Washington Senators - The Psychedelic Years (1961-1971)

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Titles:

Top Senators Players of the Washington Era

None

Pitchers:

BallPark:

Dick Bosman (11.07) - 34

Griffith Stadium (1961)

Ron Kline (7.54) - 27

D.C. Stadium (1962-1968)

Claude Osteen (8.92) - 25

RFK Stadium (1969 - 1971 Name changed from DC Stadium)

Phil Ortega (2.79) - 25

Joe Coleman (6.02) - 24

Team Name:

Bennie Daniels (4.53) - 22

Senators

Pete Richert (6.64) - 21

Casey Cox (1.12) - 19

Owner:

Darold Knowles (9.08) - 18

Elwood Richard Quesada (1961-1968 group of 10 local businessmen)

Camilo Pascual (3.61) - 16

Bob Short (1969 - 1971)

Mike McCormick (3.57) - 12

Jim Hannan (2.77) - 11

General Managers:

Don Rudolph (2.12) - 11

Ed Doherty (1961-1962)

George Selkirk (1963-1968)

Catchers:

Paul Casanova (3.19) - 26

Managers:

Mickey Vernon (1961-1963)

First Basemen:

Eddie Yost (1963)

Mike Epstein (6.03) - 23

Gil Hodges (1963-1967)

Jim Lemon (1968)

Second Basemen:

Ted Williams (1969 - 1971)

Bernie Allen (5.55) - 14

No Hitters:

ShortStop:

None

Ed Brinkman (10.25) - 34

Toby Harrah (-0.04) - 3

Hall of Famers:

None

Third Base:

Ken McMullen (21.21) - 30

Rookie of the Year:

None

Outfield:

Frank Howard (26.53) - 68

MVP:

Chuck Hinton (9.57) - 37

None

Don Lock (10.44) - 37

Del Unser (5.39) - 27

Cy Young:

Fred Valentine (4.05) - 22

None

Jim King (8.38) - 21

Ed Stroud (4.38) - 18

Notable Events:

1960 - Poor Washington fans. After decades of being mired in the second

division under Clark Griffith's parsimonius reign, the original Washington

1965 - Washington makes their one astute move of the decade, getting

franchise was beginning to show some life under Clark's son Calvin. So, of

Frank Howard, Phil Ortega, Ken McMullen and Pete Richert from the

course, the team that would win the 1965 pennant was moved to Minnesota and,

Dodgers for Claude Osteen. These are essentially their only good players.

in it's place, Washington fans got an expansion club

The deal worked out for the Dodgers, as well, as they had plenty of good

players, but needed another stud for their rotation. Osteen was that guy.

1961 - The new franchise in Washington is bought by a group of ten

The Dodgers got rid of Howard, who was a bona-fide slugger and

local businessmen headed by Elwood Richard Quesada. Unlike the

All-Star, because Chavez Ravine was built for speed and defense and

other new franchise, the Angels, the Senators draft poorly and are mired

Howard was not that.

in the cellar most of the decade - carrying on the Senator tradition.

GM's Ed Doherty and George Selkirk do not distinguish themselves.

1968 - Democratic National Committee Treasurer Bob Short (who says

members of the political parties don't make money?) buys the Senators.

1961 - The best player the Senators pick in the draft is twenty seven year old

Typical of politicians, he spent a lot of money trying to get things done

outfielder Chuck Hinton from the Orioles. Chuck will have three pretty solid

with the Senators, but came up "short"

years in Washington before he is traded off to Cleveland

Bob will act as his own GM

1962 - The Senators move into DC Stadium from old Griffith Stadium

1969 - Ted Williams is hired as manager and is an instant success.

The new teams were originally scheduled to start in 1962, but Calvin

The Senators improve twenty one games in the standings with virtually the

Griffith bolted to Minnesota prematurely and the Senators were stuck

same roster. They got huge improvements from twenty six year old

for one season in Griffith Stadium as baseball felt it had to have a team

slugger Mike Epstein, centerfielder Del Unser and pitcher Dick Bosman plus

in Washington at the time for political reasons. Interestingly, some fifteen

Howard and McMullen, who were already good, got a bit better.

years later, when the American League was expanding again, then President

Gerald Ford demanded that one of the new teams be located in Washington.

1970 - The magic doesn't last as the club drops sixteen games in the standings

Because, by then, the Reserve Clause had been struck down and free agency

All of the guys who improved in '69, fell back down in '70

was upon them - and baseball no longer had to kiss up to Congress to try

to preserve the Reserve Clause, American League owners, essentially, told Ford

to take a hike and put the new franchise in Toronto, not even an American city.