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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-269
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 28, 2014
To recognize the Washington Nationals baseball organization for winning the 2014 National League East Division Title for the second time in 3 seasons, and advancing to the Major League Baseball playoffs.
WHEREAS, on September 29, 2004, Major League Baseball (“MLB”) announced the Montreal Expos would move to Washington, D.C., and would begin playing in 2005, the first time baseball was to be played in the nation’s capital since 1971;
WHEREAS, on November 22, 2004, the team officially changed its name to the Washington Nationals (“Nationals”);
WHEREAS, on December 21, 2004, the Council of the District of Columbia in a 7-6 vote passed the “Ballpark Omnibus Financing Revenue Act of 2004” (“the Act”);
WHEREAS, the Act authorized the construction of Nationals Park and finalized a deal with MLB to make the Nationals the official baseball team of the District of Columbia;
WHEREAS, the members of the Council who voted in the affirmative to bring baseball back to the District are current members Vincent B. Orange Sr. and Jack Evans and former members Harold Brazil, Sharon Ambrose, Kevin P. Chavous, Sandy Allen, and former Council Chairman Linda Cropp;
WHEREAS, a great deal of hard work to bring baseball to the District must also be attributed to former Mayor Anthony Williams, to former Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Williams and now Vice President for the Nationals baseball organization, Greg McCarthy, to former Chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, Mark Tuohey, and to former member of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, Bill Hall;
WHEREAS, on April 4, 2005, the Nationals played their inaugural game against the Philadelphia Phillies;
WHEREAS, on April 14, 2005, the Nationals played their first game in the District of Columbia at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with former President George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch;
WHEREAS, the Nationals cemented the return of major league baseball to the District with a 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 14, 2005;
WHEREAS, construction broke ground on Nationals Park on May 4, 2006;
WHEREAS, on March 30, 2008, the Nationals played their first game at Nationals Park in front of a sell-out crowd and a nationally televised audience on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast;
WHEREAS, All-Star and Gold Glove third baseman, Ryan Zimmerman, hit a walk-off home run against the Atlanta Braves that night to give the Nationals their first win at Nationals Park;
WHEREAS, Nationals Park has been an important part of the revitalization of the Southwest/Anacostia Riverfront area;
WHEREAS, the Nationals baseball organization has quickly become a pillar of the community with philanthropic efforts such as the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the sponsorship of the D.C. Public Library's Summer Reading program;
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2014, the Nationals clinched the National League East Division Title with a 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves;
WHEREAS, the Nationals became the first team in the National League to achieve 90 wins during the 2013-2014 season;
WHEREAS, on September 28, 2014, in a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins, Jordan
Zimmermann pitched the first no-hitter in the history of the Washington Nationals, the
Nationals finished the regular season with the best record in the National League, and outfielder
Denard Span broke Cristian Guzman's franchise record for the most hits in a season with 184;
WHEREAS, the Washington Nationals finished the regular season with a 96-66 record, the best record in the National League;
WHEREAS, the Washington Nationals, despite valiant play, were defeated by the San
Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series in 4 games; and
WHEREAS, a great deal of gratitude and appreciation goes to Mr. Theodore Lerner and the Lerner family, Nationals General Manager & President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo, first-year manager Matt Williams, the Nationals staff and administrators, and the 40 players that make up the Washington Nationals, the 2014 National League East Division Champions.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the Washington Nationals baseball organization for its outstanding contributions both on and off the field to the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Washington Nationals 2014 Season Celebration Recognition Resolution of 2014”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
