Washington DC Baseball

[GeoPoto]

My pre-war collecting is focused on Washington (The District of Columbia) baseball. To amuse myself, I thought I would initiate a thread that showcases items involving the teams and players that have represented Washington. I realize that, with very few exceptions such as Walter Johnson, Washington items are under-represented in most collections, unless needed to complete a set. So, in many cases, I'll be posting items most collectors are used to ignoring. I will include readily available biographical information that I deem interesting. I apologize in advance for the poor quality of some scans. I will start with the 1887-1889 Nationals.

(Feel free to contribute any images or thoughts that my postings may provoke, but please refrain from quarrelling over religious subjects involving TPGs, AHs, or PWCC. Especially PWCC.)

The 1887 Washington Nationals finished with a 46–76 record in the National League, finishing in seventh place.

The 1888 Washington Nationals finished with a 48–86 record in the National League, finishing in last place.

The 1889 Washington Nationals finished with a 41–83 record in the National League, finishing in last place. The team folded at the conclusion of the season.

Player #1: James B. "Jim" Donnelly. Third baseman for the Washington Nationals in 1887-1889. 549 hits and 173 stolen bases in 11 MLB seasons. He debuted with the Indianapolis Hoosiers in 1884. His most productive season came in 1896 for the NL-pennant-winning Baltimore Orioles as he posted a .387 OBP with 70 runs and 71 RBIs in 454 plate appearances. His final season came in 1898 with the St. Louis Browns.

James B. Donnelly used to be conflated with a fellow New Englander named James H. Donnelly. Both Donnelly's made their MLB debut in 1884.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1651836520
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[BobbyStrawberry]

Here are two 1887 Nationals cards from my collection:

[JackR]

The Big Train…

Not really a “card,” but a pretty cool shot of Washington’s best ever…

[brianp-beme]

19th century cards have never been a focus, but one of the three Old Judge cards I have happens to be of Washington outfielder/infielder George Shoch, who had an 11 year career in baseball, including the 4 year stint with the Nationals at the beginning of his career in 1886 to 1889. As a bonus, this card also features John Gaffney, who was the manager of the Nationals for part of 1886 and in 1887. Before and after this managerial stint, he was a noted umpire, perhaps influencing the photo selection seen on this card.

Brian

[Jay Wolt]

Here's 4 more Buchner's

[GeoPoto]

Player #2: James E. "Grasshopper" Whitney. Pitcher with the Washington Nationals in 1887-1888. 191 wins and a career ERA of 2.97 in 10 MLB seasons. He was the 1881 NL wins leader and the 1883 NL strikeout leader. He debuted with the Boston Red Caps in 1881. In 1881, Whitney's 31-33 record led the league in both wins and losses; 31 wins still stands as the MLB record for wins with a losing record. His best season was 1883 with the Boston Beaneaters as he posted a 37-21 record and a 2.24 ERA in 514 innings pitched. He finished his career with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1890. He died in 1891 of tuberculosis at the age of 33.

"There were no restrictions placed on (pitchers) as to delivery, and they could double up like a jack-knife and deliver the ball. That was the way Jim Whitney used to do, and he would let the ball go at terrific speed. It was a wonder that anyone was able to hit him at all. He was the swiftest pitcher I ever saw." - Hall of Famer Jim O'Rourke, quoted in Sporting Life of December 4, 1915

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1651917080

[RUKen]

I do not own the image posted below, but I hope it is deemed appropriate for this thread. It is a photograph that had been published in The Washington Sunday Star on October 5th, 1924--a rarely seen image of the 1892 Washington Nationals. Most professional teams of that era had the name of their city on their uniform, or the initial of the city name, or no lettering at all, but this team had NATIONAL across the chest. The players are identified in the caption, which helps to confirm that this is, in fact, the National League team of 1892. I found the image on one of the online newspaper archives a while back, and am pretty certain that the original photograph is no longer in existence.

[GeoPoto]

That's a great picture. Thanks for posting it.

Wikipedia reports that "The 1891 Washington Statesmen baseball team finished the season with a 44–91 record in the American Association in their first season. After the season, the AA disbanded and the Washington club, renamed the "Senators," joined the National League.

So, despite the "National" on their uniforms, the team was apparently officially named the Senators. Perhaps the first official use (in MLB) of the team-name Senators -- I believe the American League team that began in 1901 (now the Minnesota Twins) was not officially designated as Senators until after Clark Griffith died in 1955.

[RUKen]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

That's a great picture. Thanks for posting it.

Wikipedia reports that "The 1891 Washington Statesmen baseball team finished the season with a 44–91 record in the American Association in their first season. After the season, the AA disbanded and the Washington club, renamed the "Senators," joined the National League.

So, despite the "National" on their uniforms, the team was apparently officially named the Senators. Perhaps the first official use (in MLB) of the team-name Senators -- I believe the American League team that began in 1901 (now the Minnesota Twins) was not officially designated as Senators until after Clark Griffith died in 1955.

The official name of most 19th Century (and early 20th Century) professional baseball teams consisted of the city name and "Base Ball Club", or something similar. There were a few exceptions in the major leagues, such as the Eclipse club that was eventually renamed the Louisville club, and the Metropolitan club (of New York), which disbanded after the 1887 season. The nicknames given to teams, such as the Giants, Browns, Statesmen, and Senators, were just that--informal names used by the fans and the press, but not really official names, and different newspapers in the same city might favor different names.

Anyway, whoever made the Wikipedia entry had probably never seen the image of the 1892 team or done much research in the newspaper archives. By the end of the decade, the team was usually called the Senators in the press, but it's hard to imagine that this was the most commonly used nickname for the 1892 team, considering what was printed on their uniform shirts.

[Carter08]

Might be far afield from what the OP is thinking but I’m a huge fan of the 5th all star game ever played, which was in Washington in 1937. FDR threw out the first pitch, Gehrig homered, Dizzy’s career got derailed by a liner from Earl Averill. Awesome game.

[GeoPoto]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I’m a huge fan of the 5th all star game ever played, which was in Washington in 1937. FDR threw out the first pitch, Gehrig homered, Dizzy’s career got derailed by a liner from Earl Averill. Awesome game.

The American League took the game, 8-3, Lefty Gomez besting Dizzy Dean, Lou Gehrig blasting a home run for the AL. And, as you say, Dean's broken toe was the beginning of the end of his Hall-of-Fame career.

The images of Griffith Stadium are from 1924 and FDR's first pitch is from the 1940 season.

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[raineybt]

Originally Posted by RUKen

I do not own the image posted below, but I hope it is deemed appropriate for this thread. It is a photograph that had been published in The Washington Sunday Star on October 5th, 1924--a rarely seen image of the 1892 Washington Nationals. Most professional teams of that era had the name of their city on their uniform, or the initial of the city name, or no lettering at all, but this team had NATIONAL across the chest. The players are identified in the caption, which helps to confirm that this is, in fact, the National League team of 1892. I found the image on one of the online newspaper archives a while back, and am pretty certain that the original photograph is no longer in existence.

Getting back into the hobby, with a specific focus of continuing my Senators collection, and this thread has been eye opening! An original copy of this photo was actually just auctioned off at Memory Lane and now is proudly displayed in my collection!

https://memorylaneinc.com/site/bids/...e?itemid=84150

[Lucas00]

Recently Bought this Snapshot of Marty Keough. Marty was selected In the December 1960 expansion draft. And played for the "new" Senators in 1961. What I find interesting is he is actually shown wearing a 1959-1960 Uniform. This design was not worn by them in 1961, a brand new one was made for them. And the Mr. Senator sleeve patch is slightly visible on left sleeve. The mascot that was left behind with the old club in 1960..

I know the team was brand new and this is most definitely spring training (maybe even earlier) but using the previous years uniform from a then Defunct team? That is wild, and pretty cool to look back on now.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by raineybt

Getting back into the hobby, with a specific focus of continuing my Senators collection, and this thread has been eye opening! An original copy of this photo was actually just auctioned off at Memory Lane and now is proudly displayed in my collection!

Wonderful piece of D.C. baseball history, Brian! What's on their jerseys, Washington or Nationals, I can't quite make it out? And were they in the National or Eastern Leagues? Great stuff!

[raineybt]

Hank - the players are wearing "National" across their chests, and set a strong tone for Washington baseball for the next 80 years by finishing in last place for the second half of the season to end up 3rd to last in the league.

This came up at auction through Memory Lane, and having read through this Washington DC baseball thread multiple times, I immediately recognized it. This was the original picture that was reprinted in The Washington Sunday Star on October 5th, 1924 (attached below) which user RUKen posted in 2022. His post included the unintended challenge that he was "pretty certain that the original photograph is no longer in existence" so I knew I had to jump on it. Now I just need to find a copy of the 1924 Sunday Star to frame with it!

Sorry to have missed you at the vintage show, I hope you can make it next year. You've been an incredible voice for Washington collectors since Tom Holster gave you a shout out in the Senators checklist 30 years ago!

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Wonderful piece of D.C. baseball history, Brian! What's on their jerseys, Washington or Nationals, I can't quite make it out? And were they in the National or Eastern Leagues? Great stuff!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by raineybt

Sorry to have missed you at the vintage show, I hope you can make it next year. You've been an incredible voice for Washington collectors since Tom Holster gave you a shout out in the Senators checklist 30 years ago!

Thanks, Brian. I miss my dear friend Tom, who left us much too early.

[GeoPoto]

Sigh back at you.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

[GeoPoto]

Player #21: William M. "Bill" Carrick. "Doughnut Bill". Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1901-1902. 63 wins and a 4.14 ERA in 5 MLB seasons. He led the NL in complete games in 1899 and in games pitched in 1900 and in games started both years. He debuted with the New York Giants in 1898-1900. In 1900 he had his best year posting a record of 19-22 with a 3.53 ERA in 341.2 innings pitched.

Doughnut Bill Carrick pitched five years in the majors. He was a workhorse, twice leading the league in starts. At one point during the 1901 season, Carrick lost seventeen consecutive decisions.

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[GeoPoto]

Player #22: William P. "Bill" Coughlin. "Scranton Bill". "Rowdy Bill". Third baseman with the Washington Nationals in 1899 (NL) and Senators in 1901-1904 (AL). 972 hits and 159 stolen bases in 9 MLB seasons. He was known as a master of the hidden-ball trick. He was a key figure on the Detroit Tiger team that won AL pennants in 1907 and 1908. But his most productive season was 1902 with Washington as he posted an OBP of .348 with 84 runs scored and 71 RBIs in 506 plate appearances. His final seasons were with Detroit in 1904-1908.

In 1919, Coughlin was involved in the occupation of Germany after World War I. Coughlin conceived and operated a school for umpires run by the Knights of Columbus in occupied Coblenz, Germany. Coughlin taught the umpire candidates to officiate baseball games for the occupying servicemen. Coughlin taught his umpires to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" if fights erupted among the players, causing "rocks held ready to avenge an unpopular decision" to fall from "reverent hands."

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[ValKehl]

Prior to the game on Saturday vs. the Phillies, the Wash. Nationals held an on-field ceremony to honor Ryan Zimmerman and retire his jersey number. A good player but not a HOF candidate, Zimmerman has been the face of the Nats franchise from almost when the team moved to DC from Montreal. I think this read, which appears in today's Wash. Post, will interest all Washington fans, and hopefully others as well. I have copied and pasted this piece becaise I believe the Post has a paywall.


A century before Zimmerman, Walter Johnson transformed D.C. baseball

By Frederic J. Frommer
Updated June 18, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. EDT|Published June 17, 2022 at 10:01 a.m. EDT

When the Nationals celebrate Ryan Zimmerman and his career at Nationals Park on Saturday, they paid tribute to a player who has been the face of Washington baseball in a way no one has in a century, since Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson.

Like Johnson, Zimmerman, who announced his retirement in February, played his entire career here, slogged through many years of bad baseball, and helped lead his team to a World Series title in the twilight of his career.

Zimmerman made his debut at the age of 20, 98 years after Johnson’s first game with the Washington Senators at the age of 19. Johnson finally got a chance to play in the World Series when he was 36 and the entire nation rallied around the underdog Senators, who beat the New York Giants in seven games.

Zimmerman was 35 when the Nats upset the Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series, also in seven games. Those remain the only World Series titles for Washington, 95 years apart. Zimmerman is also retiring 95 years after Johnson did in 1927.

The Senators and the Nats were nearly equally bad when Johnson and Zimmerman started their careers. In his first five seasons in the big leagues, Johnson pitched for a team that finished in last or second-to-last place in the American League every season. In the first five seasons Zimmerman played for the Nats, the team finished in the bottom two in the National League East Division.

Twice in those periods, their teams had the worst record in baseball. The Nats got to restock off those fallow years by drafting Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper with back-to-back No. 1 draft picks, but there was no draft back when Johnson played, making a rebuild much more challenging.

Both players dated back to the beginning of the Washington teams. The Nats made Zimmerman their first draft selection after moving here from Montreal in June 2005, and he made his debut three months later. The Senators scouted Johnson playing semipro baseball in Idaho and signed him in June 1907 during their seventh season.

“Secures A Phenom,” a Washington Post headline declared on June 30, 1907. “Johnson Is His Name and He Hails from the Wooly West.” He debuted for the Senators that August. They both put up spectacular numbers in their first abbreviated first seasons. Zimmerman hit .397 in 20 games, while Johnson posted a 1.88 earned run average in 14 games.

Zimmerman played his entire career with one team, a feat almost unheard of in this era of free agency, but it was more common when Johnson played. Zimmerman helped bridge generations of Washington baseball fans, many of whom lived 33 years without a local team. As he told me after the Nats won the 2019 World Series for my book on Washington baseball history, “You Gotta Have Heart”:

The team has been here long enough where I’ll have 20-year-old or 25-year-old guys or girls come up to me and be like, “Hey thanks, you know you’ve been my favorite since I was a little kid,” which makes me feel really old, but also it is really cool because you have that again now.

Being here for so long, I’ve talked to some people who said they used to go to Senators games with their parents. These people went to games with their dad or mom when they were four or five or six years old, but their kids are now grown, and they never had a baseball team to do that with their dad or mom. So you missed that whole generation.

One of the most important things this World Series did was restore baseball back to D.C. It’s almost like some closure to baseball coming back.

Both Zimmerman and Johnson knew when it was time to retire. Johnson, 39, went 5-6 with a 5.10 ERA in his final season, although he hit .348 and slugged .522 in 46 at-bats. Zimmerman, 37 when he retired, hit .243 last year, but he did have some pop left in his bat, homering 14 times and driving in 46 RBIs in just 255 at-bats.

ohnson had arguably the best career of any big league pitcher in history and holds the record for most shutouts, with 110. Zimmerman was not that kind of transformational player, but he retired as the all-time Nats leader in homers, hits, RBIs and games played. On Saturday, his No. 11 was retired, the first time a Nats player has received that honor.

Johnson remained a fixture in the region, as Zimmerman, known as “Mr. National,” plans to do. “Although my baseball career has come to an end, my family and I will continue to be heavily involved in the DMV community,” he said.

A few years after retiring, Johnson became manager of the Senators. In three of those four seasons, the Senators had a winning percentage of .597 or better but never made it back to the World Series. Later, he entered politics, winning a seat on the Montgomery County Commission and nearly pulling off an upset victory as a Republican candidate for Congress in 1940. There is also a high school named for him in Bethesda.

Both excelled in unassuming ways, without seeking the spotlight. When Johnson retired, he said he “simply does not want to be in the way next season.”

“Walter Johnson, more than any other ball player, probably more than any other athlete, professional or amateur, became the symbol of gentlemanly conduct in the battle heat,” wrote Washington Post sports columnist Shirley Povich in 1946, following the death of Johnson at the age of 59.

“The big fellow from Coffeyville, Kan.,” wrote New York Times sports columnist Arthur Daley, “was a gentleman of the highest type, a distinct credit to his sport.”

Although players today are not often described as “gentlemen,” the sentiments behind those comments describe Zimmerman. He told The Post that when people see him and thank him for being a role model, “I feel like I don’t know why you’re thanking me. All I did was play baseball. I got to play baseball for a job. That is the best way to put it. I shouldn’t be being thanked. I feel like I should be thanking them.”

Frederic J. Frommer, a writer and sports historian, is the author of several books, including “You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals.”

[GeoPoto]

Thanks Val.

Player #23: Lewis L. "Lew" Drill. Catcher with the Washington Senators in 1902-1904. 231 hits in 4 MLB seasons. His career OBP is .353. His last MLB seasons were 1904-1905 with the Detroit Tigers. He declined a contract offer for the 1906 season because he could make more money working as a lawyer.

Drill's SABR biography picks up his 1903 season: With (William "Boileryard") Clarke back in the fold, Drill had less opportunity to play in 1903. He batted .253 in 51 games and kept up his studies while playing ball, earning his law degree from Georgetown in June. After the season he and Bob Blewett, a classmate at Georgetown and a former pitcher with the New York Giants, opened a law office in Seattle; one report stated, “Both men are out of baseball for good.” Drill must have reconsidered: He was one of the first to report for Senator's spring training in 1904.

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[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Prior to the game on Saturday vs. the Phillies, the Wash. Nationals held an on-field ceremony to honor Ryan Zimmerman and retire his jersey number. A good player but not a HOF candidate, Zimmerman has been the face of the Nats franchise from almost when the team moved to DC from Montreal. I think this read, which appears in today's Wash. Post, will interest all Washington fans, and hopefully others as well. I have copied and pasted this piece because I believe the Post has a paywall.

Thanks, Val, for posting this nicely done and apropos article by Fred Frommer, who has become the unofficial historian of the original Nats.

[GeoPoto]

Thanks for the comment. I'm not sure what Deveaux is basing his use of "truly" on, but he continues "Fans and reporters alike, in Washington and elsewhere, continued to call the team the Senators and to nickname the team the Nats. It would be 50 years, however, before 'Senators' would become the official team name".

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

Thanks for the comment. I'm not sure what Deveaux is basing his use of "truly" on, but he continues "Fans and reporters alike, in Washington and elsewhere, continued to call the team the Senators and to nickname the team the Nats. It would be 50 years, however, before 'Senators' would become the official team name".

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Just to point out, Nats is part of SeNATors too, so it might be considered a duo use nickname.

Brian

[GeoPoto]

Player #28A: Clark C. "The Old Fox" Griffith. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1912-1914. Debuted with the St. Louis Browns in 1891. 237 wins and 8 saves in 20 MLB seasons. Was 1898 MLB ERA leader. Managed the Chicago White Stockings (1901-1902), the New York Highlanders (1903-1908), the Cincinnati Reds (1909-1911), and the Washington Senators (1912-1920). Was principal owner of the Washington Senators from 1920 until his death in 1955. In 1946, was inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame.

Griff's SABR biography picks up his career with the New York Highlanders: In 1903, Griffith was named manager of the NY AL team that replaced Baltimore. 1906 found him still managing the Highlanders. We pick up his SABR biography: In 1904, mainly through the machinations of Ban Johnson, New York was fortified by the additions of Jack Powell and John Anderson, and the pick-up of Smiling Al Orth in July helped to solidify the team in its run for the pennant. On the season’s final day, however, a wild pitch by Jack Chesbro denied the Highlanders a championship. It was the closest Griff would come to a flag in New York.

The club was up and down in the standings over the next several seasons, sagging to sixth place in 1905, finishing second in 1906 and falling back again to fifth in 1907. In June 1908, as the team was beset with injuries and spiraling downward, losing 12 of 13 games, Clark announced his resignation. He blamed bad luck which followed the club, intimating that perhaps it was he, himself, who was the hoodoo. A disheartened Griffith stated, “It [is] simply useless for me to continue…I have tried everything, but it [is] fighting against fate.”

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[GeoPoto]

Player #29: Charles T. "Charlie" Hickman. Utility player with the Washington Senators in 1905-1907. 1,176 hits and 59 home runs in 12 MLB seasons. He debuted with the Boston Beaneaters in 1897-1899. His 1902 season was split between the Boston Americans and the Cleveland Bronchos but was his most productive as he posted a .387 OBP with 110 RBIs in 564 plate appearances. His final season was 1908 with the Cleveland Naps.

Hickman's SABR biography summarizes his time in Washington: After struggling at the plate and in the field for Detroit in 1905, and again tangling with Armour (now managing the Tigers), he was sold to Washington, where he remained for one complete season and parts of two others. He was the team’s leading hitter, but his defensive woes continued. On September 29, 1905, Hickman entered the record books again when he had a five-error game at second base. Though still an effective hitter who batted .284 with nine home runs for the Senators in 1906, Hickman’s inability to play defense limited his value. During spring training in 1907, Hickman suffered a knee injury that would hamper him through the rest of the season (and signal the end of his career).

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[GeoPoto]

Player #30: Case L. "Casey" Patten. Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1901-1908. 101 wins and 4 saves in 8 MLB seasons. He had a career OBP of 3.36. His best season was 1906 with Washington as he posted a 19-16 record with a 2.17 ERA in 282.2 innings pitched. He finished his career in 1908 with the Boston Red Sox.

Patten's SABR biography lays out his time in Washington: Patten debuted with Manning’s Senators on May 4, 1901, pitching in relief of Win Mercer, who was up against Cy Young and some hot Boston batters. (James H. Manning owned the Kansas City Blues and went on to become one of the incorporators of the Washington Senators. A good part of the Washington team, including Patten, was built from Manning's Kansas City club.) Mercer let in seven runs in the first four innings, and Patten got the call. He struck out two and walked three and let in three more runs. It was a lopsided 10-2 win for Jimmy Collins and the Bostons.

(Despite that introduction,) Patten (had) a pretty good year on the mound. Though he was pitching for a sixth-place team which wound up with a 61-72 record, Patten was 18-10 with a 3.93 earned run average, the best pitcher on the staff. If not his best year, it was one of his two best. “I never saw a pitcher with a better curve,” said Kid Gleason at year’s end. (Washington Post, September 27, 1901.) Patten was often superb with the spitball. Over seven seasons with Washington, Patten averaged over 14 wins a year (though, it must be said, more than 17 losses). He played with Washington throughout his entire major-league career save for one game that he pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 1908.

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[jbro]

I'm also a vintage Washington collector and just wanted to say that this thread is amazing! Thanks for getting it started.

[GeoPoto]

Hey jbro! Welcome to the club. I thought it was just Val and me. It is good to hear you are out there. Thanks for the kind words.

[GeoPoto]

Player #35C: William E. "Wid" Conroy. Utility player for the Washington Senators in 1909-1911. 1,257 hits, 22 home runs, and 262 stolen bases in 11 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901. He had at least 384 plate appearances in each of his 11 MLB seasons. He was the first-string SS on the NL champion Pittsburgh Pirates in 1902. He moved to 3B in 1903 with the New York Highlanders, twice leading AL third basemen in total chances per game. He was an opening day starter for the Highlanders for the first five years of the team's existence. In 1907 he swiped 41 bases second only to Ty Cobb. He finished his career with Washington and in one of his last games set an AL record with 13 total chances at 3B.

Conroy's SABR biography summarizes his career and the origins of his nickname: An adept base stealer known for taking unusually large leads from first base, Wid Conroy used his raw speed and acrobatic skills to earn a reputation as one of the most versatile defensive players of the Deadball Era. During his eleven-year major league career, Conroy played a significant number of games at third base, shortstop, and left field, eliciting praise for his keen intelligence, sure-handedness, and leaping catches. One writer declared that Conroy’s movements around third base were “as graceful as a dancing master,” while another observed that “no matter in what position he is played, Conroy is generally recognized as a heady, hard-working ball player of much natural ability.”

From an early age, William demonstrated a love for baseball, spending much of his free time playing on Camden’s sandlots, and earning the nickname “Widow,” which would later be shortened to “Wid” during his playing career. Conroy pleaded ignorance as to the origin of his peculiar moniker, but fellow Camdenites asserted that he earned the name because of “his motherly interest in youngsters smaller and younger than himself, who used to number themselves in his ‘gang.’”

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[GeoPoto]

Player #47C: Norman A. "Kid" Elberfeld. "The Tabasco Kid". Shortstop for the Washington Senators 1910-1911. 1,235 hits, 10 home runs, and 213 stolen bases in 14 MLB seasons. Fiery temper involved him in numerous ferocious arguments and assaults on umpires. Managed the New York Highlanders in 1908. Debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1898. Had a career OBP of .355 and 7 MLB seasons with at least 500 plate appearances.

Elberfeld's SABR biography picks up his career following his 1903 trade from Detroit to the Highlanders: Over the next three years with New York, Elberfeld solidified his reputation as one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball. From 1904 to 1906, he had the highest batting (.275) and on-base-plus-slugging (.688) percentages of any shortstop in the American League, and second in the majors only to Honus Wagner. But injuries and suspensions continued to dog him; the Highlanders might have won pennants in 1904 and 1906 had Elberfeld not missed 89 games during those years. In late 1906 he also had two memorable run-ins with umpire Silk O’Loughlin. The first, on August 8, occurred when Elberfeld was denied first base by after being hit by a pitch, prompting him to menace the umpire with a bat. Then, on September 3, the two went at it again in a brawl described by the New York Times as “one of the most disgraceful scenes ever witnessed on a baseball field.” The Highlanders were in a close pennant race with Chicago, and when Elberfeld was suspended for only a total of eight games by President Johnson, some viewed it as an act of favoritism toward the Highlanders.

On May 1, 1908, with the New Yorkers tied for first place, Elberfeld was severely spiked by Washington outfielder Bob Ganley, essentially ending Elberfeld’s season. The team continued to play well without him through May, but won only seven games during June. On June 25, Farrell finally forced Griffith to resign, and Elberfeld got his chance to be manager. His tenure was a disaster. New York lost 15 of their next 18 games and the Washington Post soon quoted an unnamed Highlander saying: “We are … playing under the direction of a crazy man. It won’t take Elberfeld more than two weeks to make us the most demoralized ball team that the American League has ever known. He thinks he is a manager, but he can’t convince anyone but himself that he has the first qualification for the place. It’s a joke.” But Elberfeld himself apparently did harbor doubts about his qualifications; some years later Baseball Magazine reported that he wouldn’t select the team’s starting pitchers without first consulting his wife. Regardless of who picked the pitchers, the Highlanders sank to last place, Chase jumped the team in early September, and Elberfeld’s sole stint as a major league manager ended with a dismal 27-71 record.

We will pick this account up again when Elberfeld next surfaces in our progression.

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[GeoPoto]

Player #43C: William D. "Dolly" Gray. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1909-1911. 15 wins in 3 MLB seasons. Holds MLB record for walks allowed in an inning (8) and for consecutive walks allowed (7). In 1911, he threw the first pitch in Griffith Stadium.

Gray's SABR biography walks us through his MLB career: Gray batted .205 in 1907 but that figure does not include his best day at the plate. On November 10 the Angels faced the San Diego Pickwicks, a strong semipro team that had added Walter Johnson. Gray smashed a double and a home run off the Washington hurler as the Angels won, 9-2. Gray nearly duplicated his performance (In 1907 he won a league-leading 32 games.) the following year, as did the team. Gray went 26-11 with a 1.71 ERA and the Angels won 110 games. In October 1908 his contract was sold to Washington.

Gray went to 1911 spring training as the veteran lefty on the team. McAleer made it known to the press that Gray needed to establish himself during the spring camp if the team was to be successful. Gray arrived in Atlanta with his new bride and weighing about 10 to 15 pounds more than normal. He told reporters that he thought the extra weight would make him more effective.

