The Great Grasshopper

In 1887 Sporting Life lists an All Star line-up from a noted Boston crank. Here is the list, Jim Whitney, P; Charlie Bennett, C; Cap Anson, lb; Hardy Richardson, 2b; Buck Ewing, 3b.; John Ward, SS; Jim O’Rourke. Lf; Paul Hines, Cf; Sam Thompson, Rf. Pretty good nine! But Jim Whitney? You may well ask. …

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My Almost Unbelievable Story

As the baseball season swings into action, just the thought of all the excitement brings back so many of my fondest memories of Griffith Stadium. My almost unbelievable baseball story should commence by saying that as a kid, I was a baseball nut. I loved watching the Washington Senators play and every chance that I …

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Nats debut at Nationals Park a memorable one

March 30, 2008 The Washington Nationals made their debut at the new Nationals Park a special one.  The Nationals 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves was the team’s first opening day victory since the team moved to Washington D.C. in 2005.  The young Nationals showed a lot of poise when they were able to keep …

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This Date in Washington Senators History – Senators deny Denny McLain of his 32nd win

September 28 1949 Clinging to 1st place, the Red Sox head into the 9th in Washington nursing a 1-0 edge. Red Sox manager Joe McCarthy, taking no chances, summons Nat killer Mel Parnell to close it. With nothing to play for, the Nats rally to hand the Red Sox a crushing loss, 2-1. Parnell’s wild …

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This Date in D.C. Baseball History – Senators Beat Yankees in 4 Hit Shutout, 5-0

September 28, 1941   The end of the regular season is always bittersweet. In years like this, more bitter than sweet. But, looking back, there is a particular poignancy to the end of the 1941 season.   First, it was a tremendous season, perhaps the best in baseball history, featuring DiMaggio’s streak, Williams’ .400 season …

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Young Phenoms, Now and Then

By Jeff Stuart and Phil Hochberg Every club has hopes on opening day of the baseball season. It is a similar kind of hope and sense of renewal that takes place when a highly regarded young prospect makes his major league debut. But you never know. The play’s the thing. On April 28, 2011, Bryce …

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Gil Hodges in Washington

By Jeff Stuart It was fifty odd years ago today Gil Hodges taught the gang to play. The legendary Dodger great Gil Hodges, acquired from the New York Mets in return for outfielder Jim Piersall, took over the helm of the Senators just 40 games into the 1963 Season. While the club lost a franchise …

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Don Zimmer-66 Years-Just Baseball

By Jeff StuartDon Zimmer was there to witness so much baseball history and is indelibly linked to it. He was one of the last two players alive to have played with Jackie Robinson. He was on the 1955 Dodgers World Series Championship team. “When Yogi hit the ball down the left-field line,” said Zimmer with …

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Pearson and Allison, Back to Back Rookies of the Year

By Jeff Stuart When Albie Pearson won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1958 and Bob Allison followed suit in 1959, Washington became the first American League team to have players win the award in back to back years. It was not until 30 years later that another AL team accomplished the feat. Jose …

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Steve Hamilton, From the Nats to the “Folly Floater.”

By Jeff StuartOn June 24, 1970 two of Yankee Steve Hamilton‘s “Folly Floater” pitches retired Cleveland’s Tony Horton, a very good hitter, at the Bronx in New York to end the top of the 9th. That earned him a place in baseball history. The Yankees trailed the Indians badly and had no chance of beating …

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