September 30, 1971: The Washington Senators' Riotous Farewell

September 30, 1971, 50 years ago: The last Washington Senators game is played, against the Yankees at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

Team owner Bob Short, having already moved the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles in 1960, has announced he's moving the Senators to the Dallas area, to become the Texas Rangers. He complains about the low attendance, despite having the highest ticket prices in the American League, and no subway access to RFK Stadium. (Washington's Metro would not open until 1976.)

A rare vertical sports fan banner, reading "SHORT STINKS."

It was still considered bad form to say that someone "sucks."

Frank Howard, the Senators' most popular player in their 2nd go-around of 1961-71, hits the last home run. Dick Bosman starts, and stands to be the winning pitcher as the Senators lead 7-5 with 1 out left in the 9th. All he has to do is get Bobby Murcer out.

But he can't, through no fault of his own. Angry fans from the "crowd" of 14,461 people storm the field. The umpires cannot restore order, and they forfeit the game to the Yankees.

Only 2 AL games have been forfeited since, both promotions that turned into fiascos: The Cleveland Indians' Ten-Cent Beer Night in 1974, and the Chicago White Sox' Disco Demolition Night in 1979. Outfielder Rusty Torres, who turned 23 on the day of the last Senators game, was also in uniform on each of those occasions.

There are 18 players from this game still alive. From the Yankees: Torres, Roy White, John Ellis, Ron Hansen, Frank Baker, Mike Kekich, Jack Aker and Felipe Alou. From the Senators: Howard, Bosman, Elliott Maddox, Toby Harrah, Jack Billings, Jeff Burroughs, Del Unser, Tom Ragland, Horacio Piña and Tom McCraw.

The next April, Bosman also starts the team's 1st game as the Rangers. Major League Baseball will not return to the Nation's Capital, except for the occasional preseason exhibition game, until the 2005 season.

While RFK Stadium would host exhibition games, there would not be another Major League Baseball game played in Washington, D.C. until April 14, 2005. Formerly the Montreal Expos, the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3. In addition to George W. Bush upholding the tradition of the President of the United States throwing out a ceremonial first ball, Frank Howard was also invited to do so.

*

September 30, 1971 was a Thursday. Other MLB games on this day:

* The New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1 at Shea Stadium. Tom Seaver gots the win, his 20th of the season, and went on to win his 2nd Cy Young Award. A young right fielder named Ken Singleton, who had grown up in New York as a Met fan, hit 2 home runs. But he will become better known for playing for the Baltimore Orioles, and then for broadcasting for the Yankees.

No one knows it at the time, but this is the last game the Mets will play with Gil Hodges as their manager. At the end of Spring Training in 1972, he suffers a heart attack and dies, not quite 48 years old.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Manny Sanguillen hit a home run, and Roberto Clemente went 1-for-4. 

* The Chicago Cubs beat the Montreal Expos, 5-3 at Jarry Park in Montreal.

* The Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-2 at Atlanta Stadium. (It was renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in 1974.) Hank Aaron did not play for the Braves in this game. The Reds also held Johnny Bench out. Pete Rose went 1-for-4.

* The Chicago White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

* The California Angels beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2 at Metropolitan Stadium in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota.

* The San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 5-1, at what was then named San Diego Stadium. They clinched the National League Western Division title on this last day. This would be their only postseason berth between 1962 and 1987.

* The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Houston Astros, 2-1 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

* The Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers had already completed their 162-game schedules.

* While the game in Washington was played, at nearby Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox were rained out. As all 4 Division races, including the American League Eastern Division race won by the O's, had been decided, the game was not rescheduled.

* The Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics were rained out at the Oakland Coliseum. As all 4 Division races, including the American League Western Division race won by the A's, had been decided, the game was not rescheduled. The O's beat the A's for the AL Pennant, the Pirates beat the Giants for the NL Pennant, and the Pirates beat the Orioles to win the World Series.