On July 6, 2025, the Washington Nationas announced that Mike Rizzo had been fired after nearly 17 seasons as the head of baseball operations for the Washington Nationals. His teams improved from 59 wins in 2009, his first year at the helm after three seasons as an assistant GM, to a team-record 98 victories and … Continue reading A look back at Rizzo’s tenure
Tag: mlb
Hall of Famer Manush’s ejection from a World Series game
Hall of Fame outfielder Henry Emmett Manush, ungraciously known as “Heinie,” based on his German heritage, played for Washington for nearly six seasons in the 1930s, hitting .328 with a cumulative bWAR of 21.6. In 1933, Washington’s last pennant-winning season, his league-leading 221 hits and 17 triples produced 95 RBIs and a .336 average. He … Continue reading Hall of Famer Manush’s ejection from a World Series game
Owner Ted Lerner brought D.C. a championship
Theodore N. Lerner became the principal owner of the Washington Nationals when his family bought control of the team from Major League Baseball in July 2006. He remained involved in the team until his death at age 97 on Feb. 12, 2023. Born the day the original Senators lost the 1925 World Series, Ted Lerner … Continue reading Owner Ted Lerner brought D.C. a championship
Daylen Lile named N.L. Player of the Month for September 2025
Rookie outfielder Daylen Lile seemed to come out of nowhere to lead the Nationals to a 13-13 record in the final month of an otherwise dispiriting 2025 season. His performance was outstanding enough to join the likes of Buster Posey, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge, each of whom earned Player of the Month honors as … Continue reading Daylen Lile named N.L. Player of the Month for September 2025
Sept. 21, 2025: Parker records Nats’ longest save, Young makes kick-save catch
Lefty Mitchell Parker, a promising rookie in 2024, pitched so poorly for nearly five months in 2025 that he was demoted to the bullpen in late September. At 5.85, he had the highest earned-run average of all qualified MLB starters and was tied for the most loses in the N.L. Yet on Sept. 21 in … Continue reading Sept. 21, 2025: Parker records Nats’ longest save, Young makes kick-save catch
Davey Johnson’s legacy
Former Nationals manager Davey Johnson led the team to its first N.L. East title in what also became its first winning season in 2012. For Johnson, who died at age 82 on Sept. 5, 2025, Washington was the last of five MLB teams he managed, all of them he made winners. For me, Johnson’s tenure … Continue reading Davey Johnson’s legacy
June 6, 2025: Nats set team record for fastest home game
When the Nationals beat the Rangers, 2-0, on June 6, 2025, in Washington, it was the fastest finish for a home game in team history. Michael Soraka pitched the best game of his short tenure in D.C., yielding two hits in six shutout innings. Brad Lord, Jose Ferrer and Kyle Finnegan held the Rangers hitless … Continue reading June 6, 2025: Nats set team record for fastest home game
Josh Bell sets modern record with high-pitch homer
Josh Bell, the Nationals’ designated hitter, began to hit the ball much harder after his average fell to .151 on May 27. Since then, he was up to a less frightening .228. In July, he hit .338 with a .443 on-base percentage. That surge was punctuated by his ninth-inning homer on June 23, which was … Continue reading Josh Bell sets modern record with high-pitch homer
Joe Black: In 1957, the Senators’ first American-born black player
Although Carlos Paula in 1953 became Washngton’s first acknowledged non-white player, Paula was born in Cuba. In August 1957, the Senators finally had an American-born black player, if only briefly: pitcher Joe Black, the 1952 rookie-of-the year who had helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant.It shouldn’t have taken so long. Griffith Stadium in … Continue reading Joe Black: In 1957, the Senators’ first American-born black player
May 11, 2016: Max Scherzer’s 20-strikeout game
Washington baseball fans of the past decade no doubt have many fond memories of the great left-hander Max Scherzer. In 2015, Scherzer signed a seven-year contract to pitch for Washington in a deal that set the Nationals up as force in the National League, culminating in a World Series title in 2019. He won two … Continue reading May 11, 2016: Max Scherzer’s 20-strikeout game
