The 1969 Washington Senators season involved the Senators finishing fourth in the newly established American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses, their first winning season in franchise history, and only in Washington.
Offseason January 8, 1969: John Orsino was purchased from the Senators by the New York Yankees.John Orsino at Baseball-Reference
Regular season The year 1969 was a turning point in Washington sports history. The Senators named Ted Williams as manager. The Washington Redskins hired Vince Lombardi as Head Coach and he had brought a winning attitude to the nation's capital. In the same year, the nearby University of Maryland had hired Lefty Driesell to coach basketball. It marked a renaissance in sports interest in America's most transient of cities.
The hiring of Ted Williams sparked at least increased curiosity in the team. Williams' fanatical approach to hitting helped improve the Senators offense considerably, and inspired the team to its one and only winning season during its 11-year stay in Washington. The Senators won 86 games, 21 more than in 1968, and improved from last place in the ten-team 1968 American League to one game out of third in the new AL East division. For this remarkable turnaround, Williams was voted American League Manager of the Year. As a result, attendance at RFK Stadium improved to over 900,000, the highest attendance for the "new" Senators and, at the time, the highest in Washington's baseball history.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day starters
CF Del Unser RF Ed Stroud LF Frank Howard 1B Mike Epstein 3B Ken McMullen SS Ed Brinkman 2B Tim Cullen C Paul Casanova P Camilo Pascual
Notable transactions June 5, 1969: 1969 Major League Baseball draft Dave Moates was drafted by the Senators in the 4th round.Dave Moates at Baseball Reference Dave Criscione was drafted by the Senators in the 5th round.Dave Criscione at Baseball Reference June 20, 1969: Bill Denehy and cash was traded by the Senators to the Cleveland Indians for Lee Maye.Lee Maye at Baseball Reference
Roster 1969 Washington Senators Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
Game log Regular season
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 || April 7 || 1:30p.m. EST || Yankees || L 4–8 || Stottlemyre (1–0) || Pascual (0–1) || – || 2:47 || 45,113 || 0–1 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || April 9 || 8:05p.m. EST || Yankees || W 6–4 || Coleman (1–0) || Bahnsen (0–1) || – || 2:00 || 15,162 || 1–1 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || April 10 || 1:30p.m. EST || Yankees || W 9–6 || Hannan (1–0) || Peterson (0–1) || Higgins (1) || 2:33 || 3,971 || 2–1 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || April 11 || 8:00p.m. EST || @ Orioles || W 4–0 || Moore (1–0) || Hardin (0–1) || Higgins (2) || 2:15 || 8,415 || 3–1 || W3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 || April 12 || 2:15p.m. EST || @ Orioles || L 0–9 || McNally (1–0) || Pascual (0–2) || – || 2:16 || 6,379 || 3–2 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 || April 13 || 2:00p.m. EST || @ Orioles || L 0–2 || Palmer (1–0) || Coleman (1–1) || – || 2:03 || – || 3–3 || L2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || April 13 || 4:38p.m. EST || @ Orioles || L 0–9 || Phoebus (1–0) || Bosman (0–1) || – || 2:07 || 20,483 || 3–4 || L3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 || April 15 || 2:00p.m. EST || @ Yankees || L 2–8 || Peterson (1–1) || Bertaina (0–1) || – || 2:32 || 13,889 || 3–5 || L4 |- style="background:#bbb;" |–|| April 16 || || @ Yankees || colspan="8"|Postponed (Rain) |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 || April 17 || 1:00p.m. EST || @ Yankees || L 3–7 || Stottlemyre (3–0) || Higgins (0–1) || – || 2:28 || – || 3–6 || L5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || April 17 || 4:03p.m. EST || @ Yankees || W 5–2 || Moore (2–0) || Bahnsen (0–3) || Higgins (3) || 2:17 || 6,883 || 4–6 || W1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 11 || April 18 || 8:05p.m. EST || Orioles || L 0–6 || Phoebus (2–0) || Coleman (1–2) || – || 2:27 || 4,457 || 4–7 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 || April 19 || 2:15p.m. EST || Orioles || W 7–5 || Bosman (1–1) || Cuellar (0–2) || Higgins (4) || 2:20 || 5,495 || 5–7 || W1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 || April 20 || 1:00p.m. EST || Orioles || L 1–2 || McNally (2–0) || Hannan (1–1) || Watt (2) || 2:52 || – || 5–8 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || April 20 || 