A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators

by Stephen J. Walker, Ronnie Joyner (Illustrator)

Despite a long and uneven history, Major League Baseball’s Washington franchises have hardly been the stuff of legend. However, in 1969, when new owner Bob Short coaxed batting legend and rookie manager Ted Williams out of retirement, these annual no-names climbed out of the depths and straight into the hearts of Washington baseball fans starving for a winner. Led by The Capital Punisher Frank Howard, whose tape-measure home runs sometimes seemed like optical illusions, the Senators simply won ball games with a determination rarely seen in D.C. environs. A Whole New Ballgame showcases the 1969 Senators’ magical season, complete with updated player bios, new photographs, stats, game action, and stories. Foreword by Dick Bosman.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 18, 2009

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until the 2019 season, baseball in Washington D.C. has had a dreadful history. The current team is the third Major League team to call Washington home, and this excellent book by Stephen J. Walker chronicles the only winning season for the second team in Washington called the Senators during its 10-year stay before becoming the Texas Rangers in 1972.

That Senators team was an expansion team that began play in 1961 to replace the team, an original American League franchise, which moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. This second team was even more dreadful than the first one (who had only one championship season, 1924) and helped keep alive the phrase made popular by the original team "Washington – first in war, first in peace and last in the American League."

When businessman Bob Short (ironically, from Minneapolis) bought the struggling franchise, he got an idea that was inspired by the city's football team, the Redskins. When they hired legendary coach Vince Lombardi and interest in the Redskins increased, Short thought the same could happen for his baseball franchise. So, in a surprise move, he coaxed legendary Red Sox hitter Ted Williams to be the manager of the Senators for the 1969 season.

This did more than just sell tickets. The Senators still had pretty much the same team as 1968, yet they improved to record 84 wins which gave hope to the pennant-starved fans in the nation's capital. However, those players, almost to a man, gave credit to Williams for not only learning how to better themselves as ballplayers but also to believe in themselves. The book tells these recollections and stories told by so many players, such as catcher Jim French, pitcher Dave Baldwin and outfielder Bernie Allen. These are not the typical stories one reads in a newspaper or book that is pieced together from various sources. These came from the players themselves through numerous interviews and the reader will immediately be able to tell that these stories are genuine and from the hearts of these men.

Of course, the few star players on the Senators such as Frank Howard and Mike Epstein are told as well, but because Walker devoted a lot of space for the not-so-well-known players, the book has an everyman feel to it and because of this, many readers will connect with the players that gave Washington a summer to remember.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent some time outside DC, you can only hear about the Lovable Senators. I heard plenty of stories and had a number of cards but never saw them live. I have heard rebroadcast of games. I missed out of a special team.

This book talks about the one year of hope the Lovable Losing Senators. You can feel the excitement and the heartbreak of the move to Texas.

[Johnnyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back a lot of memories. I was a Yankee fan but also a baseball fan and remember all the players from listening on the radio, baseball cards and reading the Sporting News. This is a well written general history and individual bios of the main players, coaches and owner of the 69 Senators. Very enjoyable.

[Henry Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

Brings so many memories back for me as a 12 year old kid. This book may not mean much to most people but it’s the best book I’ve read in years. I attended a few games at RFK via the local youth league that bussed us up from Charles County. Biggest regret is I never saw a game with my father who died in December 1969.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baseball by the Book podcast 081619

[Mark W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Walker created a masterpiece with this book. At least, for anyone who has a recollection of the Washington Senators, or has any interest in baseball history. The book takes us through the "magical" year of 1969 for the hapless Senators, the season progressing with each chapter. At the same time, Walker provides detailed information about each player on the team with selected games highlighted. We learn about the players' history - on and off the field; where he is in his career and how he is doing that year; and where his future lies. All of this is based on first-hand interviewing of almost every player on the team. Well-written, it is a wonderful trip down memory lane. And this, from an avowed Oriole fan who never really liked the Senators, but happened to live closer to RFK than Memorial Stadium, and so happened to know many of the players.