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+====== Washington Nationals ======
+===== From Montreal to D.C. =====
+The franchise was originally founded in 1969 as the Montreal Expos, the first Major League Baseball team in Canada. [([[http://www.historicbaseball.com/teams/washington_nationals.html|Historic Baseball]])]
+===== The Move =====
+The Expos moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005, bringing baseball back to the nation's capital after a 33-year absence. [([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/washington_nationals_history.shtml|Baseball Almanac]])]
+===== First Game =====
+The Nationals played their first regular-season game on April 4, 2005, losing 8-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies. [([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=2005&t=WSN|Baseball Almanac]])]
+===== First Win =====
+The team recorded its first win in franchise history on April 6, 2005, defeating the Phillies 7-3. [([[https://usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/washington_nationals_trivia.html|Useful Trivia]])]
+===== First Pitch =====
+Livan Hernandez threw the first pitch in Washington Nationals history during the 2005 season opener. [([[https://usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/washington_nationals_trivia.html|Useful Trivia]])]
+===== Inaugural Success =====
+Despite low expectations, the Nationals finished their inaugural 2005 season with a respectable .500 record (81-81). [([[https://www.ebscohost.com/archives/research-starters/washington-nationals|EBSCO]])]
+===== RFK Stadium =====
+From 2005 to 2007, the Nationals played their home games at RFK Stadium, which was the former home of the Washington Senators. [([[https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/RFKStadium.php|Ballparks of Baseball]])]
+===== First Draft Pick =====
+Ryan Zimmerman was the first player ever drafted by the Washington Nationals, selected 4th overall in 2005. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Washington_Nationals|Kiddle]])]
+===== Mr. National =====
+Ryan Zimmerman earned the nickname "Mr. National" because he played his entire 16-year career with the team. [([[https://mlbpastandpresent.com/2023/09/28/the-career-of-ryan-zimmerman/|MLB Past & Present]])]
+===== Jersey Retirement =====
+In 2022, Ryan Zimmerman became the first player in team history to have his jersey number (#11) retired. [([[https://mlbpastandpresent.com/2023/09/28/the-career-of-ryan-zimmerman/|MLB Past & Present]])]
+===== Nationals Park Opening =====
+The team moved into Nationals Park in 2008, with the first regular-season game played on March 30, 2008. [([[https://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/nationals-park-washington-nationals|Stadium Journey]])]
+===== Stadium Opener Heroics =====
+Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off home run to win the very first game played at Nationals Park. [([[https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/facts-figures|MLB.com]])]
+===== Construction Cost =====
+Nationals Park cost approximately $693 million to construct. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Washington_Nationals|Kiddle]])]
+===== Green Architecture =====
+Nationals Park was the first major professional stadium in the United States to become LEED Silver Certified. [([[https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/facts-figures|MLB.com]])]
+===== Scenic View =====
+Fans sitting in the upper deck on the first base side of Nationals Park can see the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument. [([[https://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/nationals-park-washington-nationals|Stadium Journey]])]
+===== Stephen Strasburg Draft =====
+Stephen Strasburg was selected #1 overall in the 2009 MLB Draft and was considered the most hyped pitching prospect in history. [([[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/strasst01.shtml|Baseball Reference]])]
+===== Strasburg's Debut =====
+In his major league debut in 2010, Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 batters and issued zero walks. [([[https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/08/stephen-strasburg-debut-nationals-pirates|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== Debut Record =====
+Strasburg's 14 strikeouts set a franchise record for a debut and generated a high Game Score of 75. [([[https://www.actasports.com/stephen-strasburgs-debut/|ACTA Sports]])]
+===== Bryce Harper Rookie =====
+Bryce Harper was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2012. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Washington-Nationals|Britannica]])]
+===== Unanimous MVP =====
+In 2015, Bryce Harper became the youngest player in MLB history to win the MVP award unanimously. [([[https://usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/washington_nationals_trivia.html|Useful Trivia]])]
+===== Max Scherzer No-Hitters =====
+Pitcher Max Scherzer threw two no-hitters for the Nationals during the 2015 season alone. [([[https://districtondeck.com/2021/04/17/washington-nationals-max-scherzer-dominating-team-pitching-records/|District on Deck]])]
+===== Passing Cy Young =====
+While playing for Washington, Max Scherzer passed legendary pitcher Cy Young on the all-time strikeout list. [([[https://districtondeck.com/2021/04/17/washington-nationals-max-scherzer-dominating-team-pitching-records/|District on Deck]])]
+===== Scherzer Stats =====
+Max Scherzer recorded 1,610 strikeouts during his tenure with the Nationals. [([[https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/max-scherzer-stats-with-the-nationals|StatMuse]])]
+===== Presidents Race =====
