New Book on Washington Baseball

“The Washington Senators of my childhood in the late 1960s and early 1970s weren’t a great team. Far from it in fact, but they were ours.” - David Elfin. The Ultimate Washington Baseball Trivia Book

One of the great things about the return of major league baseball to Washington is the passion it is rekindling in the fans who remember when big league and professional baseball was played in our nation’s capital. Washington Times sportswriter David Elfin fell in love with the Senators in 1966. Like many Washingtonians, he was heartbroken when they left town in 1971. Now that major league baseball is on its way back, fans, old and new, will want to brush up on their knowledge of Washington baseball.

Elfin’s 112-page book is the ticket. In addition to the trivia, there are pictures and bios on greats like Walter Johnson, Josh Gibson, Clark Griffith, Goose Goslin, Joe Cronin, Buck Leonard, Mickey Vernon and Frank Howard.

I have two favorite parts of this book. One is Elfin’s selections for Washington’s All-Time Team. I'm not an expert on Washington baseball, but I know one thing. His battery of Walter Johnson and Josh Gibson is a no-brainer.

The other is the bio on Howard. My first big league game was at RFK. "Hondo" clobbered one and the home team beat Cleveland.

After his first two years with the Senators in ’65 and ’66, the much beloved slugger blitzed American League pitching in the next four seasons (Adjusted OPS of 154, 172, 180, 173). Then came the final season.

Elfin:

“Appropriately, Howard hit the Senators' last homer in the RFK finale on September 30, 1971. After crossing the plate, he tipped his hat, blew kisses to the fans and finally tossed his batting helmet into the stands before heading into the dugout to cry.”

Comments

[squawksmcgrew]

I attended that game. The small, but vocal, crowd that night went nuts when Hondo homered. It was like it was done just for us. And Hondo's response made it seem even more so. We loved him and he loved us back.

It was a nice counter to the fury against team owner Bob Short. Often that night a chant went up that echoed the banner that management didn't let stay up too long: "Sh&# on Short"

Too bad the game ended in a forfeit because fans stormed the field "like a swarm of ants."

Recently I obtained a copy of the radio broadcast of that finale against the Yankees. Gave me chills when Hondo homered. What a horrible ballclub. But what great memories it gave me in my youth.

[Jay]

Be nice if he could come back to D.C. and work for the Nats, or work here in some capacity.

Found this info on him.

http://www.trentonthunder.com/release/zRelease.asp?pYYYYMMDD=20030314

Thanks for the story. Where did you obtain the radio broadcast?

[squawksmcgrew]

A local Washington station (can't remember the station) replayed the game in its entirety on the 10th anniversary. A former acquaintence recorded it on a cassette.

The tape's not the best of recordings, but it's more realistic. Kinda fun to put it into a stereo system and still have it sound like I'm sitting in my car trying not to lose the signal.