| Senators Nation's profileSENATORS NATIONPhotosBlogLists |  Tools  Help |
|
SENATORS NATIONMy Salute To Washington's Rich Baseball History February 21 WASHINGTON: A BASEBALL TOWNHello, and welcome to my historical blog about baseball in Washington D.C.. If you are an avid baseball fan like me, you probably know that Washington finally acquired it's own franchise in 2005 after a thirty-four year absence. What many people may not know however is that Washington already had a enormous baseball history that goes back to the very beginning of the sport. In fact, putting aside the 34 years baseball missed here...there is actually one hundred and fourteen years of heroes, legends and drama to speak of.
GENESIS
 The first "organized baseball" clubs in the nation's capital was in 1859 and there were two of them: The Washington Potomacs and the Washington Nationals. The Potomacs dissolved under the urgent need for volunteers to fight the American Civil War...however the Nationals played on - providing the citizenry with much needed distraction from the horrors of that great conflict. Following the war in 1867, the Nationals again shared the city with another organized club called The Washington Olympics. In 1870, the two teams played the first inter-city competition and split a four game series. The next year in 1871, the Olympics team owner; Nick Young decided to make the sport a profession and the first pro league, the National Association of Professional Baseball was born. Of particular note, there are only eight other cities like Washington that can claim to have been a part of the first professional baseball organization formed in 1871:
Much trial and error followed as the Washington teams struggled to compete and the Association charter was modified. However, two teams in the city was too much to sustain, and the Olympics dissolved mid-season 1872 but baseball continued in the city with the Washington Blue Legs in 1873 and the Washington Statesmen in 1884. Nick Young continued crafting the new league's constitution and became the first secretary (or president as it's called today) of what is now the National League of Major League Baseball. Washington returned to national competition with another franchise in this league in 1886, which by 1888 was known around town as "The Senators". The National League had financial difficulties during this transition period and was forced to shrink down to eight teams and eliminated the Washington franchise in 1899.
SENATORS I
 1924 World Champion Washington Senators
In 1901, the American League declared itself a "major league" and desired a presence on the East Coast. Observing that Washington was without a team...they pieced together some players from the 1900 Kansas City franchise and the new Washington Senators were born. The Senators (part I) had a rough go at it at first, finishing in last place four times of their first nine seasons...and nothing above sixth place apart from those. But something was afoot in 1910 when a farm boy from Humbolt, Kansas named Walter Johnson arrived on the scene. In 1912, the franchise named Clark Griffith as manager and the team disembarked on building a team that would bring baseball to the forefront of Washington culture. A tradition was born beginning with President William Taft - an American president would throw the ceremonial first pitch to begin each season of professional baseball.
Former manager Clark Griffith bought the team in 1920 and soon in 1924 Washington baseball hit it's zenith with the hiring of 27-year old player-manager Bucky Harris. That same year brought the one and only World Series win by a Washington baseball franchise when they defeated the New York Giants four games to three. Washingtonians cheered the team as they celebrated with a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House where they were congratulated by President Calvin Coolidge. The team would return to the World Series the following year but this time lose against Pittsburgh four games to three. After some success in the proceeding years, the Senators would make one last bid for the World title with a rematch against the New York Giants in 1933 but were dispatched rather quickly four games to one.
HOMESTEAD GRAYS
1939 Homestead Grays
The Homestead Grays was a professional baseball team that played in the Negro Leagues. The team was formed in 1912 by Cumberland Posey - a player, manager and then owner of the team. The club was in operation for 38 seasons. The team was based in Homestead, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, however in the late 1930s and 1940s they shared Griffith Stadium along with the Senators and Washington became known as their "home away from home".
The Grays were literally the who's who of Negro League baseball. From 1937 to 1945 they won nine straight pennants and three Negro World Series. The team dominated the rest of the league with star players like Josh Gibson, "Cool" Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard and ace pitcher "Smokey" Joe Williams. Despite their success, their days were numbered when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball and the Negro Leagues finally ended in 1948. The Grays attempted to survive independantly until it's demise in 1950.
SENATORS II
Meanwhile, back in 1934 after the Senators run against the Giants the previous year...the Senators descended into mediocracy. For the next 26 years, they only had four winning seasons. The misery continued and a reputation of being perennial losers gave birth to a saying about the city of Washington that is well versed by Senators fans; "First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League". In 1955 the Senators plight was immortalized in the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees". The plot being about a Senators fan who made a deal with the devil in order to beat the dynastic New York Yankees and win the pennant.
 In October 1955 Clark Griffith died and passed-on the franchise to his adopted nephew Calvin. Calvin Griffith then moved the club to Minneapolis in 1960 under much protest and controversy. Objectors were appeased by Major League Baseball after it promised to start up an expansion franchise in the city to replace the one that had left. On April 10, 1961 baseball gave birth to the new expansion Senators (part II), and a new era of Washington baseball begins with much fanfare and excitement. President John F. Kennedy threw the ceremonial pitch at Griffith Stadium against the Chicago White Sox.
A year later on April 9th 1962 - another season began in Washington, but this time it was held at a brand new state of the art multi-use DC stadium. For the next 7 years, the new Senators mirrored the old ones by continuing to be towards the bottom of the league with no hopes of post season. However, despite the poor win-loss records and the unlikelihood of a World Series contender, the Senators still provided their fans with much excitement and love for the game. On opening day in 1969, the Senators drew the largest crowd ever for the renaming of the stadium to Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. In addition to this momentous event, the Senators had hired Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams to be the skipper of the struggling team. Hometown hero Frank Howard continued to dazzle the Washington faithful with bomb after bomb into the upper deck of RFK. Record distances hit by Howard were marked by the white-painted seats that remain visible in the stadium to this day.
