Joe Kuhel--1941
On This Date in Major League
History, September 7, 1945…
Without a bona fide slugger, the 1945
Washington Senators struggled to hit
home runs at home. In fact, they hit just
one. However, that didn't stop the
Washington Nine from finishing second
in the American League to the eventual
World Champion Detroit Tigers.
With outfield dimensions that extended
405 feet in left field to 420 feet to center
field, though right field was approachable
at 320 feet; home runs were hard to
come by at Washington's Griffith Stadium.
Yet, one home run at spacious Griffith
Stadium by the hometown Senators
would be all Washington could muster in
1945.
The Senators would hit just 27 home
runs in the season, edging the White Sox
and their 22 homers for the least power
in the Junior Circuit.
Well, on this date, Joe Kuhel logged the
lone long ball for the Senators at
home--- and that one didn't even leave
the stadium, as the first baseman circled
the bases without the ball leaving the
yard.
Kuhel would show power later in his big
league career, topping out at 27 homers
for the White Sox in 1940 at age 34 ; but
in '45 he collected just two for the
Senators. Third baseman Harlond Clift
would lead the club with eight round-
trippers.
Kuhel would bounce between the White
Sox and Senators, as he logged two
separate stints with each club. The
native Clevelander would hit 131 home
runs in 18 big league seasons, but none
bigger than the inside-the-park home run
on this date back in '45.
Editor's Note: With a legal name of
Joseph Anthony Kuhel, the first sacker
went by "Joe" as we can tell by his card.
(9/7/11)
History, September 7, 1945…
Without a bona fide slugger, the 1945
Washington Senators struggled to hit
home runs at home. In fact, they hit just
one. However, that didn't stop the
Washington Nine from finishing second
in the American League to the eventual
World Champion Detroit Tigers.
With outfield dimensions that extended
405 feet in left field to 420 feet to center
field, though right field was approachable
at 320 feet; home runs were hard to
come by at Washington's Griffith Stadium.
Yet, one home run at spacious Griffith
Stadium by the hometown Senators
would be all Washington could muster in
1945.
The Senators would hit just 27 home
runs in the season, edging the White Sox
and their 22 homers for the least power
in the Junior Circuit.
Well, on this date, Joe Kuhel logged the
lone long ball for the Senators at
home--- and that one didn't even leave
the stadium, as the first baseman circled
the bases without the ball leaving the
yard.
Kuhel would show power later in his big
league career, topping out at 27 homers
for the White Sox in 1940 at age 34 ; but
in '45 he collected just two for the
Senators. Third baseman Harlond Clift
would lead the club with eight round-
trippers.
Kuhel would bounce between the White
Sox and Senators, as he logged two
separate stints with each club. The
native Clevelander would hit 131 home
runs in 18 big league seasons, but none
bigger than the inside-the-park home run
on this date back in '45.
Editor's Note: With a legal name of
Joseph Anthony Kuhel, the first sacker
went by "Joe" as we can tell by his card.
(9/7/11)
