Hello, Senators faithful,

I listened to the last game over Yankees radio -- I lived and still live in NYC,
having gone off to college in 1966.

Aside from Howard's home-run (of course), I remember Phil Rizzuto going wild
when Nats fans took over the field. He was, for once, almost speechless:
"Huckleberries! They're taking the field apart!!!" Or something close.

Regards,

John

To: thewashingtonsenators@yahoogroups.com
From: jkrpn@...
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:11:29 -0400
Subject: Re: [The Washington Senators] Washington Senators memories...




















When I think of 1971 I remember going to see Vida Blue and the
Oakland A's on opening day and how the NATS hammered them 8-0. Then going to see
the A's and Nats again in May and watching Denny McClain get absolutely SHELLED
by the A's....



-----Original Message-----

From: bill gero <rebelyell1861@...>

To: thewashingtonsenators@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 9:29 pm

Subject: Re: [The Washington Senators] Washington Senators memories...



Art,

I did not ask who was at the last game in 1971, I was asking about the last game
@ RFK on Sept. 23 of this year. I was only 10 when the Senators left town in
'71. I realy like the poem you posted. I'm going to print it, frame it amd hang
it my office along side the rest of my Senators memorabilia. Thanks !!

Bill Gero



Art Audley <Aa3rt@...> wrote:

I was 15 years old when the Senators began play in the 1969 season,

turning 16 in July. In researching my previous post, I had to rely on

James R. Hartley's "Washington's Expansion Senators (1961-1971)" to

fill in the blanks for some long-faded memories.



(BTW-An excellent reference and a worthwhile addition to the baseball

library for any Senators fan.)



In response to Bill Gero's query about who was at the last game on Sep.

30, 1971-I was not among the faithful. I was away attending my first

semester of college. The 1971 season is pretty much a blur to me-I'd

graduated from high school in June and had numerous other things

preoccupying me during that last, inglorious season. Things like girls,

cars, preparing for college all being overshadowed by a very low draft

number. I remember watching the news broadcast (in glorious black and

white) of the last game and the forefeit-not believeing that there

would be no more baseball in DC and that forefeit to the hated Yankees!!

What a way for it to end!



Anyhow, while researching my previous post, I found a clipping from the

March 30, 1989 Washington Times that I'd tucked away in the Hartley

book. It includes a poem written by a gentleman named Thomas Ponton.

Mr. Ponton says that Sep. 30, 1971 was his 11th birthday and he was

among the crowd who witnessed that final debacle. While I'm not a

poetry fan by any means, I thought this item was special-hopefully some

of you will enjoy it as well.



"When the Senators Left Town" by Thomas Ponton



When the Senators played, it always seemed sunny,

And you could go to the park and not spend much money.

There was Howard, Epstein, Pasqual, McMullen,

Brinkman, Stroud, Unser, Tim Cullen,

Coleman, Casanova, Bosman, Jim French,

And Knowles and Grzenda would come off the bench.

But the memories are jaded-my spirits are down,

Since '71 when the Senators left town.



To root for the team was like going to Confession,

'Cause they last time they won it was before the Depression.

Sure there were chances but they went north with the Twins,

And we were stuck with a new team that recorded few wins.

From the stands we'd all watch and seldom complain,

Except when they traded for Denny McClain.

We had our team spirit which nothing would drown,

'Til '71 when the Senators left town.



Now Boston had a curse and Chicago the blues,

But the Senators were the ones who knew how to lose.

And we can recall that very last game,

When the fans took the field--oh, what a shame!

And Mike Kekich served up a gopher ball pitch,

And Frank Howard slammed that son of a ------.

In that moment they were special--a team of renown--

'Til the very next day when the Senators left town.



So I look back and recall when we wore our red hats,

And would cheer and drink beer and pull for the Nats.

But my thoughts are now distant and hopeless they seem,

For Angelos will surely block any new team.

Maybe Collins will get lucky--let's hope he can do,

And D.C. baseball will be back for a year, mybe two.

But I continue to sit back with my ever-lastin' frown,

For my childhood ended when the Senators left town.



---------------------------------

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