Table of Content

  • Walter Johnson, George Washington and the Rappahannock

    Next to the apocryphal story about George Washington and the cherry tree, the most familiar tale told about the Father of Our Country involves what he threw across the Rappahannock River. It was even mentioned on the iconic Beach Boys’ album, All Summer Long, in 1964.* Unlike the essential details of young George chopping down… Read more

  • July 6, 1920: Nats yield a record 14 runs in an inning

    The New York Yankees reclaimed first place in American League with a 17-0 pounding of Washington on Tuesday, July 6, 1920, at the ballpark that would become known as Griffith Stadium. What made the game more memorable, however, was what happened in the fifth inning. That’s when the Yankees scored what at that time was… Read more

  • The Cracker Jack Classics and other RFK exhibitions

    For six years, starting in 1982, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium played host to a star-studded old-timers game that was originally called the Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic. On July 19, 1982, a crowd of 29,196 attended the first of these five-inning games with the proceeds benefiting players who retired before the pension system… Read more

  • Team with the fewest stolen bases in a season? The 1957 Senators

    For a variety of reasons, stolen-base attempts ticked up in 2022 after several years of decline. Bigger bases, restrictions on throws to first base and on the positioning of infielders take effect in 2023, with the intent of producing more base hits and increasing successful stolen-base attempts. So it’s not likely steals will ever again… Read more

  • July 4, 1940: George Case ties record for most hits in a double-header

    On July 4, 1940, at Griffith Stadium, speedy Senators’ outfielder George Case had nine hits in a double-header against the Athletics, matching a major league record that still stands. In the modern era (post-1900), this record is held by six others, but was achieved the last time more than 60 years ago. Case’s 9-for-10 was… Read more

  • Post-1900 A.L., N.L., Washington has never been no-hit at home*

    Playing at home, Washington’s American and National League teams — be it the current Nationals, the original Nationals/Senators or the expansion Senators — have never been no-hit.* Here’s a look at the visiting teams that have been no-hit in D.C. and no-hitters throw by Washington pitchers on the road. The Nationals, 2005 to 2022: Nationals’… Read more