Feb 26
By Jeff Stuart After the Senators left Washington after the 1971 season, I had scant interest in baseball, though I made a few yearly trips up 1-95 to Memorial Stadium and tuned in at playoff time. The 1980 National League play-off series between the Phillies and Astros remains a personal favorite. It wasn’t because the …
Feb 26
February 26 Senators Birthdays Donald Edward Lee B Feb. 26, 1934 Still Living Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers in late June of 1956, pitcher Don Lee would mak e his major league debut with Detroit in 1957. Appearing in 11 games, Lee would post a 1-3 record with a 4.66 ERA. Lee would pitch …
Feb 25
February 25 Senators Birthdays James Millard Hayes B Feb. 25, 1912 D Nov. 27, 1963 Senators Short Timer Jim Hayes would be on the Senators roster for almost 1 month in July and August of 1935. Pitching in 7 games, Hayes would post a 2-4 record and depart the Senators, and the majors, with an …
Feb 25
Originally posted 12 years ago. “Bob Short’s Picnic Table Diplomacy” 1969 Spring Training 1969′s spring training may have been the most unique in Washington baseball history. Change abounded. The club sported a new owner, Robert E. Short, a celebrity manager, Ted Williams, and even new uniforms (the elegant navy blue pinstripes replaced by gleaming white …
Feb 24
ONCE UP A DIAMOND, Senators wore spikes. They played at a ballpark even though it was called a stadium. Griffith Stadium. In the early fifties, folks came by car and by trolley. They paid $2.50 for a box seat. A dime for a scorecard. A quarter for a coke. Same for a hot dog – …
Feb 24
February 6, 1912 The Washington Times reports that Fred Fitzgerald, the “new park keeper” has arrived in town. Among the changes contemplated by Griffith and to be implemented by Fitzgerald: The pitcher’s box will be lowered, and the plate heightened, which will put the whole diamond on the level in place of the turtle back …
Feb 24
February 24 Senators Birthdays James Champlin Osteen B Feb. 24, 1877 D Dec. 14, 1962 Shortstop Champ Osteen joined the Washington Senators in mid-September of 1903 after being drafted from Davenport of the Three-I (Indiana-Illinois-Iowa) League. Appearing in 10 games for the Senators, Osteen would be 8-40 at bat with 2 triples and 4 RBIs. …
Feb 23
February 23 Senators Birthdays Today we add to the ranks of “Senators Short Timers” with 3 players who collectively would play in less than 300 games in a Senators uniform. Robert Anthony Boken B Feb. 23, 1908 D Oct. 6, 1988 Infielder Bob Boken joined the Senators in April of 1933 as a 25 year …
Feb 23
By Jeff Stuart Rocky Bridges was almost instantly recognizable for the huge tobacco chaw inside his left cheek. Only Nellie Fox of the White Sox came close to matching that tobacco swell. Born with the first name of Everett, he got the name “Rocky” from a minor league announcer in Greenville, SC when he played …
Feb 22
February 22 Senators Birthdays Rinold George Duren, Jr. B Feb. 22, 1929 D Jan. 6, 2011 Almost everyone of a certain age remembers Ryne Duren-the “Coke bottle” glasses, his reputation for wildness and hard throwing and his wild-partying ways. Duren was first signed by the St. Louis Browns before the 1949 season. By the time …
