The 1925 Washington Senators won 96 games, lost 55, and finished in first place in the American League. Fueled by the excitement of winning their second AL pennant, the Senators led 3 games to 1 in the World Series before succumbing to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Senators team that took the field on opening day (1925) was exactly the same one that had won it all against the great New York Giants in October. Unlike the club of the year before, it was to discover it would no longer be the recipient of any underdog sentiment as it defended its title of champion of the American League. The Nats suffered a 5-1 loss at Yankee Stadium, with Mogridge getting the nod as starting pitcher. Babe Ruth, ailing from "the bellyache heard around the world" was noteworthy for his absence, replaced by an outfielder named Ben Pashal, who provided a reasonable facsimile of Ruth by slugging a home run.
As was customary, though, Walter Johnson got the start for the opener in Washington. It was business as usual. He opened his 19th year with a 10-1 win on April 22, with the only run off him unearned. . . .
. . . The A's were Washington's chief opposition as the first month of the season unfolded. Philadelphia had a great new outfielder, Al Simmons, and rookie catcher Mickey Cochrane was considered a true prospect and would not disappoint. The A's second-year lefthander, Lefty Grove, was throwing bullets and would lead the league in ERA. But the Senators got off to a fine start, embroiled in a battle for first with the A's and the Indians after the first month. Earl McNeely, however, was not getting on base, and Goslin had moved over to take his place in center. Joe Harris, a known quantity as a hitter, filled Goslin's spot in left.
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