4291782 ACR 19-328, “Washington Nationals National League East Division Champions Recognition Resolution of 2012”

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

 

19-328

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

November 15, 2012

 

 

To recognize the Washington Nationals baseball organization for winning the 2012 National League East Division Title, for being the first Washington, D.C. team to make the Major League Baseball postseason since 1933, and for having the first winning season for a Washington, D.C. Major League Baseball team since 1969.

 

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 current members of the Council who voted in the affirmative to bring baseball back to the District are Vincent B. Orange Sr. and Jack Evans and former members Harold Brazil, Sharon Ambrose, Kevin P. Chavous, Sandy Allen, and former Council Chairwoman Linda Cropp also voted in the affirmative;

 

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 DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, Mark Tuohey, and to former member of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, Bill Hall;

 

WHEREAS, on April 4, 2005, the Nationals played their first 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 Memorial 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 efforts such as helping fund the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and the Pediatric Diabetes Care Complex at Children’s National Medical Center;

 

WHEREAS, on October 1, 2012, the Nationals clinched their first ever National League East Division Title;

 

WHEREAS, the Nationals currently have the best record in Major League Baseball, have won more than 95 games, and have better than a .600 winning percentage;

 

WHEREAS, this is the first time since 1933 that a Major League Baseball team from the nation’s capital has made the postseason;

 

WHEREAS, this season marks the first time since 1969 that a baseball team from Washington has had a winning season; and

 

WHEREAS, a great deal of gratitude and appreciation goes to Mr. Theodore Lerner and the Lerner family, Nationals general manager, Mike Rizzo, Nationals manager, Davey Johnson, the Nationals staff and administrators, and, of course, the 40 players that make up the Washington Nationals, the 2012 National League East Division Champions.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Washington Nationals National League East Division Champions Recognition Resolution of 2012”.

 

            Sec. 2.  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. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.