About Washington Nationals
Team Name | Washington Nationals |
Other nicknames | Natspos The Nats The Nasty Nats The Natsies Fighters Fightin’ Nats Walk-Off City ‘ The Natinals The Trashionals The Walgreens |
Major league affiliations | Major League Baseball (MLB) |
Division | National League (NL) East Division |
Ballpark (Home arena) | Jerry Park Stadium (1969-1976) Olympic Stadium (1977-2004) Robert. F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (2005-2007) Nationals Park (2008-Present) |
Principal owner(s) | Mark Lerner |
President of baseball operations | Mike Rizzo |
General manager | Mike Rizzo |
Manager | Dave Martinez |
Mascot | Screech |
Major league titles | World Series titles (1) - 2019 NL Pennants (1) - 2019 NL East Division titles (5) - 1981, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 |
The Washington Nationals is one of the teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). They belong to the National League and compete in the East Division.
The Washington Nationals started their career at the Montreal Expos in Canada. Later, from there, they relocated to Washington in the United States and renamed themselves as the Washington Nationals. The team is notable for becoming the World Series Champions in 2019. Apart from this, they are also known for many other titles and pennants in the MLB. This team is currently one of the most popular teams in the MLB due to their playing style. Nevertheless, the team still needs to keep up with its consistency to qualify for the playoffs.
Currently, the Washington Nationals are working hard to provide better-quality games to their fans. Despite not performing well in the 2023 season, the team is dedicated to bringing its fans its second World Series Championship. At the same time, they are also interested in winning more division titles for themselves and the fans.
Washington Nationals History
The history of the Washington Nationals started with the Montreal Expos baseball team based in Canada. Formed in 1969, the team started playing in the MLB as an expansion team and soon grew their reputation of having one of the strongest development facilities for the players on their roster. They even won the NL East Division titles in 1981. Following this, the performance of the team became quite poor. The decline of the team continued throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s.
During the 2000s, the Montreal Expos managed to get investors and owners; however, it did little to alter the team's fortunes. Eventually, the team relocated from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Washington, United States in 2004. In 2005, the team known today as the Washington Nationals was created.
The Washington Nationals had one of the best seasons in the inaugural 2005 season. Following this, the team focused on restructuring and rebuilding itself with a greater goal. As a result, the quality of performance of the team declined. Nevertheless, many talented players like Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon became team members during this time. This significantly improved the team's performance, especially with the acquisition of Trea Turner in 2014 and Max Scherzer in 2015. Despite all these talented players on the team, the Washington Nationals still failed to make it to the playoffs.
During the 2018 All-Star Game, Juan Soto had a good season, but the Washington Nationals failed to make it to the playoffs. Fortunately, luck turned brighter for the team and they became the World Series Champions in 2019. They also won the NL pennant in the same year. Despite this, the team suffered in the 2020 season because they had traded most of the members of the 2019 Championship Series to other teams. This resulted in the team having a disastrous 2022 season. In the present times, the Washington Nationals are not faring too well either. They are still committed to winning the World Series Championship again.
Washington Nationals Owner
Mike Lerner currently owns the Washington Nationals. Born in September 1953, he is a businessman from America. Mike Lerner became the managing principal owner of the team in 2018 when his father, Ted Lerner, the original owner of the team, retired. Ted Lerner had bought the team from the MLB for $450 million.
In 2022, it was reported in the Washington Post that the whole Lerner family was thinking of restructuring and rebuilding the team. This even involved an option of selling the team.
However, Ted Lerner passed away on February 13, 2023 with pneumonia. Despite his son Mike Lerner becoming the owner of the team, he is still following the decisions made by his late father regarding the team's future. Mike Lerner's wife is Judy Lenkin. He suffered from spindle cell sarcoma above his left knee in January 2017, which led to the amputation of his leg in April 2017.
Washington Nationals Jersey and Logo
The Washington Nationals have developed their own version of home and road jerseys. Their current home jersey consisted of a white buttoned-down shirt and pants. There are red and navy blue stripes around the necks of the shirt. There is a navy blue colored Nike logo on the upper left side of the jersey. Below this, the team's name "Nationals" with an underline appears in navy blue with red outline. The jersey number below the team's name appears in red with navy blue highlights.
The back of the jersey has the player's name in navy blue with red outlines and the jersey number below in red and navy blue outlines. One of the sleeves of the shirt has the logo of the team. The logo consists of a blue circle with a red outline and a white circle with a red outline inside it. The white circle has a cursive "W" in red. In the outer blue circle, the team name appears on the upper and lower parts in white color. Generally, advertisements are placed above the team's logo. The pants have red and navy blue stripes running down on both sides. The caps and helmets of the team are navy blue, white and red. The word "W" appears in white and red highlights on a small navy blue background in the front.
