Baseball has a long and storied history in the United States, with many cities boasting their own beloved teams. Washington, D.C. is no exception, although the city’s relationship with the sport has been a bit more tumultuous and confusing than most.
The first professional baseball team in Washington, D.C. was the Washington Nationals, who played in the National Association in 1871 and then the National League from 1872-1875. However, the team folded after the 1875 season, leaving the city without a professional baseball team for nearly a decade.
In 1886, the Washington Nationals were revived as a charter member of the American Association. The team had moderate success in the league before it folded in 1889. The city once again found itself without a professional baseball team.
In 1901, Washington, D.C. was awarded an expansion team in the newly formed American League, which was named the Washington Senators. The team struggled for many years, often finishing near the bottom of the league standings. However, in 1924, the Senators won their first and only World Series championship, defeating the New York Giants in a thrilling seven-game series.
The Senators continued to play in Washington until 1960, when the team moved to Minneapolis and became the Minnesota Twins. In 1961, Washington was awarded another expansion team in the American League, also named the Washington Senators. Unfortunately, this team fared no better than its predecessor, consistently finishing at or near the bottom of the league standings.
In 1971, the team moved to Arlington, Texas and became the Texas Rangers, leaving Washington, D.C. without a professional baseball team once again. It wasn’t until 2005 that baseball returned to the nation’s capital, when the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington and became the Washington Nationals.
The Nationals have enjoyed success in recent years, winning the National League East division multiple times and making several playoff appearances. In 2019, the team won its first World Series championship since the 1924 Senators.
Despite the confusing and tumultuous history of baseball in Washington, D.C., the city has a rich tradition of baseball and a dedicated fan base. The Nationals continue to be a source of pride for the city, and baseball remains an important part of the sports landscape in the nation’s capital.