Lou Gehrig’s lost homer at Griffith Stadium in 1931
On April 26, 1931, Lou Gehrig hit a ball into the centerfield bleachers at Washington’s Griffith Stadium for what should have been a long home run off the Nats' Fred "Firpo" Marberry. Hit so hard, the ball caromed back to Senators’ centerfielder Harry Rice (Sam was in right), who caught it on the fly. With … Continue reading Lou Gehrig’s lost homer at Griffith Stadium in 1931
Nats’ triple play turned out to be an MLB first
On April 25, 2025, Jesse Winker of the Mets hit a low liner that was ruled caught in the air by Nationals first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who turned it into a rare triple play. This was the first ever turned at home by Washington, but another aspect of the play set it apart from any … Continue reading Nats’ triple play turned out to be an MLB first
Buddy Lewis of the Nats one of six players to reach 1,000 hits before age 25
John “Buddy” Lewis, the Senators’ All-Star third baseman in the late 1930s, was the fourth major leaguer to reach 1,000 hit before his 25th birthday. The first three who reached the same milestone before Lewis and the two since are all in the Hall of Fame.* Because he missed three and half seasons in his … Continue reading Buddy Lewis of the Nats one of six players to reach 1,000 hits before age 25
Charlie Dressen and the Senators
In October 1954, Charlie Dressen was the last man hired to manage the Senators while Clark Griffith was alive. However, the “Old Fox,” in his 80s, delegated the duty to his informally adopted son, nephew Calvin Griffith.* Every previous manage hired while the senior Griffith owned the team had played for the Senators. Yet Calvin’s … Continue reading Charlie Dressen and the Senators
Rockies’ reliever picks off Nats’ runner, wins without making a pitch
If any further evidence was needed that a pitcher’s “wins” don’t mean much, the Cy Young award that went to Paul Skenes (10-10) in November 2025 provided it. He matched Jacob deGrom’s victory total in 2018 as the lowest ever by a winner who wasn’t a closer. Fans have long dismissed the won-loss totals of … Continue reading Rockies’ reliever picks off Nats’ runner, wins without making a pitch
Donald Trump and baseball
President Donald Trump will have three more chances to do what he didn’t do in his first term: Throw out a ceremonial first pitch to open a Major League Baseball season in Washington. Trump, who was booed when he attended Game 5 of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park, ended a tradition that began … Continue reading Donald Trump and baseball
Bob Carpenter and his scorebooks
Two years ago, Bob Carpenter, the Nationals’ TV play-by-play announcer since 2006, decided that 2025 would be his last season in the booth. He said he would handle most road games and about half of the home games. Carpenter, who started broadcasting major league games in his native St. Louis in 1984, turned 72 on … Continue reading Bob Carpenter and his scorebooks
2012: Michael Morse’s home-run phantom re-do
The Nationals began play on September 29, 2012, in St. Louis on the cusp of clinching their first N.L. East title. Yet what is most remembered about the game was a bizarre situation in the top of the first inning. With one out, Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse loaded the base on a single by Bryce … Continue reading 2012: Michael Morse’s home-run phantom re-do
After 20 seasons, Nationals all-time leaders
Not much has changed in the list of all-time team leaders since I compiled similar figures after 15 seasons (through 2019), other than Juan Soto making an appearance in several categories. If you rely on MLB.com or BaseballReference.com for an all-time list, you get one that includes the Expos. The Montreal team existed for 36 … Continue reading After 20 seasons, Nationals all-time leaders
1921 Nat holds A.L. record for most times up in a season without striking out
Bobby LaMotte, a reserve infielder who played sparingly for the Washington Senators in 1921, holds an obscure American League record: He batted the most times in a season in the live ball era (1920 to date) without striking out. LaMotte made just 49 plate appearances (41 official at-bats) in 16 games for the fourth-place 1921 … Continue reading 1921 Nat holds A.L. record for most times up in a season without striking out
Washington baseball history 