Washington Senators at York July 31, 1967

Over the years York baseball teams have hosted major league teams in exhibition games. In 1967 the Washington Senators were the mother club of York’s AA team in the Eastern League. The Senators played at Memorial Stadium on July 31. A crowd of 4,172 cheered as the York White Roses won 4 to 3. As an usher along the first base line, behind the York dugout, I recall that I got some autographs on a ball and the tips were good. Buddy Bob Nye was usher on the third base side. Bob also got lots of autographs. Gil Hodges was manager of the Senators. Also on the team were Frank Howard, Hank Allen, Paul Casanova and pitchers F.Bertaina and Bob Priddy. Allen and Casanova had once played for York.It was the first time since the O's 1955 loss that a major league team appeared on York. Epstein won the home run hitting contest with two clots over the right fied fence. York manager George Case used Rupe Toppin, Bud Mattingly, Gene Baker and Dick "Hard Luck" Such as pitchers. The York team was owned by Roy Jackson, known nowadays as a breeder of racing horses. The team and crowd were thrilled that they had beaten the Senators, who had won 17 of the last 23 games. I still have my Eastern League ball with Gil Hodges and Frank Howard's names still readable. The ball is darkened with stains of age and spills. Bob's autographs are as pristine and legible as they were in 1967, at York's Memorial Stadium. "In progress"----Thanks to J. C. and his uncle for noticing the date foul-up. Consider it corrected.