This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Big Train gives up First Earned Run in 55 Innings

May 14, 1913 – Washington Senators’ Walter Johnson streak of consecutive shutout innings pitched ended at 55 2/3 innings. The Senators star pitcher gave up a run against the St. Louis Browns in the 4th inning of the game that was played at Sportsman’s Park. Johnson improved his record to 8-0 as the Senators outscored …

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Remembering the Past as we look forward to the Future

At the beginning of each new baseball season I start to get that feeling that I first got when I was young boy. For me, it is an exuberant feeling that I have for the first couple weeks of the season. This year the feeling is stronger than usual. With the new ballpark and a …

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Washington Senators-Nationals All-Time Baseball Team

After combing through a ton of stats and reading a lot about the players, I have decided to create my own All-Time Washington Senators-Nationals Baseball Team. My choice for manager would be the Boy Wonder Bucky Harris. Bucky would also back up Buddy Myer at 2nd base. Feel free to comment on these choices. Starting …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Williams agrees to manage Senators

February 14, 1969 – It is reported that Ted Williams has agreed to manage the Washington Senators. From what I could gather Williams agreed to a 5-year contract that would pay him a sizable salary plus shares of the team stock. The exact compensation package could not be verified but it is believed that he …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Heinie’s game saving catch

September 21, 1933 Heinie Manush saves the victory with a diving catch in the 9th inning as the Senators beat the St. Louis Browns 2-1 and clinched the American League Pennant. In a season where the Yankees were picked to win the AL pennant, the surprising Senators clinched the pennant with over a week left …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Cheney’s strikeout record

September 12, 1962 With little fanfare pitcher Tom Cheney of the Washington Senators strikeouts a major league record 21 Baltimore Orioles on route to his 2-1 victory in the 16-inning contest. In front of only 4,098 fans at Memorial stadium in Baltimore the Senators and the Orioles were tied 1-1 until Bud Zipfiel hit a …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Gabby’s Monumental Catch

August 28, 1908 To settle a bet between two gentlemen, Washington Senators catcher Charles “Gabby” Street agreed to try to catch a baseball dropped from the Washington Monument, attempting to replicate the feat allegedly achieved by Chicago Colts catcher Pops Schriver on August 24, 1894. On the morning of August 21, 1908 Gabby set up …

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Will history be made in RFK Stadium?

Will history be made in RFK Stadium? With Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants in town for a three-game series, it may be the last time someone has a chance to hit a ball as far as Frank Howard’s famous blasts still marked with the white painted seats in RFK. When I attended my …

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This Day in D.C. Baseball History – August 7, 1915

Sam “Man O’ War” Rice makes his major league debut as a relief pitcher at the age of 25. Rice is put in the game after the Chicago White Sox took an early lead against the Senators. The Senators were not able to come back and give Rice the win in his debut as the …

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Washington D.C. Baseball History – July 1907

Walter Johnson was pitching for the Weiser “semi-pro” team in the Idaho State League. The 19-year old hurler was so dominating that he caught the attention of many Major League scouts from the east. In late June the Washington Senators Manager Joe Cantillion sent injured catcher Cliff Blankenship to Idaho to scout the young phenom. …

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