Remembering baseball in our Nation's Capital

By Pete Sweigard Sports Central Columnist

Trivia question: Can you name the USA cities who can claim 70 years of Major League Baseball history (American or National League)?

Answer: New York, Boston, Chicago (both the White Sox and Cubs), Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Washington, D.C.

That's right, Washington, D.C. As the Montreal Expos make a strong wildcard run down the stretch, D.C. area fans are still holding out hope that the Canadian/Puerto Rican franchise might relocate to the Nation's Capital.

Nearly 32 years ago, following the 1971 season, Washington lost their MLB franchise when trucking and hotel magnate Bob Short moved the team to Arlington, Texas. The Washington Senators became the Texas Rangers.

Approximately 10 years previously, prior to the 1961 season, the original Senators were moved to Minnesota, creating the Twins. MLB awarded D.C. with an expansion team at the time, although, as mentioned above, the franchise only stayed in Washington for 10 seasons.

Old-time D.C. baseball fans claim that during the 30-year baseball hiatus, the District has helped to build stadiums across the country. They're referring to several ownership groups that threatened to move to Washington unless their host city contributed public funds to build a new facility.

The era of expansion somehow left Washington, D.C. -- the Nation's Capital, a top-10 media market, and a region boasting one of the nation's highest per-capita income levels -- playing the role of bridesmaid, without a team of their own.

Bud Selig and MLB have repeatedly patted D.C. on the head, calling the region "the prime candidate" for relocation, and referring to baseball's return to the District as "inevitable." Owned and operated by MLB, Bud and the boys have a vested interest in selling the Montreal franchise as soon as possible, but they're in no rush to pull the trigger until a sweetheart deal is on the table.

During this year's All-Star Break, MLB postponed making a decision on the Expos' fate until this September (July 15 had originally been the goal put forth by MLB). Who cares if the Expos have to compete for the wildcard in a season where they've endured 11,000-mile road trips, right?

It's anyone's guess what the September "deadline" will mean for the Expos. Baseball Bud may decide to have the squad play a couple 2004 games in Baghdad. D.C. fans have learned to expect nothing from MLB. "Return the national pastime to our Nation's Capital," rolls of the old-timers' tongues, but it's often said with a bland, listless tone that reflects years of frustration.

I currently live just outside D.C., and I was reminded of the District's rich baseball heritage during a recent trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Close examination of Hall of Fame records reveals 17 members who played or managed for the Senators and nine former Homestead Grays (the Negro League team who played games at the Senators' Griffith Stadium from the late-1930s-1948).

In addition to the plaques commemorating these men, as well as several standard artifacts, including Senators' uniforms, baseballs, and gloves, visitors will find the following unique memorabilia connected to stories from D.C.'s baseball past:

Sam Rice's letter: Sam Rice's letter remains one of the most intriguing pieces of memorabilia owned by the Hall. Rice originally sent the letter to the Hall of Fame with explicit instructions that it not be opened until after his death. After his passing in 1974, the opened letter revealed a detailed account of his disputed catch in Game 3 of the 1925 World Series.

At the time, Rice had tumbled over the right-field fence in pursuit of a fly ball from the Pirates' Earl Smith. Remaining out of view for 15 seconds, Rice emerged with the ball. It was ruled an out; the Senators went on to win the game. Often asked about the play over the remainder of his lifetime, Rice ended his famous letter with, "At no time did I lose possession of the ball."

Richard Nixon's Golden Ticket: Nixon never used this annual pass which allowed the President and his party complimentary access to any American League ballpark during the 1972 season. The Senators did leave town after the 1971 season, but perhaps Nixon would have been too preoccupied with other matters to attend games in 1972, anyway.

The Green Light Letter: After the Pearl Harbor attacks, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis wrote President Franklin Delano Roosevelt inquiring about baseball's continuance in a time of crisis. President Roosevelt emphatically responded, "I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going." Strongly asserting the role of baseball in our country, a reproduction of the "Green Light Letter" is displayed in the Hall, while the original currently resides in a touring exhibit.

Clark Griffith's birthday plaque: Griffith, whose affiliation with the Senators spanned 44 years (as a player, manager, and owner), was given this plaque on his 85th birthday from none other than the Lone Ranger.

1924 World Series ticket: Among a collection of World Series memorabilia, the Hall displays a 1924 World Series lower-grandstand ticket from Clark Griffith Stadium, priced at $5.50. Interestingly, no game time is listed on the ticket face.

Shirley Povich-J.G. Taylor Spink Award: Shirley Povich, the Washington Post's legendary sports reporter, won this distinction in 1975 "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing." Like a (Babe) Ruth or (Hank) Aaron, Povich had a 75-year career with the Post that yielded mind-boggling numbers: 15,000 columns and 60 World Series covered.

Walter Johnson's presidential baseball collection: These five baseballs, bearing the signatures of Presidents Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover, have a unique history beyond the historical figures who scrawled their names. Obtained by Senators' legend Walter Johnson during his career, the five balls were eventually donated to the Hall. In 1972, the balls were stolen, and remained missing for nearly 30 years until the FBI recovered all five in April of 2001.

Baseball, Washington, D.C., and returning after a 30-year disappearance? Hmmm, now that sounds like a sign.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.