History of Washington Nationals in Timeline
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) East Division. Their home games are played at Nationals Park, situated in the Navy Yard neighborhood along the Anacostia River.
1901: First American League Franchise Name Used
From 1901, the first American League franchise's official name was used.
1901: New Senators Franchise
In 1901, a new Washington Senators franchise was established as a charter member of the American League.
1901: Original Washington Senators
The Washington Nationals' "Ring of Honor" honors National Baseball Hall of Fame members who played for the original Washington Senators (1901-1960).
1905: Senators Officially Named Nationals
From 1905 to 1955, the Washington Senators were officially named the Washington Nationals.
1912: Washington Senators Team Formed
In 1912, another Washington Senators team formed as part of the United States Baseball League, which folded after a month.
1929: Homestead Grays
In 1929, the Negro-league team Homestead Grays was based in Pittsburgh.
1950: Homestead Grays
Until 1950, the Negro-league team Homestead Grays was based in Pittsburgh.
1955: End of Nationals Name
In 1955, the Washington Senators were officially named the Washington Nationals until this year.
1956: Inspiration from 1956 Washington Senators
The 2025 "City Connect" uniform features design elements resembling the block "W" worn by the 1956 Washington Senators.
1956: First American League Franchise Name Used
Until 1956, the first American League franchise's official name was used.
1960: Senators Move to Minneapolis
After the 1960 season, the first American League Senators franchise moved to Minneapolis and became the Minnesota Twins.
1960: Original Washington Senators
The Washington Nationals' "Ring of Honor" honors National Baseball Hall of Fame members who played for the original Washington Senators (1901-1960).
1961: Expansion Team Awarded
In 1961, MLB awarded Washington an expansion team, the second American League Senators franchise.
1961: Expansion Washington Senators
The Washington Nationals' "Ring of Honor" honors National Baseball Hall of Fame members who played for the expansion Washington Senators (1961-1971).
1969: Montreal Expos Founded
In 1969, the Montreal Expos franchise was founded as part of a four-team expansion in MLB.
1971: Senators Move to Texas
After the 1971 season, the second American League Senators franchise moved to Arlington, Texas, and became the Texas Rangers.
1971: Expansion Washington Senators
The Washington Nationals' "Ring of Honor" honors National Baseball Hall of Fame members who played for the expansion Washington Senators (1961-1971).
1981: Division Win
In the strike-split 1981 season, the Expos won their division.
1991: Bronfman Sells Team
In 1991, Charles Bronfman sold the Montreal Expos to a consortium of owners.
1994: Season Interrupted
In 1994, the Expos had the best record in the major leagues until the MLB strike forced the cancellation of the remainder of the season.
1997: Jackie Robinson's number retired throughout MLB
In 1997, Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired throughout all Major League Baseball.
1999: Loria Buys Team
In 1999, Claude Brochu sold control of the Montreal Expos to Jeffrey Loria.
2000: Media Coverage Reduced
In 2000, Jeffrey Loria failed to secure funding for a new ballpark and did not reach agreement on television or English radio broadcast contracts, reducing the Expos' media coverage.
November 2001: MLB Votes to Contract
In November 2001, Major League Baseball's owners voted 28-2 to contract the league by two teams, reportedly the Expos and the Minnesota Twins.
2001: Tim Raines plays one game in Baltimore
Former Expo Tim Raines played one game in Baltimore with his son at the end of 2001, which was the closest he had ever played baseball to Washington D.C. before.
August 2002: Collective Bargaining Agreement
In August 2002, the collective bargaining agreement signed with the Major League Baseball Players Association prohibited contraction until the end of the contract in 2006.
September 29, 2004: Expos to Move to Washington, D.C.
On September 29, 2004, MLB announced that the Montreal Expos would move to Washington, D.C., for the 2005 season.
November 21, 2004: Team Name Chosen
On November 21, 2004, the team's management chose the name "Washington Nationals".
2004: MLB chooses Washington, D.C.
In 2004, MLB owners selected Washington, D.C., as the new home for the Montreal Expos.
April 4, 2005: First Game
On April 4, 2005, the Washington Nationals played their first game, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies 8–4.
2005: Ryan Zimmerman's Inaugural Season
In 2005, Ryan Zimmerman began playing for the Nationals in their inaugural season, becoming the longtime face of the franchise.
2005: Expos Move to Washington, D.C.
In 2005, the Expos relocated to Washington, D.C., marking the return of professional baseball to the nation's capital.
