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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This color film from 1955 was made by National Bohemian Beer in cooperation with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club. Narrated by Bob Wolff and Arch McDonald, this film offers the viewer a snapshot of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club from the concessions, vendors, and executives working at Griffith Stadium to the coaches and players practicing at Spring Training camp in Winter Garden, Florida. Bob Wolff opening remarks (0:32). Washington Nationals President Clark C. Griffith speaks to camera from office (1:06). Portraits of players: Roy Johnson, Bucky Harris, Joe Cronin, Sam Rice (1:32). Sign for Chattanooga Lookouts, Washington Senators Baseball School in Winter Garden, Florida (2:09). Players warm up, practice pitching on diamond (2:14). Arch McDonald stands with coaches, instructors of Chattanooga Lookouts: Pete Appleton, Cal Ermer, Sherry Robertson etc. (2:22). Pitchers demonstrate wind up, 2nd base play to pickoff baserunners for rookies (3:45). Players practice baseball fundamentals: various scenes of rookies and prospects bunting, stealing bases (4:42). Arch McDonald interviews Joe Engel on pitcher's mound, rookies demonstrate defensive double play (5:14). Cal Ermer demonstrates for camera wrong way to take a lead off of a base, then correct method (5:46). Cafeteria worker sounds cowbell, hungry players come running down flower-lined path (6:01). Mr and Mrs. Griffith, Joe Engel, other Nationals executives sit to lunch at table in dining hall (6:17). Fishing net frames off-duty rookies fishing off dock at Lakeview Lodge; player proudly shows off string of caught perch (6:33). Orange trees line highway on route to Orlando (6:54). Two rookies walk along palm-tree lined fresh water lake, field of wild orange flowers (7:04). Tinker Field – players run out onto diamond to begin spring training drills (7:27). Orlando Mayor J. Rolfe Davis observes training beside Mr. and Mrs. Griffith from bleachers; Arch McDonald interviews Griffith (8:33). Rookies play common batting, fielding exercises (9:21). Dust flies as rookies glide into sliding pit (9:30). Pitching staff, coaches encircle Joe Paparella (9:59). Ellis Clary throws baseball to pitchers during running drill (10:11). Eddie Yost, Mickey Vernon sit on bench after practice (10:25). Players receive treatment for injuries: Bruce Edwards wears neuromuscular stimulator, player dunks in ice bath, Yost receives foot wrap (10:39). Baseballs lined up to create letter W, images fades and transitions to afternoon batting practice POV cuts between view behind batting cage and outfield (11:10). Yost kneels to give toddler a batting lesson (11:37). Howard Fox, head of National's PR department, hands out freshly printed newsletters to Bert Hawkins, Shirley Povich (11:50). Arch McDonald, Mr. Griffith, Pete Runnels, Bob Porterfield, Mickey McDermott participate in spring golf tournament on palm tree-filled golf course (12:00). Marlene Stewart Streit and partner Harmon Killebrew tee off, other scenes from the putting greens (13:33). Griffith, National Brewing Company executives present trophies to Jimmy Johnson, Jim Busby and others after competition's end; guests applaud from banquet tables (14:30). Calvin Griffith, Mr. Griffith, Charlie Dressen, Sherry Robertson discuss upcoming season over coffee (15:06). Scenes from intrasquad games to assess players skills, capabilities (15:24). Players pose for team picture in uniform (16:11). Executives, secretaries shuffle around administrative offices at Griffith Stadium (16:20). Opening day, April 11, 1955. Two grounds keepers look over home plate, tidy up diamond (16:52). Stands filled with spectators on opening day; game against Baltimore Orioles (16:55). The U.S. Army Band marches across the diamond (17:12). President Dwight Eisenhower throws out the traditional first pitch of the year. (The ball that the President tossed was the 10th millionth Spalding baseball to be used in MLB play.) Army band plays “Hail to the Chief“ raising of the flag ceremony (17:24). Arch McDonald and Bob Wolff report from press box (18:25). Game begins as pitcher throws the first ball, Bob Wolff narrates scenes from game(18:39-23:10). Griffith Stadium stood in Washington, D.C., from 1911-65. The team was officially named the “Senators“ during 1901–04, the Nationals from 1905–55 and the Senators (again) from 1956–60. In 1961 it became the Minnesota Twins. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
