The Washington Baseball Historical Society

Background: The WBHS was founded by Tom Holster in 1996. The first edition of Nats News the quarterly newsletter was published in the summer of 1996. Tom ran the WBHS until the summer of 2001 when he decided to devote more time to family matters. James Hartley took up the reins in the late summer of 2001 until 2016.

 

Washington Post Columnist
Tuesday, April 3, 2001; Noon EDT

“Levey Live” appears Tuesdays at noon EDT. Your host is Washington Post columnist Bob Levey. This hour is your chance to talk directly to key Washington Post reporters and editors, local officials and people in the news.

Today, Bob’s guest is founder of the Washington Baseball Historical Society, Tom Holster.

One hundred years ago, the Washington Senators first took the field. Thirty years ago they stepped down to become the Texas Rangers. On the night of what was to be the Senators’ final game, angry Washington fans stormed the field resulting in a forfeited game. Today, emotions still run high among Washington baseball aficionados. Join Levey and Holster as they take on the topic of baseball in Washington. To read more…

 

The Pining Ends On Opening Day

Die-Hard Senators Fan Finds Vindication

 

By C. Woodrow Irvin

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 31, 2005; Page SM03

 

Tom Holster’s affair with baseball in Washington began around 1967. Like other 11-year-olds of his generation, Holster spent many nights listening to Washington Senators games on the radio.

Tom Holster photographs the infield at RFK Stadium, accompanied by Jim Hartley, head of the Washington Baseball Historical Society, and Hank Thomas, grandson of Walter Johnson, a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Senators. (James M. Thresher — The Washington Post)

“I fell in love with [6-foot-7-inch slugger] Frank Howard and all of them,” said Holster, 48, then of the Falls Church area but now a resident of Chantilly. “I would make up my own score sheets and sit there and keep score.”

Tom Holster photographs the infield at RFK Stadium, accompanied by Jim Hartley, head of the Washington Baseball Historical Society, and Hank Thomas, grandson of Walter Johnson, a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Senators. (James M. Thresher — The Washington Post)
On Sept. 30, 1971, Holster was holding one of those hand-drawn scorecards as he listened to the Senators play their last game, against the New York Yankees, before the team moved to Texas to become the Rangers. Holster could not record the last out, however, because dozens of Washington fans charged the field at RFK Stadium in anger and despair. The Senators were forced to forfeit.