Washington Nationals facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Washington Nationals
2025 Washington Nationals season
Established in 1969 Based in Washington, D.C. since 2005
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
National League (1969–present) East Division (1969–present)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	11 42
Colors
Scarlet red, navy blue, white
Name
Washington Nationals (2005–present) Montreal Expos (1969–2004)
Other nicknames
Nats
Ballpark
Nationals Park (2008–present) Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (2005–2007) Olympic Stadium (1977–2004) Jarry Park Stadium (1969–1976)
Major league titles
World Series titles (1)	2019
NL Pennants (1)	2019
NL East Division titles (5)	1981 2012 2014 2016 2017
Wild card berths (1)	2019
Front office
Principal owner(s)	Mark Lerner
General manager	Mike DeBartolo (interim)
Manager	Miguel Cairo (interim)
Mascot(s)	Screech

The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team located in Washington, D.C.. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) East Division. Their home games are held at Nationals Park, which is near the Anacostia River.

The Nationals are the eighth major league baseball team to be based in Washington, D.C. The team started in 1969 as the Montreal Expos as part of a league expansion. After some changes, MLB decided to move the Expos to a new city. In 2004, Washington, D.C., was chosen, and the team became the Nationals in 2005. This was the first time an MLB team moved since 1971.

After moving to Washington, the team had some tough years. But in the 2010s, they became very successful. They picked talented players like Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in the MLB draft. The Nationals made it to the playoffs for the first time in 2012. They won their division again in 2014, 2016, and 2017. In 2019, they reached the World Series as a Wild Card team. They beat the Houston Astros in seven games to win their first championship!

As of the end of the 2024 season, the team's overall record is 4,265 wins and 4,569 losses. Since moving to Washington, D.C., their record is 1,510 wins and 1,626 losses.

Team History

Baseball in Washington, D.C.

Many baseball teams played in Washington, D.C., in the past. Some of these teams were also called the Nationals. The first major league team named Washington Nationals played in 1884. Another team with the same name played in the National League from 1886 to 1889.

Washington Senators Teams

President Richard Nixon at the Washington Senators' opening game at RFK Stadium, 1969.

The Washington Statesmen played in 1891 before becoming the Senators. The Washington Senators played in the National League from 1892 to 1899. Then, a new Washington Senators team started in 1901. This team was officially called the Washington Nationals from 1905 to 1955.

The first American League Senators team moved to Minneapolis in 1960 and became the Minnesota Twins. MLB then gave Washington a new team, the second American League Senators team. This team started in 1961 but moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1971. They became the Texas Rangers.

Montreal Expos Era

The Montreal Expos team was created in 1969. They were one of four new teams added to Major League Baseball that year. Based in Montreal, the Expos were the first MLB team in Canada. They were named after the Expo 67 World's Fair.

The Expos first played at Jarry Park. In their first season, they lost 110 games. The team struggled for their first ten years. In 1977, the Expos moved into Olympic Stadium. This stadium was built for the 1976 Summer Olympics.

In 1979, the team won 95 games, their best record yet. The Expos had many young, talented players in the 1980s. These included Gary Carter, Tim Raines, and Andre Dawson. In 1981, the team won its only division championship. They lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.

The Expos were usually in the middle of their division during the 1980s. In 1991, the team was sold to new owners. In 1992, Felipe Alou became the first Dominican-born manager in MLB history. In 1994, the Expos had the best record in baseball. But the season ended early because of a strike. After 1994, the team started selling its best players. Fan support for the team went down.

In 1999, Jeffrey Loria bought the team. He could not get money to build a new stadium. He also failed to get TV or radio deals for the 2000 season. This meant fewer people could watch or listen to the games.

Moving to Washington, D.C.

After the 2001 season, MLB thought about getting rid of the Expos team. This plan did not happen. So, MLB started looking for a new city for the Expos. Many cities were considered, including Oklahoma City, Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. Washington, D.C., became a top choice.

On September 29, 2004, MLB announced that the Expos would move to Washington, D.C. They would start playing there in the 2005 season. This brought professional baseball back to the U.S. capital. On December 3, MLB team owners approved the move.

Some people wanted to call the team the Senators again. But the name Nationals was chosen instead. This name was used by an earlier Washington team. Also, the Texas Rangers still owned the rights to the Senators name.

Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony A. Williams wanted the name "Washington Grays." This would honor the Negro-league team Homestead Grays. On November 21, 2004, the team chose "Washington Nationals." They also announced their colors: red, white, and blue.

The Nationals played their first three seasons at RFK Stadium. This was until Nationals Park was ready. Nationals Park opened in 2008. The Nationals played their first home game there on March 30, 2008. U.S. President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch. Ryan Zimmerman hit a game-winning home run in that first game.

First Season and Growth

The Nationals played their first game on April 4, 2005. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 8–4. The team finished their first season with an 81–81 record. Their first draft pick as the Nationals was Ryan Zimmerman. He became one of the team's best players and played his whole career with the Nationals.

