Frank Howard
broke in with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his rookie season Howard hit 23 home
runs with 77 RBI earning the National League Rookie of the Year award.
His best
offensive seasons would come as a member of the Washington Senators uniform. He
hit forty plus home runs in 68-70 seasons. In 1968 and 1970, he led the
American League in home runs. He had the creative nicknames of “The Washington
Monument”, “Hondo” and “The Captial Punisher.” Howard was a four time all-star.
After his playing days, he managed the New York Mets and San Diego Padres. He
also served as a coach for his several clubs.
He hit 382
home runs with 1,119 RBI with a hitting line of .273/.352/.499.
Mel Allen
began his sports broadcasting by calling Alabama Crimson Tide football games. Later
while working for CBS, Allen was assigned to the 1938 World Series as a color
commentator to begin his career in baseball.
He began doing games for the Yankees in June of 1939.
After serving
in WW II, and beginning in 1947 through 1964, before his contract was not
renewed in 1965. He would rejoin the Yankees in 1976, and in 1977 Mel Allen was
the voice This Week In Baseball. He broadcast a game in 1990 for WPIX to make
him the first seven decade broadcaster.
Allen also
broadcast for the Milwaukee Braves in 1965, 1968 Cleveland Indians television. He
broadcast 12 Rose Bowls, 2 Orange Bowls and 2 Sugar Bowls.
He was one of
the first two to receive the Ford C. Frick award for broadcasters along with
Red Barber.
It is a mystery to many why Gil Hodges isn't in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hodges was key member of the great Brooklyn Dodger teams of the late 1940's and 1950's. He hit 20 or more home runs in 11 consecutive seasons for the Dodgers, including six seasons of 30 or more home runs.
Hodges made his Major League debut at 19 in 1943, but he would miss the 1944-1945 due to military service in World War II, and didn't make it back to Brooklyn until 1947. 1949 was his break out season, when Hodges hit 23 home runs and knocked in 115 runs. His slash line was .285/.360/.453. He would drive in over 100 runs in seven consecutive seasons. He wasn't just a slugger, but also considered to be one of the best defensive first basemen in the game during his career. 1957-1959, he was award the Gold Glove. On August 31, 1950, he would hit four home runs in one game against the Boston Braves. He would play his last two seasons with the hapless New York Mets. After his playing career was over he managed the Washington Senators and New York Mets. He died while playing golf at the age of 47 on April 2, 1972.
Hodges was an eight-time all-star, he part of two World Series champions. The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, and the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1969, he would manage the Amazing Mets to the World Series championship. During his career he hit 370 home runs with 1,274 RBI. His #14 has been retired by the New York Mets, and he is a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
Joe Glasgow is
a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play
Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h
May 17, 1925. In a 2-1 loss to the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians outfielder Tris Speaker collects his 3,000th hit. He was the fifth player to have 3,000 hits in a career. His hit was a single off pitcher Tom Zachary.
Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com,
and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h
May 15, 1952. Detroit Tigers pitcher Virgil Trucks fires a no-hit victory over the Washington Senators 1-0. Vic Wertz provides the winning blast with a home run with two outs in the ninth inning. It was only the second no-hitter in franchise history, and the first since 1912.
Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com,
and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h
May 12, 1926. Walter "The Big Train" Johnson notches his 400th win. Johnson's win total of 417 victories is only topped by Cy Young's 511 victories. The coming of the five-man rotation likely has ended possibility of ever seeing the feat matched.
Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com,
and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h
May 2, 1923. The "Big Train" Walter Johnson blanks the New York Yankees 3-0 at Griffith Stadium. It is Johnson's 100th shutout in his career. When his career ends he has tossed 110 shutouts a major league record.
On April 3, 1939, Lou Gehrig played his last game for the New York Yankees. The Iron Horse went 0 for 4 against the Washington Senators in a 3-2 Yankee loss. The Hall of Fame first baseman concludes his career with 490 home runs, and a lifetime batting average of .340. He played in a record 2,130 consecutive games. A record that was held until broken by the Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr.
April 27, 1947, it is Babe Ruth Day at Yankee stadium, and 58,000 people pack the stands to honor the "Bambino." The fans are treated to a pitchers duel in which the Yankee Spud Chandler is out dueled by the Washington Senators Sid Hudson. lose 1-0. Babe Ruth died of cancer on August 16, 1948 at the age of 53.
On April 23, 1939, right-hand pitcher Alejandro Eloy Carrasquel becomes the first Venezuelan to play in Major League Baseball game. He come out of the Washington Senators bullpen to face the New York Yankees. He strikes out Joe DiMaggio, gets Lou Gehrig to ground out, and Bill Dickey to pop out to retire the side in order. Carrasquel had a won loss record of 50-39 with an ERA of 3.73. He played most of his Major League Baseball Career with the Washington Senators, and made a brief appearance with the Chicago White Sox. He was elected to the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
