The current Washington Nationals baseball team got their start in 1969 as the Montreal
Expos, the first baseball team to be located in Canada. The team called Montreal
home until 2004, when they were relocated to Washington and changed their name to
the Nationals amid much controversy and opposition from the residents of Montreal.
When the team moved, there were several names considered, one being the Senators,
as previous teams in the area had used the name. Unfortunately for supporters the name
was still owned by the Texas Rangers, who had previously played in Washington before
their relocation. Others opposed the name as the area has no representation in Congress.
The Nationals was the name of the first professional team to play in the city and so was
chosen for the newly relocated franchise.
Home of the Washington Nationals has been Nationals Park since 2008. The stadium
was scheduled to be opened much sooner but controversy after problem postponed
construction time and again.
First, the proposed funding for the new ballpark by Washington’s mayor was highly
disliked by residents of the city who believed that the surrounding county and states
should help with the costs as they would be providing large portions of the fan base.
Plans went ahead once a favorable deal was reached, however the bank that was to
finance the stadium put a halt to plans when they required that Major League Baseball,
the owners of the team, sign a 24 million dollar letter of credit guaranteeing payment in
case of terrorist activities or poor attendance. The league refused to sign and potential
owners were also told to decline any such deal. Eventually, all the problems were worked
out and the stadium was opened in 2008, costing 611 million dollars and seating 41,888
fans.
Out in their community, the Washington Nationals are just as active as they are on the
field. They actively promote education and literacy and are involved in several programs
that help children to succeed both academically and athletically, teaching the youth in
their area how to live successful, healthy lives.
The team also hosts a number of drives each year at the park taking donations in
everything from blood to baseball bats. They also host drives to collect ties for
disadvantaged men, toothbrushes, books, and many more items. Aside from assisting
with the drives hosted by the team, the wives and girlfriends of the players also host
their own drives, most notably the Back to School Drive where they collect supplies for
disadvantaged children to take to school each year.
The Washington Nationals may not be the best team in Major League Baseball,
but they are still well loved by their fans. With a history as interesting as the city
itself, the team is fun to watch on the field, and great to have in the community.
2009 Season
In addition to this new stadium and new-look team, the Washington Nationals are still getting things together and are off to another slow start to this season. The Nationals currently hold a 3-11 record, which puts them in 5th place in the National League East division. They are led by Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn, Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge among others. Manager Manny Acta, in his third season, was acquired in an attempt to change things up with the team, which struggles to produce winning seasons. Tickets sales surpassed the 2 million mark for the first time since 2006. Look for the Nationals to be a hot ticket this season..
Previous Seasons
The Washington Nationals are a young team, starting their Major League Baseball career in Montreal, Canada under the name of the "Montreal Expos" from 1969 to 2004. The team had the success of hosting a number of talented players including Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter and former All-Star game MVP, outfielder Tim Raines. After several struggling seasons, the Expos moved to Washington and changed their name for a change of luck. The Washington Nationals looked to change their image as a losing team, and have worked on garnering the support of many talented young players including Fireman Award winning pitcher Chad Cordero in their three year history. The name was derived from the fact that Washington, D.C. is the national capital of the United States. This is the opening season for Nationals Park, where the Nationals currently play. This brand new park is state of the art and an attraction in itself.