In 2006, Ted Lerner took over the team. He hired Stan Kasten to help rebuild the team. They focused on developing young players through the draft. The Nationals finished in last place many times from 2006 to 2010. But they were building a strong team for the future.

They drafted talented players like pitcher Stephen Strasburg in 2009 and outfielder Bryce Harper in 2010. In 2011, they signed Jayson Werth. With these new players, the Nationals made the playoffs and won their division in 2012. Bryce Harper was named NL Rookie of the Year. The Nationals lost in the playoffs to the St. Louis Cardinals.

After missing the playoffs in 2013, they won their division again in 2014. But they lost in the playoffs to the San Francisco Giants. In 2014, they got shortstop Trea Turner. In 2015, they signed pitcher Max Scherzer. That year, Bryce Harper had an amazing season and won the NL MVP award.

The team hired Dusty Baker as manager in 2016. They returned to the playoffs but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They won the NL East title in 2017 but were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs. After 2017, Dave Martinez became their new manager.

In 2018, the All-Star Game was held at Nationals Park. Young star Juan Soto had a great first season. The Nationals missed the playoffs in 2018. After that season, superstar Bryce Harper left the team to play for the Philadelphia Phillies.

2019 World Series Champions

The 2019 World Series victory parade.

The Nationals started the 2019 season with a tough record of 19 wins and 31 losses. Many people thought they had little chance of winning the World Series. But they turned their season around! They won 74 of their next 112 games. This gave them a 93-69 record and a spot in the 2019 National League Wild Card Game. They won that game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In the next round, the NLDS, the Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. This was the first time the team had ever gotten past this round. Then, they swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. This earned them their first National League championship.

The team then faced the Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series. The Nationals won game seven to become World Series champions! Stephen Strasburg was named the series MVP. It was the first World Series where the road team won all seven games. The Nationals won all five of their elimination games in the playoffs, coming from behind in each one. This was a first in MLB history.

After the World Series

After the 2019 season, star player Anthony Rendon left the team. The Nationals re-signed Stephen Strasburg to a big contract. However, injuries limited Strasburg's playing time, and he retired in 2024. The Nationals struggled in the 2020 season, which was shortened by the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, the team started rebuilding. They traded away key players like Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for younger prospects. Ryan Zimmerman, who had been with the team since 2005, retired after the 2021 season. This marked the end of an era for the Nationals.

On August 2, 2022, the Nationals traded 23-year-old superstar Juan Soto. He had turned down a huge contract offer. The Nationals received many promising young players in return. The team finished the 2022 season with the worst record in baseball.

However, the team started to improve in 2023. Young players like CJ Abrams and Josiah Gray helped them win 16 more games. Their group of young prospects also became much stronger. In 2024, the Nationals finished with the same record as 2023. Top prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews made their debuts. CJ Abrams was also selected for the 2024 All-Star Game.

In 2022, The Washington Post reported that the Lerner family, who owned the team, was thinking about selling it. Ted Lerner, the owner, passed away in February 2023. His son, Mark, had already taken over as the main owner in 2018.

Team Uniforms

Early Uniforms (2005–2008)

The Nationals' first home uniforms had the team name and numbers in red with gold and navy trim. They wore an all-red cap with a "curly W" logo. The road uniforms had the city name in navy with gold and red trim, paired with an all-navy "curly W" cap. The letters on these uniforms looked like a bridge. They also had a red alternate uniform with an interlocking "DC" logo.

Road Uniform Changes (2009–2010)

In 2009, the Nationals changed their road and red alternate uniforms. The road uniform now had the city name in a script style, without gold. The red alternate uniform featured the "curly W" logo.

“Curly W” Uniforms (2011–2023)

In 2011, the Nationals introduced new uniforms. Gold was removed, and the "curly W" logo became very important. It was on the home and red alternate uniforms. New caps were added, including a navy cap with a red brim.

Andrew Stevenson in the "Curly W" home uniform.

C. J. Abrams in the road uniform.

Víctor Robles in the "Curly W" red uniform.

Script "Nationals" Uniforms (2018–Present)

In 2018, the Nationals added a navy alternate uniform. It had the team's name in a script style. This navy uniform seemed to bring good luck in 2019, the year they won the World Series. In 2020, a white version of this script uniform was added.

Trea Turner in the script "Nationals" home uniform.

Juan Soto in the gold-accented alternate uniform.

Eric Thames in the script "Nationals" navy uniform.

Dominic Smith in the "City Connect" gray uniform.

Alex Call in the "Curly W" red uniform.

Starting in 2022, the white alternate uniform with the "Nationals" script became the main home uniform. In 2024, the road uniform was updated. The red "curly W" alternates were replaced by a white pullover uniform with navy sleeves. This new uniform has a "Capitol W" crest and a new sleeve patch. For the 2025 season, the red alternate uniform with the "Curly W" logo returned.

City Connect Uniforms

MLB created special "City Connect" uniforms for some teams. The Nationals' first version, released in 2022, honored Washington, D.C.'s cherry blossoms. It was dark gray with pink trim and cherry blossom designs. These uniforms were worn on Friday and Saturday home games until 2024, when they were retired.