2005: Nationals Name Chosen
In 2005, when the Expos moved to Washington, the name Nationals was chosen, reviving the first American League franchise's official name, used from 1901 to 1956.
2006: Contraction off the Agenda
By 2006, the Expos had become the Washington Nationals, and the Twins had made sufficient progress towards a new stadium, so contraction was no longer on the agenda.
2006: Ted Lerner Takes Over
In mid-2006, Ted Lerner took over the club and hired Stan Kasten as team president, initiating a long-range rebuilding plan.
March 30, 2008: First Home Game
On March 30, 2008, the Nationals played their first home game at Nationals Park, with President George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch.
July 2008: Nationals' television ratings among the worst in the National League
In July 2008, the Nationals' television ratings were among the worst in the National League, despite being in the midst of a season in which they finished with the worst record in Major League Baseball.
2009: New road and alternate uniforms unveiled
For the 2009 season, the Nationals introduced a new road uniform with a script rendition of the city name and a red alternate uniform with the "curly W" logo. The "DC" sleeve patch was updated.
2009: Rizzo Takes Over
In 2009, Mike Rizzo took over as the National's general manager.
2009: Mike Rizzo hired as General Manager
In 2009, Mike Rizzo was hired as General Manager for the Nationals.
2009: Strasburg Drafted
In 2009, the Nationals drafted pitcher Stephen Strasburg as the first-overall pick.
2009: Navy alternate uniform for Independence Day week unveiled
In 2009, the Nationals introduced a navy alternate uniform for games during Independence Day week, featuring the "interlocking DC" logo rendered in the Stars and Stripes motif.
August 10, 2010: Ring of Honor unveiled
On August 10, 2010, the Nationals unveiled a "Ring of Honor" at Nationals Park to honor members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who had played for various Washington and Montreal baseball teams.
September 2010: Rob Dibble fired and Ray Knight filled in as color analyst
In September 2010, Rob Dibble was fired as the Nationals' TV color analyst after criticizing Stephen Strasburg for not pitching while injured. Ray Knight filled in as color analyst following Dibble's termination.
2010: Harper Drafted
In 2010, the Nationals drafted Bryce Harper as the first-overall pick.
August 1, 2011: Miracle Field formally opened
On August 1, 2011, the Nationals' foundation, in partnership with local organizations, formally opened Miracle Field in Germantown, Maryland. This was part of an effort to encourage athletic activity in children with mental and/or physical challenges, featuring a unique cushioned synthetic turf surface for safety.
2011: Independence Day uniform tweaked
In 2011, the Independence Day uniform was tweaked to feature the "curly W" in Stars and Stripes, updated logos, and the removal of gold accents.
2011: Rendon Drafted
In 2011, the Nationals drafted infielder Anthony Rendon as their sixth-overall pick.
2011: New uniform set unveiled
In 2011, the Nationals unveiled a new uniform set that emphasized the "curly W" logo and eliminated gold accents. The sleeve patch was updated.
2012: First Playoff Berth and Division Title
In 2012, the Nationals clinched their first playoff berth and first division title.
2012: First Playoff Berth
In 2012, the Washington Nationals secured their first playoff berth and first division title.
2013: Missed Playoffs
After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Nationals hired Matt Williams as manager.
2013: Mike Rizzo becomes President of Baseball Operations
In 2013, Mike Rizzo also took on the role of President of Baseball Operations.
2013: New red cap added
In 2013, a new red cap with a navy brim was added for home games with the red alternates.
2014: Second Division Title
In 2014, the Nationals rebounded to win their second division title and acquired Trea Turner in a trade with the San Diego Padres.
2015: Scherzer Signs and Harper Wins MVP
In 2015, the Nationals signed Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper won the NL MVP award, but the team missed the playoffs.
August 2016: Hall of Fame criterion dropped for Ring of Honor
In August 2016, the Nationals dropped the requirement that inductees to the Ring of Honor be members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Frank Howard was the first inductee under the revised criteria.
2016: Nationals prime-time television ratings 15th highest among U.S. MLB teams
By 2016, the Nationals′ prime-time television ratings were 15th highest among the 29 U.S. MLB teams, reflecting their consistent success on the field.
2016: Baker Hired
In 2016, the Nationals hired Dusty Baker as manager and returned to the playoffs.
2016: Third Division Title
In 2016, the Nationals won the National League East for the third time.
2016: Cap design updated for Independence Day uniform
In 2016, the road navy cap for the Independence Day uniform was replaced with a similar design, featuring the "curly W" in the Stars and Stripes.
