Davey Johnson Takes Over As Washington Nationals Manager

When Jim Riggleman stunned the Washington Nationals universe Thursday by quitting on a red-hot team that just went over the .500 mark after a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners that was their ninth with in 10 games, it left the team without a manager heading into Chicago for a game the next night.

Washington solved that by naming bench coach John McLaren the interim manager. McLaren once managed the Mariners for almost an entire year and was replaced by Riggleman, who was his bench coach at that time.

What irked many Washingtonians was the perceived selfishness of Riggleman, who grew up in the area and knows of the city's struggles to maintain a baseball team the past 50 years. The Nationals, who have been here since 2005, are the third team since 1961.

Riggleman was upset at the series of three one-year contracts he signed in 2009.

He admitted he was no Casey Stengel shortly after he quit the Nationals, which is easily seen by his three previous managerial jobs. Late in 1992, he was hired by the San Diego Padres and had a .385 winning percentage in his three years.

After losing that job, he would get hired immediately by the Chicago Cubs. He lasted five years with them, posting a career best .472 winning percentage. Though the Cubs finished second in 1998, that would be the best a Riggleman-led team would ever fare.


He was hired again by the Mariners for 90 games in 2008 but won only 36 contests. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo hired him to oversee a team beginning to grow up.

Current Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta had been continuing the job inaugural manager and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson started but was fired midway through 2009.

Riggleman, who now says he will never sign a one-year contract again, was the bench coach and ultimately promoted. The young Nationals grew up under his watch as Rizzo deftly added key veterans into the mix.

Not every Rizzo move has been golden. This season alone has seen veterans Rick Ankiel spend most of his season injured while Adam LaRoche was hurt in spring training and was shelved for the year after gutting it out for 43 games. But the rest of the team has given every indication the future is bright.

Rookies like second baseman Danny Espinosa and catcher Wilson Ramos join second-year shortstop Ian Desmond to give the team a great middle in their defense that could rule baseball one day. Espinosa and Ramos are considered front-runners for this year's Rookie of the Year award.

They helped the team set a club record for most consecutive errorless innings this season already, which was accomplished with Gold Glove third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on injured reserve. Zimmerman is only 26 himself and is the face of the franchise.


Michael Morse, a former shortstop, has filled in seamlessly for LaRoche and is a full-time player for the first time in his career. Their play has helped a team that really has not hit the baseball as well as expected this year.

Jayson Werth came to Washington this year after signing a seven-year contract for $126 million but hasn't hit much and has had to help the team in other areas.

The pitching has been the key. The staff was the last in baseball to not go at least five innings, and the back end of the bullpen is one of the best in baseball thanks to Tyler Clippard, Todd Coffey and Drew Storen. Storen is just 23, and Clippard is 26 years old.

The staff is expected to get even better when phenom Stephen Strasburg returns from Tommy John surgery next year to help 25-year-old Jordan Zimmermann give the Nationals an exciting top of the rotation.

So Riggleman's act caught all by surprise. It was a move that could cost him future jobs after watching him bail on his hometown team. His loyalty will be questioned from now on, let alone his devotion and true priorities if another organization ever considers hiring him.

Rizzo said he wanted to hire someone immediately. The name most bandied about was Davey Johnson.


His winning percentage with the New York Mets is .588, putting Johnson among the city’s greatest managers: Joe McCarthy, Miller Huggins, John McGraw and Billy Martin are the only managers in New York with better winning percentages.

Johnson has seen and done it all as a player and manager since he arrived to the majors in 1965. He has won Gold Gloves, gone to All-Star games and won a pair of championships as a player.

As a manager, he has won a title and been to five League Championship Series while winning 1,148 games in 12 seasons. He joined the Nationals as an adviser in 2009 and has not managed since 2000.

Some are concerned if he is healthy enough to do the job, yet Johnson has not indicated yet what his interests are so far beyond this season.

His having spent many years in the area might have given reason for him to take the job. Johnson attended Johns Hopkins University and played eight years for the Baltimore Orioles. He also managed the Orioles for two years and was named Manager of the Year before resigning in 1997. The Nationals also have other men in their organization to consider.

Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone managed both the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds after a playing career that accrued a world championship, four All-Star games and seven Gold Gloves over 19 years.


Then there is one of Johnson's best friends that may have been considered for the manager's job.

Ray Knight is a former player who also won a championship and appeared in All-Star games. He replaced Johnson as manager of the Reds in 1996 and had to deal with the team's eccentric ownership until leaving after 1997.

Knight has been a broadcaster for the Nationals since the team started in Washington and has had a front row seat on the teams growth. He often says Zimmermann is the best fielding third baseman since Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, a position Knight knows expertly because he replaced Pete Rose at the position as a player in 1977.

Now that Johnson has the job, there will be the question if Knight will be lured to the bench to be by his friends side again like he was with the Reds in 1995.

