#15
I went here in June 2011. On the way to Chris's graduation in NY, we spent a couple days in DC, and caught a game here while at it. This was a day game and was very overcast. It was inter league time. They were playing the Seattle Mariners and won 1-0 on a 9th inning walk-off single. The Nats were in the process of one of their best streaks since being in Washington, like 18 of 20, and when I got back to the hotel later Jim Wriggleman stepped down as manager. Something to do with his contract, but still weird.
We will hit this park again on a future trip with Shawn, but this one was with my wife. I knew I would be driving through the area, the Nats were at home, so I wasn't gonna pass it up. The scoreboard is really nice here. It is probably even more impressive at night or at least on a day that isn't overcast. The park doesn't seem to have a bad seat in it.
This is the Red Porch and Red Loft restaurant and bar in CF. Since there is nothing to eat around the outside of the park, and I mean nothing, we had lunch at the porch when the gates opened. It was good food and reasonably priced, especially for a ballpark. Being that the park has been open since 08', you would think they had a few places to grab a bite outside the park. NOT!
One thing I was looking forward to was the "Presidents race". Alot of people consider these things cheesy, but I think it gives each park a bit of personality.
At Nats park, the presidents walk around the park before the game and during the game as well, which is really cool. They were at the CF gate when the gates opened and were walking around. My wife wouldn't go near them, she was a bit freaked out. They are over 8' tall so I guess I understand. Supposedly, Teddy R has never won a race, and he had the lead more than half way through, and then he looked like he just ran out of gas. I got pics of all of them up close, but only put Teddy in the post.
The Nationals do not have a lot of history in DC, but do have their former namesake for history, but unfortunately most of the HOF players from the Expos made their name in other cities.
The following statues at Nationals park are of players from former teams that played in Washington like the Senators.
Frank Howard- Senators
Joshua Gibson- Wasnington Grays- Negro League
Walter Johnson- Washington Nationals 1920-27
