Table of Content

  • Nats’ Al Schacht, baseball’s ‘Clown Prince’

      Al Schacht threw 10 shutouts and won 19 games in the 1919 International League before pitching with minimal success for Washington from late that season through 1921.  Yet he gained the lasting gratitude of team owner Clark Griffith when he filled in minutes before a start by Walter Johnson, whose arm was hurting. No… Read more

  • June 26, 1913: Nats’ catcher Ainsmith steals second, third and home in the same inning, sort of

    Before the “defensive indifference” rule was implemented in 1920, a runner was credited with a stolen base, even if the opposing team made no attempt to stop him. In most cases, these unchallenged steal attempts came late in games with the team at bat hopelessly behind. No matter the circumstances, however, it was unusual for… Read more

  • The Nats’ and other Topps All-Star Rookies

    Topps began picking all-star rookie teams by position after the 1959 season, recognizing the players chosen on their 1960 cards. For decades, eight position players and two pitchers –a righty and a lefty starter — were selected for recognition on the following season’s cards.  That first team, Topps declared on the cards, was “selected by… Read more

  • 2025: MacKenzie Gore matched an opening day record by Bob Gibson

    On March 27, 2025, MacKenzie Gore equaled an opening day record set by Hall-of-Famer Bob Gibson in 1967. Gore, an all-star later that season, struck out 13 Phillies without walking anyone or allowing any runs. Sadly, he won’t be doing anything like that for the 2026 Nationals after his January 2026 trade to the Texas… Read more

  • One of a baker’s dozen: Willingham’s two grand slams in a game

    On July 27, 2009, Nationals’ outfielder Josh Willingham became the 13th – and so far the last — player to hit two grand slams in a game. He did it in consecutive at-bats in consecutive innings against the Brewers in Milwaukee. The game was a highlight of Willingham’s career, but came during a lost season… Read more

  • Two major pitching records set 3 days apart in September 1962

    On Sept. 12, 1962, Tom Cheney of the Washington Senators struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles in a 16-inning game, a single-game mark never equaled and not very likely to be.  Three days later, a pitcher as obscure as Cheney broke a record set by Christy Mathewson in 1913 for the most consecutive innings pitched without… Read more