Two years ago, Bob Carpenter, the Nationals’ TV play-by-play announcer since 2006, decided that 2025 would be his last season in the booth. He said he would handle most road games and about half of the home games. Carpenter, who started broadcasting major league games in his native St. Louis in 1984, turned 72 on … Continue reading Bob Carpenter and his scorebooks
Author: Andrew C. Sharp
I'm a retired daily newspaper journalist and life-long baseball fan. I blog about D.C. baseball at washingtonbaseballhistory.com
2012: Michael Morse’s home-run phantom re-do
The Nationals began play on September 29, 2012, in St. Louis on the cusp of clinching their first N.L. East title. Yet what is most remembered about the game was a bizarre situation in the top of the first inning. With one out, Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse loaded the base on a single by Bryce … Continue reading 2012: Michael Morse’s home-run phantom re-do
After 20 seasons, Nationals all-time leaders
Not much has changed in the list of all-time team leaders since I compiled similar figures after 15 seasons (through 2019), other than Juan Soto making an appearance in several categories. If you rely on MLB.com or BaseballReference.com for an all-time list, you get one that includes the Expos. The Montreal team existed for 36 … Continue reading After 20 seasons, Nationals all-time leaders
1921 Nat holds A.L. record for most times up in a season without striking out
Bobby LaMotte, a reserve infielder who played sparingly for the Washington Senators in 1921, holds an obscure American League record: He batted the most times in a season in the live ball era (1920 to date) without striking out. LaMotte made just 49 plate appearances (41 official at-bats) in 16 games for the fourth-place 1921 … Continue reading 1921 Nat holds A.L. record for most times up in a season without striking out
Tris Speaker’s season in Washington
Tris Speaker, the Grey Eagle, was among the second group of baseball immortals elected in January 1937 to the Hall of Fame in time for the first formal induction ceremony. He was voted in along with Cy Young and Nap Lajoie, joining the five original inductees —Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and … Continue reading Tris Speaker’s season in Washington
Ted Williams’ 84-game on-base streak in 1949 ends at Griffith Stadium
From July 1, 1949, and until September 27, Ted Williams reached base safely by a hit or a walk in 84 consecutive games, which stands as the all-time record. On September 14 in Detroit, Williams passed Joe DiMaggio’s 1941 mark of 74 games, a streak that overlapped Joe D’s 56 consecutive games with a hit. Those two … Continue reading Ted Williams’ 84-game on-base streak in 1949 ends at Griffith Stadium
Jacob Young’s elite defense
On August 15, 2024, in Philadelphia, after having made a spectacular leaping catch against the fence, Jacob Young took a step in on a hard-hit ball right at him. He recovered quickly enough to reach up and grab the liner, only to have it pop out of his glove. He was charged with an error. … Continue reading Jacob Young’s elite defense
Hard to double-up: the Nats’ Don Blasingame and others
Second baseman Don Blasingame was a veteran who already had been an all-star and had played in a World Series when he was traded to the Senators in 1963. He was a solid fielder but never much at the plate – a spray hitter without much power. Yet when he retired, he held an impressive … Continue reading Hard to double-up: the Nats’ Don Blasingame and others
2024: Derek Law first Nats reliever in 14 years to pitch 90 innings.
Two weeks on the injured list in mid-to-late August likely kept veteran right-hander Derek Law from setting a Nationals record for games and relief innings pitched. As it is, he became the fourth National to complete 90 innings, joining Saul Rivera (93 in 2007), Jon Rauch (91.1 in 2006) and Tyler Clippard (91 in 2010). … Continue reading 2024: Derek Law first Nats reliever in 14 years to pitch 90 innings.
