1961 Washington Senators season

The 1961 Washington Senators season was a season in American baseball. The team was in its inaugural season, having been established as a replacement for the previous franchise of the same name, which relocated to the Twin Cities of Minnesota following the 1960 season, becoming the Minnesota Twins. The Senators finished in a tie for ninth place in the American League with a record of 61 wins and 100 losses, 47½ games behind the World Champion New York Yankees. It was also the team's only season at Griffith Stadium before moving their games to D.C. Stadium for the following season.

Offseason

The Senators, along with the Los Angeles Angels, were the first ever American League expansion teams. Both teams participated in Major League Baseball's first ever expansion draft. The Senators used their first pick in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft to select pitcher Bobby Shantz from the New York Yankees. Grba wound up playing two-plus seasons for Los Angeles before returning to the minor leagues. However, Shantz never played for the Senators, as he was traded just two days later to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Harry Bright, Bennie Daniels, and R. C. Stevens,^[1] all of whom played for the Senators in 1961.

Notable transactions

• November 28, 1960: Ray Semproch was drafted by the Senators from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1960 rule 5 draft.^[2]
• December 14, 1960: 1960 MLB expansion draft
  • Jim King was drafted by the Senators from the Cleveland Indians.^[3]
  • Coot Veal was drafted by the Senators from the Detroit Tigers.^[4]

Regular season

As an expansion team, the Senators were not expected to do well. They finished tied for last in the league with the Kansas City Athletics. They also finished 9 games behind their expansion brethren, the Angels. One bright spot was pitcher Dick Donovan, who led the American League in earned run average and WHIP, making the All-Star team and finishing 17th in league MVP voting.

Season standings

Opening Day lineup

• Coot Veal SS
• Billy Klaus 3B
• Marty Keough RF
• Dale Long 1B
• Gene Woodling LF
• Willie Tasby CF
• Danny O'Connell 2B
• Pete Daley C
• Dick Donovan P

^[5]

Notable transactions

• April 7, 1961: Ray Semproch was purchased from the Senators by the Los Angeles Angels.^[2]

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Middlesboro

Notes

References

• 1961 Washington Senators team page at Baseball Reference
• 1961 Washington Senators team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.