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unusual facts about Washington Nationals


Shunsuke Watanabe

Watanabe's curve is very slow, clocking around 60 mph, somewhat similar to the curveball of Washington Nationals pitcher Liván Hernández (which actually is more like an eephus pitch).


1990 Pittsburgh Pirates season

August 8, 1990: Scott Ruskin, Willie Greene and a player to be named later were traded by the Pirates to the Montreal Expos for Zane Smith.

40–40 club

In 2002, both Vladimir Guerrero of the Montreal Expos and Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees were only one home run short of reaching 40–40 after achieving 40 and 41 stolen bases, respectively.

ANC Sports

Following its new relationship with Mitsubishi, the company has completed large LED signage projects such as the Washington Nationals’ new ballpark, Washington D.C.’s Verizon Center and Portland’s Rose Garden.

Arden Heights, Staten Island

Jason MarquisWashington Nationals All Star starting pitcher; though born in Manhasset, New York, he was raised in Arden Heights and attended Tottenville High School, whose baseball team he pitched to two New York City championships.

Barry Christopher Knestout

He also oversaw a contest for architecture students from the Catholic University of America to design the altar and chair used by Benedict XVI at the Mass at the Washington Nationals baseball stadium.

Baseball stirrups

A few pro players, such as Casey Janssen of the Toronto Blue Jays, Derek Holland of the Texas Rangers, B.J. Upton of the Atlanta Braves, Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, Daniel Descalso of the St. Louis Cardinals and Steve Cishek & Juan Pierre of the Miami Marlins have been spotted wearing genuine stirrups recently to much fanfare.

Dan Radison

On November 20, 2009, he was appointed first-base coach of the Washington Nationals by newly named permanent manager Jim Riggleman.

Darnell McDonald

On June 24, 2007, McDonald was sent to the Minnesota Twins by the Washington Nationals in order for the Nationals to keep Rule 5 draft pick Levale Speigner.

Ed Fuller

Edward Ashton White Fuller was a major league baseball player for the 1886 Washington Nationals.

Gulf Coast League Expos

When the Montreal Expos left Montreal after the conclusion of the 2004 season and moved to Washington, D.C. to become the Washington Nationals, the Gulf Coast League Expos became the Gulf Coast League Nationals, beginning play as such in the 2005 season.

Jamie Hoffmann

Hoffmann was selected as the first overall pick in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft by the Washington Nationals on December 10, but was immediately traded to the New York Yankees for Brian Bruney, as the player to be named later.

Jenrry Mejía

Mejia was activated from the 60-day disabled list on July 26, 2013, and started the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

Joel Peralta

On June 19, 2012, during a game at Nationals Park vs the Washington Nationals, Peralta was ejected from the game for having a "foreign substance" in his glove; it was later found to be pine tar.

John Suomi

He played in the minor league system of the Athletics through 2004, missed 2005 because of injury and then played in the organizations of the Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals.

Kennesaw State Owls

Five of their alumni have reached the Major Leagues, including Jason Jones of the Texas Rangers, Chad Jenkins of the Toronto Blue Jays, Brett Campbell of the Washington Nationals, and Willie Harris, who earned a World Series ring with the Chicago White Sox in 2005, of the Cincinnati Reds.

Kevin Bass

Garrett (Jacksonville State University) was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 42nd round played a couple of seasons in their organization, followed by time in the independent minor leagues.

Kevin McMullan

Players coached by McMullan have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, including Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals), Mark Reynolds (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Joe Koshansky (Colorado Rockies).

Near Northeast, Washington, D.C.

The area was also the site of Swampoodle Grounds, a baseball stadium which was the home of the Washington Nationals baseball club from 1886 to 1889, when the team folded.

Richard Montgomery High School

Several of RM's athletes advanced to the professional level, including Gordy Coleman with the Cincinnati Reds and Mike Curtis (Class of '61) with the Baltimore Colts & James David Riggleman (Class of '71) former manager of the Washington Nationals.

Rubén Tejada

On April 9, 2010 he recorded his first major league hit off the Washington Nationals' Tyler Walker.

Swampoodle Grounds

Swampoodle Grounds aka Capitol Park (II) was the home of the Washington Nationals baseball team of the National League from 1886 to 1889.

Swampoodle, Washington, D.C.

Swampoodle was home of the Swampoodle Grounds, which was the home of the Washington Nationals baseball club from 1886 to 1889.

Tom Runnells

In 1989, his Indianapolis Indians won the American Association championship and the "AAA Classic," earning him a promotion to a coaching position with the parent Montreal Expos.

White hot

The white hot has become the official hot dog of the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Americans and Rochester Rhinos and was the official hot dog of the Washington Nationals during the major league baseball team's first season.


see also

Florida Collegiate Summer League

Major League Baseball alumni include Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon, Colorado Rockies pitcher Mike McClendon, Washington Nationals outfielder Corey Brown, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson, and Baltimore Orioles catcher Johnny Monell Jr.

Mateo

Henry Mateo, American baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals.

Pudge

Iván Rodríguez, a Major League Baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals