Ghosts of DCThe lost and untold stories of Washington

Try an address, a neighborhood, a name or a year, like “14th and U” or “1968.”

Not sure where to start?
Best OfThe stories readers come back toAtlasOur stories, on a mapPodcastOur stories, told aloudAboutWho writes this, and how
Topic

Baseball

Washington has one of the great baseball histories in the country, from the Washington Senators and Griffith Stadium to the return of the Nationals and two World Series championships. These posts dig into DC’s long love affair with the national pastime.

65 stories
American League Park, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia vs. Washington. May 6, 1905
William J. Donovan and the Baseball House on 7th Street6 min read

At Donovan’s Baseball House, a drink wasn’t the only draw. His baseball puzzle offered a diamond ring to the person who could solve it.

Baseball in front of the Capitol Building
Baseball in Washington: Babe Ruth, FDR and Amateur Games2 min read

Babe Ruth signs autographs at Griffith Stadium, while amateur players take the field with the White House and Capitol behind them.

Women Playing Baseball on the Mall in 19191 min read

The players are on the Mall, and the game is baseball. The photograph is dated October 10, 1919.

President Kennedy in mid-throw, first pitch of the 1962 All-Star Game at D.C. Stadium.
JFK and the 1962 All-Star Game at D.C. Stadium6 min read

President Kennedy threw the first pitch at the 1962 MLB All-Star Game at D.C. Stadium, before 45,480 fans. Here’s the story of baseball’s biggest day in DC.

Georgetown baseball game
Baseball at Georgetown University in 19001 min read

A Georgetown University Library photograph shows a baseball game on the university grounds in 1900.

William Jefferson Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton play catch in the Rose Garden. They are practicing for upcoming opening pitch ceremonies that both of them will participate in. 4/3/94.
The Clintons Playing Baseball in the Rose Garden: A Candid Moment from 19941 min read

Relive a candid moment from 1994 with Bill & Hillary Clinton, as they practice for an Opening Day ceremony in the Rose Garden. See the original photo!

President Taft at the baseball game in 1912
William Howard Taft at Baseball Games in 1912 and 19161 min read

These photographs show Taft at the ballpark during and after his presidency.

National Bohemian advertisement from 1955
Beer, Baseball and a Heurich Sponsorship Gone Wrong2 min read

Bob Wolff recalled how a beer commercial went wrong during a 1947 Senators broadcast, costing the team its Heurich sponsorship.

Takoma 4 - Petworth 3 - Washington Post on July 23rd, 1900
Takoma vs. Petworth: Washington Amateur Baseball on July 23rd, 19001 min read

On July 23rd, 1900, the Takoma and Petworth neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. faced off in a hotly contested amateur baseball game. Here’s the full account from the newspaper that covered it.

Walter Johnson’s 1909 Baseball Cards1 min read

Two American Tobacco Company baseball cards show Walter Johnson in 1909.

Roy Sievers 1955 Topps baseball card
The Evolution of Washington Baseball Stars From Roy Sievers to Bryce Harper2 min read

Roy Sievers was the first Washington ballplayer on a Sports Illustrated cover, in 1958. The next ones took decades, from Ted Williams to Strasburg and Harper.

five Georgetown baseball players in 1928
Five Georgetown Baseball Players in 19281 min read

A 1928 photograph shows five Georgetown baseball players together.

Washington Nationals in 1924 turn back the clock uniforms
One Strike Away: The Nationals’ 2012 Playoff Loss3 min read

A fan’s account of watching the Nationals lose to the Cardinals from the left-field seats.

Jayson Werth (Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post)
Epic Moment at Nats Park: Jayson Werth’s Walk-Off Home Run1 min read

Last night’s game at Nats Park was absolutely electric! Witness the epic moment when Jayson Werth brought down the house with a walk-off home run. This is the first postseason victory at home since 1933! Get on board and join the fun

Ted Williams in a Washington Senators jacket and W cap, photographed at the dugout in 1969
Ted Williams and the Scoop That Beat the Post2 min read

Reporter Russ White broke the news that Ted Williams would manage the 1969 Senators after leaving a message pretending to be owner Bob Short.

Earl Whitehill of the Washington Senators
Congratulations to Gio Gonzalez: Washington’s First 20-Game Winner in 59 Years!2 min read

Congratulations to Gio Gonzalez who is the first 20-game winner for Washington baseball in 59 years. He is only the second left-handed pitcher ever to accomplish this feat in our history. The last guy to do it was Earl Whitehill, back during FDR’s first term, 1933. Read all about Earl and the history of Washington baseball on our blog!

Last World Series in Washington, D.C.1 min read

When was the last World Series in Washington? Before 2019, is was 1933 when the Senators played, and lost to, the New York Giants in five games.

women dancing on the field at Nationals game - 1924 (vanishedamerica.com)
Women Dancing on the Field at a 1924 Washington Nationals Game1 min read

A 1924 photograph shows women dancing on the field with baseball comedians Nick Altrock and Al Schacht.

Buddy Lewis
Buddy Lewis: Washington Senator and World War II Veteran1 min read

Buddy Lewis spent his major-league career with Washington, with military service interrupting his years on the field.

Dutch Leonard circa 1945
The 1945 Senators’ Pennant Race4 min read

The 1945 Washington Senators almost took the pennant with four knuckleball pitchers and a one-legged war veteran named Bert Shepard.

More storiesShowing 40 of 65