Aug 04
August 4 1908 – In a 7-5 loss at Cleveland‚ the Nationals’ Otis Clymer and Jim Delahanty draw suspensions for verbally abusing umpire Silk O’Loughlin. Delahanty‚ fined $50 by Ban Johnson, is banned from the Cleveland ballpark for one year for his behavior‚ though he denies that the language he used could be heard all …
Jun 28
June 28 1907 – A day that Branch Rickey would certainly like to forget. The Mahatma is pressed into service behind the plate despite a bad throwing shoulder for New York. The Nats take full advantage and run roughshod by stealing a record 13 bases in a 16-5 drubbing of the host Highlanders. Mr. Rickey …
Mar 15
March 15 1944 In accordance with wartime travel restrictions the Washington Senators train at the University of Maryland. The Senators enter camp with 6 knuckleball pitchers on their spring training roster: Alex Carrasquel, Mickey Haefner, Dutch Leonard, Bill Lefebvre, Johnny Niggleing and Roger Wolff. Haefner, Leonard, Niggeling and Wolff all are selected for the starting …
Mar 15
March 15, 1945 College Park, MD – Bert Shepard, a one legged veteran of World War II, tries out as a pitcher for the Washington Senators. The Senators owner Clark Griffith was so impressed with Shepard that he hired him as the team’s pitching coach. During the 1945 spring training Shepard with his artificial leg …
Apr 23
On 18 March 1945, the Old Fox declared war on the Yankees for kidnapping Bert Shepard. Shepard had been working out in College Park when Colonel Lee MacPhail, who was affiliated with the Yankees, showed up and disappeared with the young lefty. MacPhail then held a news conference in Atlantic City that had the wires …
Mar 15
March 15 1944 In accordance with wartime travel restrictions the Washington Senators train at the University of Maryland. The Senators enter camp with 6 knuckleball pitchers on their spring training roster: Alex Carrasquel, Mickey Haefner, Dutch Leonard, Bill Lefebvre, Johnny Niggleing and Roger Wolff. Haefner, Leonard, Niggeling and Wolff all are selected for the starting …
Jan 19
I would like to discuss the “Legacy of Griffith Stadium” and some of those wonderful memories of a time in the not so distant past – unfortunately memories are just about all that is left for those who remember major league baseball in Washington DC before the current Washington Nationals. This may serve as a …
