This Date in Washington Senators History

June 19 1909 – 7 walks, 4 wild pitches and 1 hit batsman is the Big Train’s line for the day. A loss? Nope. Johnson strikes out 10 Highlanders and picks up the 7-4 win in the opener of a doubleheader at Hilltop Park. New York takes the finale, 6-3. 1949 – 21,818 fans come …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators extend win streak to 17

1912 – Due to the Titanic disaster, President William Howard Taft belatedly throws out the ceremonial first ball. The Senators increase their winning streak to 17 games with a 6-4 victory over Philadelphia.

Trouble at Home

It is the tenth of July in the hot summer of 1879. Washington is home, hosting the nine from Holyoke. Both teams play in the National Association. The Nationals boys seem to have recovered their batting qualities, and the way they pounded Mickey Welch shows that they are capable of handling any pitcher if they …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators sign Jim Kaat

1957 – Hope College product Jim Kaat is signed to his first professional contract by Washington. The smooth fielding Kaat will go on to win 283 games over a 24 year career which spans 4 decades (1959-1983).

This Date in Washington Senators History – Johnson becomes the AL’s first 10 game winner.

1925 – Walter Johnson becomes the AL’s first 10 game winner. The 3-0 win moves the 2nd place Nats to within 1 game of league leading Philadelphia.

This Date in Washington Senators History – ’61 Senators improve record to 30-30

1961 – It is a rarity that a team that loses 100 games holds a positive major league record, but the 1961 Senators can take some pride in one record. After today’s 5-2 victory in Baltimore, the expansion Senators sits in 4th place with a 30-30 record. It is the latest date that any expansion club will be at .500. The Sens will subsequently drop their next 10 games

This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators win 14th in a row

1912 – The streaking Sens win their 14th in a row. With Clyde Milan stealing 5 bases in 3 innings, Washington hands the Naps their 6th straight defeat with a 13-8 victory.

This Date in Washington Senators History – Goose Goslin is traded

June 13 1905 – Chicago easily disposes of the Nats, 7-0. Sox RHP Frank Owen not only collects the win and shutout. He also steals home in the top of the 8th, Owen’s 2nd, and final, stolen base of the year. Strangely, both stolen bases are swipes of home and both happen to occur against …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators blow 11-1 lead

1938 – In the rubber match of a three game series with Detroit, the Senators absorb a humiliating defeat at the hand of the Tigers. The Sens lose 18-12 in the nation’s capital, but it is not the 18 runs that the Sens give up that is embarrassing. It is the lead that they somehow cannot hold. Washington had an 11-1 lead in the top of the 6th inning when the rains came. After the rain delay, the Tigers roar for 17 runs in the last 4 innings off Bucky Harris‘ men to complete the 3 game sweep.

Casanova’s Long Night

June 12, 1967 At District of Columbia Stadium the Washington Senators and the Chicago White Sox played in what was the longest night game (22 innings, six hours, and 38 minutes) in Major League history.  The Senators win the game 6-5 when Paul Casanova hits a single to left field and Hank Allen scores the …

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