4:27p.m. EST || Orioles || W 5–2 || Bertaina (1–1) || Hardin (0–2) || Humphreys (1) || 2:19 || 18,055 || 6–8 || W1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 || April 21 || 8:05p.m. EST || Tigers || L 0–2 || Sparma (2–0) || Moore (2–1) || – || 2:15 || 3,813 || 6–9 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || April 22 || 8:05p.m. EST || Tigers || L 2–4 || Hiller (1–0) || Pascual (0–3) || McMahon (3) || 2:48 || 4,922 || 6–10 || L2 |- style="background:#bbb;" |–|| April 24 || || @ Red Sox || colspan="8"|Postponed (Rain) |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || April 28 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 6–1 || Pascual (1–3) || Wilson (1–3) || Bosman (1) || 2:39 || 7,353 || 11–10 || W5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 || April 29 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || L 4–5 || Radatz (1–0) || Bertaina (1–2) || – || 2:24 || 6,986 || 11–11 || L1
|- style="background:#bbb;" |–|| June 15 || || Angels || colspan="8"|Postponed (Rain) |- style="background:#fcc;" | 64 || June 17 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Orioles || L 1–5 || Cuellar (0–2) || Shellenback (1–2) || – || 2:26 || 22,134 || 31–33 || L2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 65 || June 18 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Orioles || L 1–3 || Hardin (3–3) || Moore (5–2) || Hall (2) || 2:11 || 10,420 || 31–34 || L3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 66 || June 19 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Orioles || L 0–2 || McNally (10–0) || Higgins (4–7) || – || 2:04 || 13,376 || 31–35 || L4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 || June 20 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 7–2 || Knowles (3–0) || McMahon (1–4) || – || 3:07 || 27,725 || 32–35 || W1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 68 || June 21 || 1:15p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || L 5–9 || Lolich (8–1) || Humphreys (1–2) || – || 2:31 || 25,340 || 32–36 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 69 || June 22 || 1:30p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 9–4 || Higgins (5–7) || Dobson (2–5) || – || 2:51 || – || 33–36 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || June 22 || 4:56p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 9–5 || Moore (6–2) || Sparma (4–3) || – || 1:51 || 52,721 || 34–36 || W2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 71 || June 23 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Orioles || L 3–5 || Palmer (9–2) || Knowles (3–1) || Richert (6) || 1:57 || 7,830 || 34–37 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 72 || June 24 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Orioles || L 3–6 || Hall (4–2) || Shellenback (1–3) || – || 3:06 || 14,763 || 34–38 || L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 73 || June 25 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Orioles || W 11–8 || Humphreys (2–2) || Hardin (3–4) || Knowles (2) || 2:41 || 11,130 || 35–38 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" |–|| June 30 || || @ Indians || colspan="8"|Postponed (Rain)
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 90 || July 11 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Yankees || L 3–4 || Stottlemyre (13–6) || Moore (7–4) || – || 2:13 || 22,254 || 46–44 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 91 || July 12 || 2:15p.m. EDT || Yankees || L 1–3 || Burbach (6–7) || Bosman (6–3) || Aker (7) || 2:39 || 17,818 || 46–45 || L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 92 || July 13 || 1:00p.m. EDT || Yankees || W 5–4 || Cox (7–1) || Peterson (9–11) || – || 2:19 || – || 47–45 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 93 || July 13 || 3:54p.m. EDT || Yankees || W 10–1 || Shellenback (2–4) || Downing (1–3) || – || 2:22 || 31,700 || 48–45 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 94 || July 14 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Tigers || W 3–0 || Coleman (6–7) || Sparma (5–7) || – || 2:50 || 23,831 || 49–45 || W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 95 || July 15 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Tigers || W 7–3 || Moore (8–4) || Hiller (2–3) || Baldwin (3) || 2:28 || 16,122 || 50–45 || W4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 96 || July 16 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Tigers || L 0–3 || Lolich (8–1) || Bosman (6–4) || – || 2:27 || 21,568 || 50–46 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 