Last summer I read Stephen J. Walker’s book "A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators". I enjoyed the book as it brought back so many memories of a special time in Washington baseball history. I enjoyed the book so much I contacted Mr. Walker to find out if we could do a Question & Answer session together.
Below are some questions from History's Perspective and answers from Stephen J. Walker.
· A Whole New Ballgame
Mark, many thanks for the opportunity to tell you a little bit more about my book and the story behind its creation and publication. The players and coaches, even the bat boys and broadcasters, are people of great honor and class. They worked hard under Ted Williams and exceeded everyone’s expectations, probably even their own, with an 86 win season. More important, they gave people in Washington, D.C., a city suffering from riots, tension, and the contentious politics surrounding Vietnam, something to celebrate and enjoy.
When did you first come up with the idea to write this book?
I came up with the idea to write A Whole New Ballgame in 1995, during the infamous government shutdown. I worked for the government and the budget battles between President Clinton and the Republican congress left me at home, with nothing to do.
The 1969 Senators team had always fascinated me. A few years before 1995, I re-played the Senators’ entire season with Strat-O-Matic baseball and learned about unsung heroes like Jim French, Hank Allen, Dennis Higgins, Casey Cox and Dave Baldwin.
Also, as a young boy in 1969-71, my father took me to several Senators’ games with my buddies in the neighborhood. That’s where gentleman like Frank Howard, Dick Bosman, Darold Knowles, Paul Casanova, and Ken McMullen became my childhood heroes. On autograph day, I met Ed Stroud, so he became one of my favorites. I liked Mike Epstein as well because he hit left-handed and played first base, just like I did in little league.
Once I started researching the team and reading the newspaper accounts on microfilm, I knew the 1969 Senators lived a great story that I wanted to tell. Then, when I interviewed the players and coaches, beginning with Sid Hudson, and heard their personal stories of courage, humor, perseverance, and redemption, I became completely convinced that I needed to tell their stories in print. After many years of drafts, procrastination, and moving files from one computer to another, I finally realized my dream in April 2009. It felt appropriate to have the book come out within a week of the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Presidential Opener on April 7.
Why write a book about the ’69 Senators?
The ’69 Senators played the best baseball anyone in Washington witnessed since the 1950s (and, sadly, ever since). They completely surprised the experts, who expected them to lose more than 100 games and perform worse than even the two American League expansion teams, the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots. Their 86-76 record filled the Washington area with joy and set the stage for more fun in the fall when Lombardi’s Redskins went 7-5-2.
But more than wins and losses, the 1969 Senators just overflowed with amazing, poignant, and heartwarming story lines. Though he later proved a most vile villain, Bob Short thrilled Washington when he sweet talked Ted Williams out of retirement. Williams managed the players and the media better than anyone thought possible. Most people think he won by improving the team’s hitting, which he did. He also made the team’s pitching better by giving the pitching staff deep insight into how a hitter thinks. Of course, Knowles’ return from military service certainly helped, too.
After so much in Washington went wrong in 1968, many things went right in 1969, all with brand new men, Williams and Short at the top of what appeared to be a baseball renaissance in Washington, but ended up being a cruel mirage.
Still, the town really fell in love with the team. On one occasion, 1500 people flocked to the airport to cheer the team home from a winning road trip. Another time, fans gave Del Unser, Darold Knowles and other Senators in attendance a standing ovation during a showing of “Damn Yankees” at Burn Brae dinner theater. And after the season’s final game, the fans cheered the team with one final standing ovation.
How many players and or coaches did you interview for the book?
I interviewed two coaches, Wayne Terwilliger and Sid Hudson, 16 players, Brant Alyea, Bernie Allen, Hank Allen, Dick Bosman, Ed Brinkman, Dave Baldwin, Casey Cox, Jim French, Dennis Higgins, Frank Howard, Bob Humphreys, Darold Knowles, Lee Maye, Ken McMullen, Ed Stroud, Del Unser a team bat boy, Paul Oppermann, and radio voice Ron Menchine.
I also interviewed, Jim Hartley, President of the Washington Baseball Historical Society, and numerous other fans.
What was the toughest challenge in writing this book?
I faced two challenges that were equally daunting. First, I had to commit to the time to write the book. Writing is a solitary endeavor, so I needed to sacrifice time with my wife and family to finish the manuscript, revising, and editing. I have a wonderful wife and three boys. All were willing to give up time with me to support my dream of finishing the book.
Second, I had to overcome the fear of rejection and send book proposals to publishers. A friend told me to put all the rejection letters on the wall by my computer as a reminder to persevere, to have faith a book contract would eventually arrive, and to celebrate once an offer came. You can imagine how thrilled I was when an e-mail arrived with a contract attached from Pocol Press. I will always be grateful to them for agreeing to publish A Whole New Ballgame.
Do you have a favorite moment or time while you were writing the book?
Well, my favorite moment was finally, after 12 years, finishing the manuscript!
Four other moments stand out. My interview with Brant Alyea when he nearly choked up remembering the time Ted Williams gave him a brand new autographed bat. The pain in Lee Maye’s voice as he told me about being ignored for 10 years when he tried to catch on as a minor league hitting coach with any team that would take him. The passion in Dick Bosman’s voice as he recounted how much it meant to him to start the Presidential Openers in 1970-71. With the help of Allen Rice from the National Archives and Records Administration, finding the picture of Frank Howard on Opening Day that graces the book’s cover. RFK is resplendent with the red, white, and blue bunting and the packed stands.
Of course, nothing will top the moment last April when my family and I opened the first box of books Pocol Press sent me. At last, when I held the book in my hands, I knew my dream had become a reality.
