Table of Contents
Introduction ix
1 The 2019 World Series: Finishing the Fight 1
2 The Announcement-September 29, 2004 5
3 A New Beginning 7
4 Bryce Harper's MVP Season 10
5 Strasmas 13
6 Jayson Werth's Game 4 Walk-Off Homer 16
7 Strasburg's Shutdown 19
8 Nationals Park Opens with Dramatic Flair 21
9 From 19-31 to the Wild-Card 24
10 Walter Johnson's Feats 28
11 Bryce Harper's Departure 30
12 Jordan Zimmermann's No-Hitter 34
13 Cheer on the Racing Presidents 37
14 Rivalry with the Orioles 40
15 America's Team-The 1924 Senators 43
16 The Riot 46
17 Max Scherzer Throws Two No-Hitters in 2015 49
18 Division Titles 52
19 Presidential First Pitches 58
20 Juan Soto 63
21 The Longest Game in Playoff History 67
22 The Curious Case of Smiley Gonzalez 70
23 Ted Williams' Reign as Manager 72
24 Frank Howard's 10 Home Runs in Six Games 75
25 The Last Expo 77
26 Walter Johnson's Three Shutouts in Four Days 80
27 Mr. Walk-Off 81
28 That's a Clown Question, Bro 85
29 Mad Max 87
30 The Derivation of Natitude 89
31 The Kid Managers 92
32 Mike Rizzo 94
33 The Kiss 97
34 Take a Nationals Road Trip 99
35 The Washington…Padres? 102
36 Jim Riggleman Quits 105
37 The 2015 Letdown 108
38 Managers 112
39 Gio Gonzalez 115
40 How to Get Autographs 119
41 Livo 122
42 National Guardsman/Senators Shortstop 123
43 Alfonso Soriano Founds 40-40-40 Club 125
44 The Cardiac Nats' Wild 10-Game Winning Streak 128
45 When Owen Wilson Played for the Nationals 132
46 Mickey Vernon 134
47 The Homestead Grays 136
48 Bryce Harper's Exciting 2018 Home Run Derby Performance 139
49 Senators No-Hitters 143
50 The Chief 145
51 The Mysterious Demise of D.C.'s First Batting Champion 147
52 Anthony Rendon 150
53 Hitting for the Cycle 152
54 Bryce's Benching 155
55 The Senators' Spy 157
56 Scott Boras' Ties to the Nationals 160
57 An Owner Sells Off His Relatives 162
58 "Hammering" Grand Slams in Consecutive Innings 164
59 Visit Cooperstown 167
60 The Big Donkey 169
61 The Origins of the Senators Name 171
62 Great Trades 173
63 The Amputee Pitcher 179
64 The Combustible Jose Guillen 182
65 D.C. Baseball Stadium History 185
66 Why Getting Swept by the Padres Was a Good Thing 187
67 The Six Aces 191
68 Visit RFK Stadium 195
69 A Fan's Quest to Torment a Former Senators Owner 197
70 The Kidnapped Catcher 199
71 The Bryce Harper Timeline 202
72 The Only Player to Play in Both of the Senators' Last Games 208
73 Watch the Nats' Minor League Teams 210
74 The Deaf Center Fielder 214
75 Nats Superfans 216
76 Meet the Lerners 219
77 The Future 221
78 The Natinals 225
79 Is Killebrew MLB's Logo? 227
80 Sit Behind Home Plate 230
81 Frank Robinson's Showdown with Mike Scioscia 231
82 The Midseason Parade for "The Wondrous Nats" 233
83 Nationals All-Stars 235
84 Sam Rice's Secrets 244
85 Interesting Draft Picks and Minor Leaguers 246
86 2005's 10-Game Winning Streak 252
87 The Fan Who Died from a Wild Throw 256
88 Michael Morse's Phantom Grand Slam 257
89 Did the Senators Nearly Sign Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard? 261
90 The Nats and Caps Connection 263
91 Learn the Names on the Ring of Honor 264
92 Hang Out with Screech 271
93 Call Me Maybe 272
94 D.C. Baseball's Clowns 274
95 The Origins of the Curly W 277
96 Go to Nationals Park on Opening Day and Fourth of July 278
97 Jayson Werth Goes to Jail 279
98 Watch a Concert at Nationals Park 282
99 Villains 284
100 The Presidential Statistician 289
Acknowledgments 291
Sources 293