Washington Nationals Baseball Club was granted a “Class D” license to sell beer at Griffith Stadium

     Sixty eight years ago marked a turning point in the history of the original Washington Nationals franchise. No, they didn’t trade away a player who would go on to be the MVP of the American League (See: Jackie Jensen).        Although there may have been preliminary talks that weren’t revealed, there was no …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Bobby Burke pitches no-hitter

August 8 1904 – The last place Nationals (21-69) win their 3rd straight in St. Louis, a 9-1 rout. The 3 game winning streak is a season best for woeful Washington. The Nats now sit just 34 games back of first place leaders Chicago, Boston and New York. 1920 – Jack Tobin and George Sisler …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Walter Johnson wins first game

August 7 1907 – The last place Nationals bottle up the visiting Naps, 7-2. This victory would have been uneventful if not for the fact that Walter Johnson wins his first ML game. Cleveland scatters only 4 hits off Johnson. 1918 – Jim Shaw is relieved in today’s 6-2 loss in Chicago by Sam Rice. …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Rookie Sid Hudson pitches second 1-hit shutout

August 6 1917 – Eddie Plank, in the last game of his career, squares off against Walter Johnson in a fabulous, 11 inning pitching duel, won by Johnson, 1-0. The 41 year old Plank, no doubt tired of pitching for the sad Browns, will announce his retirement in a week, despite a 1.79 ERA. 1922 …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – ’59 Senators end 18 game losing streak

August 5 1902 – Rookie pitcher Otto Hess of the Bronchoes, making his second start since being signed at an open tryout, struggles his way to a 7-6, 10 inning victory in Cleveland. SS Johnny Gochnauer, who sustained a broken finger earlier in the contest, doubles in the tying run in the 8th and belts …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Wounded WW II hero Bert Shepard pitches for Senators

August 4 1908 – In a 7-5 loss at Cleveland‚ the Nationals’ Otis Clymer and Jim Delahanty draw suspensions for verbally abusing umpire Silk O’Loughlin. Delahanty‚ fined $50 by Ban Johnson, is banned from the Cleveland ballpark for one year for his behavior‚ though he denies that the language he used could be heard all …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Roy Siever’s walk off home run beats Tigers

August 3 1906 – In a duel of Tom’s, the National’s Tom Hughes and the Brown’s Tom Glade, the Nats defeat the Browns, 1-0, in 10 innings. Hughes homers in the top of the 10th for the only score of the game. In the process, Hughes becomes the first pitcher ever to win his own …

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Walter Johnson Day

The Washington Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 Day at RFK stadium. Walter Johnson Day was in honor of the Big Train’s 105th year anniversary of his ml debut. Before the game Walter Johnson’s daughter Carolyn Thomas and grandson Hank Thomas were honored before the game. Mr. Thomas threw out the pitch.   Side Note: …

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Walter Johnson’s D.C. Debut

August 2, 1907 — The Senators young pitcher Walter Johnson made his big-league debut in D.C., kicking off a thirty-year baseball career and leaving a lasting imprint on the game. The Washington Senators, with a record of 28-59-2 ties, started the rookie Johnson against the Detroit Tigers, then 29 games ahead of the Senators in …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Walter Johnson Day

August 2: Walter Johnson Day We salute the greatest pitcher of all time, Walter Johnson.  1907 – A new era of Washington baseball begins. More than 10,000 jam Washington’s League Park to see the debut of a highly publicized and much ballyhooed pitcher by the name of Walter Johnson. The 19 year old Johnson pitches …

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