· Washington Baseball
When did you first attend your first Washington major league baseball game?
My first game was July 15, 1969. The Senators defeated the Tigers. I remember Tim Cullen hit a home run. When I researched Retrosheet, I found out when the game took place. During my research for the book, I learned that the Tigers turned a triple play in the game and President Nixon attended. Not a bad way to start a lifelong passion for baseball in Washington!
What was your most memorable time at a Washington baseball game?
Other than my first game, two memories stand out. First, when my friends and I went to “Bat Day” and banged our bats on RFK’s concrete all game long. How my dad survived that, I’ll never know. The second was meeting Ed Stroud and some other players on the RFK Stadium outfield on Autograph and Picture Day. I was 8 years-old and you never forget those moments. My son experienced that last week at the Nationals’ Fan Fest when he met Josh Willingham, Matt Capps, Tyler Clippard, and Brian Bruney. By the way, my son handed Willingham his ball with Frank Howard's signature, among others. Willingham turned the ball over, looking for a place to sign. When he saw Hondo's signature, he looked at my son and said, "Wow! You've got Frank Howard's autograph on this ball." And he signed underneath it.
Who are your top three all time Washington ball players? Why are they your favorites?
Frank Howard is my all-time favorite Washington ball player. He was so huge, hit the ball so far, and caused such a buzz in the stadium when he came to bat. I’ll never forget it. I’ve met him many times since then and he is always a gentleman, patient and kind.
Darold Knowles is another favorite, because he is left-handed like me and because he pitched so well for the Senators. He was also a great gentleman when I interviewed him and has purchased a copy of the book. If you look at his overall records, it’s not a stretch to claim he was one of the greatest players ever to wear the expansion Senators’ uniform.
Since you said, “all-time” Washington players, I have to choose Walter Johnson. The “Big Train” gave DC it’s only World Series championship and is probably still the greatest right-hander of all-time.
From the Senators of my childhood, I also adored Ed Brinkman, Mike Epstein, Ed Stroud, Dick Bosman, and Paul Casanova.
· Today’s Nats
Do you think the Nationals’ are heading in the right direction?
I think the Nationals have been headed in the right direction the day they made Mike Rizzo the permanent general manager. It bodes well that they allowed him to hire a sizable staff, full of great baseball men like Davey Johnson. Their scouting and front office before this season was so small the team was at a huge disadvantage. Their mediocre amateur drafts and lack of international presence proves that.
So, to sum up, the Nats are finally headed in the right direction, but they still, in my opinion, have an awful long way to go to get to the 86-win level of the ’69 club.
Where do you think the Nationals’ have improved the most since the end of the ’09 season?
The pitching has been greatly improved with the additions of Jason Marquis, Matt Capps, Brian Bruney, and Tyler Walker. With Strasburg and Storen in the wings and, hopefully, Jordan Zimmerman at full strength in 2011, you have the makings of a good staff.
I also think Ivan Rodriguez is a huge upgrade at catcher. He’s one of those guys who does better than his statistics indicate. He instantly boosts the status and credibility of the franchise. A full season of Josh Willingham in left and Nyjer Morgan in center is an improvement over last season. I like Adam Dunn at first base. The bench is adequate, but not that talented, but still better than last year’s mess. At least, I hope so.
Where do you think the Nationals’ need more improvement?
Rizzo’s signings have improved the team a lot, but they need to do more. The minor league system is still too thin as many years of drafts have been squandered on high risk “toolsy” youngsters who won’t pan out. The Nationals simply must draft extremely well this season to catch up. An international signing or two wouldn’t hurt, either.
On the major league level, the pitching staff is still too thin and has too many “soft tossers.” There’s also not a lights out closer, at least not unless Drew Storen fulfills his potential. The middle infield is really weak unless or until they sign a strong free agent or Espinosa and Desmond defy the odds and both become stars. I’m not sold on Dukes in right field either. I think the team needs a left-handed power hitting outfielder to take some of the pressure off of Adam Dunn, who they need to lock up long term.
Steve, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. I hope to see you a lot at Nationals Park this season.
Mark, it is my pleasure and thank you for the opportunity. I love talking Washington, DC baseball and, of course, the 1969 Washington Senators. Now that the game is back where it belongs, we can truly call baseball, the National Pastime!
Tags: Jim Hartley, Ron Menchine, Paul Oppermann, Lee Maye, Ed Brinkman, Bernie Allen, Brant Alyea, Del Unser, Ted Williams, Bob Short, Sid Hudson, Mike Epstein, Ed Stroud, Ken McMullen, Paul Casanova, Darold Knowles, Dick Bosman, Frank Howard, Casey Cox and Dave Baldwin, Dennis Higgins, Hank Allen, Jim French, Washington Baseball Historical Society, Pocol Press, Tim Cullen, Wayne Terwilliger, Stephen J. Walker
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med Joshua Gibson December 21, 1911. Joshua spent the first ten years of his life in Buena Vista, Georgia where life wasn’t easy. At that time his parents worked as sharecroppers in the fields throughout Georgia.
th to twins. The twins named Helen and Joshua Jr. survived. As Josh was traveling with the team Helen’s parents raised the two children.
ee also voted umpire Doug Harvey into the Hall of Fame. Harvey received 15 votes from the committee. Harvey was a national league umpire for 31 years. During his umpire career Harvey was chosen to umpire six All-Star games, seven League Champion Series and five World Series
d the California Angels to a 2-2 record. Herzog first found success when he managed the Kansas City Royals from 1975 to 1979. At Kansas City he managed the team to three first place finishes in the American League West division. 
Rawlings Gold Glove award and today it is announced he won his first Silver Slugger award.
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