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 (as Montreal Expos: 8, 10, 10, 30)
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
President of baseball operations	Mike Rizzo
General manager	Mike Rizzo
Manager	Dave Martinez
Mascot(s)	Screech

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

This team is the eighth major league baseball franchise to be based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals started in 1969 as the Montreal Expos. After some changes, MLB decided to move the team 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 faced some challenges. However, they became very successful in the 2010s. They picked talented players like Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in the MLB draft. The Nationals won their first division title in 2012 and continued to win their division in 2014, 2016, and 2017. In 2019, they made it to the 2019 World Series as a Wild Card team and won their first championship by defeating the Houston Astros.

Team History

Baseball in Washington, D.C.

Baseball has a long history in Washington, D.C. Several teams, including some called the Nationals, played in the city in the 1800s. The first Washington Nationals team in a major league played in 1884.

Later, the Washington Senators played in the National League from 1892 to 1899. Another Senators team, officially called the Washington Nationals from 1905 to 1955, played in the American League from 1901 to 1960. This team later moved to Minneapolis and became the Minnesota Twins.

MLB then gave Washington a new team, the second American League Senators franchise, which started playing in 1961. However, this team moved to Texas in 1971 and became the Texas Rangers.

President Richard Nixon at the Washington Senators' opening game with the New York Yankees at RFK Stadium, 1969

The Montreal Expos Era

The team we know today as the Washington Nationals started as the Montreal Expos in 1969. They were one of four new teams added to Major League Baseball that year. The Expos were the first MLB team in Canada. They were named after the Expo 67 World's Fair held in Montreal.

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. Two years later, they had a great season, winning 95 games. In 1981, the team won its only division championship. They lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

The team had many talented young players in the 1980s. These included Gary Carter, Tim Raines, and Andre Dawson. The Expos often finished in the middle of their division during this time.

In 1994, the Expos had the best record in all of Major League Baseball. However, the season was cut short by a players' strike. After this, the team started selling off its best players. Fan support for the team began to drop.

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 bought the Expos. They then started looking for a new city for the team. Many cities were considered, including Washington, D.C.

On September 29, 2004, MLB announced that the Expos would move to Washington, D.C., for the 2005 season. This brought professional baseball back to the U.S. capital. The other MLB team owners approved the move on December 3.

There was talk about naming the team the "Senators" again. However, the name "Nationals" was chosen instead. This name was used by an earlier Washington team. The city's mayor, Anthony A. Williams, wanted the name "Washington Grays." This would honor the Homestead Grays, a famous Negro-league team that played in Washington. On November 21, 2004, the team chose the name "Washington Nationals." They also announced their official colors: red, white, and blue.

Nationals versus the Cincinnati Reds in 2009 at Nationals Park

The Nationals played their first three seasons at RFK Stadium. Their new home, Nationals Park, was finished in 2008. The Nationals played their first 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 Seasons as the Nationals

The Nationals played their first game on April 4, 2005. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The team finished their first season with an 81-81 record, which is .500. Their first draft pick as the Nationals was Ryan Zimmerman. He became one of the team's best players and played his entire career with the Nationals.

Building a Winning Team (2000s and 2010s)

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 for several years from 2006 to 2010. But they were building a strong team. They drafted star players like pitcher Stephen Strasburg in 2009 and outfielder Bryce Harper in 2010. In 2011, they signed Jayson Werth.

In 2012, the Nationals made the playoffs for the first time. They won their division. Bryce Harper was named the National League 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. They were eliminated by the San Francisco Giants. In 2015, they signed star pitcher Max Scherzer. That year, Bryce Harper won the NL MVP award.

The team returned to the playoffs in 2016 and 2017. They won their division both years. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs each time. After the 2017 season, Dave Martinez became the team's manager.

In 2018, the All-Star Game was held at Nationals Park. Young star Juan Soto had a great first season. The Nationals did not make the playoffs in 2018. After that season, Bryce Harper left the team to play for the Philadelphia Phillies.

2019 World Series Champions

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 the team turned things around! They won 74 of their next 112 games. They finished the season with a 93-69 record.

This earned them a spot in the 2019 National League Wild Card Game, which they won. In the NLDS, they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was the first time the team had advanced past the first round of the playoffs. The Nationals then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. This gave them their first National League pennant.

Finally, the team defeated the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series. This brought their first World Series championship to Washington, D.C. Stephen Strasburg was named the World Series MVP. It was the first World Series where the road team won all seven games. The Nationals also won all five of their elimination games in the playoffs, coming from behind in each one.

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 his playing time, and he retired in 2024.

The Nationals struggled in the shortened 2020 season due to 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.

In 2022, the Nationals traded young superstar Juan Soto. This was a big move to get many talented young players for the future. The team finished with the worst record in baseball that year. However, they started to improve in 2023, winning more games. Young players like CJ Abrams and Josiah Gray showed promise. In 2024, top prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews made their debuts.

The Lerner family, who owned the team, explored selling it in 2022. Ted Lerner, the owner, passed away in 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 were red, gold, and navy. They had the team name and numbers in red. The road uniforms had the city name in navy. The team also had a red alternate uniform with an interlocking "DC" logo.

