, 2008. Two months before he died, he and I were taking a trip to …
Jan 18
This Date in Washington Senators History
January 18 1969 The last-place Washington Senators name former Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams as their new manager. Williams signs a five-year contract worth a reported salary of $75,000 per season. In Williams’ inaugural season as a manager, the Senators will finish with a record of 86-76, the best mark (and their only over …
Jan 17
Growing Up at Griffith Stadium
In keeping with our theme of ‘timeless baseball” I thought it might be of interest to remember some of my childhood days as the son of a major league baseball player. I was very fortunate to have literally “grown up” at Griffith Stadium in Washington DC, where my dad had patrolled the outfield for the …
Jan 17
This Date in Washington Senators History
January 17 Senators Birthdays Roy Arthur Grover B Jan. 17, 1892 D Feb. 7, 1978 Roy Grover began his brief major league career with the Philadelphia Athletics in mid-September of 1916. A 2nd baseman, Grover would play in 20 games his first season, hitting .274. Back with the A’s in 1917, Grover would have a …
Jan 16
Bosman’s Unexpected Gem a Glimpse of Good Things to Come
On a Friday night in Washington, D.C., May 2, 1969, about 14,000 fans filed into RFK Stadium to watch the surging Washington Senators play the slumping Cleveland Indians. Senators’ fans basked in the glow of Ted Williams’ arrival as manager and the club’s seven wins in its last 8 games, blasting above the .500 mark …
Jan 16
This Date in Washington Senators History
January 16 1970 Gold Glove outfielder Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause, a suit that will have historic implications. Flood refused to report to the Phillies after he was traded by the Cardinals, contending the baseball rule violates federal antitrust laws. Senators Birthdays Robert Allen Baird B Jan. 16, 1940 D …
