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Ask The Experts
December 20, 2000

Our mailbox is always full of esoteric questions from our readers. So every week, we pass along some of their most interesting queries to baseball historians who know the answers.

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WASHINGTON SENATORS
Q: What happened to the Washington Senators after they moved out of Washington?
-- DPatter717
A: The original Washington Senators existed from 1901-1960. Some of the more famous Senators were Walter Johnson, Goose Goslin, Camilo Pascual, and Harmon Killebrew. At the end of the 1960 season, the American League expanded, and owner Calvin Griffith decided that he would move his team to Minnesota, which was a better baseball town. The Senators were renamed the Minnesota Twins as a reference to the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The city of Washington, which had been known for being "first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League” had lost its beloved franchise, and felt betrayed by their owner.

After the original Senators had moved out of town, Major League Baseball decided to give the city of Washington a new franchise. Also named the Senators, the new team, managed by Gil Hodges and later Ted Williams, continued where the old Senators had left off, winning no pennants in its 10 years of existence. At the end of the 1971 campaign, owner Rob Short decided to move the Senators to Texas, where they became the Texas Rangers. The city of Washington has been without a baseball franchise ever since.

Back to top-- Christos Plakas
N. L. HOMERUN CHAMPS
Q: How many players have led the National League in home runs six times?
-- Rodger Marrow
A: Only three players have been able to lead the National League in home runs six different times. Mike Schmidt holds the record, doing it eight times, and Ralph Kiner holds the record for consecutive years leading the league, with seven. Gavvy Cravath was the first player to do it. Here are the three players, and the years they lead the National League:

Gavvy Cravath - Philadelphia Athletics - 1913-15, 1917-19
Ralph Kiner - Pittsburgh Pirates - 1946-52
Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies - 1974-76, 1980-81, 1983-84, 1986

Back to top-- Christos Plakas
STRIKEOUT KINGS
Q: Which active player holds the record for most career strikeouts?
-- cbi2318@cbi1.net
A: Through the 2000 season, Jose Canseco has the active record for most career strikeouts. He has struck out 1,867 times, which ties him for fourth on the all-time strikeout list with Tony Perez. Second on the active list is Andres Galarraga, who has struck out 1,741 times.
Back to top-- Christos Plakas
SWITCH-HITTERS WITH POWER
Q: How many switch hitters have hit 40 or more home runs in a season?
-- Andrew Jabar
A: Only four switch-hitters have been able to hit 40 or more home runs in one season. They are:

American League
Mickey Mantle 54 - 1961
Mickey Mantle 52 - 1956
Mickey Mantle 42 - 1958
Mickey Mantle 40 - 1960

National League
Chipper Jones 45 - 1999
Todd Hundley 41 - 1996
Ken Caminiti 40 - 1997

Back to top-- Christos Plakas
KIRK GIBSON
Q: What number did Kirk Gibson wear for the 1984 Detroit Tigers?
-- HARASTEPAT@aol.com
A: For the 1984 Detroit Tigers, Kirk Gibson wore the number 23. Gibson's 27 home runs and 91 RBI helped lead the Tigers to the American League pennant and a World Series victory in five games over the San Diego Padres.
Back to top-- Christos Plakas
POWERFUL THIRD BASEMEN
Q: How many third basemen have led their leagues in home runs since 1970?
-- John Nunes
A: Since 1970, only five third basemen have lead their leagues in home runs. They are:

Matt Williams - San Francisco Giants - National League - 1994
Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies - National League - 1974-76, 1980-81, 1983-83, 1986

Darrell Evans - Detroit Tigers - American League - 1985
Graig Nettles - New York Yankees - American League 1976
Bill Melton - Chicago White Sox - American League - 1971

Back to top-- Christos Plakas

» New questions and answers are posted every Wednesday.