History of Washington Nationals in Timeline

The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the National League East Division in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Nationals play their home games at Nationals Park, situated in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Southeast D.C. along the Anacostia River.

1901: First American League Franchise

From 1901, the first American League franchise's official name was Washington Nationals.

1901: New Washington Senators Franchise

In 1901, a new Washington Senators franchise was established as a charter member of the American League.

1901: Reference to Original Washington Senators

The Nationals Ring of Honor honors members who played for the original Washington Senators from 1901-1960.

1905: Senators Officially Named Nationals

From 1905, the Washington Senators franchise was officially named the Washington Nationals.

1912: Washington Senators Team Formed in United States Baseball League

In 1912, another Washington Senators team formed as one of eight teams of the United States Baseball League, but the league and team folded after just over a month of play.

1929: Homestead Grays

From 1929, the Homestead Grays team was based in Pittsburgh.

1950: Homestead Grays

Until 1950, the Homestead Grays team played most of their home games in Washington's Griffith Stadium during much of the 1940s.

1955: Senators Officially Named Nationals

From 1905 to 1955, the Washington Senators franchise was officially named the Washington Nationals.

1956: Inspiration for City Connect Uniform

The 2025 Nationals City Connect uniform was inspired by the 1956 Washington Senators.

1956: First American League Franchise

Until 1956, the first American League franchise's official name was Washington Nationals.

1960: Senators Move to Minneapolis

After the 1960 season, the first American League Senators franchise moved to Minneapolis and became the Minnesota Twins.

1960: Reference to Original Washington Senators

The Nationals Ring of Honor honors members who played for the original Washington Senators from 1901-1960.

1961: New Senators Franchise Begins Play

In 1961, MLB awarded Washington an expansion team, the second American League Senators franchise, which began play that year.

1961: Reference to Expansion Washington Senators

The Nationals Ring of Honor honors members who played for the expansion Washington Senators from 1961-1971.

1969: Franchise Founded as Montreal Expos

In 1969, the Montreal Expos franchise was founded as part of a four-team expansion in MLB.

1969: Montreal Expos Founded

In 1969, the Montreal Expos were founded as part of the Major League Baseball expansion, along with the Seattle Pilots, Kansas City Royals, and San Diego Padres. The Expos were the first Major League team in Canada.

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: Reference to Expansion Washington Senators

The Nationals Ring of Honor honors members who played for the expansion Washington Senators from 1961-1971.

1976: Felipe Alou Joins Expos Organization

In 1976, Felipe Alou joined the Montreal Expos organization.

1976: Summer Olympics

In 1976, the Summer Olympics took place.

1977: Expos Move to Olympic Stadium

In 1977, the Montreal Expos moved into Montreal's Olympic Stadium, which was built for the 1976 Summer Olympics.

1981: Division Championship

In the strike-shortened split season of 1981, the Montreal Expos won its only division championship, and then lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

1982: Mid-Pack Finish in NL East

In 1982, the Montreal Expos began a long period finishing in the middle of the NL East pack.

1985: Buck Rodgers Hired as Manager

In 1985, the Montreal Expos hired Buck Rodgers as manager.

1987: Winning Season

In 1987, the Montreal Expos won 91 games, finishing third in the division.

1990: End of Decade

By 1990, the Montreal Expos had spent most of the 1980s in the middle of the NL East pack.

1991: Team Sold to New Ownership

In 1991, Charles Bronfman sold the Montreal Expos to a consortium of owners.

May 1992: Felipe Alou Becomes Manager

In May 1992, Felipe Alou was promoted to become the first Dominican-born manager in MLB history for the Montreal Expos.

1994: Season Interrupted by Strike

In 1994, the Montreal Expos had the best record in the major leagues until the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike forced the cancellation of the remainder of the season.

1997: Jackie Robinson's number retired

In 1997, Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired throughout all Major League Baseball.

1999: Brochu Sells Control of Team

In 1999, Claude Brochu sold control of the Montreal Expos to Jeffrey Loria.

2000: Loria Fails to Secure Funding

In 2000, Jeffrey Loria failed to secure funding to build a new downtown ballpark and did not reach agreements on television or English radio broadcast contracts for the Montreal Expos, reducing the team's media coverage.

November 2001: MLB Considers Contraction

In November 2001, Major League Baseball's owners voted to contract the league by two teams, with the Montreal Expos and the Minnesota Twins being considered.

2001: Tim Raines' Game for Baltimore

In 2001, Tim Raines played one game for Baltimore with his son, marking the closest he played baseball in the Washington market.