+A popular mid-game tradition is the "Presidents Race," featuring mascots of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. [([[https://www.historyassociates.com/blog/presidents-race|History Associates]])]
+===== Teddy's Streak =====
+Racing President "Teddy" lost every single race from the tradition's start in 2006 until finally winning in October 2012. [([[https://letteddywin.com/presidents-race-facts/|Let Teddy Win]])]
+===== Adding Taft =====
+William Howard Taft was added as a racing president character in 2013. [([[https://letteddywin.com/presidents-race-facts/|Let Teddy Win]])]
+===== Retirements =====
+The "visiting" presidents like Coolidge and Hoover were retired to the team's spring training facility in Florida. [([[https://letteddywin.com/presidents-race-facts/|Let Teddy Win]])]
+===== Executive Leadership =====
+Stan Kasten served as the team's president after the franchise was sold by MLB to the Lerner family. [([[https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=mlb-washington-nationals-trivia|ProProfs]])]
+===== Ownership =====
+The team is principally owned by the Lerner family, prominent real estate developers in the D.C. area. [([[https://www.forbes.com/teams/washington-nationals/|Forbes]])]
+===== 2019 World Series =====
+The Washington Nationals won their first World Series championship in 2019 by defeating the Houston Astros. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Washington-Nationals|Britannica]])]
+===== Long Drought =====
+The 2019 victory broke an 84-year championship drought for Washington D.C., the last title having been won by the Senators in 1924. [([[https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/mlb/world-series/10-things-to-know-about-the-2019-world-series/95-90d98410-66e3-4d64-a63e-257850a9b5f9|WKYC]])]
+===== Rough Start =====
+The 2019 championship team began their season with a dismal 19-31 record in late May. [([[https://www.newsweek.com/washington-nationals-win-bizarre-wacky-improbable-2019-world-series-6-2-over-houston-astros-1468962|Newsweek]])]
+===== Comeback History =====
+Their 19-31 start is the worst 50-game start for any team that eventually won the World Series. [([[https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/31/crazy-stats-that-define-nationals-world-series-title/|Washington Post]])]
+===== Road Warriors =====
+In the 2019 World Series, the visiting team won all seven games, the first time this has happened in major North American sports history. [([[https://www.newsweek.com/washington-nationals-win-bizarre-wacky-improbable-2019-world-series-6-2-over-houston-astros-1468962|Newsweek]])]
+===== Strasburg MVP =====
+Stephen Strasburg was named the 2019 World Series MVP after winning both of his starts against Houston. [([[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/strasst01.shtml|Baseball Reference]])]
+===== Perfect Postseason =====
+Stephen Strasburg became the first pitcher in MLB history to finish a single postseason with a 5-0 record. [([[https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/31/crazy-stats-that-define-nationals-world-series-title/|Washington Post]])]
+===== Age Record =====
+In the 2019 World Series, Juan Soto became the youngest player ever to hit a home run and steal a base in the same game. [([[https://www.mlb.com/news/world-series-game-1-facts-and-figures|MLB.com]])]
+===== Navy Blue Luck =====
+The team wore their navy blue alternate jerseys for all four of their World Series wins in 2019, considering them lucky. [([[https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/mlb/world-series/10-things-to-know-about-the-2019-world-series/95-90d98410-66e3-4d64-a63e-257850a9b5f9|WKYC]])]
+===== Elimination Kings =====
+The 2019 Nationals are the only team in history to win three winner-take-all elimination games in a single postseason. [([[https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/31/crazy-stats-that-define-nationals-world-series-title/|Washington Post]])]
+===== NLCS Sweep =====
+On their way to the title, the Nationals swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2019 National League Championship Series. [([[https://www.newsweek.com/washington-nationals-win-bizarre-wacky-improbable-2019-world-series-6-2-over-houston-astros-1468962|Newsweek]])]
+===== Martinez Health =====
+Manager Dave Martinez underwent a heart procedure during the 2019 season but returned to lead the team to the championship. [([[https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/10/24/dave-martinez-nationals-heart-procedure|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== Wild Card Path =====
+The Nationals entered the 2019 playoffs as a Wild Card team, one of the few to win the World Series from that position. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Washington-Nationals|Britannica]])]
+===== Long Wait =====
+The franchise played 50 full seasons combined as the Expos and Nationals before winning its first pennant. [([[https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/mlb/world-series/10-things-to-know-about-the-2019-world-series/95-90d98410-66e3-4d64-a63e-257850a9b5f9|WKYC]])]
+===== Radio Call =====
+Broadcaster Charlie Slowes is famous for his signature home run call: "Bang! Zoom! ... That ball is gone!" [([[https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=mlb-washington-nationals-trivia|ProProfs]])]
+===== Cherry Blossoms =====
+The Nationals' "City Connect" uniforms feature cherry blossom petals, paying homage to the iconic D.C. trees. [([[https://news.sportslogos.net/2022/03/29/washington-nationals-bloom-with-new-cherry-blossom-city-connect-uniforms/baseball/|SportsLogos.net]])]

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