Although Ken McMullen never played a single inning within the territorial boundaries of Texas, his six-year tenure with the expansion Washington Senators means his statistical contributions are integral to the organization's foundational history. Transferred from the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 1965 season as part of a multi-player trade centered around Frank Howard, the right-handed batting third baseman dedicated the latter half of the 1960s to establishing himself as a dependable stabilizer at third base in Washington, D.C.
Under the management of Gil Hodges, McMullen was integrated into the standard lineup, providing an immediate enhancement to the team's depth by hitting 18 home runs during his debut summer of 1965. Although he initially faced some minor defensive challenges, he quickly became one of the league's most agile and reliable infielders. Demonstrating exceptional lateral agility and a formidable arm, he notably set an American League record with 11 assists from third base in a single game against the Red Sox in 1966. Over three consecutive seasons from 1967 to 1969, McMullen led all league third basemen in total defensive chances, further exemplifying his defensive prowess by leading the league three times in Range Factor per game at his position.
His defensive efficiency was matched by a steady, productive baseline with the bat. He exceeded the 20-home run threshold in 1968 and directed the most outstanding individual performance of his career in 1969 under the guidance of the newly appointed manager Ted Williams. In response to the legendary hitter's coaching, McMullen achieved a personal-best .272 batting average with 19 home runs and a career-high 87 RBIs, helping lead the modern Senators to their sole winning season in the nation's capital.
His long tenure with the club ended abruptly when the front office made an unpopular decision. After 15 games in the 1970 season, owner Bob Short traded McMullen to the California Angels for Aurelio Rodríguez and Rick Reichardt. The trade shocked the clubhouse, reportedly diminishing Williams's enthusiasm after the team lost a player seen as its captain and emotional anchor.
With the Senators, he amassed 709 hits, 86 homers, and 327 RBIs, posting a .249/.317/393 slash line (104 OPS+).
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