Roy Sievers arrived in Washington in February 1954 via a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, who had recently moved from St. Louis, in exchange for outfielder Gil Coan. The Orioles thought Sievers' arm was worn out after several injury-ridden seasons, but the change of environment turned out to be a pivotal moment in his career. Playing for the consistently struggling Senators during the 1950s, he became the team's main offensive weapon, competing with the league's top sluggers even though he spent half his games in the large Griffith Stadium.
Senators manager Bucky Harris inserted Sievers into the lineup despite his throwing limitations, and he responded by becoming a key power hitter in the team's middle order. He quickly established himself as a top power threat in the American League, recording five straight seasons with at least 95 RBIs and making the top five in home runs in the league three times.
In 1957, Sievers captured the American League Home Run title (42) and the RBI crown (114) while leading the league in total bases and extra-base hits. His ability to carry the Washington offense earned him a third-place finish in the AL MVP voting, trailing only Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams in one of the most competitive races of the decade. After the 1959 season, Sievers was dealt to the Chicago White Sox.
Throughout his six-season tenure with the original Senators, Sievers was named to three All-Star teams (1956, 1957, and 1959) and smashed 180 home runs alongside 823 hits.
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