Washington DC Baseball

[GeoPoto]

(Thanks for posting Val. Very nice card!)

Player #157B: Louis N. "Bobo" Newsom. Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1935-1937, 1942, 1943, 1946-1947, and 1952. 211 wins and 21 saves in 20 MLB seasons. 4-time All-Star. 1947 World Series champion. 1942 AL strikeout leader. He had a career ERA of 3.98. He debuted with the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers in 1929-1930. He changed teams 16 times. Almost joined Benton as only to have pitched to Ruth and Mantle. He was known for his eccentricities. In 1940 with the Detroit Tigers, he posted a 21-5 record with a 2.83 ERA in 264 innings pitched. His last team was the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952-1953.

Deveaux addresses Bobo's 1936 season: Bobo was also in the spotlight, right where he wanted to be, when Bucky Harris selected him as his starting pitcher for the 1936 season opener against the Yankees. Always up to challenge, later in this season, with a start against the Yankees forthcoming, Newsom, unwisely, publicly vowed to find a weakness in rookie Joe Dimaggio's batting eye. Following the game, much hay was made of the fact that he had indeed uncovered something. It was obvious that DiMaggio had a penchant for doubles, having hit three of them off Bobo.

On opening day, 1936, Newsom got to exchange autographs with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. With the President, his Cabinet, the Army Band, and 31,000 faithful in the seats, Bobo may have been a little overwhelmed. He wasn't very alert when Yankees outfielder Ben Chapman bunted to the left side of the infield. Newsom made a move toward the ball, and then decided to let Ossie Bluege field it. For some unknown reason, Bobo made no attempt to get out of the way of what had to be a strong throw to nip the swift Chapman. Bluege's missile traveled all of 15 feet or so before it conked Bobo right on the coconut.

Instead of falling, the 6'3" Newsom embarked on a stagger which took him toward the presidential box before veering back toward the mound. He was steered to the bench by his teammates, and, revived with nothing more than a cold towel, proceeded to pitch a complete game 1-0 shutout. The Nats got the season off on the right foot. Newsom was a horse for Harris all year, won 17 games against 15 losses, and, with 286 innings pitched, was just 15 short of league leader Wes Farrell of Boston. (The Washington Senators by Tom Deveaux.)