This morning I read Art Audley’s This Date in Washington Senators History. At first I thought not much happening on this date. Then I read that Walt Herrell, who was born today in 1889, was given only one shot in the major’s back in 1911. For some reason when I see a player that only …
Feb 06
American League players drawn by Vic Johnson – Eddie Yost
From the Mickey Vernon Museum, American League Baseball players drawn by Vic Johnson. This caricature of Eddie Yost is just one of a series of 19 caricatures of American League baseball players drawn by Vic Johnson during 1957. This caricature of Eddie Yost and the other 18, is taken from a composite collection of those illustrations and …
Feb 05
Jud Smith
Jud Smith Jud Smith was born 13 January 1869 in Green Oak, Michigan. He attended Ohio State, making him one of the few college educated players of his era. What follows is the September 1887 review of him by Sporting Life. Judson G. Smith, Washington’s new third baseman, has been a professional since 1890, when …
Jan 06
The Mysterious Death of Thomas Noyes
During the past week local social, business and base ball circles were shocked by the publication of a story to the effect that the late President Thomas O. Noyes, of the Washington Club was not a victim of pneumonia, as had been stated, but that his death was due to violence, either by way of …
Jan 06
The Reluctant Shortstop
I grew up in Kensington and having a father who was an ardent Senators fan it did not take long for me to hop aboard the bandwagon. As early as third grade I would take the Evening Star and Daily News out of his hands when he walked in the door in the evening. Most …
Jan 02
Mickey makes the Majors
Mickey Vernon died on September 24, 2008. Two months before he died, he and I were taking a trip to the Philadelphia A’s Historical Society to visit his old friend Ernie Montella the executive director. While in the car, I asked him to proof read a card set that we were producing to celebrate his baseball career. I was happy when Mickey gave …
Nov 12
Williams named National League Manager of the Year
Nationals manager Matt Williams, who in his first season guided an injury-riddled team to the National League’s best record and its second division title in three years, has been named the 2014 National League Manager of the Year. Williams received 18 of 30 possible first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to finish …
Nov 11
Veterans Day Special – From Senator To Sailor
The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, located in Delaware County, PA, is a non-profit museum with the purpose of celebrating the life and career of Mickey himself and the athletes of his home county. It is funded strictly by donations. Mickey Vernon died on September 24, 2008. Two months before he died, he and I were taking a trip to …
Oct 06
In a game of inches, Nationals coming up short all around
We’ve all heard that baseball is a game of inches. It’s a seemingly small measurement that can make the difference between a ball and a strike, a hit and an out or even a win and a loss. Such measurements are also apparently important to San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Hudson, who questioned the Nationals’ …
Oct 02
This Day in Washington Nationals History – LaRoche hits his career-high 33rd homer
2009 – Ian Desmond homered, tripled and drove in three runs and the Nationals kept up their strong finish to a dismal season by beating the Atlanta Braves (86-74) 6-3. The win extends the Nats’ winning streak to five games. 2012 – Adam LaRoche hit his career-high 33rd homer in the 6th inning, after rounding …
