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.
It was perhaps the biggest baseball ‘scoop’ in Washington, DC history: Ted Williams to return to baseball in 1969 as manager of the Washington Senators. Read the fascinating story of how a young reporter beat the Post and the Evening Star to the punch and got the scoop!
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!
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.
Step back in time to 1924 and witness a bizarre sight – women dancing on the field at a Washington Nationals game. Thanks to Vanished Americana for this gem.
Remembering Buddy Lewis, the Washington Senator and World War II veteran who served 11 seasons in D.C. and flew 350 missions over Europe to fight Nazi Germany. Learn about this heroic player, who passed away at the age of 94.
The 1945 Washington Senators almost took the pennant with four knuckleball pitchers and a one-legged war veteran named Bert Shepard.
Learn the history of Griffith Stadium, where owner Clark Griffith was an adamant prohibitionist before finally allowing the sale of beer in 1956. Read all about it here!
In 1905, Washington’s losing baseball team ran a contest to pick a new name. Among the 220 suggestions: the Teddies, after President Theodore Roosevelt. See the original Washington Times list.
Take a closer look at St. Matthews Episcopal Chapel at the Navy Yard in 1921 and today. Learn more about the history of the area around Nationals Park and the stories of its former residents.