 The Senators however continued to lose and had trouble drawling crowds to make the team profitable. A major result no doubt of the other American League team up the street in Maryland called the Baltimore Orioles which to the contrary was quite sucessfull. Dallas/Ft Worth had been relentlessly trying to court a baseball franchise and had lured Senators owner Bob Short with a promised up front multi-million dollar television and radio deal. 10 days prior to the end of the 1971 season the American League owners agreed to the move and Washington baseball fans were forced to the reality that baseball would be gone from nation's capital with no return in sight.
The last Washington Senators game was played at RFK stadium on September 30, 1971 against the New York Yankees. The stadium that night was filled with angry fans repeatedly throwing things onto the field interrupting play. The fans would make their last act of defiance when they stormed the field in the 9th inning and began physically dismantling any and everything that wasn't nailed down. It was an ugly scene which to this day reverberates on how sports ownership decides to reveal a franchise re-location. It's possible the Baltimore Colts infamous dead-of-night move in 1984 may have been a direct decision of lessons learned from the Senators II last game.
 Last Senators Game Played in Washington D.C.
Below are biographicals of Washington's baseball heroes as depicted in RFK's Hall of Stars banner that hangs in right field. These athletes represent the Hall of Fame for Washington baseball during it's 114 years of history. Now with the new Nationals stadium opening in 2008 it will be interesting to see how they plan to memorialize these great men so that we will never forget that Washington was always a baseball town, and hopefully now that it has a team again, it will remain so for many years to come... November 30 A MISSING STAR ON THE BANNER... Somebody severely screwed the pooch at RFK back in 2005. Upon conversations with fellow baseball nuts and research I've conducted recently I've come to realize that a major omission on the Hall of Stars banner has taken place. There is simply no excuse to forget to put one of Washington's most loved and revered baseball players on that ugly tarp that hangs over right field. Hopefully the people over at the DC Sports & Entertainment Commission and the powers that be in the Washington Nationals organization will take the appropriate steps and prevent a horrible mistake on the new stadium that is currently under construction.
It took Washington Post sportswriter Shirley Povich years of lobbying and heavy arm-wringing to make sure this person made it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. They even named a freaking DAY after him at Griffith stadium for Pete's sake! Now we don't even put the guy's name on our OWN banner? Shameful. Well, despite this embarrassment I'm adding him here so that all may remember this great man and hero of Washington baseball. His biographical follows...
Know the Hall of Stars: SAM RICE
Edgar Charles Rice: b. February 20, 1890 in Morocco, IN / d. October 13, 1974 in Rossmoor, MD
*** Inducted into the Hall of Fame as a PLAYER in 1963 ***
If Walter Johnson was the most beloved pitcher of the first Senators era, then Sam Rice would be the most loved batter during that same period. Sam Rice began his baseball career on August 7, 1915 after a rather tumultuous life as a young man.
He lost his parents, wife and two children from a tornado that struck his home in April of 1912. He drifted around for a while taking odd jobs here and there before finally joining the Navy and seeing action at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914. Rice had played for semi-pro teams in Virginia and was snagged by a sharp-eyed team owner who bought out his enlistment from the Navy so that he could play ball for the Portsmouth Truckers.
He was 26 years old by the time he started playing in major league ball when he was acquired by the Senators, so there’s no telling what his accomplishments could have been if he had been groomed from the start. But what he did accomplish in the twenty years he played the game is just simply amazing. He was initially drafted as a pitcher, but his knack for hitting was quickly evident and he was convinced to give up pitching to become an outfielder and concentrate on his offensive skills.
Rice’s wasn’t a home run guy – he was a slap hitter much like today’s Ichiro Suzuki. He never hit below .293 his entire career and he was very fast. In fact, of the 34 home runs he did accomplish, 21 of those were inside the park. In 1920, he won the league stolen base record with 63 swipes and ranked in the top five for eight straight seasons between 1919 and 1926. His speed was a huge asset allowing him to not only get a lot of singles by beating out a play to first, but also he accomplished 497 two-baggers and led the AL in triples in 1923 with 18. In total, he exceeded 200 hits in seven seasons, one of those being in 1930 at the age of 40. He ended his career just 13 hits shy of 3,000 – to this day only 26 players have reached this plateau.
Not only was Sam Rice a teammate on the one and only World Champion Washington Senators of 1924, playing alongside greats such as Walter Johnson, Joe Judge, Ossie Bluege and Goose Goslin…but he was also on the team for all three of it's appearances in the Fall Classic. His most well known and famous event being in the 1925 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates: In game three, with the score 4-3 Washington, Pittsburgh catcher Earl Smith smacked a long ball to the fences in Sam Rice’s direction. Rice jumped backwards to make the play and ended up in the outfield stands of Griffith Stadium. When he came up with the ball, Smith was called out and prevented from making the game tying score, and causing the Senators to win the game. The Pirates protested that he must have dropped the ball and it was placed back into his glove by fans, but it was never overturned. Nonetheless, The Senators lost the series in seven games.
Sam’s actual name was Edgar, but he apparently was penned as “Sam” by a sports writer that couldn’t remember his first name. After his name was printed as Sam in the papers it seemed to stick and even Rice ended up preferring it to his real name. He got the nickname “Man O’ War” by Senators fans because he was so very fast. “Man O’ War” was the name of what many call even today the fastest race horse to ever set foot on a track.
On July 19, 1932, the Washington Senators decided to honor Sam with “Sam Rice Day” at Griffith Stadium. Along with several players and dignitaries was his old coach Bucky Harris who was coaching the opposing Detroit Tigers that day. He received a letter from President Hoover, cash, a new car and other gifts. Sam spoke to the crowd before the game and claimed it “was the greatest day of his baseball career”.
Rice retired from baseball after playing his last season for the Cleveland Indians in 1934, all 19 years prior to that he played with the Washington Senators. He ended with a .322 batting average, 1078 RBIs, and 143 stolen bases in 2,404 games and he’s a member of the only team from Washington with a World Series Championship.
