TABLE OF CONTENTS Nationals Are Walk Off Winners Montreal Joins the Major Leagues 6 The Expos Strike Out in 1994 8 Baseball Returns to Washington 10 The National Pastime Thrives in the Nation's Capital 12 On Your Mark Get Set the Racing Presidents 14 Nationals Fans Say Merry Strasmas 16 Bryce Harper Is Baseball s Chosen One 18 Natitude Wins the Division 20 Washington Is Back on Top in 2014 22 A Finale to Remember 24 There Is No Stopping Scherzer 26 12 Key Dates 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 About the Author 32
NATIONALS ARE WALK OFF WINNERS The Washington Nationals opened their new ballpark with a bang the Nationals face the Atlanta Braves on March 30 2008 It When they moved to Washington in was the season opener From the 2005 the Nationals played at RFK top of the upper deck fans could Stadium It was a drab old building see the Capitol dome That left no that had seen better days In recent doubt that this was Washington's years it had been used mainly for stadium President George W Bush football and soccer was at the game He threw out the ceremonial first pitch In 2008 the Nationals moved into Nationals Park They finally had a ballpark to call their own A sellout crowd poured The crowd had plenty to cheer about right away The Nationals took a 2 0 lead in the first inning They led 2 1 going into the ninth inning But then Atlanta tied the game in to see Nationals Park before the Nationals 2008 home opener
Ryan Zimmerman celebrates his walk off home run With the score in the 2008 2 2 in the home opener bottom of the ninth Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman stepped up to bat Zimmerman was already a fan favorite He had hit a team high 24 home runs the year before His picture was on a big billboard outside Nationals Park He was the face of the franchise Zimmerman lined a pitch to left center field The Braves center fielder raced back He looked up Home run The Nationals won 3 2 Zimmerman circled the bases as the crowd roared Nationals owner Mark Lerner called the walk off home run a storybook ending 39 389 THINK ABOUT IT Attendance at Nationals Park for the 2008 season opener How much do you think fan support affects baseball players Do you believe Ryan Zimmerman would have hit that home run had the Pitcher Odalis Perez started the game for Washington Closer Jon Rauch recorded the win even though he gave up the tying run in the ninth Nationals been playing in their old stadium What if they were playing on the