The road jersey of the team is white buttoned shirts and pants. As usual, a navy blue Nike logo is on the upper left side of the jersey. The city name "Washington with an underline" appears in red with navy blue highlights across the jersey's chest. Below this, the jersey number appears in red on the right side of the jersey.
The back of the jersey has the player's name and the jersey numbers in red and navy blue. There are red and navy blue stripes around the cuffs of the sleeves. The logo is the same and appears on one of the shirt's sleeves. The pants have the red and navy blue stripes running down on both sides. The caps and helmets are navy blue and red, with a white and red cursive "W" appearing in front.
Washington Nationals Nicknames
The Washington Nationals have been given several nicknames by the fans over the years. These are the nicknames of the team.
Natspos - This nickname is a combination of the team's present name "Washington Nationals" and its previous iteration, the "Montreal Expos."
The Nats and The Natsies - This first nickname is a shorter version of the team’s name, “Nationals.” The second nickname has been formed from the first nickname.
The Nasty Nats - This nickname was used to refer to the team during its bad performance after its relocation in 2005.
Fighters and Fightin’ Nats - Both these nicknames were given to the team after they became the World Series Champions in 2019.
Walk-Off City - This nickname was used to refer to the team's winning streak in 2014 through walk-offs.
The Natinals - This nickname resulted from the team name being misspelled on the team's jersey.
The Trashionals - The opponents of the fans refer to the team through this nickname. This is especially done by fans of the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles.
The Walgreens- This nickname is mainly used by the opponents and critics of the team because the “W” of the team is similar to that of the Walgreens store logos.
Washington Nationals Retired Jersey
The Washington Nationals have retired the jersey numbers of several of its players in both its current form and previous name as the Montreal Expos. These are the retired jerseys of the team.
Players and Positions | Jersey Numbers | Date Of Retirement |
Gary Carter (C) | 8 | July 31, 1993 |
Andre Dawson (OF) | 10 | July 6, 1997 |
Rusty Staub (RF) | 10 | May 15, 1993 |
Times Raines (LF) | 30 | June 19, 2004 |
Jackie Robinson (2B) | 42 | April 15, 1997 (Retired by all MLB teams) |
Source: mlb.com
Washington Nationals Home Stadium
The Washington Nationals' home stadium is the Nationals Park located in Washington D.C., United States. The stadium can support 45,966 spectators during a baseball game. The left field is 337 feet and the left center field is 377 feet. The right field is 335 feet and the right center field is 370 feet. The center field is 402 feet.
The features of the stadium include a beautiful view of the U.S. Capitol from the upper deck. Furthermore, There are food stands and concession stands like Ben's Chilli Bowl hot dogs, Dogfish head and Flying Dog Brewery beer. There is also The Budweiser Brew House, which is a full restaurant providing foods like burgers, hot dogs and salads. Another feature of the park is a split in the stadium's upper deck, which is done in the inspiration of the Griffiths Stadium.
Apart from baseball, the stadium is also used for business meetings, hockey and music concerts by artists and bands like Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Red Hot Chilli Peppers (RHCP), Lady Gaga and more.
Washington Nationals Tickets and Broadcasting Details
SeatGeek is the ideal place for purchasing tickets for the games featuring the Washington Nationals. The prices of the tickets are very cheap and start as low as $6 and go high up from there as per the game and demands of the spectator.
For TV, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) will carry out the telecasts on MASN and MASN 2. Broadcasters include Bob Carpenter, Kevin Frandsen and Dan Kolko.
For radio, the Nationals Radio Network and 106.7 The Fan will be covering the team's games. Broadcasters include Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler, Pete Medhurst, Craig Heist, Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier.
The MLB.TV will also be available to stream the team's games in out-of-market areas. Fans can buy a Washington Nationals single-team subscription for $19.99 per month.
Washington Nationals Coaching Staff
The Washington Nationals have recruited several talented coaches to ensure the team returns to its winning ways. These are the coaches assigned to the team.
Personnel | Coaching Position |
Dave Martinez (4) | Manager |
Tim Bogar (27) | Bench Coach |
Eric Young Jr. (12) | First Base Coach |
Gary Disarcina (10) | Third Base Coach |
Darnell Coles (7) | Hitting Coach |
Jim Hickey (48) | Pitching Coach |
Henry Blanco (35) | Catching & Strategy Coach |
Ricky Bones (25) | Bullpen Coach |
Pat Roessler (66) | Assistant Hitting Coach |
Source: mlb.com
Washington Nationals Rivalries
The major rivals for the Washington Nationals have been the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rivalry of the Nationals and the Orioles
This rivalry between these two teams is called the Beltway Series or "The Battle of the Beltways," as the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) and the Capital Beltway (I- 495) connect the cities of Baltimore and Washington. These two teams have faced each other for a total of 107 times, with the Orioles currently leading with a score of 59-48. They also enjoy a five-game win streak against the Nationals.