After baseball, Rice started up a poultry farm in Ashton, Maryland (right outside of Olney, MD), making news by apparently employing several Japanese-Americans after they had been interned by the U.S. government during World War II. He was a regular at Cooperstown every year until his death in 1974, he was 84 years old. A letter that was written by Sam “to be opened upon my death” described the controversial catch he made in the 1925 World Series:
"I remember trotting back towards the infield carrying the ball for about half way and then tossed it towards the pitcher's mound. (How I wished many times I had kept it.) At no time did I lose possession of the ball." September 27 Know the Hall of Stars: WALTER "BUCK" LEONARDWalter Fenner Leonard: b. September 8, 1907 in Rocky Mount, NC /
d. November 27, 1997 in Rocky Mount, NC
*** Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame as Negro Leaguer in 1972 ***
Walter Leonard was nicknamed "Buck" by his brother who could not pronounce the word "buddy". "Buddy" was Walter's family nickname while growing up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina during the early 1900s. Buck was the name that stuck...and not long afterwards the name "Buck Leonard" became one of the biggest names of baseball in the Negro Leagues.
Buck was a member of the Grays Dynasty. During his career playing for Homestead, he was paired with Negro great Josh Gibson and made history by winning nine consecutive Negro National League championships from 1937 through 1945. Then returned the feat again in 1948. The pair were nicknamed the "Thunder Twins"...with Josh Gibson being the "Black Babe Ruth" and Buck being his "Lou Gehrig". For 17 years Leonard played first base for the Grays and him and Josh just began racking up the records. His smooth defense was most compared by the press to Cardinal great George Sisler. He had a sure-handed glove and was a pull hitter with tremendous power.
From 1942 to 1945 the Grays appeared in four consecutive Black World Series (and won in 1943 & 44). Josh and Buck tied in 1944 for the HR title and Buck batted .500 in that year's BWS. 1945 again found the duo making a one-two finish in home runs. In 1948 (Buck's favorite year) at age 40 and lacking his old team-mate Josh Gibson, he tied for the National Negro League home run crown with 42 and won the batting title for a second time with a .395 average (He also won the batting title in 1940 at .383). He was recorded with a .382 average versus major leaguers in exhibition play.
Over his 17 years in the Negro Leagues, Buck Leonard achieved a .341 batting average and made a record 12 appearances in the annual East-West All-Star game (compiling a .317 average with 3 home runs). Years before the color barrier was broken in professional baseball, Senators owner Clark Griffith inquired to Leonard if he and Josh would be interested in playing in the majors, but Griffith never went through with the idea. He was approached again much later but declined because at age 40 he felt he was too old.
At the time of his retirement, it was rumoured that he was the third highest paid player in the Negro Leagues behind Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. He returned to Rocky Mount, NC and became a truant officer and physical education teacher. He was a founder and vice president of the the Rocky Mount Leafs (Carolina League minor league ballclub) and owned a realty agency. He lived long enough to see himself inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 along with his legendary team-mate Josh Gibson in the same ceremony.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW TO SEE LARGER IMAGES: September 22 Know the Hall of Stars: OSSIE BLUEGEOswald Louis Bluege: b. October 24, 1900 in Chicago, IL / d. October 14, 1985 in Edina, MN
Ossie Bluege (pronounced "BLOOGIE") spent most of his entire adult life with Washington baseball. For five decades, he was a player, manager and comptroller for owner Clark Griffith. He played for Senators I, alongside Washington legends Walter Johnson, Joe Judge and Sam Rice. He played in all three World Series that Washington contended including the only one they won back in 1924. He was their manager between 1943 and 1947, and became farm director in 1948. He was even around when the team moved to Minnesota in 1961. He retired as comptroller of the Twins in 1971.
Although Bluege wasn't known for his offensive abilities, he was a phenomenal defensive fielder and was chosen as an American League All Star in 1935. He led the American League in double plays by a third baseman in three seasons. His most productive season offensively was in 1928 in which he hit a career high .297 batting average, had 33 doubles, 75 runs and 18 stolen bases. However, most historians will agree that his most famous and shining accomplishment was the finding and signing of larger than life batting champion Harmon Killebrew.
FIVE DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE
Washington Senators Player: 1922-1939
Washington Senators Coach: 1940-1942
Washington Senators Manager: 1943-1947
Washington Senators Farm Director: 1948-1956
Washington Senators Comptroller: 1957-1960
Minnesota Twins Comptroller: 1961-1971
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGES: September 17 Know the Hall of Stars: HARMON KILLEBREWHarmon Clayton Killebrew: b. June 29, 1936 in Payette, ID
*** Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame as a player in 1984 ***
Harmon Killebrew grew-up in a little Idaho farming town about an hour's drive from Boise. However, the "taters" Harmon produced were not the kind you find in your local grocery store. Rather, the ones you see launched from a baseball bat in Metropolitan Stadium by the brand new team in Minnesota called the Twins.
At the beginning of his career and before his monumental achievements there, Killebrew was observed by Washington scout Ossie Bluege during a pickup game in Idaho. Bluege was excited by his hitting power and potential so the Senators offered the 17 year old an impressive contract and a yearly $4,000 bonus in 1954. For the next five years, Harmon shuffled between the bench and the minors until finally getting his big shot and becoming a regular player for the Senators in 1959. The next couple years he played and developed in Washington until the club relocated to Minnesota in 1961. The same team that is recognized today as the Minnesota Twins.
The move didn't hamper Harmon's progress. In Minnesota he became one of the most feared hitters of the 1960s and was tagged with the nickname "Killer" for his massive power at the plate. In his second year as a Twin, he sent a homer completely over the left field roof at Tiger Stadium. In 1967, he tattooed one so hard in "The Met" that it reportedly traveled 530 feet and shattered two seats in the left field upper deck.
