After the 1960 season, the American League Washington Senators became the 1961 Minnesota Twins, at least that’s always been my understanding. Team ownership didn’t change. Five regular position players from 1960 started in 1961, including future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. The top pitchers in innings pitched in 1960 were also top in 1961, with future Hall of Famer Jim Kaat pitching his first complete season. I’ve exchanged emails with Major League Baseball who confirm that, in their eyes, it’s history is that of a single franchise. Same team, different name, different location. The Minnesota Twins even fly a flag commemorating the 1924 Washington Nationals World Series win.
[Yes, Nationals, so claims baseball-reference.com.]
So imagine my surprised when reading the Britannica Book of the Year 1962 which stated (p81): The American league expanded from 8 to 10 teams in 1961, adding the Los Angeles Angels and the Minnesota Twins, and moved from a 154-game to a 162-game schedule.
My understanding is that no one could imagine our nation’s capital without baseball (First in War, first in peace, last in the American League) and gave them the 1961 expansion franchise Washington Senators. After 11 lackluster seasons – highest finish 4th in 1969 American League East, managed by Ted Williams – they also relocated and became the Texas Rangers in 1972. Washington, D.C. remained without baseball until 2005 when the Montreal Expos relocated and became the latest Washington Nationals.
Perhaps in 1961 MLB called the Washington Senators a continuation of the franchise, similar to the Cleveland Browns saga in football, but everything since seems to indicated that the Minnesota Twins are in fact an original American franchise from 1901.