February 28, 2017: Nationals played first Grapefruit League game at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
On February 28, 2017, the Nationals played their first Grapefruit League game at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, a new facility shared with the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach, Florida, marking their move from Space Coast Stadium.
August 28, 2017: Tim Raines inducted into Ring of Honor
On August 28, 2017, Tim Raines was inducted into the Nationals' Ring of Honor, receiving a warm reception from fans, despite never having visited Washington, D.C., before.
2017: White version of Stars and Stripes alternate released
In 2017, a white version of the "Stars and Stripes" alternate was released, paired with the navy-brimmed red cap featuring the "curly W" in Stars and Stripes.
2017: Nationals prime-time television ratings rose to 12th among U.S. MLB teams
In 2017, the Nationals prime-time television ratings rose to 12th highest among the 29 U.S. MLB teams.
2017: NL East Title
In 2017, the Nationals won the NL East title but were eliminated in the NLDS.
2017: Fourth Division Title
In 2017, the Nationals won the National League East for the fourth time.
February 16, 2018: Ballpark of the Palm Beaches renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
On February 16, 2018, the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. This followed a 12-year naming rights deal between the Nationals and Astros with FITTEAM, an event brand partnership and organic products firm.
September 8, 2018: Jayson Werth inducted into Ring of Honor
On September 8, 2018, former outfielder Jayson Werth was inducted into the Nationals Ring of Honor during a ceremony at Nationals Park. Werth, who played for the Nationals from 2011 to 2017, became the first "true" National to be inducted, based specifically on his career as a National.
2018: Nationals' television ratings declined
For the 2018 season, the Nationals' television ratings declined to 18th among the 29 U.S. teams.
2018: MASN ends syndication deal
In 2018, MASN did not continue its syndication deal for simulcasting 20 games on an over-the-air television station in Washington, which had been in place since 2009.
2018: Mark Lerner becomes public-facing principal owner
In 2018, Mark Lerner became the public-facing principal owner of the Nationals, although Ted Lerner retained his full interest in team decisions.
2018: Navy alternate uniform released
In 2018, the Nationals released a navy alternate uniform featuring a script rendition of the team's name in white with red trim and red numbers.
July 6, 2019: Nationals wear Expos throwback jerseys
On July 6, 2019, the Nationals wore Expos throwback jerseys, and catcher Yan Gomes wore his usual number 10, even though the number was retired by the Expos for Andre Dawson and Rusty Staub.
2019: Anthony Rendon leaves, Strasburg re-signs
In 2019, Anthony Rendon left in free agency to join the Los Angeles Angels. Stephen Strasburg re-signed with the Nationals, securing a seven-year, $245 million deal.
2019: World Series Championship
In 2019, after a poor start, the Nationals finished with a 93-69 record, won the Wild Card Game, defeated the Dodgers and Cardinals, and ultimately won the World Series against the Houston Astros.
2019: Bryce Harper signs with the Phillies
In 2019, star-outfielder Bryce Harper further fueled tensions between the Nationals and Phillies after signing a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies as a free agent.
2019: Independence Day uniform usage updated
In 2019, the Independence Day uniform was no longer exclusively worn on Independence Day week.
2019: 2019 Championship Team
In 2019, the Nationals were a championship team from which Juan Soto was an integral player.
2020: Gold-accented uniforms worn
For most of the 2020 season, the Nationals wore gold-accented versions of the new white uniforms to celebrate their World Series championship. The script white alternates debuted on the final regular season home game. The Nationals did not wear their home and red alternate "curly W" uniforms throughout that shortened season.
2020: White version of navy alternate added
In 2020, a white version of the navy alternate uniform was added, featuring the script version of the team name in navy with red trim. A pair of white-paneled and red-brimmed alternate caps were unveiled, but only the "Capitol W" cap was used.
2020: Nationals struggle in shortened season
In 2020, the Nationals struggled during the shortened 60-game season due to the coronavirus pandemic, finishing with a 26-34 record and missing the playoffs.
2021: Nationals start rebuilding process
In 2021, after a disappointing start to the season, the Nationals traded Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, and other starting players for prospects, marking the start of a rebuilding process. Ryan Zimmerman also retired after the 2021 season.
2021: Farm system ranking 30th
In 2021, the Nationals' farm system ranking was 30th.
2021: White alternates paired with curly W cap
In 2021, the white alternates were also paired with the primary red "curly W" cap, though the alternate Capitol cap was still used occasionally.