Killebrew was constantly switching positions defensively. It was not uncommon to see him switch positions in the middle of a game. Throughout his career he played first base in 969 games, third base in 791 games, outfield 470 games, 158 games at DH and even 11 as a second baseman.
Harmon Killebrew was an offensive machine. He hit more home runs than any other right-handed batter in the American League. He belted over 40 home runs in eight seasons. His home run production throughout his career can just take your breath away:
Harmon Killebrew was an 11-time Major League All-Star and was the 1969 American League MVP. He is eighth in all time career home runs with 573, second in the American League only behind legendary Babe Ruth. His home run percentage ranks 3rd at 7.0 behind Ruth and Ralph Kilner. Although you wouldn't expect it with his nickname, "Killer" was known to be a gentleman both on and off the field - he never once got thrown out of a game. After retirement, he became a Twins broadcaster, started an insurance business and then an automobile dealership. He currently lives in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife Nita and founded the Harmon Killebrew Foundation Ltd. which helps charities and specifically the Vista Hospice Care Foundation who conduct research in care for the terminally ill. CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO VIEW A LARGER IMAGE: September 13 Know the Hall of Stars: JOE JUDGEJoseph Ignatius Judge: b. May 25, 1894 in Brooklyn, NY / d. March 11, 1963 in Washington, D.C.
Joe Judge was small in stature at 5'8" and 155lbs, but what he may have lacked in size he made up for on the field. Joe was the left-handed first baseman of the 1924 World Series Champion Senators, playing in the best infield to ever play in Washington alongside Bucky Harris, Roger Peckinpaugh and Ossie Bluege. Nothing got past Joe. He led the American League first baseman fielding percentage six times - a record which still stands today. His lifetime fielding average of .993 stood for more than 30 years. He was a stoic, determined professional that never let his emotions get the best of him. Teammates, players he coached and journalists all described him as impossible to ruffle. He preferred that his play on the field speak for him.
Judge was Walter Johnson's roommate during the Big Train's final seven seasons. On March 9, 1927 during spring training, Joe hit a line drive that broke Johnson's ankle which never truly healed and eventually resulted in the end of his career.
Joe Judge spent 19 years in the big leagues from 1915 to 1934, all but the last two being with the Senators. He finished his career with a .298 batting average, 2,352 hits, 433 doubles, 1,037 RBIs, 1,500 double plays and 1,284 assists. He coached the Senators for two years during World War II, the rest of the time between 1937 and 1958 he was the skipper of the Georgetown University baseball team.
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR A LARGER IMAGE September 08 Know the Hall of Stars: EARLY WYNNEarly Wynn Jr.: b. January 6, 1920 in Hartford, AL / d. April 4, 1999 in Venice, FL
*** Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame as a PLAYER in 1972 ***
*** Cy Young Winner in 1959 ***
Early "Gus" Wynn began his major league baseball career with the Washington Senators at the young age of 17 on September 13, 1939. He made three appearances that year, and continued playing with the Senators for 8 years until he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1949.
It was in Cleveland that he found himself. Indians pitching coach Mel Harder taught him the craft; expanding his repertoire from only fastball to curveballs, sliders, changeups and knuckleballs. It wasn't long before his new knowledge starting paying dividends. In just his second year at Cleveland in 1950 he had the best ERA of the American League. He continued his dominance there pitching 12 straight seasons with double-digit wins including five with 20 wins. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1958 and became the first major league pitcher to lead the league in consecutive strikeouts with two different teams (184 in Cleveland & 189 in Chicago). "Gus" as he was nicknamed, was a fierce competitor. He was known for his confrontations during the game and quotables to the media, many of which are commemorated on internet websites to this day.
Wynn was a major league all-star status 6 times; (1955-1960). He is one of only 10 pitchers that has won a 1-0 game with the deciding home run being from his own bat. He led the American League in innings-pitched 3 times, fanned a total of 2,334 players, had 49 shutouts and at the end of his career he had amassed an even 300 wins in 1963 during his last season at age 43.
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR A LARGER IMAGE September 03 Know the Hall of Stars: CECIL TRAVISCecil Howell Travis: b. August 8, 1913 in Riverdale, GA
Cecil Travis entered the major league stage on May 16, 1933. He was just 19 years old and replacing injured Senators legend Ossie Bluege at third base. In his major league debut game Washington went 12 innings with the Cleveland Indians and both teams used a combined number of 11 pitchers. But that's not the big deal...the big deal is that Cecil recorded 5 hits in his first game in the majors. The only other person to make five hits in his first major league game was Fred Clarke and that was on June 30, 1894.
Travis continued playing for the Senators that rookie year for 18 games, mostly while Bluege was disabled. And even though he was hitting .302, he was returned to minor league Chatanooga and finished his season with the Lookouts instead of the Senators when Washington made their bid for the World Championship against the New York Giants (which they lost in five games).
Cecil Travis' best year was in 1941. That year he finished second in major league batting behind Ted Williams but come onnnn! Ted hit a freakish .406 that year - that's just not fair. In the american league batting race, Cecil's .359 batting average beat Dimaggio's .357. Unfortunately however, it was overshadowed by Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting drive toward the end of the season. In 1941 Cecil had a 24 game hitting streak, belted 218 hits, 101 RBIs and 19 triples. It was the eighth time over the last nine years that he would have an over .300 batting average. His 218 hits by a shortstop had only been surpassed recently by Derek Jeter in 1999.