August 2002: Contraction Prohibited

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, preventing the contraction of the Montreal Expos.

September 29, 2004: Move to Washington, D.C., Announced

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 Owners Choose Washington, D.C.

In 2004, MLB owners selected Washington, D.C., as the new home for the Expos franchise, setting the stage for the establishment of the Nationals.

April 4, 2005: First Game

On April 4, 2005, the Washington Nationals played their first game at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies 8–4.

2005: Relocation to Washington, D.C.

Following the franchise's relocation to Washington, D.C., in 2005, the rivalry with the Philadelphia Phillies increased in geographic tension due to Washington's proximity to Philadelphia.

2005: Mel Proctor and Ron Darling as Announcers

In 2005, Mel Proctor was the TV play-by-play announcer, and Ron Darling was a color analyst.

2005: Nationals Affiliate with Single-A Team

In 2005, the Washington Nationals began an affiliation with a Single-A team.

2005: Spring Training at Space Coast Stadium Begins

In 2005, the Washington Nationals began holding spring training at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida.

2005: Nationals Play First Season in D.C.

In 2005, the Washington Nationals played their first season in Washington, D.C.

2005: Choice of Nationals Name

In 2005, when the Expos moved to Washington, legal and political considerations factored into the choice of Nationals, a revival of the first American League franchise's official name.

2005: WDCA Carries Games

In the 2005 season, WDCA (channel 20) carried 76 games while MASN negotiated cable carriage.

2005: Inaugural Season

Ryan Zimmerman was with the team since the inaugural 2005 season.

2005: Inaugural Season of Washington Nationals

The 2005 season was the inaugural season for the Washington Nationals.

2005: WWZZ as Flagship Radio Station

WWZZ (104.1 FM) was the team's first flagship radio station during the 2005 season.

2006: Bob Carpenter Becomes TV Play-by-Play Announcer

Bob Carpenter became the TV play-by-play announcer for the Nationals in 2006.

2006: Contraction No Longer on the Agenda

By 2006, the Expos had become the Washington Nationals and the Twins had made sufficient progress towards a new baseball-specific stadium, so contraction was no longer on the agenda.

2006: Last Place Finish

In 2006, the Washington Nationals finished in last place as part of a five-year stretch.

2006: Lerner Takes Over Club

In mid-2006, Ted Lerner took over the Washington Nationals club and hired Stan Kasten as team president to rebuild and restructure the team.

2006: Start of Beltway Series

Since 2006, the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles have played two series a season, one in Baltimore and one in Washington, forming the Beltway Series.

2006: WFED as Flagship Radio Station

WFED (1500 AM) became the flagship station for the Nationals in the 2006 season.

2007: Don Sutton as Color Analyst

Don Sutton served as a color analyst for the Nationals from 2007 to 2008.

March 30, 2008: First Home Game at Nationals Park

On March 30, 2008, the Washington Nationals played their first home game at Nationals Park. ESPN televised the game nationally, and U.S. President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch. Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off home run.

July 2008: Worst Television Ratings

In July 2008, the Nationals' television ratings were among the worst in the National League despite finishing with the worst record in Major League Baseball.

2008: Don Sutton as Color Analyst

Don Sutton served as a color analyst for the Nationals from 2007 to 2008.

2009: New Road and Alternate Uniforms Unveiled

For the 2009 season, the Nationals kept the same home uniform but unveiled a new road and red alternate uniform, along with a roundel-less "DC" sleeve patch. The road uniform featured a script rendition of the city name in red with navy and gold trim, and the red alternate featured the "curly W" logo with white numbers and gold bevels.

2009: Syndication Deal with WDCW Begins

From 2009 through 2012, MASN syndicated a package of 20 games for simulcast on WDCW (channel 50).

2009: Navy Alternate Uniform for Independence Day Week Unveiled

In 2009, the Nationals introduced a navy alternate uniform for games during Independence Day week. The uniform featured the "interlocking DC" logo rendered in the Stars and Stripes motif, along with white/red piping and white numbers with gold bevels and red trim.

2009: Draft Stephen Strasburg

In 2009, the Washington Nationals drafted pitcher Stephen Strasburg as the first-overall draft pick.

2009: Rob Dibble Becomes Color Analyst

Rob Dibble took over the job as color analyst in 2009.

August 10, 2010: Nationals Unveil "Ring of Honor"

On August 10, 2010, the Nationals unveiled a "Ring of Honor" at Nationals Park, honoring members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who played significant years for various Washington baseball teams.

