BIOGRAPHIES OF AWARD NAMESAKES

BIOGRAPHIES
Leon Allen “Goose” Goslin

Goslin was a left fielder for the Washington Senators from 1921-30, 1933 and 1938. He also played for the St. Louis Browns (1930-32) and the Detroit Tigers (1934-37).

From his page at National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: 
Burly and strong-armed, Leon Goose Goslin swung the bat with Ruthian effort and forged a reputation as a powerful clutch-hitter. He spearheaded his teams to five American League pennants -- three with the Senators and two with the Tigers. He drove in 100 or more runs on 11 occasions and hit .300 or better 11 times, compiling a .316 lifetime average and 2,735 hits. He led the Senators to a World Series title in 1924 with a .344 average and three home runs.
Goslin was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968 by the veteran’s committee.

Walter Perry “Big Train” Johnson

Johnson was, without question, one of the best pitchers in the history of the game. He played exclusively for the Washington Senators from 1907-1927.

From his page at National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum:
There were no sophisticated measuring devices in the early 1900s, but Walter Johnson's fastball was considered to be in a class by itself. Using a sweeping sidearm delivery, The Big Train fanned 3,508 over a brilliant 21-year career with the Washington Senators, and his 110 shutouts are more than any pitcher. Despite hurling for losing teams most of his career, he won 417 games -- second only to Cy Young on the all-time list -- and enjoyed 10 successive seasons of 20 or more victories.
Johnson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the inaugural vote in 1936 by the writers.


Frederick “Firpo” Marberry

Marberry was a right-handed pitcher who played for the Washington Senators from 1923-32 and 1936, the Detroit Tigers (1933-35), and the New York Giants (1936)

From his page at Baseball Library:

Marberry's physique and dark, scowling look suggested boxer Luis Firpo, "The Wild Bull of the Pampas," who had once knocked Jack Dempsey out of the ring. The nickname suited the pitcher, though he was said to have hated the nickname and preferred to be known as “Fred”. He was one of the first pitchers to be used almost exclusively in relief, leading the American League five times in saves.
The sport's first prominent reliever, he has been retroactively credited as having been the first pitcher to record 20 saves in a season, the first to earn 100 career saves, the first to make 50 relief appearances in a season or 300 in a career, and the only pitcher to lead the major leagues in saves five times.

Edgar Charles “Sam” Rice

Rice was a right fielder for the Washington Senators (1915-33) and Cleveland Indians (1934).He was a teammate of the more-heralded Johnson and Goslin, but certainly no less important.

From his page at National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum:

Though he didn't play his first full campaign until age 27, Sam Rice collected 2,987 hits, finishing his career with a .322 batting average and six 200-hit seasons. Small but swift, Rice starred on the Washington Senators' only three pennant-winning teams and still holds franchise records for hits, runs, doubles and triples. His disputed catch of a fly ball in the 1925 World Series saved Game 3 for Washington and remains one of the most controversial plays in baseball history.
Rice had 200-plus hits in six different seasons, and collected 351 stolen bases. He led the A.L. in hits twice and put outs for outfielders twice.

Rice was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963 by the Veteran’s Committee.


Frank Oliver “Hondo” Howard

The “Capital Punisher” played left field, right field and first base in his 15 years in the major leagues. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-64), Washington Senators (1965-71), Texas Rangers (1972), and Detroit Tigers (1972-73).

One of the most physically intimidating hitters in the sport, he was named the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1960, and went on to lead the American League in home runs and total bases twice. His 382 career home runs were the eighth most by a right-handed hitter when he retired; his 237 home runs in a Washington uniform are a record for any of that city's several franchises, as are his 1969 totals of 48 HRs and 340 total bases.

After his retirement from playing, he managed parts of two seasons for the San Diego Padres and New York Mets, and coached for several teams thereafter.

Hondo once hit 10 home runs in 20 at bats over a six-game span, May 12-18, 1968. He also struck out a record six consecutive times in a July 9, 1965 doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox in Boston. After grounding into a double play to end the streak, he jokingly noted, "The only guy to make eight outs in seven at-bats and get a standing ovation for it."

Joseph Ignatius “Joe” Judge

Judge played first base for the Washington Senators (1915-32), Brooklyn Dodgers (1933 and Boston Red Sox (1933-34).

Judge was a perennial Washington favorite who, in 1924, with Bucky Harris at second base, Ossie Bluege at third base, and MVP Roger Peckinpaugh at shortstop, formed a defensive unit which is thought by many to be the best ever assembled.

He set American League records for career games (2,056), putouts (19,021), assists (1,284), total chances (20,444), double plays (1,476) and fielding percentage (.993) at first base, and led the AL in fielding average five times, then a record. He also batted over .300 nine times, and hit .385 in the 1924 World Series as the Senators won their only championship.

At the end of his career he ranked tenth in AL history in hits (2,328) and doubles (431), seventh in games played (2,129), eighth in triples (158) and at bats (7,786), and ninth in walks (958). In a 20-season career, Judge hit .298 with 1034 RBI in 2171 games; he also collected 2,352 hits and 213 stolen bases with a .378 on base percentage. He ranked second to Sam Rice in Washington history in games, at bats, hits, runs, RBI, doubles, triples and total bases.


James Barton “Mickey” Vernon

Vernon played for 21 seasons, for the Washington Senators (1939-43, 1946-48, 1950-55), Cleveland Indians (1949-50, 1958), Boston Red Sox (1956-57), Milwaukee Braves (1959) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1960).

Despite missing two seasons to military service during World War II, he retired with 2,495 hits, and holds the major league record for career double plays at first base (2,044), as well as American League records for career games (2,227), putouts (19,754), assists (1,444) and total chances (21,408) at first base.

In 14 full seasons (400 at bats or more), Vernon batted over .335 twice, over .300 five times, and over .290 nine times.

Vernon managed the expansion Senators from 1960-63. He also coached for several other teams and scouted for the New York Yankees when his field days were completed.

Joshua “Josh” Gibson

Gibson was a catcher for the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1930-37) and Homestead Grays (1937-46), who split their home games between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

He was credited with having been Negro National League batting champion in 1936, 1938, 1942 and 1945. Gibson hit almost 800 home runs in his 17-year career.

From his page at National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum:
A tragic and legendary figure, Josh Gibson was the greatest power hitter in black baseball, pounding out home runs with regularity despite playing most of his career in two of baseball's most cavernous ballparks: Forbes Field and Griffith Stadium. He utilized a fluid, compact swing to hit for both average and power, and tales of his mammoth home runs became legend. In recorded at-bats against big league pitching, Gibson batted .426. He died just three months before the integration of baseball in the Major Leagues.
Gibson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 by the Negro Leagues Committee.

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