His monthly batting averages during the 1941 season are just sick:
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1942, like most American men at the time he joined the military and found himself fighting in Europe for the U.S. Army against Hitler's Nazi Germany. Travis was in the thick of it during the historic Battle of the Bulge and his feet suffered from severe frostbite. By the end of the war Sergeant Cecil Travis had been awarded the Bronze Star but came back a different man. When he returned to baseball in 1945, he was unable to retain his timing and amazing bat. He retired as a player and continued scouting for the Senators until 1955. Travis was a three-time all-star (1938, 1940 & '41) and spent 12 seasons in the majors: all twelve of those with the Washington Senators. Most believe that had he played for another team and not served in the war he would have been a shoe-in for Cooperstown. His lifetime average of .314 is third behind only Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughn among shortstops. There are 14 Hall of Fame shortstops with lower batting averages than Cecil Travis. CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGES: August 31 Know the Hall of Stars: ROY SIEVERSRoy Edward Sievers; b. November 18, 1926 in St. Louis, MO
Roy "Squirrel" Sievers began his major league career on April 21, 1949 for the St. Louis Browns. He won American League Rookie of the Year with a .306 batting average, 16 home runs, and 75 RBIs. The following years he was plagued by injuries and low production so the Browns decided to cut him loose to the Washington Senators in 1954. Woops.
In each of the next five years from 1954-1958, Sievers played in at least 144 games and drove in no less than 100 RBIs. He became a four time American League All-Star: 1956, 1957, 1959 & 1961. His best year was 1957 in which he broke the club record and led the American League in home runs with 42. Also that year he became the first Senator to lead the AL in RBIs since Goose Goslin in 1924. In '57, the only player with more RBIs than Roy was Hammerin' Hank who also beat Sievers in home runs by only two more (44).
Sievers was not only a crowd favorite of baseball fans all over Washington, but also of former president Richard Milhous Nixon. He also apparently had an excellent voice. Pitchers Tex Clevenge and Russ Kemmerer, outfielders Sievers, Lemon and Pearson formed a barbershop quintet and became known as the "Singing Senators" when they sang in front of the reflecting pool at the U.S. Capitol (in full Washington Senators uniforms) for the "Today Show" on June 6, 1958.
His American League records speak for themselves:
From 1960 to 1964 Roy played for the Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies, but was sold and returned to Washington mid-season of '64 to join the new expansion Senators. He played his last major league game on May 9, 1965. However, he returned to take the field at RFK one last time: April 14, 2005 when he joined some of his fellow team-mates and "passed the torch" of DC baseball to the current Washington Nationals team during their home opener. CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGES August 25 Know the Hall of Stars: MICKEY VERNONJames Barton Vernon: b. April 22, 1918 in Marcus Hook, PA
One of the most well-liked and charismatic players of the the 1940s & 50s, Mickey was a fan favorite not only of baseball fans everywhere but of American President and World War II Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower. Of his 21 year career in the majors which began in 1939, 14 seasons were played for the Washington Senators. He returned in 1961 to manage the Senators up to 1963 when he was replaced by teammate Eddie Yost (who managed 1 game and was then replaced by Gil Hodges).
Mickey Vernon was a seven time Major League All-Star: 1946, 48, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 58. He collected 2,495 lifetime hits which averages to one or more hit in every game he played. He led the majors in doubles three times: 1946, 53 & 54. He owns the record for most games played at first base with 2,237 and led the American League in fielding percentage by a first baseman four times and the majors twice.
His best seasons were in 1946 and 1953. In 1946, Vernon's numbers in his first All-Star year were outstanding. He led the league in batting average at .353 with 207 hits in 587 at bats. He had 8 home runs, 85 RBIs, 88 runs and 14 stolen bases with an on base percentage of .403. This was his first year as a Major League All-Star.
In 1953 his accomplishments are even more amazing considering that he was playing for the meager offensive team located in the nation's capital which ended it's season that year with a 76-76 record. Mickey again led the league in batting average at .337 with 205 hits through 608 at bats. He had 15 homers and a career high 115 RBIs and peaked his career runs scored with 101.
After 21 years of baseball in the majors, Vernon had played 2409 games. His career batting average was .286 and his slugging percentage was .428. He recorded 2495 hits, 1311 RBIs, 1196 runs, 490 doubles, 120 triples, 172 home runs, and 137 stolen bases. He accomplished what few first basemen can claim: he ended his career with an incredible fielding percentage of .990. Mickey played his last game on September 27, 1960 and on that day he was the oldest player by almost a year, at 42.
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR A LARGER IMAGE: August 21 Know the Hall of Stars: GEORGE SELKIRKGeorge Alexander Selkirk: b. January 4, 1908; Huntsville, Ontario, Canada / d. January 19, 1987; Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The biggest thing remembered about George "Twinkletoes" Selkirk was that he replaced George Herman Ruth for the New York Yankees in 1935. Although he was no Babe Ruth, his batting average was over .300 in five of his first six seasons. He played during the "Yankee dynasty" teams of the late 30s and early 40s and in 21 World Series games positioned alongside baseball great Joe DiMaggio and Jake Powell. He was a major league all-star in 1936 and 1939. Selkirk became General Manager and Vice President of the Washington Senators from 1962 to 1969.
On a trivial note: George Selkirk hit a pinch-hit grand slam at Griffith Stadium propelling the New York Yankees defeat of the Senators 6-5 during the first night game ever played in Washington D.C. on March 28, 1941. August 15 Know the Hall of Stars: EDDIE YOSTEdward Frederick Joseph Yost: b. October 13, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY
You've heard the expression "wait for your pitch". Well, Eddie Yost always waited for "his pitch" and more often than not, it didn't come. But that didn't deter Eddie from getting on base. He was known as the "Walking Man" and was a master at getting free passes at the plate. He wasn't an intimidating thick bat, but pitchers would end up gnawing on their gloves in frustration as he wouldn't swing at bad pitches and usually fouled-off the good ones. And eventually after a tiring multi-pitch at-bat the guy would always end up on first base without laying wood on the ball.
In 1956, Yost was only batting with a .231 average but his on base percentage was .412. When he DID hit the ball it was usually small ball: singles predominantly, with the occassional double or triple sprinkled in here and there. That's what made him so frustrating to pitchers - they wanted him to hit it, and yet he would always end up on base after working the count and making a nice slow trot to first. Yost earned 100 walks or more through EIGHT SEASONS and led the American League in base on balls SIX TIMES and scored the American League record for runs scored in 1959 with 115.