January 2022: Kevin Frandsen hired as color analyst
In January 2022, Kevin Frandsen was hired as the color analyst for the Nationals' TV broadcasts on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).
June 18, 2022: Ryan Zimmerman's number retired
On June 18, 2022, the Nationals retired Ryan Zimmerman's No. 11, marking the first number retired by the Nationals.
August 2, 2022: Juan Soto Traded to Padres
On August 2, 2022, Juan Soto was traded to the San Diego Padres after turning down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension. The Nationals received a large prospect haul in return.
2022: Lerner family explores ownership restructuring
In 2022, The Washington Post reported that the Lerner family was exploring a restructuring of the team's ownership, possibly selling the team outright.
2022: City Connect uniforms unveiled
In 2022, the Nationals' "City Connect" uniforms, paying homage to the cherry blossoms, were unveiled. These uniforms had a dark gray base with pink trim and printed cherry blossoms.
2022: Farm system ranking improves
In 2022, the Nationals' farm system ranking improved to 22nd after being 30th entering 2021.
2022: White alternate uniform becomes primary home uniform
Starting in 2022, the white alternate uniform with the "Nationals" script became the primary home uniform, replacing the white "curly W" uniform.
February 13, 2023: Ted Lerner dies
On February 13, 2023, Ted Lerner died from pneumonia complications. His son Mark had become the public-facing principal owner in 2018.
2023: Retired Expos numbers remain in circulation
As of 2023, the Montreal Expos' retired numbers (except Jackie Robinson's 42) remain in circulation following the move to Washington, D.C.
2023: Nationals end season with 71-91 record
In 2023, The Nationals ended the season with a 71-91 record.
2023: Team improves with young players
In 2023, the Nationals improved by 16 wins, finishing 71-91, led by young players like CJ Abrams and Josiah Gray. The farm system ranking was 13th.
February 2024: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches renamed CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
In February 2024, FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was renamed CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. This name change came after a multi-year naming rights deal between the two teams and American rapper and singer-songwriter Travis Scott's CACTI Hard Seltzer company.
2024: City Connect uniforms retired
After the 2024 season, the cherry blossom-themed "City Connect" uniforms were retired.
2024: Franchise Record
As of the end of the 2024 season, the franchise's overall win–loss record is 4,265–4,569–4 (.483).
2024: Road uniform updated
In 2024, the Nationals updated their road uniform, featuring a block "Washington" lettering. They replaced the red "curly W" alternates with an alternate white pullover uniform. Chest numbers were removed from the home and alternate navy uniforms.
2024: Farm system ranking 16th
In 2024, the Nationals' farm system ranking was 16th.
2024: Sale of Orioles leads to softening of relations with Nationals
In 2024, the sale of the Baltimore Orioles to David Rubenstein led to a softening of relations between the Orioles and Nationals, which had previously been strained over television rights.
April 5, 2025: 2005 Washington Nationals inducted into Ring of Honor
On April 5, 2025, the 2005 Washington Nationals team was inducted into the Ring of Honor in a pregame ceremony to honor the 20th anniversary season of Washington Nationals baseball. Five members of the 2005 team — Jamey Carroll, Chad Cordero, John Patterson, Brian Schneider, and Ryan Zimmerman — participated in the ceremony.
July 6, 2025: Martinez and Rizzo fired
On July 6, 2025, the Nationals fired manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo due to a disappointing first half of the season. Miguel Cairo and Mike DeBartolo were named as the interim replacements.
July 24, 2025: Information updated through July 24, 2025
The information was updated through July 24, 2025.
2025: Red alternate uniform returns
Ahead of the 2025 season, the Nationals brought back the red alternate uniform with the "Curly W" logo, but without piping. The "Capitol W" white alternates were retired due to Nike's "4+1" uniform rule.
2025: Second City Connect uniform unveiled
In 2025, the Nationals' second "City Connect" uniform was unveiled. The light blue uniform features a white outline of Washington, D.C.'s street grid and an interlocking "DC" on the chest.
2025: Athletics Relocation
In 2025, the Oakland Athletics relocated to Sacramento in advance of their ultimately planned move to the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
2025: Litigation settled and new MASN contract signed
Just before the beginning of the 2025 season, the Nationals, Orioles, and MLB announced that litigation over television rights fees had been settled and the agreement dissolved. MASN then signed a new one-year contract for 2025, after which the Nationals could sell their rights to another local broadcaster.
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