Hall of Fame outfielder Henry Emmett Manush, ungraciously known as “Heinie,” based on his German heritage, played for Washington for nearly six seasons in the 1930s, hitting .328 with a cumulative bWAR of 21.6. In 1933, Washington’s last pennant-winning season, his league-leading 221 hits and 17 triples produced 95 RBIs and a .336 average. He … Continue reading Hall of Famer Manush’s ejection from a World Series game
Tag: sports
Buddy Lewis of the Nats one of six players to reach 1,000 hits before age 25
John “Buddy” Lewis, the Senators’ All-Star third baseman in the late 1930s, was the fourth major leaguer to reach 1,000 hit before his 25th birthday. The first three who reached the same milestone before Lewis and the two since are all in the Hall of Fame.* Because he missed three and half seasons in his … Continue reading Buddy Lewis of the Nats one of six players to reach 1,000 hits before age 25
Charlie Dressen and the Senators
In October 1954, Charlie Dressen was the last man hired to manage the Senators while Clark Griffith was alive. However, the “Old Fox,” in his 80s, delegated the duty to his informally adopted son, nephew Calvin Griffith.* Every previous manage hired while the senior Griffith owned the team had played for the Senators. Yet Calvin’s … Continue reading Charlie Dressen and the Senators
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
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
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
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
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
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
Washington baseball history 