1961 Washington Senators season
Encyclopedia
The Washington Senators
season was a season in American baseball. The team was in its inaugural season, having been established as a replacement for the previous franchise of the same name
, which relocated to the Twin Cities of Minnesota
following the 1960 season
, becoming the Minnesota Twins
. The Senators finished in a tie for ninth place in the American League
with a record of 61 wins and 100 losses, 47½ games behind the first-place New York Yankees
. It was also the team's only season at Griffith Stadium
before moving their games to D.C. Stadium for the following season.
, were the first ever American League
expansion team
s. Both teams participated in Major League Baseball
's first ever expansion draft
. The Senators used their first pick in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft to select pitcher
Bobby Shantz
from the New York Yankees
. Grba wound up playing two-plus seasons for Los Angeles before returning to the minor leagues. However, Shantz never played for the Senators, as he was traded just two days later to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for Harry Bright
, Bennie Daniels
, and R. C. Stevens
, all of whom played for the Senators in 1961.
. They also finished 9 games behind their expansion brethren, the Angels
. One bright spot was pitcher Dick Donovan, who led the American League in earned run average
and WHIP
, making the All-Star team and finishing 17th in league MVP voting.
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
season was a season in American baseball. The team was in its inaugural season, having been established as a replacement for the previous franchise of the same name
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...
, which relocated to the Twin Cities of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
following the 1960 season
1960 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over New York Yankees ; Bobby Richardson, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5-3*All-Star Game , July 13 at Yankee Stadium: National League, 6-0...
, becoming the Minnesota Twins
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...
. The Senators finished in a tie for ninth 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...
with a record of 61 wins and 100 losses, 47½ games behind the first-place New York Yankees
1961 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 59th season for the team in New York, and its 61st season overall. The team finished with a record of 109-53, eight games ahead of the Detroit Tigers, and won their 26th American League pennant. New York was managed by Ralph Houk. The Yankees played their home...
. It was also the team's only season 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...
before moving their games to D.C. Stadium for the following season.
Offseason
The Senators, along with the Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, were the first ever 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...
expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
s. Both teams participated in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's first ever expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
. The Senators used their first pick in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft to select pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
from the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The 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...
. Grba wound up playing two-plus seasons for Los Angeles before returning to the minor leagues. However, Shantz never played for the Senators, as he was traded just two days later to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Harry Bright
Harry Bright
Harry James Bright was an American first baseman, third baseman, utilityman and scout in Major League Baseball, and a longtime player and manager in minor league baseball...
, Bennie Daniels
Bennie Daniels
Bennie Daniels Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1957-1965 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Senators...
, and R. C. Stevens
R. C. Stevens
R.C. Stevens was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates before the 1952 season and traded to the Washington Senators on December 16, 1960. He played for the Pirates from 1958 to 1960, and for the Washington Senators in 1961...
, all of whom played for the Senators in 1961.
Notable transactions
- November 28, 1960: Ray SemprochRay SemprochRoman Anthony Semproch , also known as Baby and Ray, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1958 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels....
was drafted by the Senators from the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 1960 rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - December 14, 1960: 1960 MLB expansion draft1960 MLB expansion draftThe 1960 MLB Expansion Draft was held by Major League Baseball on December 14, 1960 to fill the rosters of the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators...
- Jim King was drafted by the Senators from the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - Coot VealCoot VealOrville Inman "Coot" Veal is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers before the season, and later drafted by the Washington Senators from the Tigers in the 1960 American League expansion draft...
was drafted by the Senators from the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
- Jim King was drafted by the Senators from the Cleveland Indians
Regular season
As an expansion team, the Senators were not expected to do well. They finished tied for last in the league with the Kansas City Athletics1961 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season was a season in American baseball. The A's finished with a record of 61–100, tying the expansion Washington Senators for ninth place, last in the newly-expanded 10-team American League.- Offseason :...
. They also finished 9 games behind their expansion brethren, the Angels
1961 Los Angeles Angels season
The Los Angeles Angels season ended with the Angels finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 70-91. It was the Angels' first season in franchise history, and their only season at Wrigley Field...
. One bright spot was pitcher Dick Donovan, who led the American League in earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
, making the All-Star team and finishing 17th in league MVP voting.
Opening Day lineup
- Coot VealCoot VealOrville Inman "Coot" Veal is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers before the season, and later drafted by the Washington Senators from the Tigers in the 1960 American League expansion draft...
SS - Billy KlausBilly KlausWilliam Joseph Klaus was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies . He played the end of the 1963 season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons...
3B - Marty KeoughMarty KeoughRichard Martin Keough is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs...
RF - Dale LongDale LongRichard Dale Long was a first baseman in professional baseball. Between 1951 and 1963, Long played in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Browns , Chicago Cubs , San Francisco Giants , New York Yankees and Washington Senators...
1B - Gene WoodlingGene WoodlingEugene Richard Woodling was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Yankees , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators , and the New York Mets in their expansion year of 1962...
LF - Willie TasbyWillie TasbyWillie Tasby Jr. was a Major League Baseball player for six seasons, all in the American League. Tasby came up with the Baltimore Orioles and spent time with the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and Cleveland Indians...
CF - Danny O'ConnellDanny O'ConnellDaniel Francis O'Connell was an American infielder in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Milwaukee Braves , New York/San Francisco Giants andWashington Senators...
2B - Pete DaleyPete DaleyPeter Harvey Daley is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1955 through 1961, Daley played for the Boston Red Sox , Kansas City Athletics and Washington Senators...
C - Dick Donovan P
Notable transactions
- April 7, 1961: Ray Semproch was purchased from the Senators by the Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
Roster
| 1961 Washington Senators | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
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 | 69 | 218 | 44 | .202 | 0 | 8 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 263 | 71 | .270 | 11 | 46 | |
| 72 | 183 | 44 | .240 | 4 | 21 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 113.1 | 4 | 9 | 4.53 | 56 | |
| 2 | 3.1 | 0 | 1 | 16.20 | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|