Inside Joe DiMaggio’s Legendary 56-Game Hit Streak
As Joe DiMaggio was on his way to hitting in 56 consecutive games, he actually set the 20th century major league record at Griffith Stadium on June 29, 1941, before a capacity crowd of 31,000. The fans were there to follow DiMaggio's quest during a Senators’ double-header with the Yankees. The American League and post-1900 … Continue reading Inside Joe DiMaggio’s Legendary 56-Game Hit Streak
2024 Nats led majors in steals – and caught stealing
The 2024 Washington Nationals led both leagues in stolen bases (barely) and the number of times caught stealing (by a large margin). That resulted in a relatively low success rate of 75.3 percent, a full 10 percentage points worse than the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 85.5 percent, which led the majors. Yet unlike the Dodgers, the … Continue reading 2024 Nats led majors in steals – and caught stealing
Sept. 21, 1946: A million fans and a tribute to a dying hero
The game between the Senators and Red Sox in Washington on Sept. 21, 1946, was memorable for two reasons unrelated to the outcome: It pushed Griffith Stadium’s attendance over one million for the first (and only) time and it turned into a melancholy tribute to the dying Walter Johnson. Knowing that a Saturday crowd coming … Continue reading Sept. 21, 1946: A million fans and a tribute to a dying hero
‘Fastest’ pitchers in 1962? The Washington Senators’ staff
The lengthening of MLB games has led to rule changes aimed at producing more actions in less time. Some fans like the changes. Others find them appalling. The “Manfred man” runner on second base to begin an extra inning seems to draw the most ire. Banning extreme shifts, which had not existed much 20 or … Continue reading ‘Fastest’ pitchers in 1962? The Washington Senators’ staff
Home No-Hitters: The Nationals’ Unique Streaks Explained
When the Nationals were no-hit by Michael Lorenzen on August 9, 2023, in Philadelphia, it ended the longest active streak by a major league franchise of not having been victimized that way. The Nats’ predecessor, the Montreal Expos, were last no-hit on July 18, 1999, in New York when the Yankees' David Cone threw a … Continue reading Home No-Hitters: The Nationals’ Unique Streaks Explained
Patrick Corbin Sets Record Amid Nats’ Struggles
On July 30, 2024, a night after squandering a four-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, the Nationals were shut out in record-setting fashion, 17-0, by the Diamondbacks in Arizona. The 17-run margin topped the 24-8 drubbing by the Padres on July 16, 2021, just before Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo began the teardown of the … Continue reading Patrick Corbin Sets Record Amid Nats’ Struggles
SABR biographies of players and scouts in Washington baseball history
In 2002, the Society for American Baseball Research launched a project that so far as produced more than 6,000 essay-length, well-researched and fact-checked, life stories of figures large and small who either played or influenced major league baseball. Two dozen of these biographies, several about significant figures in the history of both Senators’ franchises, are by … Continue reading SABR biographies of players and scouts in Washington baseball history
June 22, 2024: Nats lose on the first walk-off pitch-clock violation
When he came in to try close a game on June 22, 2024, Nationals’ closer Kyle Finnegan’s eight pitch-clock violations for the season already were three more than any other pitcher. So it’s no surprise that this night in Colorado, he became the first ever in the pitch-clock era to surrender the winning run on … Continue reading June 22, 2024: Nats lose on the first walk-off pitch-clock violation
Satchel Paige and D.C.
Satchel Paige arguably could be the greatest pitcher that ever was. As time passes and more of the accomplishments of his long career in the Negro Leagues are verified, it’s likely his case will grow stronger. He played professionally from the late 1920s into the 1960s. Game accounts and box scores of his many appearances … Continue reading Satchel Paige and D.C.
Soto’s official first game came five days before his real debut
Juan Soto made his major league debut with the Nationals on May 20, 2018, but the official record for that season has him hitting a pinch-hit home run in a game listed as being played on May 15. How could that be? Easy enough: Because of rain, the May 15 game in Washington was suspended … Continue reading Soto’s official first game came five days before his real debut
1924 World Series title belongs to D.C., not Minnesota
On August 11, 2024, the Minnesota Twins commemorated the 1924 World Series victory of the Washington Senators. Why? The casual fan may have forgotten that the Twins’ franchise began in D.C. in 1901 as the Washington Senators, an original member of the American League. Calvin Griffith, who inherited control of the team from his uncle, … Continue reading 1924 World Series title belongs to D.C., not Minnesota
Washington baseball history 