Gray revealed late in camp that he had a new pitch, an “ointment curve.” He supposedly could get it to break down and either left or right. Whether the pitch actually involved adding a substance to the ball was unclear. Meanwhile, McAleer and Walter Johnson were embroiled in contract negotiations while Johnson tended his farm in Coffeyville, Kansas. He (Johnson) did not report until just before Opening Day.

We will pick up the account of Gray's final season when he next surfaces in our progression.

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[Lucas00]

I just saw this thread and Coincidentally just watched this YouTube video on antiques roadshow.

https://youtu.be/noiJQZ3zzrk

[GeoPoto]

Thank you, Val, for the sharp Rice RCs. And thank you, Lucas, for the video showing an (very) early Washington baseball pin. In response to Lucas' contribution, I will defer today's scheduled segment and digress briefly:

Washington was more active and important to the early development of baseball than most people might think. For example, it was the Nationals, a team of "government clerks", who went on the first "western swing" in 1867, two years before the Red Stockings' more famous tour. They went undefeated, including beating the Cincinnatis with Harry Wright in the lineup, 53-10, until shockingly they lost to the Forest City Club from Rockford, IL, a team of schoolboys, 29-23. The winning pitcher was seventeen-year-old A. G. Spalding, a Rockford grocery clerk.

Shirley Povich continues: The defeat of the Nationals was as sensational as their string of victories had been. Unfeelingly, the Chicago newspapers taunted the Nationals for that defeat by the Rockford schoolboys and predicted a victory the next day for their own "Champions of the West," the Chicago Excelsiors, who were to be the Nationals final opponents on the tour. The Excelsiors earlier in the month had twice defeated the Forest City conquerors of the Nationals, and in anticipation of further humiliation of the Washington club, the largest crowd ever to witness a baseball game in the West paid the admission fee of half a dollar.

Humiliation was the word for what took place that day, but it was the Excelsiors, not the Nationals, who were humbled. The Nationals took an early 7-0 lead to demoralize the Excelsiors completely and give them a sound beating by a score of 49 to 4. It was a glorious finish to the tour of the Nationals.

And then scandal broke briefly. The Chicago Tribune flatly accused the Washington club of "throwing" the Rockford game for betting purposes before taking on the Excelsiors. In high outrage, president Jones of the Nationals, accompanied by Arthur Pue Gorman, stomped into the Tribune office and compelled a retraction of the charge. (The Washington Senators by Shirley Povich.)

(By the way, Gorman would go on to become a senator from Maryland and give impetus to the use of the nickname "Senators" for future Nationals teams.)

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[GeoPoto]

Player #77B: Edward C. "Eddie" Foster. Third baseman with the Washington Senators in 1912-1919. 1,490 hits and 195 stolen bases in 13 MLB seasons. His career OBP was .329. He debuted with the New York Highlanders in 1910. His first season in Washington was one of his best as he posted a .345 OBP with 98 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in 682 plate appearances. His final season was with the St. Louis Browns in 1922-1923.

Deveaux takes up Foster's greatest ability: It was during this period (beginning in 1912) that Griffith developed the famous "run-and-hit" play, which mainly featured the 5'6 1/2" Eddie "Kid" Foster, who was very adept at placing his hits. Griffith insisted Foster was even better than the former crony he had just let go, Willie Keeler. Instead of employing the hit-and-run, then already in vogue, it was assumed that with Kid Foster at the plate, any Senator baserunner would be going, so skilled was Foster at placing the ball where he wanted.

Foster hit .285 in his rookie year and led the league in at-bats, an accomplishment he would replicate three more times. Not only was he a complete player, but he had great endurance as well, missing no games in four of his first five seasons in Washington. (The Washington Senators by Tom Deveaux.)

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[GeoPoto]

Player #78: Melvin A. "Bert" Gallia. Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1912-1917. 66 wins and 10 saves in 9 MLB seasons. His career ERA was 3.14. His best season may have been 1915 with Washington as he posted a record of 17-11 with a 2.29 ERA in 259.2 innings pitched. His final season was 1920 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bert Gallia pitched nine years in the majors, mostly in the American League and primarily for the Washington Senators, for whom he won 17 games two years in a row.

Gallia was the first American League pitcher to hit three batters in the same inning, when he plunked batsmen thrice in the first frame of a June 20, 1913 game, while pitching for the Washington Senators.

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[GeoPoto]

Player #79: Harry C. Harper. Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1913-1919. 57 wins and 5 saves in 10 MLB seasons. His best season was 1918 with Washington as he posted an 11-10 record with a 2.18 ERA in 244 innings pitched. His final season was 1923 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Harper's SABR biography presents Harper's unusual contract and his eventual transition from Wahington to Boston: In January 1914 a story about Harper ran nationally. He returned his contract because it had omitted a clause on which his mother had insisted, excusing him from playing baseball on Sundays. Semipro ball on Sundays was apparently acceptable; Davis had first discovered Harper playing on a Sunday. The only other ballplayer with a clause excusing him from working on Sundays was Christy Mathewson. . . .

. . . Washington Post sportswriter J.V. Fitz Gerald wrote in late March 1919 that Harper “has never looked better” and that he “appears to be a certainty to have the best year of his career.” Instead, he had the worst, losing 21 games – more than any other pitcher in the league. Walter Johnson was 20-14, but Harper was 6-21, with an ERA of 3.72. He walked 97 batters and struck out only 87.

Three of Harper’s six wins were against the Boston Red Sox, and he lost three times to the Red Sox by scores of 2-0, 4-3, and 2-1. With a little run support, he could well have won at least two of those games. In the 49 innings he worked against Boston, he had a 1.65 ERA. The Red Sox were impressed. Two days before the end of the year, they traded for him. The Red Sox sent Braggo Roth and Red Shannon to Washington for Eddie Foster, Mike Menosky, and Harper. Harper was the main target in the trade. The Boston Globe thought the Red Sox got the better part of the trade and that, in the 24-year-old Harper’s case, “It would appear that he has the best part of his baseball career ahead of him.” For his part, Harper was thinking of quitting, and attending to his growing business in Hackensack. He was a holdout – he wanted a higher salary and he still refused to play on Sundays.

