Clark Griffith Essentials Positions: Bats: R Throws: R Weight: 156 Born: Year: 1869 in Clear Creek, MO USA Died: 10 27 1955 in Washington, DC USA Debut: 1891-04-11 Last Game: 10/7/1914 Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Player in 1946 by Old Timers Full Name: Clark Calvin Griffith
Harmon Killebrew hits a pair of homers and a double to boost his RBI total to an American League-high 90. The Twins beat the Pilots, 9 – 2.
1953 – American League owners turn down a bid made by Bill Veeck to move the St. Louis Browns to Baltimore, MD. Spearheaded by Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith, the vote is 6-2 against. Some observers speculate that the rejection is meant to force Veeck into selling his majority interest in the franchise. The next day, Veeck announces his willingness to sell the Browns for just under $2.5 million. The vote only delays the move by a year, however.
At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston. On hand are 29 old-timers who played, managed, or umpired in the AL in that first year including Connie Mack, Dummy Hoy, Cy Young, Hugh Duffy, Clark Griffith, Tom Connolly, Billy Sullivan, Wid Conroy, Bill Bradley and Ollie Pickering. Eight of the 29 participated in the first AL game, played in Chicago on April 24, 1901. The game that follows the ceremony features dramatic home runs as Ted Williams hits the 300th homer of his career in the 4th inning against Chicago’s Howie Judson. With Williams up in the 8th inning, White Sox manager Paul Richards moves reliever Harry Dorish to 3B and brings in Billy Pierce to pitch to Ted. Williams pops up against the lefty, and Dorish then returns to the mound. Boston ties the game against Dorish at 7 – 7, but little Nellie Fox, playing in his 6th season, cracks his first major league homer in the 11th to give Dorish a 9 – 7 victory. Ray Scarborough is the loser. The Sox will win their next 13 games.
Before an exhibition game in Orlando, A’s manager Connie Mack, who is 84 years old, challenges Clark Griffith, the 78 year-old owner of the Senators, to a foot race from third base to home plate. The participants enter the Florida field in an ambulance before starting their contest, which ends in a photo-finish tie.
1946 – Former major leaguers Jesse Burkett, Frank Chance, Jack Chesbro, Johnny Evers, Clark Griffith, Tommy McCarthy, Joe McGinnity, Eddie Plank, Joe Tinker, Rube Waddell and Ed Walsh are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
After his skipper compiles a 350-264 (.570) record in four seasons at the helm, Senators owner Clark Griffith, hinting that he may name himself as the next skipper of the club, announces Walter Johnson will not be returning to manage the team next season. The Washington legend will be replaced by Joe Cronin, who will lead the club to an American League pennant next year.
Clark Griffith names 27-year-old Bucky Harris as manager of the Washington Senators
1924 – Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith names 2B Bucky Harris, last year’s team captain, as the new Nationals’ manager. Harris had annoyed Griffith by playing pro basketball over the winter, in violation of his contract, but the owner still tabs him the job. Harris, 28, team captain, is at spring training when he receives the offer by letter.
Former major league right-hander Clark Griffith, who owns 19% of the Senators, becomes a club owner when he joins forces with Philadelphia grain broker William Richardson, who purchased 40% in the franchise. The two quickly came to an agreement that allowed Griffith to vote Richardson’s shares as well, all but assuring his election as the team president.