Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team in Washington, D.C., playing at Nationals Park.
Contents28 sections
Key facts
1968Montreal gains a franchise
On May 27, the National League announced its Montreal expansion franchise. Charles Bronfman led the investment group financing the Montreal Expos.[1]
1969The Expos debut
The Expos beat the Mets 11–10 on April 8. Six days later, Jarry Park hosted the first major-league regular-season game outside the United States, an 8–7 win over the Cardinals.[2]
1977Olympic Stadium
The club left Jarry Park for Olympic Stadium, built for the 1976 Olympics.[1]
1981Montreal’s lone postseason
The second-half division champions eliminated Philadelphia, but Rick Monday’s homer for the Dodgers decided Game 5 of the NLCS against Montreal.[2]
1991Martínez’s perfect game
Dennis Martínez threw the franchise’s first perfect game against the Dodgers on July 28, winning 2–0.[3]
1994A strike ends a leading season
Montreal led the majors at 74–40 when the strike canceled the rest of the season and the World Series.[2]
1999–2002Loria and league ownership
Jeffrey Loria replaced Claude Brochu as managing partner in 1999. In 2002, he sold the Expos to an MLB-backed group for $120 million and purchased the Marlins.[1]
2003–2004Puerto Rico home dates
Under MLB ownership, the Expos played part of their home schedule in San Juan.[1]
2004Relocation and a new name
MLB announced the Washington relocation plan in September; the Washington Nationals name was unveiled on November 22.[4]
2005Washington’s first season
Playing at RFK Stadium, the Nationals finished 81–81 in their first Washington season.[2]
2006The Lerners buy in
The Lerners paid $450 million for the club.[5]
2008Nationals Park opens
Nationals Park opened near the Anacostia River. Water-saving fixtures, recycled materials and efficient lighting helped it become the first professional stadium in the United States certified LEED Silver.[6]
2010Strasburg’s debut
Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 without a walk and earned the win against Pittsburgh in his major-league debut on June 8.[4]
2012–2017Four division titles
Washington won the National League East in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Its first postseason since relocation ended in Game 5 of the 2012 Division Series against St. Louis.[4]
2015Harper wins MVP
Bryce Harper unanimously won the National League MVP award.[4]
2016Scherzer strikes out 20
Max Scherzer struck out 20 Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball club in Detroit, Michigan.Open the full entry in a nine-inning complete game, winning 3–2.[3]
2018Mark Lerner takes over
Mark Lerner assumed control of the team from his father, Ted.[7]
2019First World Series championship
In its first World Series, Washington won a championship in which the visiting team won all seven games. Stephen Strasburg won the crucial sixth game, and Howie Kendrick hit the go-ahead homer in Game 7.[8]
The deciding game ended 6–2; Strasburg was World Series MVP.[9]
2021Two stars are traded
Scherzer and Trea Turner were traded to the Dodgers.[10]
2022Trading Soto
Soto and Josh Bell went to San Diego for six players.[11]
2023Ted Lerner dies
Former controlling owner Ted Lerner died in February, aged 97.[7]
2024The family keeps the club
After exploring a sale from 2022, the Lerner family announced it would keep the team.[7]
2025Toboni takes charge
Paul Toboni became president of baseball operations.[12]
November 2025Butera is introduced
Blake Butera was introduced as manager.[13]
2026Season finish
Washington finished 77–85 and missed the playoffs.[14]
Home ballpark
Nationals Park stands in Washington’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Its glass-and-steel facade and open spaces connect the ballpark to its riverside urban setting.[6]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Washington Nationals: Official website: https://www.mlb.com/nationals (opens in a new window).[15]
Washington Nationals: X: https://x.com/Nationals (opens in a new window).[16]
Washington Nationals: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationals (opens in a new window).[17]
Washington Nationals: YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/@nationals (opens in a new window).[18]
Sources
- Montreal Expos team ownership history (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals Team History (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals Starting Nine (opens in a new window)
- 2018 Washington Nationals Media Guide (opens in a new window)
- Lerner family no longer pursuing sale of Nationals at this time (opens in a new window)
- Nationals Park (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals are no longer for sale, principal owner Mark Lerner says (opens in a new window)
- Story of incredible Nationals season told in Autumn Glory (opens in a new window)
- Treasures from 2019 World Series Headed Home to Cooperstown (opens in a new window)
- Dodgers acquire three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and All-Star Trea Turner (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals Acquire Six Players In Exchange For Juan Soto And Josh Bell (opens in a new window)
- Toboni ready to embrace the challenge in new role with Nats (opens in a new window)
- Nationals introduce Butera as MLB youngest manager in over 50 years (opens in a new window)
- 2026 Nationals Standings and Record (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals official website (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals — x (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals — instagram (opens in a new window)
- Washington Nationals — youtube (opens in a new window)