97 || July 17 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Tigers || L 3–4 || Wilson (8–7) || Cox (7–2) || McMahon (8) || 2:31 || 24,701 || 50–47 || L2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 98 || July 18 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || L 0–5 || Peterson (10–11) || Shellenback (2–5) || – || 2:13 || 11,002 || 50–48 || L3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 99 || July 19 || 5:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || L 0–9 || Stottlemyre (14–7) || Moore (8–5) || – || 2:12 || – || 50–49 || L4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 100 || July 19 || 7:47p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || W 4–0 || Coleman (7–7) || Bahnsen (5–11) || – || 2:37 || 16,547 || 51–49 || W1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 101 || July 20 || 2:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || L 2–3 || Aker (5–2) || Cox (7–3) || – || 3:17 || 32,933 || 51–50 || L1 |- style=background:#bbbfff |colspan="12"|40th All-Star Game in Washington, DC
|- style="background:#bbb;" |–|| September 8 || || @ Orioles || colspan="8"|Postponed (Rain) |- style="background:#fcc;" | 141 || September 9 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Orioles || L 1–6 || Cuellar (21–10) || Carlos (5–4) || – || 2:25 || – || 72–69 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 142 || September 9 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Orioles || L 2–3 || Phoebus (13–6) || Coleman (10–13) || Watt (14) || 2:39 || 10,747 || 72–70 || L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 143 || September 10 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Yankees || W 6–1 || Bosman (12–5) || Stottlemyre (18–13) || – || 2:10 || 6,016 || 73–70 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 144 || September 11 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Yankees || W 7–3 || Hannan (6–5) || Bahnsen (9–14) || Knowles (12) || 2:10 || 5,389 || 74–70 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 145 || September 12 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Tigers || W 4–3 || Cox (12–5) || Wilson (12–10) || – || 2:17 || 9,398 || 75–70 || W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 146 || September 13 || 2:15p.m. EDT || Tigers || W 11–6 || Knowles (1–2) || Timmermann (3–3) || – || 2:56 || 9,921 || 76–70 || W4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 147 || September 14 || 1:30p.m. EDT || Tigers || L 4–7 || Dobson (5–10) || Dukes (0–1) || Hiller (4) || 3:58 || 12,114 || 76–71 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 148 || September 15 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Orioles || W 3–2 || Humphreys (3–3) || Palmer (14–3) || – || 1:51 || 5,376 || 77–71 || W1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 149 || September 16 || 8:05p.m. EDT || Orioles || L 0–1 || McNally (19–6) || Hannan (6–6) || Watt (16) || 2:41 || 8,165 || 77–72 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 150 || September 17 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || L 1–2 || Peterson (16–15) || Cox (12–6) || – || 1:17 || 5,025 || 77–73 || L2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 151 || September 18 || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || L 3–4 || Stottlemyre (19–13) || Moore (8–8) || – || 2:13 || 6,020 || 77–74 || L3 |- style="background:#bbb;" |–|| September 23 || || @ Tigers || colspan="8"|Postponed (Rain) |- style="background:#cfc;" | 154 || September 24 || 5:30p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 8–4 || Hannan (7–6) || McLain (23–9) || Shellenback (1) || 2:38 || – || 79–75 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 155 || September 24 || 8:43p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 7–4 || Higgins (10–9) || Lolich (18–10) || Knowles (13) || 2:44 || 14,032 || 80–75 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 156 || September 25 || 1:30p.m. EDT || @ Tigers || W 7–2 || Bosman (13–5) || Kilkenny (7–6) || – || 2:18 || 4,589 || 81–75 || W3
|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend: = Win = Loss = PostponementBold = Senators team member
Player stats = Indicates team leader
Batting
Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Pos Player G AB R H Avg. HR RBI SB C 124 379 26 82 .216 4 37 0 1B 131 403 73 112 .278 30 85 2 2B 122 365 33 90 .247 9 45 5 3B 158 562 83 153 .272 19 87 4 SS 151 576 71 153 .266 2 43 2 LF 161 592 111 175 .296 48 111 1 CF 153 581 69 166 .286 7 57 8 RF 71 238 41 69 .290 9 26 1
Other batters