Ryan Zimmerman (left) in the original home uniform; Emilio Bonifácio (center) in the original road uniform; Nick Johnson (right) in the original alternate red uniform.

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. The red alternate uniform featured the "curly W" logo.

The "Curly W" Uniforms (2011–2023)

A new set of uniforms was introduced in 2011. The color gold was removed. The "curly W" logo became very important on the home and red alternate uniforms. New caps were also added.

Andrew Stevenson (2nd from right) in the "Curly W" home uniform; C. J. Abrams (2nd from left) in the road uniform; Víctor Robles (3rd from right) in the "Curly W" red uniform.

Script "Nationals" Uniforms (2018–Present)

In 2018, the Nationals added a navy alternate uniform. It had the team name in a script style. This navy uniform was lucky for them in 2019 when they won the World Series. In 2020, a white version of this uniform was added.

Starting in 2022, the white alternate uniform with the "Nationals" script became the main home uniform. In 2024, the road uniform was updated. A new white pullover uniform with navy sleeves was also added.

Trea Turner (left) in the script "Nationals" home uniform (chest numbers removed in 2024); Juan Soto (right) in the gold-accented alternate uniform in commemoration of their 2019 World Series championship; Eric Thames (3rd from left) in the script "Nationals" navy uniform (chest numbers removed in 2024); Dominic Smith (center) in the "City Connect" gray uniform.

City Connect Uniform

As part of a deal with Nike, the Nationals got special "City Connect" uniforms in 2022. These uniforms honored the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. They were dark gray with pink trim and cherry blossom designs. These uniforms were worn for some home games until 2024.

Stars and Stripes Alternates

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. The "curly W" logo was used with the Stars and Stripes design. In 2017, a white version of this uniform was released.

Alberto González (left) in the original "DC Stars and Stripes" uniform; Adam Eaton (center) in the navy "W Stars and Stripes" uniform; Fernando Rodney and Yan Gomes (right) in the white "W Stars and Stripes" uniform.

Season Records

The table below shows how the Washington Nationals have performed each season since 2005. It includes their wins, losses, and how they finished in their division.

Bold means a playoff season, pennant, or championship; italics means the season is still happening.

Playoff Appearances

The Nationals and their earlier form, the Montreal Expos, have made several playoff appearances.

3. ^↑ The wild-card game was first played in 2012. 

Team Personnel

Managers

Here are the managers who have led the Washington Nationals and their earlier form, the Montreal Expos.

Note: Updated through September 29, 2024.

Baseball Hall of Famers

Some players and managers who were part of the Expos or Nationals have been honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Retired Numbers

Teams retire numbers to honor special players. No one else on that team can wear that number again.

Ryan Zimmerman 3B/1B Retired 2022

Jackie Robinson 2B Retired 1997

The Montreal Expos retired three numbers for four players. They also retired Jackie Robinson's number 42, which is retired across all of Major League Baseball. When the team moved to Washington, D.C., the Expos' retired numbers (except 42) were put back into use.

The Nationals retired Ryan Zimmerman's number 11 on June 18, 2022. This was the first number retired by the Washington Nationals team.

Ring of Honor

The Nationals have a "Ring of Honor" at Nationals Park. It celebrates important people who have contributed to baseball in Washington, D.C. This includes players from the Nationals, the old Washington Senators teams, the Homestead Grays, and the Montreal Expos.

Josh Gibson, catcher

Walter Johnson, starting pitcher

Sam Rice, outfielder

Fan Attendance

This table shows how many fans attended Nationals games each season.

RFK Stadium

Spring Training

The Nationals hold their spring training in Florida. They play games there as part of the Grapefruit League. From 2005 to 2016, they trained at Space Coast Stadium. In 2017, they moved to a new facility in West Palm Beach, which they share with the Houston Astros. This stadium is now called CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.

Minor League Teams

The Nationals have several minor league teams where young players develop their skills.

Nationals Philanthropies

The Nationals Philanthropies is the team's charity. It works with local groups to help children and families in the Washington area. They have opened a youth baseball academy and a pediatric diabetes care center.

In 2011, they opened Miracle Field in Germantown, Maryland. This field is designed for children with physical or mental challenges. It has a soft, cushioned surface to keep everyone safe while playing.

Media Coverage

Mascots dressed as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln before a 2019 game against the Milwaukee Brewers. They compete in the Presidents 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 main radio announcers. This station is part of a larger network that broadcasts games across several states.

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) shows all the Nationals games that are not broadcast nationally. Bob Carpenter has been the TV play-by-play announcer since 2006.

Broadcasters

• Charlie Slowes – radio (2005–present)
• Dave Jageler – radio (2006–present)
• Bob Carpenter – TV (2006–present)
• 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 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. After the team moved to Washington, the rivalry grew because the cities are close.

The rivalry became even stronger in 2019 when star player Bryce Harper left the Nationals to sign with the Phillies. However, the Nationals went on to win the 2019 World Series that year, which was a big moment for the team.