September 2010: Rob Dibble Fired, Ray Knight Fills In

In September 2010, Rob Dibble was fired as color analyst after criticizing Stephen Strasburg. Ray Knight filled in as color analyst that month.

2010: Draft Bryce Harper

In 2010, the Washington Nationals drafted catcher Bryce Harper as the first-overall draft pick.

2010: Increase in Television Ratings

The Nationals' television ratings increased during the 2010 season.

August 1, 2011: Miracle Field Opens

On August 1, 2011, Miracle Field formally opened in Germantown, Maryland, through a partnership between the foundation and several local organizations, aiming to promote athletic activity in children with disabilities.

2011: WJFK Reaches Agreement with Nationals

Before the 2011 season, the Nationals and WJFK reached a multi-year agreement, making WJFK the flagship station. WFED remained on the network as an affiliate.

2011: F.P. Santangelo as Color Analyst

F. P. Santangelo served as the primary color analyst between 2011 and 2021.

2011: "Stars and Stripes" Uniform Tweaked

In 2011, the "Stars and Stripes" uniform was updated to feature the "curly W" in Stars and Stripes, along with updated logos and the removal of gold accents.

2011: New Uniform Set Unveiled

In 2011, the Nationals introduced a new uniform set, eliminating gold and emphasizing the "curly W" logo on the home and red alternate uniforms. The road all-navy cap was replaced with a navy cap with a red brim.

2011: Sign Jayson Werth

In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed Jayson Werth to the team's first big free-agent contract and drafted infielder Anthony Rendon.

2011: Jayson Werth Joins Nationals

Jayson Werth began playing for the Washington Nationals in 2011.

2011: Increase in Television Ratings

The Nationals' television ratings increased during the 2011 season.

2012: First Playoff Berth and Division Title

In 2012, the Washington Nationals clinched their first playoff berth and first division title. Harper was named NL Rookie of the Year, the youngest ever to win.

2012: Television Viewership Growth

Since 2012, the Nationals' television viewership has grown continually and dramatically due to consistent success on the field.

2012: End of Syndication Deal with WDCW

The syndication deal between MASN and WDCW (channel 50) ended in 2012.

2013: Missed Playoffs

After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Washington Nationals hired Matt Williams as manager.

2013: Syndication Deal with WUSA Begins

From 2013 through 2017, MASN syndicated a package of 20 games for simulcast on CBS affiliate WUSA (channel 9).

2013: New Red Cap Added

In 2013, the Nationals added a new red cap with a navy brim for home games with the red alternates.

2014: Win National League East Again

In 2014, the Nationals won the National League East for a second time.

2014: Second Division Title

In 2014, the Washington Nationals rebounded to win their second division title, and acquired shortstop prospect Trea Turner.

2015: Sign Max Scherzer

In 2015, the Washington Nationals signed top free agent pitcher Max Scherzer to a contract and Bryce Harper had one of the greatest offensive seasons in MLB history, becoming the youngest player to win the NL MVP unanimously.

August 2016: Ring of Honor Criteria Revised

In August 2016, the Nationals revised the criteria for the "Ring of Honor", opening membership to anyone who made a significant contribution to baseball in Washington, D.C., and Frank Howard became the first inductee under the revised criteria.

2016: Last Spring Training at Space Coast Stadium

2016 was the last year the Washington Nationals held spring training at Space Coast Stadium.

2016: Prime-Time Television Ratings Rank

By 2016, the Nationals' prime-time television ratings were 15th highest among the 29 U.S. MLB teams.

2016: Win National League East Again

In 2016, the Nationals won the National League East for a third time.

2016: Hire Dusty Baker

In 2016, the Washington Nationals hired veteran manager Dusty Baker, and returned to the playoffs only to be eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

2016: Road Navy Cap Replaced

In 2016, the road navy cap, used with the "Stars and Stripes" uniform, was replaced by a similar design featuring the "curly W" in the Stars and Stripes.

February 28, 2017: 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 in West Palm Beach, Florida, a facility shared with the Houston Astros.

August 28, 2017: Tim Raines Induction

On August 28, 2017, former Expo Tim Raines received a warm reception from fans at Nationals Park during his induction ceremony, despite never having visited Washington, D.C., before.

2017: End of Syndication Deal

2017 marked the final year of the MASN syndication deal with a broadcast partner.

2017: Jayson Werth's Last Season with Nationals

2017 marked the last season Jayson Werth played for the Washington Nationals.