Their second "City Connect" uniform was revealed in 2025. It is light blue and shows an outline of Washington, D.C.'s street grid. The cap and shoulder patch feature a "W" with an outline of the United States Capitol dome and two cherry blossoms.

Stars and Stripes Uniforms

In 2009, the Nationals introduced a navy alternate uniform for games around Independence Day. It featured the "interlocking DC" logo with a Stars and Stripes design. In 2011, this uniform was updated to feature the "curly W" in Stars and Stripes. In 2017, a white version of the "Stars and Stripes" uniform was released.

Alberto González in the original "DC Stars and Stripes" uniform.

Adam Eaton in the navy "W Stars and Stripes" uniform.

Fernando Rodney and Yan Gomes in the white "W Stars and Stripes" uniform.

Season Records

Bold means a playoff season, pennant, or championship.

Playoff Appearances

Team Personnel

Managers

Note: Updated through July 6, 2025.

Baseball Hall of Famers

Retired Numbers

Ryan Zimmerman 3B/1B Retired 2022

Jackie Robinson 2B Retired 1997

Baseball teams retire numbers to honor players who were very important. The Expos, before they moved, retired three numbers. One of these was Jackie Robinson's number 42, which is retired across all of Major League Baseball. After the team moved to Washington, D.C., most of the retired numbers were put back into use.

The Nationals retired Ryan Zimmerman's No. 11 on June 18, 2022. This was the first number retired by the Washington Nationals team.

Ring of Honor

On August 10, 2010, the Nationals started a "Ring of Honor" at Nationals Park. This honors members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who played important years for the Washington Nationals, the old Washington Senators teams, the Homestead Grays, or the Montreal Expos. Later, the team changed the rules. Now, anyone who has made a big contribution to baseball in Washington, D.C., can be included. Frank Howard was the first person honored under these new rules.

The Nationals try to honor the team's entire history, including its time in Montreal. Some fans appreciate this, while others prefer to focus only on the team's time in Washington. Former Expos player Tim Raines received a warm welcome when he was inducted in 2017. Some Montreal Expos fans are happy that the Nationals remember the Expos' history.

Josh Gibson, catcher.

Walter Johnson, starting pitcher.

Sam Rice, outfielder.

The Ring of Honor includes:

Stadium Attendance

RFK Stadium.

Spring Training

The Nationals hold their spring training in Florida. They play games there before the regular season starts. From 2005 to 2016, they trained at Space Coast Stadium. In 2017, they moved to a new facility in West Palm Beach. They share this facility with the Houston Astros. The stadium has changed names a few times, and is now called CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.

Minor League Teams

The Nationals have several minor league teams. These teams help develop young players for the main MLB team.

*: The Nationals started working with the Single-A Nationals in 2005.

Nationals Philanthropies

The Nationals Philanthropies is the team's charity group. It works with local groups to help children and families in the Washington area. The foundation has opened a youth baseball academy and a pediatric diabetes care center. They also give money to other local organizations.

In 2011, the foundation opened Miracle Field in Germantown, Maryland. This field helps children with physical challenges play sports safely. The field is made of a soft, cushioned turf. This makes it safe for kids in wheelchairs or with other needs.

Broadcasting Games

Mascots dressed as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln before a 2019 game. They race every mid-fourth inning of a home game.

You can listen to Nationals games on WJFK-FM (106.7 FM) "The Fan." Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler are the radio announcers. This station is part of a network of 19 radio stations. These stations cover parts of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Delaware.

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) shows all games that are not on national TV. Bob Carpenter has been the TV play-by-play announcer since 2006. Kevin Frandsen joined as the color analyst in 2022.

The Nationals' TV rights were tied to MASN because of a deal with the Baltimore Orioles. This caused some disagreements between the two teams. However, in 2025, the Orioles were sold to a new owner. This led to a new agreement, and the Nationals can now choose a different TV partner after 2025.

Past Broadcasters

• Charlie Slowes – radio (2005–present)
• Dave Jageler – radio (2006–present)
• Bob Carpenter – TV (2006–2025)
• Kevin Frandsen – TV (2022–present)

Team Rivalries

Baltimore Orioles

The Nationals have a rivalry with the nearby Baltimore Orioles. This is called the Beltway Series. The teams play each other twice a season, once in Baltimore and once in Washington. This rivalry is special because the two teams could even play against each other in the World Series.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Nationals also have a rivalry with the Philadelphia Phillies. This rivalry started when the team was still the Montreal Expos. The two teams often competed for the division title in the 1980s and 1990s. After the team moved to Washington, D.C., the rivalry grew stronger because the cities are close.

In the 2010s, the Nationals tried to keep Phillies fans from taking over their home games. In 2019, star player Bryce Harper left the Nationals to sign with the Phillies. This made the rivalry even more intense. The Nationals then won the 2019 World Series in the first year after Harper left.

See also

In Spanish: Washington Nationals para niños