1956 Washington Senators season
Encyclopedia
The Washington Senators
won 59 games, lost 95, and finished in seventh place in the American League
. They were managed by Chuck Dressen
and played home games at Griffith Stadium
.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
won 59 games, lost 95, and finished in seventh place in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. They were managed by Chuck Dressen
Chuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
and played home games at Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
.
Offseason
- November 8, 1955: Mickey VernonMickey VernonJames Barton "Mickey" Vernon was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators for the majority of his career, as well as four other teams: the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Bob PorterfieldBob PorterfieldErwin Coolidge "Bob" Porterfield is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for twelve seasons between 1948 and 1959 for the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs...
, Johnny SchmitzJohnny SchmitzJohn Albert Schmitz, nicknamed "Bear Tracks" , was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 13 seasons between and , missing 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. His nickname was inspired by the way he shuffled to the mound and his size 14 feet...
, and Tom UmphlettTom UmphlettThomas Mullen Umphlett is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1953 to 1955 with the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators....
were traded by the Senators to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Karl OlsonKarl OlsonKarl Arthur Olson of Kentfield, California was a former backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers . He batted and threw right-handed.In a six-season career, Olson was a .235 hitter with six home runs and 50 RBI in 279...
, Dick BrodowskiDick BrodowskiRichard Stanley Brodowski is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1952 through 1955 for the Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians . He batted and threw right-handed.Brodowski was 19 years old when he reached the majors in 1952 with the Boston Red...
, Tex ClevengerTex ClevengerTruman Eugene "Tex" Clevenger is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher/spot starter who played for the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees from 1954-1962. He was 6'1" tall and 180 pounds, and threw and batted right-handed. He attended Fresno State...
, Neil ChrisleyNeil ChrisleyBarbra O'Neil Chrisley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1957 to 1961 with the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Braves. He was 6'3" tall, weighed 187 pounds and he threw right and batted left-handed.He was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a...
, and Al Curtis (minors). - February 8, 1956: Mickey McDermottMickey McDermottMaurice Joseph "Mickey" McDermott Jr. was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Pre-professional career:...
and Bobby KlineBobby KlineJohn Robert Kline is a former professional baseball player. He was a shortstop for one season with the Washington Senators. For his career, he compiled a .221 batting average in 140 at bats, with nine runs batted in.In addition, Kline played 11 seasons in the minor leagues for 10 teams.-External...
were traded by the Senators to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Lou BerberetLou BerberetLouis Joseph Berberet was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers between 1954 and 1960. He was born in Long Beach, California....
, Bob WieslerBob WieslerRobert George Wiesler , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in and again from to , with the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators. He batted right and left and threw left-handed....
, Herb PlewsHerb PlewsHerbert Eugene Plews is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played four years in the majors, from 1956 to 1959. In the minor leagues he played for Kansas City, Binghamton, Norfolk, and Denver before hitting the majors in 1956. After 1959, Herb finished his career playing back in the...
, Dick TettelbachDick TettelbachRichard Morley Tettelbach was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He attended college at Yale University, playing alongside future President George Bush in one season. Tettelbach played 29 games with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators with 12 hits in 80 at bats.-External links:...
, and a player to be named later. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Whitey HerzogWhitey HerzogDorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...
to the Senators on April 2.
Regular season
- April 18, 1956: Umpire Ed Rommell was the first umpire to wear glasses in a major league game. The game was played between the Senators and the New York Yankees1956 New York Yankees seasonThe New York Yankees season was the 54th season for the team in New York, and its 56th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 22nd pennant, finishing 9 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Casey Stengel. The Yankees played their home games...
.
Roster
| 1956 Washington Senators | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS | 90 | 246 | 58 | .236 | 4 | 29 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106 | 313 | 77 | .246 | 4 | 22 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 30.1 | 1 | 3 | 4.15 | 18 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 17.2 | 0 | 3 | 9.17 | 8 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 17 |