On September 30, 1971 — The Senators draw 14,000 for their final game in Washington, with another 4,000 crashings the gates. Dick Bosman gives up homers to Bobby Murcer, Roy White, and Rusty Torres and the Nats are down 5 – 1 in the 6th. Mike Kekich then grooves a fastball for Frank Howard, who parks his 26th homer, and thanks Thurman Munson as he crosses the plate. The Senators take a 7 – 5 lead, and after Murcer makes the 2nd out in the 9th, fans swarm onto the field, causing umpire Jim Honochick the game to be forfeited to the Yanks, 9 – 0. All records stand but reliever Paul Lindblad losses the win by not recording the third out, batter Horace Clarke.

Of the Senators, Jeff Burroughs will be the last to retire, finishing up in 1985.

Don Mincher becomes the only player to be on the roster for both final games played in Washington for each team known as the Senators. The lefty-swinging first baseman will also be the only person to play for both the original Minnesota Twins and the original Texas Rangers, the franchises that left the nation’s capital, respectively, in 1960 and 1971.

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