Eddie Yost played from 1944 to 1958 as a leadoff 3rd baseman for the Washington Senators (minus two years military service during World War II). He was selected as an all-star in 1952. He finished his career playing for the Detroit Tigers and L.A. Angels until 1962. Throughout his 2008 games in the majors, no player with fewer than 200 home runs has matched Yost's career 1,614 walks. He returned to Washington in 1963 as manager.
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW TO VIEW A LARGER IMAGE August 12 Know the Hall of Stars: CHUCK HINTONCharles Edward Hinton Jr. b. May 3, 1934; Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Even though Chuck Hinton was inspired by Homestead Gray Josh Gibson, and made his first tryout at Griffith Stadium in 1956, he began his baseball career not as a Washington Senator but as a prospect of the Baltimore Orioles. After serving in the United States Army for two years, Chuck returned to the Orioles minor league system until he was drafted by the new Washington Senators expansion team in 1961.
Hinton contributed some much needed offense on a very weak roster. His stats exploded in 1962 with a .310 batting average, 17 home runs, and 75 RBIs. He placed second in the major leagues for stolen bases that year at 28. He continued his tear across the bases the following year with 25 and again ranked second in all of professional baseball. In his fourth year Chuck Hinton led the team in batting avergage and was the Washington Senators representative in the 1964 All Star Game held at Shea Stadium.
In 1972 Chuck Hinton was hired as head coach of Howard University's baseball team and promptly won the MEAC Championship his first year as skipper. In more recent history, Chuck was one of the key persons who helped establish the Major League Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and currently serves as Vice President of that organization. He was also a member of the D.C. committee to return baseball to the Washington and no doubt played a role that resulted in today's team being in the nation's capital.
Visit the MLBPAA by clicking the following link:
August 05 Know the Hall of Stars: WALTER JOHNSONWalter Perry Johnson: b. November 6, 1887 in Humbolt, Kansas / d. December 10, 1946 in Washington, D.C.
***Inducted into the Hall of Fame as a PLAYER in 1936***
If there is a poster boy for Washington Senators Baseball, Walter Johnson is it. There isn't a player that has played professional baseball in Washington D.C. that comes even close to the accomplishments of "Sir Walter". This nickname, along with "The White Knight" were monikers given by players that referenced his well-known gentlemanly demeanor. But the name every Washington baseball fan of this golden era knew him by was:
"The Big Train"
Walter "Big Train" Johnson was a piece of future visited upon major league baseball in it's golden era. It is estimated that his fastball travelled somewhere in the neighborhood of 97 mph. In today's terms that is around 105. He was a Nolan Ryan pitching during the time of Babe Ruth and George Sisler. In fact, Walter's debut into the major leagues had him on the mound against The Detroit Tigers' Ty Cobb. The Georgia Peach was quoted, "The first time I faced him, I watched him take that easy windup - and then something went past me that made me flinch. I hardly saw the pitch, but I heard it. Every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ballpark".
The achievments for Walter Johnson go on and on. Take a gander at these:
Johnson was the Senators ace during their World Series runs of 1924 and 25. In the 1924 World Series game seven, he pitched four innings of shutout relief on only one day's rest to win Washington's only championship after extra innings into the 12th. The fans went crazy and the club awarded him with the most expensive car of the decade; an $8000 Lincoln touring car. Walter Johnson played his entire 21 year career with the Washington Senators and retired as a player in 1927. He fanned an incredible 3,508 batters and left with a combined ERA of 2.17. Two years later he would rejoin the team as their manager from 1929 to 1933. He was elected into the first class of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 along with Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson. After baseball he entered into politics as the Montgomery County Commissioner and made a run to be a U.S. Congressman but was narrowly defeated. Walter Perry Johnson died of a brain tumor at the age of 59 and was buried at Rockville Union Cemetery in Rockville, MD. Forever leaving a mark on baseball and the future of pitching in the major leagues. Click this link to view the Career Statistics for Walter Perry Johnson: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=116635
CLICK PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGE: July 29 Know the Hall of Stars: BUCKY HARRISStanley Raymond Harris: b. November 8, 1896 in Port Jervis, NY /
d. November 8, 1977 in Bethesda, MD
*** Elected to the Hall of Fame as a Manager in 1975 ***
Bucky Harris grew up in the coal mining areas of northeastern Pennsylvania and had his first major league season for the Washington Senators in 1919. A solid 2nd baseman for the team, he took over as manager in 1924 at the tender age of 27. Dubbed the "Boy Manager" because of his young age, he piloted the Senators (who weren't expected to accomplish much that year) to their first and only World Series title in 1924 against the New York Giants. He then captured the American League Pennant the very next year in 1925.
Bucky was well liked by his peers. He had a congenial way about him that was no doubt a result of the similarity of age between him and his players. This bond proved so powerful that in 1943 when he was fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies the players threatened to strike unless he was reinstated. Harris convinced the players to back down and returned to managing baseball in 1947 for the New York Yankees who then promptly won the World Series in game 7 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Of the 37 years Bucky played and managed in major league baseball 23 were with the Washington Senators.
CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGES July 23 Know the Hall of Stars: JOSH GIBSONJoshua Gibson b. December 21, 1911 in Buena Vista, GA / d. January 20, 1947 in Pittsburgh, PA
*** Elected to the Hall of Fame as a Negro Leaguer in 1972 ***
Josh Gibson was affectionately named the "Brown Bomber" and "The Black Babe Ruth" for his tremendous bat. Gibson was first noticed by the Homestead Grays in 1930. He was pressed into service on the spot as an emergency catcher when the Grays lost their regular player due to injury. He batted a phenomenal .461 average that rookie year and was intrumental in their playoff win against the the New York Lincoln Giants in the Eastern championship.