2017: White "Stars and Stripes" Alternate Released

In 2017, the Nationals released a white version of the "Stars and Stripes" alternate uniform, paired with the navy-brimmed red cap featuring the "curly W" in Stars and Stripes.

2017: Win National League East Again

In 2017, the Nationals won the National League East for a fourth time.

2017: Prime-Time Television Ratings Rank

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 Washington Nationals won the NL East title, but were eliminated in the NLDS after losing to the Chicago Cubs, and Baker's contract was not renewed.

February 16, 2018: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Renaming

On February 16, 2018, the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches after the Nationals and Astros signed a 12-year naming rights deal with FITTEAM.

September 8, 2018: Jayson Werth Ring of Honor Induction

On the evening of September 8, 2018, during a ceremony at Nationals Park between games of a doubleheader, Jayson Werth, who played for the Nationals from 2011 through 2017, was inducted into the Ring of Honor, becoming the first 'true' National to receive this honor based specifically on his career as a National.

2018: Mark Lerner Becomes Public-Facing Principal Owner

In 2018, Mark Lerner became the public-facing principal owner of the Nationals, although his father, Ted Lerner, retained full interest in the team's decisions.

2018: All-Star Game at Nationals Park

In 2018, the All-Star Game was played at Nationals Park. Juan Soto had an exceptional debut campaign, finishing 2nd in NL Rookie of the Year Voting. The Nationals failed to make the playoffs, and Bryce Harper left the team via free agency after the 2018 season.

2018: Navy Alternate Uniform Released

In 2018, the Nationals introduced a navy alternate uniform with a script rendition of the team's name in white with red trim along with red numbers.

2018: MASN Ends Syndication Deal

MASN did not continue the syndication deal for the 2018 season.

2018: Decline in Television Ratings

The Nationals' television ratings declined to 18th among the 29 U.S. teams for the 2018 season.

July 6, 2019: Gomes wears number retired by Expos

On July 6, 2019, catcher Yan Gomes wore his usual number 10 during an Expos throwback jerseys game, even though the number was retired by the Expos for Andre Dawson and Rusty Staub.

2019: Anthony Rendon Leaves, Stephen Strasburg Re-Signed

After the 2019 season, Anthony Rendon left the Nationals in free agency to join the Los Angeles Angels. However, the Nationals re-signed Stephen Strasburg to a seven-year, $245 million deal.

2019: Bryce Harper Signs with Phillies

In 2019, Bryce Harper further fueled tensions after signing a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent.

2019: "Stars and Stripes" Uniform No Longer Exclusively for Independence Day Week

In 2019, the "Stars and Stripes" uniform was no longer exclusively worn during Independence Day week.

2019: World Series Championship

In 2019, the Washington Nationals advanced to the World Series as a Wild Card team and defeated the Houston Astros in seven games to earn their first championship.

2019: Nationals win World Series

In 2019, the Washington Nationals overcame a 19-31 start to finish 93-69, winning the National League Wild Card Game, the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and sweeping the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. They then defeated the Houston Astros in the World Series, securing their first championship. The World Series was unique as the road team won every game, and the Nationals were 5-0 in elimination games with come-from-behind victories. Stephen Strasburg was named the series MVP.

2020: Potomac Nationals Move to Fredericksburg

Before the 2020 season, the Advanced-A Potomac Nationals moved from Woodbridge, Virginia, to Fredericksburg, Virginia.

2020: Nationals struggle in shortened season

During the 2020 season, which was shortened to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Nationals struggled, finishing with a 26-34 record and missing the playoffs.

2020: Gold Accented Uniforms and Script White Alternates Debut

For most of the 2020 season, the Nationals wore gold-accented versions of the new white uniforms to celebrate their World Series championship, along with all-red caps with the gold "curly W" logo. The script white alternates debuted on the final regular season home game on September 27 against the New York Mets.

2020: White Version of Navy Alternate Uniform 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. The Nationals also unveiled a pair of alternate caps, but only the "Capitol W" cap was used.

2021: Nationals start rebuilding, Zimmerman retires

After a disappointing start to the 2021 season, the Nationals traded Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers, initiating a rebuilding phase. Ryan Zimmerman, a long-time player, retired after the 2021 season.

2021: F.P. Santangelo as Color Analyst

F. P. Santangelo served as the primary color analyst between 2011 and 2021.

2021: White Alternates Paired with Primary Red Cap

In 2021, the white alternates were paired with the primary red "curly W" cap, though the alternate Capitol cap was still used occasionally.

