Jun 03
By Jeff StuartThere have been 4 World Series involving a Washington Baseball Team, in 1924, 1925, 1933, and 2019. Washington won the first and last of these. But there could have been another. In 1945, the year I was born, the team was competitive and was in the battle for first place. Major League rosters …
Jun 02
1965 – It’s a happy homecoming for two former Dodgers, Frank Howard and Ken McMullen. The Senators rout the Angels in a doubleheader at Dodger Stadium, 13-0 and 7-1. Howard is 3-for-5, with 2 homers and 4 RBI, while Joe Cunningham goes 3 for 4 with a homer and 5 RBI in the opener. Phil Ortega tosses a 5 hit complete game to collect the easy win. McMullen is the star of the nitecap with 3 hits, 2 RBI and a home run. Bennie Daniels earns his 4th win, with Ron Kline getting his 13th save.
Jun 01
June 1 1916 – Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth lock up in a pitching duel at Fenway. Ruth allows 3 hits and the Red Sox beat Johnson and the Nats, 1-0. 1925 – Ruth makes his first appearance of the year, returning from his infamous “Bellyache Heard Around The World”, and is 0-for-2 before departing …
May 31
1921 – Washington plates 7 runs in the home second off the Yanks Waite Hoyt. The Sens pound out 8 consecutive hits off Hoyt in the inning to win going away, 11-5.
May 30
1934 – In a noteworthy doubleheader, the Sens split a pair with New York. Nats P Earl Whitehill sees his no hit bid broken by a 9th inning single by the Yanks’ Ben Chapman. Nonetheless, Whitehill and Washington edge Lefty Gomez and the Yanks, 1-0. The Yankees score in the top of the 11th in the nite-cap to give spitballer, Burleigh Grimes, his 269th and final victory of his career, 5-4.
May 30
May 30, 1927 Walter “The Big Train” Johnson gave up only three hits as he led the Washington Senators (18-18) to a 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox (10-26). The shutout will be the Big Train’s “Major League Record” 110th career shutout and the last one of his illustrious career. Walter Johnson’s shutout record …
May 29
1956 – Replacing an injured Pete Runnels at 2B, Harmon Killebrew belts two homers and 3 RBI as Washington gets the best of Baltimore, 6-5 at Memorial Stadium. Sens LHP Dean Stone ups his record to 2-0.
May 28
1935 – In just his second start since being purchased from the Browns, Bobo Newsom takes an Earl Averill line drive off his knee. It is not discovered until after the Sens 5-4 loss to Cleveland that Newsom broke his kneecap. The loss begins a Senators 8 game losing streak.
May 28
On May 28, 1941 the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators played in the first night game under the lights at Griffith Stadium. The first night game at Griffith Stadium was a big deal. The Washington Senators invited Walter “Big Train” Johnson to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. It was actually the Big …
May 27
973 – Hope is raised for baseball fans in D.C. as San Diego Padres owner C. Arnholdt Smith announces tindexhat he is selling the Padres to Washington grocery chain owner Joseph Danzansky. Danzansky announces that he will move the Padres to Washington in time for the 1974 season. Despite the Padres having the lowest attendance in the NL for the first 5 seasons of their existence, NL owners stall on a vote to move the team, wishing not to abandon the San Diego market. After eight months of backroom dealing, politics, lawsuits, double dealing and general turmoil, Danzansky withdraws his offer and the Pads are sold to McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc.
