The Washington team was called the Nationals in 1955? Baseball Ref lists them as the Nationals but everywhere else I look called them the Senators. I remember them being called Nats in headlines and such as a shortened nickname.
To the best of my knowledge, both names (Senators and Nationals) were used interchangeably between 1901 and 1960. Baseball Reference insists on using an "official" nickname, which is a concept that didn't really exist for the early years of baseball.
This is actually most notable when you try to do research on teams in 1900, 1901, and so on. For example, the St. Louis National League team in 1900 certainly weren't called the "Cardinals," but it's hard to figure out precisely what they actually were called. The newspapers seem to have changed nicknames every week or two.
AT age six in 1949 I began collecting baseball Bowman cards and Topps in 1951. What great fun, match flipping, leaners, off the wall…living on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay just a half hour ride from Ebbets Field where my brother and I would be driven to by our dad on his 1937 Dodge auto. 65 cents Bleacher seats.
In 1978 just prior to the first Price Guide Baseball publication I sold my collection of cards (1948- 1957) totaling over 4,300 to a dealer for $1,500. Mantle, Mays, Robinson so many cards that still did not acquire super values at that time. But did BOOM in value only a few years later.
So grateful to have experienced the thrill as a Kid purchasing for a penny one card with bubble gum in one wrapper or a pack of five cards with gum for a nickel in its own wrapper and thinking which player would I be owning and about to trade with.
Those were the days my friend I thought they’d never end but linger in my mind all these scores of years later.
The Washington team was called the Nationals in 1955? Baseball Ref lists them as the Nationals but everywhere else I look called them the Senators. I remember them being called Nats in headlines and such as a shortened nickname.
To the best of my knowledge, both names (Senators and Nationals) were used interchangeably between 1901 and 1960. Baseball Reference insists on using an "official" nickname, which is a concept that didn't really exist for the early years of baseball.
This is actually most notable when you try to do research on teams in 1900, 1901, and so on. For example, the St. Louis National League team in 1900 certainly weren't called the "Cardinals," but it's hard to figure out precisely what they actually were called. The newspapers seem to have changed nicknames every week or two.
Thanks Daniel, I enjoy your work!
AT age six in 1949 I began collecting baseball Bowman cards and Topps in 1951. What great fun, match flipping, leaners, off the wall…living on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay just a half hour ride from Ebbets Field where my brother and I would be driven to by our dad on his 1937 Dodge auto. 65 cents Bleacher seats.
In 1978 just prior to the first Price Guide Baseball publication I sold my collection of cards (1948- 1957) totaling over 4,300 to a dealer for $1,500. Mantle, Mays, Robinson so many cards that still did not acquire super values at that time. But did BOOM in value only a few years later.
So grateful to have experienced the thrill as a Kid purchasing for a penny one card with bubble gum in one wrapper or a pack of five cards with gum for a nickel in its own wrapper and thinking which player would I be owning and about to trade with.
Those were the days my friend I thought they’d never end but linger in my mind all these scores of years later.