1924 Washington Senators’ Title Run

1924 Washington Senators’ Title Run

1924 Washington Senators: No Laughing Matter

The original Washington Senators were perennial losers for most of their existence in Major League Baseball. However, one season stands out as a true exception: the 1924 Washington Senators, who went 92-62 in the regular season and won the American League pennant by two games over the New York Yankees and six games over the Detroit Tigers. In head-to-head play, Washington went 13-9 against the Yankees and 14-8-1 against the Tigers.

Washington’s Offensive Attack

The biggest threat at the plate for Washington was left fielder Leon “Goose” Goslin, a future Hall of Famer who batted .344 with 12 home runs and a league-leading 129 RBIs off 199 hits, 20 doubles, 17 triples, and 15 stolen bases. Right fielder Sam Rice batted .334 with 76 RBIs off 216 hits, 39 doubles, 14 triples, and 24 stolen bases. First baseman Joe Judge batted .324 with 3 home runs and 79 RBIs off 167 hits, 38 doubles, 9 triples, and 13 stolen bases. Catcher Harold “Muddy” Ruel batted .283 with 142 hits, 20 doubles, and 7 stolen bases.

Third baseman Ossie Bluege batted .281 with 113 hits, 15 doubles, 4 triples, and 7 stolen bases. Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh batted .272 with 142 hits, 20 doubles, 5 triples, and 9 stolen bases. Second baseman Bucky Harris collected 146 hits, 28 doubles, 9 triples, and 20 stolen bases. Center fielder Harry “Nemo” Leibold batted .293 in 84 games and stole 7 bases. Outfielder Wid Matthews batted .302 in 53 games with 10 doubles and 4 triples. Third baseman Doc Prothro batted .333 in 46 games with 11 doubles and 5 triples.

Walter Johnson Leads a Deep Pitching Staff

Starting Rotation

Walter Johnson was, by far, one of the best pitchers of the early 1900s. In 1924, Johnson went 23-7 with 159 strikeouts and a 2.72 ERA, recording a league-leading 20 complete games and a major-league-best 6 shutouts. George Mogridge went 16-11 with a 3.76 ERA, recording 13 complete games and 2 shutouts. Tom Zachary went 15-9 with a 2.75 ERA, recording 13 complete games, 1 shutout, and 2 saves. Curly Ogden went 9-5 with a 2.58 ERA, recording 9 complete games and 3 shutouts. John Martina pitched 8 complete games, and Paul Zahniser pitched 5 complete games and 1 shutout.

Bullpen Arms

Closer Firpo Marberry recorded 15 saves and 6 complete games with a 3.09 ERA. Relief pitcher Allen Russell went 5-1 with 8 saves, and Ray Speece went 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA.

The 1924 World Series

The 1924 Washington Senators faced the National League champion New York Giants in the 1924 World Series, a seven-game classic that swung back and forth between the two clubs.

Game 1: Extra-Inning Heartbreak (October 4)

The Giants won Game 1 on October 4 at Griffith Stadium by a score of 4-3. The game went deep into extra innings, and both Walter Johnson and Giants pitcher Art Nehf pitched all 12. In the top of the 2nd inning, center fielder George “High Pockets” Kelly hit a solo home run, and in the top of the 4th, first baseman Bill Terry added a solo shot. In the bottom of the 6th, Sam Rice drove in a run on a groundout, and in the bottom of the 9th, Roger Peckinpaugh tied it with an RBI double. The Giants broke through in the top of the 12th on an RBI single by right fielder Ross Youngs and a sacrifice fly by Kelly. An RBI single by Bucky Harris in the bottom of the 12th wasn’t enough.

Game 2: Peckinpaugh’s Walk-Off Double (October 5)

The Senators bounced back to win Game 2 on October 5 by a score of 4-3. Goose Goslin hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning, and Harris added a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th. In the top of the 7th, center fielder Hack Wilson grounded into a double play that scored Kelly, and in the top of the 9th, both Kelly and Wilson drove in runs with RBI singles. Peckinpaugh’s RBI double in the bottom of the 9th won it for Washington.

Game 3: Giants Even the Series at the Polo Grounds (October 6)

The Polo Grounds in Manhattan hosted Game 3 on October 6, and the Giants won 6-4. Catcher Hank Gowdy had an RBI single in the bottom of the 2nd inning, and a wild pitch during pitcher Hugh McQuillan’s at-bat scored shortstop Travis Jackson. In the bottom of the 3rd, Hack Wilson grounded into a double play that scored Kelly. In the top of the 4th, Senators third baseman Ralph Miller hit a sacrifice fly, and pinch-hitting catcher Bennie Tate drew a bases-loaded walk to score Joe Judge. In the bottom of the 4th, pitcher Rosy Ryan hit a solo home run, and in the bottom of the 6th, third baseman Freddie Lindstrom added an RBI double. In the top of the 8th, Senators first baseman Mule Shirley had an RBI single, and in the bottom of the 8th, Ryan drove in a run on a groundout. In the top of the 9th, Ossie Bluege drew a bases-loaded walk to score Harris, but Washington fell short.

Game 4: Goslin Powers a Washington Win (October 7)

The Senators pulled out a 7-4 victory in Game 4 on October 7. In the bottom of the 1st, Ross Youngs reached on an error that scored Lindstrom. In the top of the 3rd, Goslin crushed a three-run home run. In the top of the 5th, a wild pitch during Sam Rice’s at-bat scored center fielder Earl McNeely, and Goslin followed with an RBI single. In the bottom of the 6th, Hack Wilson drove in a run on a groundout. In the top of the 8th, Bluege had a two-run single, and in the bottom of the 8th, Wilson answered with a two-run double. In the top of the 9th, Lindstrom added an infield RBI single.

Game 5: New York Takes Control (October 8)

The Giants won Game 5 on October 8 by a score of 6-2. Lindstrom had an infield RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd, and in the top of the 4th, Ralph Miller drove in a run with a single. Pitcher Jack Bentley hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 5th, and Goslin answered with a solo home run in the top of the 8th. A sacrifice fly by Travis Jackson and RBI singles from Hugh McQuillan and Freddie Lindstrom capped the New York win.

Game 6: Zachary and Harris Deliver (October 9)

Back at Griffith Stadium for Game 6 on October 9, the Senators won 2-1. Tom Zachary pitched a complete game, allowing 7 hits and 1 run while striking out 3. In the top of the 1st inning, George Kelly had an RBI single. Bucky Harris answered for Washington with a two-run single in the bottom of the 5th, which proved to be the winning blow.

Game 7: McNeely’s Series-Winning Double (October 10)

In the deciding Game 7 on October 10, Harris started the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the 4th. In the top of the 6th, pinch-hitting outfielder Emil “Irish” Meusel hit a sacrifice fly, Travis Jackson reached on an error that scored Kelly, and Hank Gowdy reached on an error that scored Hack Wilson. In the bottom of the 8th, Harris tied the game with a two-run single, and in the bottom of the 12th, Earl McNeely became the hero for Washington with an RBI double that gave Senators fans their only World Series title.