The 1920 Red Sox, now without Babe Ruth, finished fifth. Harper’s 3.04 ERA was one of the best on the staff (the team ERA was 3.82), but his 5-14 record was similar to that of the year before. He won his first two starts, then lost 10 straight decisions – and in those 10 losses his teammates produced a total of 14 runs. It’s hard to win games if there’s little or no offense. One of those games was against the Senators and neither Harper nor Walter Johnson allowed a run through six innings. The Senators scored once in the top of the seventh, but Johnson no-hit the Red Sox for a 1-0 win. Only one man reached base, on an error that marred an otherwise perfect game.

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[Lucas00]

Looking for some Id help. Anybody have a clue? Looks kind of like Harry Kelley But I don't think its him. Tried to date the uniform but its really hard to make out, thinking early 30s but definitely could be 20s as well.

[GeoPoto]

"The suspense is killing me!"

David: Thanks for the kind words and great photo. I am actually not leaving until Wednesday, but I didn't want the pause to fall in the middle of the seventh game, which will take a few days to unfold.

[ValKehl]

As George mentioned in his last post re Game 6 of the 1924 WS, Roger Peckinpaugh's injury, after he made a spectacular play to start a double play in the ninth inning to help ensure the Senators' victory, prevented him from playing in Game 7. This was a huge blow to the Senators, not only because of Peck's defense, but for his offense as well, as Peck hit .417 for the WS. I'm happy to have just picked up this card of Pack (his name is spelled incorrectly) in the Sterling Auction that just ended:

[GeoPoto]

If there had been some interesting developments in the first inning of several of the games so far, they were nothing compared to the high jinks devised by Bucky Harris as the clincher got under way. Harris called upon Curly Ogden as his starting pitcher. This was the same Curly Ogden who had bombed with the A's earlier in the season and who had started 17 times for Washington in 1924. Curly Ogden of the perennially sore arm. Ogden struck out the pesky Fred Lindstrom and then walked Frank Frisch. His next move was to walk to the dugout, never to reappear.

Harris had hatched a plan which he'd revealed to Clark Griffith that morning. Going with the righthanded Ogden would incite John McGraw to start the rookie, Bill Terry, who, despite batting only 163 times during the season, was murdering Harris's pitchers. Terry had 6 hits in 12 at-bats, including a triple and a homer so far. McGraw generally only deployed the lefthanded-hitting Terry against righthanders.

Bucky Harris reasoned that in the first inning, he would lift Ogden and bring in lefty George Mogridge. Harris wasn't worried about Terry hitting Mogridge. If McGraw made more changes, like hopefully lifting Terry from the game, Harris would go to a righthander again -- probably Firpo Marberry. Griffith gave Harris his okay for the plan, and when the manager left, Griff telephoned Walter Johnson and told him to be ready -- he just might be coming in for late relief in the biggest game of his life.

Everything went according to plan, or just about, as the game got underway on the most beautiful day of the entire Series, the whole of which was played this year in particularly pleasant conditions. Ogden had been expected to pitch to the lead-off batter, Lindstrom, only, but when he got the rookie on three pitches, Harris motioned for Ogden to stay in. Maybe Curly's dead limb could bounce back for one more act of heroism, although it had given no indication of late. Ogden walked the next man, Frank Frisch, and the strategy was then implemented.

With the lefthanded Ross Youngs batting third and due up, Mogridge was summoned. He's been warming up out of view, under the stands. Mogridge struck Youngs out, and got Kelly to ground out harmlessly to Tommy Taylor at third, who was playing in what would turn out to be, simultaneously, his first World Series start and last major-league game. Two of the rookie's 75 official at-bats took place in the World Series.

Washington's 1924 "brain trust" -- the Old Fox and the Boy Wonder:

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[ValKehl]

George, I'm glad you are back and continuing your most interesting history of the Washington Senators.

These two approx. 4" x 5" photos by National Photo are part of a set of 30 photos (I have 29 of them - missing only the Ossie Bluege photo) that also appear in the Senators' 1924 World Series program. My guess is that sets were given to each player and member of team management. I think these photos would be seen more frequently if they were sold to the public.

AFAIK, no cards were issued of reserve infielder Tommy Taylor during his playing days. 1924, at age 31, was Taylor's only year in the Majors, and it was a partial year at that. But he did play for 16 years in the Minors, from age 27 to age 42, batting over .300 most years.

[Lucas00]

Hi Folks, Purchased this Eddie Yost Photo a week or so ago. Patch on his arm dates it 1944-1947 (photos could of course be used at a later date). I was told it would be sent to fans who requested Eds Autograph in the mail. Doesn't really make sense for Ed to be the only one so I would guess there are more players in this picture pack style.

I know this doesn't fit the pre war focus but is very close, maybe somebody has an idea.
Would appreciate the help very much!

[GeoPoto]

I can't help with the date or purpose of your Eddie Yost photo, although it is obviously very early in his career. The closest thing I have to it is his page in this 1949 Senators picture album:

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[GeoPoto]

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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[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

I can't help with the date or purpose of your Eddie Yost photo, although it is obviously very early in his career. The closest thing I have to it is his page in this 1949 Senators picture album:

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1682241215

Thanks George!

[Lucas00]

Have to share this pickup with you all!

