washington nationals history
washington nationals history
Monuments, federal document archives, the nation’s history, and now, a new baseball franchise. After struggling to establish a baseball tradition in Montreal, the franchise known as the Expos relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2005. The relocation of the Canadian team signifies the troubles that many franchises faced after the strike-shortened 1994 season. Before the player lockout, the Expos had the best record in Major League Baseball, and many believed that their All-Star lineup would deliver a World Series Championship to Montreal. However, the team faced serious troubles when play resumed. In the newly created Nationals’ first season at RFK Stadium, the team posted a .500 record. Washington Nationals tickets are being snatched up even after their embarrassing first season in the US.
The Nationals’ arrival in America’s capitol is not the first appearance of professional baseball in Washington, D.C. The city hosted the Washington Senators until poor attendance forced the franchise to move to Minneapolis. However, the team’s crowds in 2005 were among the highest in MLB and a dramatic improvement from the dismal turnouts in Montreal. The team was part of the race for the postseason throughout the conclusion of 2005 and hopes to capitalize on their early success this year.
Under the leadership of Frank Robinson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a player, the Nationals are slowing building an offensive attack that features first baseman Nick Johnson and right fielder Jose Guillen. The team hopes that rookie center fielder Tyrell Godwin will blossom into a star for the franchise, too. In early 2006, city officials and MLB executives agreed upon a deal to build a new stadium for the franchise, which will seat over 41,000 fans and offer a view of the Capitol Building. This new facility will insure that Washington Nationals tickets will be among the most sought after seats in professional sports.
The 2006 season looks promising for the Nationals. Veteran hurler Livan Hernandez leads the starting rotation for the team, and the team hopes that Chad Cordero’s 47 saves last season can carry into this year. The team will need Johnson to remain healthy at the first base position; Johnson’s first five seasons in the majors have been marred by time on the disabled list, but he played the majority of the team’s games in 2005. Young third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hopes to make major contributions to the team’s 2006 campaign. With the trade of veteran Vinny Castilla in the off-season, Zimmerman will see his first full year in the major leagues after a short stint at the end of last year during which he batted nearly .400 with 10 doubles in just 58 plate appearances. While the National League East is one of the most difficult divisions because of the powerhouse Atlanta Braves, look for the Nationals to charge toward the forefront of professional baseball. The popularity of Washington Nationals tickets surprised many officials around the league, and it appears as though the franchise will be able to establish America’s pastime in the city that has missed professional baseball action for over three decades.
