Washington’s First World Series: When the Washington Senators Were America’s Team

Welcome to a riveting episode of the Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series on Radio and Podcast. Today, we embark on a journey back in time to 1924, a year that marked a pinnacle moment in sports history, capturing the spirit and imagination of a nation.

In an era dominated by legends like Babe Ruth and overshadowed by teams with storied legacies, a group of scrappy underdogs, the Washington Senators, dared to challenge the status quo. In the centennial year of the Senators’ victorious World Series run, our guest today is Smithsonian Associate sports historian and author Fred Frommer. Fred Frommer has written the new book, You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Baseball from Walter Johnson to the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals . Fred Frommer and baseball author Gary Sarnoff, who has a new book out on the '24 Senators. Both Fred and Gary tell us today about the compelling story of this history-making team and touch on the mostly fallow years that followed and will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up. Please check out our website for more details, but Fred Frommer joins us today, as brief tease of his upcomining Smithsonian Associates presentation…stay tuned.

Fred Frommer tells a story of a team guided by a 27-year-old rookie player-manager, Bucky Harris, and fueled by the indomitable spirit of an aging pitcher, Walter Johnson. Together they embarked on a quest to dethrone the baseball giants of their day, the New York Yankees. Against all odds and amidst a backdrop of cultural upheaval and innovation, the Senators not only captured the hearts of Americans but also clinched the World Series title, becoming a symbol of hope and resilience. Join us as we delve into this incredible story with Smithsonian Associate, author and sports historian Fred Frommer, exploring the Senators' unlikely victory, its impact on the nation, and how, for one fleeting summer, Washington D.C. became the center of the baseball universe. Prepare to be inspired by an unforgettable tale of triumph, tenacity, and the enduring power of dreaming big.

My thanks to Smithsonian Associate Fred Frommer.  Smithsonian Associate Fred Frommer  will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up, and the title of his presentation "Washington’s First World Series: When the Washington Senators Were America’s TeamFor more information about Fred Frommer's Smithsonian Associates presentation, please check out our show notes today. My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show.  My thanks to you, our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast.  Please be well, be safe, and Let’s Talk About Better™.  The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series on radio and podcast.  Thanks, everybody, and we’ll see you next week.  

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