1924 snapshot featuring six members of the 1924 Washington Senators posing with their young children. Depicted from left to right are pitcher George Mogridge, Walter Johnson, Joe Judge, John Martina, Roger Peckinpaugh and Pinky Hargrave. It comes from Johnson's personal snapshots. And features the children of the great pitcher and his teammates (the boys outfitted in miniature Senators uniforms) and the handwritten notations on the reverse is written by Hazel Johnson, Walter's wife.

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Have to share this pickup with you all!

1924 snapshot featuring six members of the 1924 Washington Senators posing with their young children. Depicted from left to right are pitcher George Mogridge, Walter Johnson, Joe Judge, John Martina, Roger Peckinpaugh and Pinky Hargrave. It comes from Johnson's personal snapshots. And features the children of the great pitcher and his teammates (the boys outfitted in miniature Senators uniforms) and the handwritten notations on the reverse is written by Hazel Johnson, Walter's wife.

"Upgraded" my Wajo to a closer up shot with a young Baltimorean. I say upgraded only because my goal in collecting is the closest shot I can get of a player. Also from Walters 1924 scrapbooks.

If any of you folks are interested in the team shot I shared, please feel free to shoot me a message.

[GeoPoto]

The baseball community got some bad news that same night (after Game 1). One of the game's early greats, Christy Mathewson, had lost his life. Matty had never fully recovered from inhaling poison gas during World War I. The players from both teams wore black armbands for game two the following day. Coveleski, his back wrapped with tape, would start for Harris. Bill McKechnie, manager of the Pirates, was like the Giants' John McGraw -- a proponent of platooning his ballplayers. He would go with Vic Aldridge, another righty.

Joe Judge, a .314 hitter during the season, but with only eight homers, led off the second inning with a shot into temporary bleachers set up in right field. In the fourth, Coveleski gave up what was already Pie Traynor's second home run of the Series. It was still 1-1 in the sixth when, with two down, Ossie Bluege was hit squarely on the head by an Aldridge offering.

To run for Bluege, Harris sent out a 21-year-old youngster named Buddy Myer, who had all of eight at-bats to show for his big-league career up until then. A collegiate star In Mississippi, Myer had cost Clark Griffith $25,000 in a late-season transaction with New Orleans. Griffith could have gotten Myer for much less back in spring training, when he'd reportedly refused to sign the youngster because he didn't want to pay a $1,000 bonus. Myer would last 17 years in the majors, 15 of which would be spent with the Senators. For the moment, though, he didn't last long on the base paths. He tried to steal second and was erased. With Bluege groggy, Myer was sent out to play third.

When the Pirates came up in the bottom of the eighth, Coveleski had allowed only a bunt single since Traynor's homer in the fourth. Eddie Moore led off the eighth with an easy bouncer which rolled up Peckinpaugh's sleeve. It was Peck's second error in two days -- he had made a high throw to first in game one. After Max Carey grounded out, Kiki Cuyler slugged a two-run homer into the bleachers in right field. Clyde Barnhart then singled, and Peckinpaugh made his third error, failing to pick up a Pie Traynor roller. Although the Nats got one back in the ninth, that was all she wrote -- Washington had lost the second game 3-2.

Ossie Bluege would be unavailable for the next two games, as he was being detained by doctors keeping a close watch over him at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. It was reported by the newspapers that these doctors had never seen a skull as thick as Bluege's, and to that, they felt, the third sacker probably owed his salvation.

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[GeoPoto]

It rained in Washington on October 9, 1925, and game three of the World Series was put off for a day. It would be well worth the wait. When play resumed the next day for the Nats' first home game, President Coolidge and his Secretary of State, Frank Billings Kellogg, were among the many dignitaries on hand to witness the Pirates score the first run for the first time in the Series. Bucky Harris had elected to go with righthanded forkballer Alex Ferguson, 9-5 with an atrocious 6.18 ERA in '25. Twice traded during the season, Ferguson had nonetheless managed a 5-1 ledger in seven games since being acquired from the Yankees in a cash deal on August 19.

The previous year, Ferguson had been 14-17 with the hapless Boston Red Sox, but here he was starting in the World Series. He got out of trouble despite walking the first batter of the game and hitting the second one with a pitch. The Pirates scored the first run off Ferguson when, in leading off the second inning, Pie Traynor hit a low shot at Bucky Harris, who let the ball get through him and into the gap in right center for a triple. Glenn Wright followed with a sacrifice fly to left. The Senators were facing Ray Kremer, a tough man and hard drinker who had just completed the second year of a fine seven-year stretch with the Pirates. Kremer was known for destroying Pullman cars and tossing teammates' shoes out of train windows in fits of temper. He would go on to win 20 games in 1926 and 1930, 19 in 1927, and 18 in 1929.

The Senators came right back in the third inning against Kremer, with Sam Rice looping a single over second base to start things off. Bucky Harris sacrificed, and Goslin, going for more than a sacrifice, hit a shot to deep right. The catch was made, but Rice was into third easily. He scored moments later when Joe Judge doubled inside first base. The Nats nearly took the lead when Judge tried to score on a scratch hit by Joe Harris that shortstop Glenn Wright had nearly thrown into the dirt. First baseman George Grantham, a second baseman by trade, made a major-league play, picking the peg out of the dirt and throwing Judge out at home to preserve the tie for the Pirates after three innings.

The very first batter in the top of the fourth, Kiki Cuyler, doubled to the gap in left center, and then came home on a single to left by the next batter, Pittsburgh left fielder Clyde Barnhart. Ferguson walked the next batter, and then ended up yielding an intentional pass to load the bases. Nonetheless he muddled through without giving up another run in the inning, striking out his opposing number, Ray Kremer, to extinguish the fire. Ferguson gave up another double in the fifth, to Max Carey, but got out of the inning without further damage.

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