On November 19, 1960, the expansion Washington Senators name Mickey Vernon the first manager in franchise history. An exceptional hitter during his playing career, Vernon played for the original Washington Senators’ franchise from 1939 to 1948. During his three-year tenure with the new club, ‘Mickey’ will compile a dismal 135-227 record, finishing no higher than…
Elvin Quesada, a native of the District of Columbia, is awarded the American League’s Washington expansion team, filling the void created due to the original American League franchise moving to Minnesota to play as the Twins next season. The new owner of the Senators is presently the head of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Yankees lose a doubleheader to Washington and fall to 3rd place in the American League, a half game behind the Orioles and White Sox. P Camilo Pascual’s grand slam is the difference in a 5 – 4 first-game win. In the second game, Mickey Mantle, believing there are two outs, jogs to first base on a grounder to third. The Senators turn a double play, with New York’s Roger Maris suffering bruised ribs trying to break it up at second base. Maris will miss 18 games as a result. Mantle is heavily booed, and manager Casey Stengel replaces him with Bob Cerv. The clubs set a major-league record by using 17 pinch hitters – 9 by the Yankees – in the doubleheader (more than 18 innings), while playing a major-league record 24 errorless innings.
Kansas City OF Whitey Herzog hits into the only all-Cuban triple play in major league history. The action goes from Washington P Pedro Ramos, to 1B Julio Becquer, to SS Jose Valdivielso. The win, however, goes to reliever Chuck Stobbs as the Nats take an 8 – 3 decision. Harmon Killebrew has a two-run homer.
1960 – The Baltimore Orioles trade second baseman Billy Gardner to the Washington Senators in exchange for catcher Clint Courtney and shortstop Ron Samford.
1959 – Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith says he will not move the franchise to another city.
In the third inning of the Senators’ 14-2 rout of Boston, Jim Lemon belts two home runs, respectively off Bill Monbouquette and Earl Wilson. The outfielder’s pair of round-trippers accounts for six of the ten runs scored in the frame.
Yankee pitcher Bob Turley turns in another one hit masterpiece at Washington. A lazy fly in the 9th by pinch-hitter Julio Becquer drops in front of LF Norm Siebern for the only Senator safety. SS Tony Kubek goes 8 for 10 in the doubleheader, as the Yanks sweep, 10 – 6 and 7 – 0.
At Griffith Stadium, Whitey Ford of the New York Yankees pitches a 14-inning, 1 – 0 shutout against the Washington Senators, giving up 8 hits while striking out 15. The Yankees win in the first half of the 14th inning on a Moose Skowron solo home run – the longest contest in major league history ending 1 – 0 on a home run.
On April 9, 1959, the Baltimore Orioles become the first team in major league history to turn a triple play on Opening Day. The O’s turn the triple killing in front of Vice-President Richard Nixon, who throws out the ceremonial first pitch as a substitute for President Dwight Eisenhower.
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