Nevertheless, some critics have pointed out that no such rivalry exists and is just a marketing ploy by both the teams.
Rivalry of the Nationals and the Phillies
The rivalry between these two teams goes back to when the Nationals were known as the Montreal Expos. After they relocated to Washington, it only increased. This was taken further when Bryce Harper joined the Phillies after leaving the Nationals. Both these teams have continued to fight it out for division control. So far, these teams have faced each other 940 times and the Phillies are currently at an advantage against the Nationals with a record of 488-452.
Washington Nationals MLB Records and Stats
The all-time records and stats that the Washington Nationals have managed to acquire as a team are listed below:
All-time high record in batting average - .351 (2020 season)
All-time high record in runs scored - 133 (1983 season)
All-time high record in scoring doubles -54 (1997 season)
All-time high record in scoring singles - 157 (1996 season )
All-time high record in scoring home runs - 46 (2006 season)
All-time high record in stolen bases - 97 (1980 season)
All-time high record in ERA - 1.90 (1997 season)
All-time high record in scoring strikeouts - 305 (1997 season)
All-time high record in winning games - 21 (2012 season)
All-time high record in losing games - 22 (1974 season)
Washington Nationals World Series Championships
The Washington Nationals have won only one World Series Championships till date. This was the opponent they overcame to do so.
Year | Opponent | Score |
2019 | Houston Astros | 4-3 |
Washington Nationals Other MLB Titles
The Washington Nationals have won several other titles while being a member of the MLB. Here are all the achievements they have made till now:
Titles | Years |
NL Pennants (1) | 2019 |
NL East Division titles (5) | 1981, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 |
Washington Nationals Hall of Famers
The Washington Nationals as a team has inducted several of its former players into its Hall of Fame. These are the Nationals who have achieved said status:
Hall of Famers | Years |
Gary Carter | 2003 |
Andre Dawson | 2010 |
Valdimir Guerrero | 2018 |
Randy Johnson | 2015 |
Pedro Martinez | 2015 |
Tony Perez | 2000 |
Tim Raines | 2017 |
Frank Robinson | 1982 |
Iván Rodríguez | 2017 |
Lee Smith | 2019 |
Dick Williams | 2008 |
Source: mlb.com
Current Washington Nationals Roster 2023 MLB
These are currently the active players on the roster for the Washington Nationals team:
Pitchers | Catchers | Infielders | Outfielders | Designated Hitter |
Cory Abbott (77) | Drew Millas (81) | CJ Abrams (5) | Alex Call (17) | Joey Meneses (45) |
Joan Adon (60) | Keibert Ruiz (20) | Jake Alu (39) | Blake Rutherford (29) | |
Patrick Corbin (46) | Michael Chavis (6) | Lane Thomas (28) | ||
Jose. A. Ferrer (47) | Luis Garcia (2) | Jacob Young (30) | ||
Kyle Finnegan (67) | Carter Kieboom (8) | |||
Robert Garcia (61) | Dominic Smith (22) | |||
Josiah Gray (40) | Ildemaro Vargas (14) | |||
Hunter Harvey (73) | ||||
Joe La Sorsa (53) | ||||
Andres Machado (57) | ||||
Jackson Rutledge (79) | ||||
Thaddeus Ward (68) | ||||
Jordan Weems (51) | ||||
Trevor Williams (32) |
Source: mlb.com
Washington Nationals Schedule
The Washington Nationals haven’t fared well in the 2023 season. These are the last couple of games for them this season:
Date | Match | Time | Venue | TV | Stream |
September 24, 2023 | Nationals vs Braves | 6:35 pm | Nationals Park | MASN | MLB.TV (out of market) |
September 26, 2023 | Nationals vs Orioles | 6:35 pm | Oriole Park at Camden Yards | MASN 2 | |
September 27. 2023 | Nationals vs Orioles | 6:35 pm | Oriole Park at Camden Yards | MASN 2 | |
September 29, 2023 | Nationals vs Braves | 7:20 pm | Truist Park | MASN 2 | |
September 30, 2023 | Nationals vs Braves | 7:20 pm | Truist Park | MASN | |
October 1, 2023 | Nationals vs Braves | 3:10 pm | Truist Park | MASN 2 |
Source: mlb.com
FAQs
A. The Washington Nationals have won 1 World Series Championship till now.
A. Mike Lerner owns the Washington Nationals.
A. Nationals Park is the home stadium of the Washington Nationals.
A. Dave Martinez is the manager of the Washington Nationals.
A. Screech, the bald eagle, is the mascot of the Washington Nationals.