Josh led the Negro National League in home runs for 10 consecutive years; credited with 75 home runs in 1931 and 962 throughout his 17 year career. Not only were his home runs plentiful...but also routinely registered in the neighborhood of more than 500 feet. One particular homer in Monessen, PA was measured at 575 feet.
Gibson was not only powerful but also fast on the bases and had a rifle of an arm. His thick frame (6'1", 205lbs) made him perfect for the catcher position and was one if not the best in the sport. The only negro leaguer more famous than Josh Gibson was Satchel Paige. Josh played for the Homestead Grays in Washington D.C. for 10 years. He was member of the Grays when they won the Negro League Championship in 1937. July 15 Know the Hall of Stars: GEORGE CASEGeorge Washington Case; b. November 11, 1915 in Trenton, NJ / d. January 23, 1989 in Trenton, NJ
George Case was a 4-time all-star (1939, 1943, 1944, 1945), and led stolen bases in the majors for FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS 1939-1944 and then again in 1945. He was a Washington Senator and stayed a Washington Senator. Of the eleven years he played in the majors...ten of them were in Washington. George Case was so fast on the basepaths that he challenged Olympic great Jesse Owens in a promotional foot race (and lost).
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGE: July 09 Know the Hall of Stars: GOOSE GOSLINLeon Allen Goslin: b. October 16, 1900; Salem, NJ / d. May 15, 1971; Bridgeton, NJ
***Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame as a PLAYER in 1968***
Leon "Goose" Goslin was a part of the Washington team that took "the whole thing" in 1924. Known as a power hitter and clutch player, Goose was a force to be reckoned with in major league baseball for over 10 years. He was the team momentum maker for Senators I. Leading Washington to 3 pennants, he was responsible for a .344 batting average and 3 home runs in the '24 World Series. In fact, he's the only player in D.C. baseball history to play in ALL 19 games of World Series ball in which Washington participated. Between 1924 and 1928, Goslin's batting average never dipped below .334
Click the link below for the National Hall of Fame biographical for Goose Goslin:
Click the pictures below to view larger image:
July 04 Know the Hall of Stars: CLARK GRIFFITHClark Calvin Griffith; b. November 20, 1869 in Clear Creek, MO / d. October 27, 1955 in Washington D.C.
***Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Pioneer / Executive in 1946***
Clark Griffith got the nickname "Old Fox" and was a dominant pitcher in the late 1890s to early 1900s. He played from 1891 to 1914 for the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, New York Yankees, Cincinatti and Washington Senators. His best seasons as a player were with the Chicago Colts/Orphans from 1893-1900. In 1898 he recorded 24 wins and 10 losses, 97 strikeouts in 326 innings of work and a sterling 1.88 ERA. In suceeding years he topped the 20-victory mark six years in a row for the White Stockings, amassing 237 career victories.
But Mr. Griffith is best known in WASHINGTON as a former manager and owner of the Washington Senators. He took over the franchise in 1912 which was struggling at the time and transformed it into a real contender. From 1924-1933 Griffith's ballclub competed and dominated. Clark Griffith kept Washington baseball close to his heart...and kept it running until his death in 1955.
The stadium predecessor to RFK was Griffith Stadium...which was made in his honor and all that he did not only for the sport of baseball but for the city of Washington D.C. to which he so dearly loved.
Find a detailed biographical by clicking the link below:
CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGE: June 27 Know the Hall of Stars: FRANK HOWARDFrank Oliver Howard; born August 8th 1936 in Columbus, Ohio Also belovedly known as "Hondo" or "The Capital Punisher", Frank Howard is probably the most popular and fan favorite of the second installment of Washington Senators to the nation's capital. He began his major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in September of 1958 and acheived National League rookie of the year in 1960. In game 4 of the 1963 World Series, he hit the first home run ever into the upper deck loge level of Dodger Stadium (estimated distance of 450 feet) as LA swept the Yankees. Howard arrived in Washington for the 1965 season and stayed with the club until one year after it's relocation to Texas in 1971. He was a gargantuan at 6'8", 275lbs and was known not for his thick frame but his thick bat. During an amazing one-week stretch in the spring of 1968 (May 13-18), Howard hammered 10 home runs in 20 at-bats, hitting at least one dinger in six consecutive games. His 10 home runs are also the most ever in a same week. He would eventually hit 13 homers in 16 games, a mark that would stand until Albert Belle matched it in 1995. Howard finished the '68 season leading the American League with 44 HR. In 1969 Howard hit a career-high 48 homers (Harmon Killebrew was the home run champion with 49), and in 1970, he led the AL both in HR (44) and RBI (126). Frank Howard's major league baseball acheivments:
Frank Howard hit the last regular season home run at RFK stadium for the Washington Senators in September of 1971. RFK still honors "Hondo" to this day with seats in the upper deck that are painted white. These seats mark the spots where Howard belted his longest distance home runs at Washington Stadium. Today Frank is still involved with major league baseball working with the New York Yankee AAA farm team Columbus Clippers as their outfield coordinator and first base coach. CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO VIEW FULL SIZE June 17 Know the Hall of Stars: JOE CRONINJoseph Edward Cronin; b. October 12, 1906 / d. September 7, 1984 ML Debut: 4/29/1926 Played For: Pittsburgh Pirates (1926-1927), Washington Senators (1928-1934), Boston Red Sox (1935-1945) Post-Season: 1933 World Series Bio Narrative Bio For 14 years, Joe Cronin's signature appeared on all the baseballs used in the American League. But a far more interesting tidbit about this former American League president is that he was once sold by his uncle-in-law - not his father-in-law, as is often reported. Cronin was one of baseball's "boy wonder" managers when he piloted the 1933 Senators to an AL