2021: Potomac Nationals Move to Single-A

In the 2021 season, the Potomac Nationals moved to Single-A play.

January 2022: Kevin Frandsen Hired as Color Analyst

In January 2022, Kevin Frandsen was hired as the color analyst for the Nationals' television broadcasts.

June 18, 2022: Ryan Zimmerman's No. 11 Retired

On June 18, 2022, the Washington Nationals retired Ryan Zimmerman's No. 11, marking the first number retired by the Nationals franchise.

August 2, 2022: Juan Soto traded to the Padres

On August 2, 2022, the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres after he declined a 15-year, $440 million contract extension offer. The Nationals received a large prospect haul in return.

2022: Lerner Family Exploring Ownership Restructuring

In 2022, The Washington Post reported that the Lerner family was exploring a restructuring of the Washington Nationals team ownership, including potentially selling the team.

2022: Nationals Unveil "City Connect" Uniforms

In 2022, the Nationals unveiled their "City Connect" uniforms as part of MLB's uniform deal with Nike. The uniforms paid homage to the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., with a dark gray base, pink trim, and printed cherry blossoms.

2022: White Alternate Uniform Becomes Primary Home Uniform

Starting in 2022, the white alternate uniform with the "Nationals" script replaced the white "curly W" uniform as the primary home uniform.

February 13, 2023: Ted Lerner Dies

Ted Lerner died on February 13, 2023, due to complications from pneumonia. His son Mark had taken over as the public-facing principal owner in 2018.

2023: Montreal Expos Retired Numbers Remain in Circulation

As of 2023, the retired numbers from the Montreal Expos era (excluding Jackie Robinson's No. 42) remain in circulation for the Washington Nationals.

2023: Nationals Improve After Rebuild

In 2023, the Nationals improved to 71-91, a 16-win increase from the previous season, led by young players such as CJ Abrams and Josiah Gray, signaling progress in their rebuilding efforts.

February 2024: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches Renaming

In February 2024, the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was renamed CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches after a multi-year naming rights deal with Travis Scott's CACTI Hard Seltzer company.

September 29, 2024: Data Update

The information was updated through September 29, 2024.

2024: "City Connect" Uniforms Retired

After the 2024 season, the Nationals retired their "City Connect" uniforms.

2024: Franchise Win-Loss Record

As of the end of the 2024 season, the Washington Nationals franchise's overall win–loss record is 4,265–4,569–4 (.483).

2024: Updated Road Uniform and New Alternate Uniform

In 2024, the Nationals updated their road uniform to feature a block "Washington" lettering in navy with white and red trim. The red "curly W" alternates were replaced by an alternate white pullover uniform with navy sleeves, featuring the "Capitol W" crest.

2024: Sale of Orioles Leads to Softening of Relations

The 2024 sale of the Orioles to David Rubenstein led to a softening of relations between the Orioles and Nationals.

2024: Nationals End Season with 71-91 Record, Prospects Debut

The Nationals concluded the 2024 season with a 71-91 record, marking the debut of top prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews. Shortstop CJ Abrams was also selected for the 2024 All-Star Game.

April 5, 2025: 2005 Nationals Inducted into Ring of Honor

On April 5, 2025, in a pregame ceremony, the 2005 Washington Nationals team was inducted into the Ring of Honor, celebrating the 20th anniversary season of Washington Nationals baseball. Jamey Carroll, Chad Cordero, John Patterson, Brian Schneider, and Ryan Zimmerman participated in the ceremony.

2025: Red Alternate Uniform Returns, White Alternates Retired

Ahead of the 2025 season, the Nationals brought back the red alternate uniform, keeping the "Curly W" logo but removing the piping. Due to Nike's "4+1" uniform rule, the team retired the "Capitol W" white alternates after only one season.

2025: Second "City Connect" Uniform Unveiled

In 2025, the Nationals unveiled their second "City Connect" uniform, featuring a light blue design with a white outline of Washington, D.C.'s street grid and an interlocking "DC" on the chest resembling the 1956 Washington Senators' block "W".

2025: Oakland Athletics Relocation

In 2025, the Oakland Athletics relocated to Sacramento in advance of their ultimately planned move to the Las Vegas metropolitan area, marking the first MLB team move since the Washington Senators moved in 1971.

2025: Settlement of Litigation and New TV Contract

Just before the beginning of the 2025 season, the Nationals, Orioles, and MLB announced the settlement of litigation regarding television rights. MASN signed a new one-year contract for 2025, allowing the Nationals to sell their rights to another local broadcaster afterward.