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
Tag: baseball
‘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
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
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
HOFer Al Lopez got his start with Washington at 1925’s spring training
Al Lopez, the longtime catcher and Hall of Fame manager, got his first chance to handle major league pitchers with Clark Griffith’s Washington Senators in 1925. Lopez was just 16 when the defending World Series champs hired him as a batting-practice catcher during spring training in Tampa, where Lopez was born and raised. My 1963 … Continue reading HOFer Al Lopez got his start with Washington at 1925’s spring training
July 6-7, 2018: Mark Reynolds tops a walk-off homer with a career game
Veteran slugger Mark Reynolds platooned with Matt Adams at first base for the 2018 Nationals when Ryan Zimmerman was hurt, appearing in 86 games overall and hitting .248 with 13 home runs. On Friday night, July 6, in Washington, Reynolds hit a pinch-hit, walk-off homer, to beat the Miami Marlins, 3-2. The next night, however, … Continue reading July 6-7, 2018: Mark Reynolds tops a walk-off homer with a career game
Darold Knowles: all-star closer for the expansion Nats
Lefty Darold Knowles holds a record that can’t be broken, having appeared in all seven games of the 1973 World Series with the Athletics, but his best years came as the premier reliever for the expansion Senators from 1967 to 1970. Knowles was acquired from the Phillies on November 30, 1966, for fading outfielder Don … Continue reading Darold Knowles: all-star closer for the expansion Nats
Washington baseball history 