pennant at the age of 27, a year younger than Washington's first "boy wonder," Bucky Harris, was when he took Washington to its first pennant in 1924. It is often forgotten that the gentlemanly Cronin was one of the premier shortstops of his day, and knocked in more than 100 runs in a season eight times. He was also Carl Hubbell's fifth consecutive Hall of Fame strikeout victim in the 1934 All-Star game. A former bank clerk, Cronin came up as a slow and clumsy shortstop for Pittsburgh. The Pirates had Arky Vaughan at shortstop, and in 1928 Cronin was dealt to Washington, where he bloomed. In 1930, his second full season, he had career highs in batting average (.346) and RBI (126), and TSN named him player of the year (1930 was the year before the baseball writers started electing regular MVPs). In 1933, Cronin was named player-manager by Washington owner Clark Griffith, and Cronin responded by guiding the Senators to their final World Series appearance. The Giants beat Cronin's club in five games, but Cronin batted .318. The following year, Griffith introduced his young manager to his niece, Mildred Robertson, then a club secretary. The two were married later that year. But at the end of the 1934 season, Griffith sold his new nephew to the Red Sox for $225,000, the highest amount paid for a single player (Boston's sale of Babe Ruth was actually only for $125,000, with the remaining $300,000 being a personal loan from Yankee owner Ruppert to Red Sox owner Harry Frazee). Griffith arranged, however, for Cronin to receive a five-year contract good for $50,000 per year. Cronin loved hitting in Fenway Park. Three times he registered slugging percentages over .500, with a career-high .536 in 1938, the year he led the AL in doubles with 51. He hit a career-high 24 HR in 1940, the year he also led the league in putouts and assists. Despite hitting .311 with 16 HR and 95 RBI in 1941, he took himself out of the regular lineup in 1942 to make room for a youngster named Johnny Pesky. He still pinch hit, though, setting a major league record of five pinch homers in 1943, including two in one day -- one each in two ends of a doubleheader. In early 1945 Cronin broke his leg, ending his playing career for good. He took the Red Sox to the World Series the following year, losing to the Cardinals on Enos Slaughter's dash home in the seventh game. He moved into the Red Sox front office in 1948 for 11 years, during which time he was elected to the Hall of Fame. In 1959, he was chosen American League president by the owners, the first former player so honored. In his two terms as AL president, he presided over the league's expansion from eight to ten teams in 1960, then to 12 teams in 1969. In 1970, he fired two umpires for "incompetency" when he learned they were trying to form a union. In his final year as president, he blocked George Steinbrenner's attempt to hire Dick Williams as manager, but allowed the Tigers to sign Ralph Houk away from Steinbrenner's Yankees. (SEW) CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW FOR LARGER IMAGE June 11 Know the Hall of Stars: GIL HODGESGILBERT RAY HODGES; b. April 4, 1924, d. April 2, 1972 1st base; 1943, 47-63 Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Mets Manager; WASHINGTON SENATORS 1963-1967 Biographical: Known as the "Miracle Worker" when he piloted the 1969 Mets to the World Championship, Hodges was a slugging, eight-time All-Star first baseman. A dead-pull hitter who always looked for the inside pitch, Hodges was a model of consistency, collecting over 100 RBI for seven consecutive years (1949-55) and hitting 20 or more HR 11 straight seasons (1949-59). His lifetime 14 grand slams established the NL mark, since eclipsed by Willie McCovey (18) and Hank Aaron (16). Hodges was nineteen when he played third base for one game with the Dodgers in late 1943. He struck out twice and walked, then joined the Marines. He returned in 1947 as a catcher, but with the emergence of Roy Campanella, he was moved to first base. Manager Leo Durocher said, "With my catching set, I put a first baseman's glove on our other rookie catcher, Gil Hodges, and told him to have some fun. Three days later, I looked up and, wow, I was looking at the best first baseman I'd seen since Dolf Camilli." Hodges was the Dodgers' Lou Gehrig - big, strong, and gentle. The three-time Gold Glove winner played first base gracefully. His hands were so large that teammates joked he didn't even need a glove. His quick footwork provoked the allegation that he rarely had his foot on the bag for his putouts. On August 31, 1950 against the Braves, Hodges hit four homers. His 40 HR in 1951 were second only to Ralph Kiner's 42, but he struck out a league-high 99 times. He reached career highs in 1954, hitting .304 with 42 HR and 130 RBI (second to Ted Kluszewski's 49 and 141). During the 1952 WS loss to the Yankees, Hodges went a dreadful 0-for-21, and prayers were said for the beloved Dodger in churches all across Brooklyn. In the following year's Series he hit .364. Hodges homered in each of his last four World Series, his shots winning 1956's Game One and 1959's Game Four for the Dodgers. Ending his playing career with the Mets, Hodges hit the first homer in their history, on April 11, 1962 at St. Louis. Though he began 1963 with the Mets, he was sent to Washington for Jimmy Piersall, and took over as manager of the struggling Senators, who were 14-26 under Mickey Vernon. In five seasons, the best Hodges could do was a sixth-place finish in 1967. Hodges was traded back to the Mets as manager in exchange for pitcher Bill Denehy and cash. His 1968 club finished ninth, but the following season, Hodges took the Mets to the pennant, skillfully platooning at five positions. The Mets swept the Braves in the LCS, then took the WS from Baltimore in five games. Hodges managed the Mets to two third-place finishes in 1970 and '71. He died suddenly of a heart attack after a spring training golf game on April 2, 1972, two days before his 48th birthday. The Mets retired his number 14. Managerial Record at Washington Year League Team Age G W L WP Finish June 07 AMAZON BOOK LINKSIF ANY OF THESE LINKS ARE DISCONTINUED OR NO LONGER WORKING, TRY THE PUBLISHER LINKS LOCATED IN THE LIBRARY ON THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF THIS BLOG...
|
Books About Baseball In The Nation's Capital
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