Knight truly bleeds the Nationals red, white and blue, so he might be the perfect hire because he is familiar with the players and knows how to give the teams network the ultimate amount of access to the team without invading the players privacy.

It is a hot job to take right now. Not just because the team is on fire but because the young players future could one day bring Washington their first World Series title since 1924.

The team has also showed a toughness that belies their youth. Less than 24 hours after Riggleman left the organization, the team faced the White Sox and beat them 9-5 in 14 innings.

Business as usual for the Nats, something Johnson wants to keep going.

Washington Nationals Nab Respect by Outworking Others

Having completed an old fashioned double-header over the weekend, the Washington Nationals get set to complete three games in a 24-hour span.

Sitting at 9-8 right now, a record good enough to sit on top of the N.L. Central, few notice because the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves dominate the N.L. East ink.

Yet the Nationals are playing a scrappy kind of baseball that is old school, where they aggressively outwork their opponents to scrape out wins.

Want to see a double steal? Going first to third? Hit and run play? Having guys you'd never expect much of on the basepaths stealing bags? The Nationals are doing that.

They are also the only team in the National League to have all of their starting pitchers go at least five innings every game thus far. Then a bullpen led by Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen comes on and is lights out.

They have been doing this without the best third baseman in baseball, their leader Ryan Zimmerman. He has been on injured reserve, but is expected to resume playing somewhere in the next 10 days.

The pitching, a nice surprise so far, has not had the services of staff ace Stephen Strasburg all year and it is likely they will not until 2012 because he is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Jordan Zimmermann, coming off his own Tommy John procedure, is showing great promise.

The youngsters are the big reason for the Nationals good start. Rookie catcher Wilson Ramos has quietly been pushing future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez to the bench by batting .364 and showing off an excellent throwing arm.

But the big boost has come from rookie second baseman Danny Espinosa. Despite batting leadoff lately, he leads the team with 15 RBI's and has shown himself to have a very solid glove. Espinosa and second-year shortstop Ian Desmond are expected to lock up the middle of the Nationals defense for at least the next decade.

Espinosa leads all rookies in RBI's and is tied for the second most in the National League. He is also tied for the most triples in the National League. This all has been done despite the fact many of his teammates bats have not warmed up yet.

With two leading candidates for Rookie of the Year, solid starting pitching, and excellent work from the end of the bullpen, the Nationals are putting baseball on notice that they will not be an easy win this year.

With phenoms like Bryce Harper developing in the minors, the future looks real bright for the Nats. Zimmerman is the face of the franchise at just 26-years old, while flashing the best leather in the hot corner since the days of Brooks Robinson.

Five games in three days was not something Washington expected, but they have shown people that to no longer expect a doormat in the Nations Capitol anymore. They will take chances, but the Nationals will not stop working to get on top of their division after many years spent on the bottom.

Can Chris Henry Inspire The Bengals To The Super Bowl?

Death is the only guarantee in life, and the game of football is not exempt from this reality.

There have been quite a few people associated with the game who passed away during a season. The impact of their deaths has varied throughout the history of the game, but most remember the teams that rallied in memory of their fallen comrade.

When the Washington Redskins lost safety Sean Taylor in 2007, because he was murdered, the team was struggling along at a 5-6 record. They dedicated the rest of the season in his memory and finished the year 9-7, which was good enough to make the playoffs. The Redskins clinched the berth by beating their arch rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, by 21 points. The same number which happened to be Taylor's jersey number.

Chuck Hughes is the only player who actually passed away on the gridiron during a game. The Detroit Lions were 4-1 and hosting the Chicago Bears in the 1972 season.

Hughes, a Lions wide receiver, had caught a 32 yard ball earlier in the game, but the Bears held a five point lead late into the fourth quarter. He died running a pass route, and the Bears ended up winning the game. Detroit never recovered from his death, and won just three more games the rest of the year.

The Minnesota Vikings reached the NFC Championship game in 2000, helped by offensive right tackle Korey Stringer's first Pro Bowl year. He passed away on the practice field before the next season began, and the Vikings won just five games that year.

This current season marks the first time the team has won 11 games since Stringer's final season, and just their third playoffs appearance. They had made the playoffs five straight years up until 2000.

When Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jerome Brown died before the 1992 season started, the Philadelphia Eagles had their best overall statistical season since their 1980 Super Bowl season. Though they lost in the second round of the playoffs, most Eagles fans remember it being the last time quarterback Randall Cunningham led them to a winning season before his career experienced a temporary rebirth with the 1998 Vikings.

The Eagles are currently going through the emotions of trying to deal with another death in their family this season. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away just before the season began. He was considered one of the best coaching minds in the game, and had sent players to 26 Pro Bowls in his ten years with the team.

The Eagles are currently in first place in the NFC East with two games left to play. The team obviously misses Johnson, ranking 15th in points allowed, but is on a mission to finish this season strong in his honor.

There is no raw statistics to prove where a team has success or failure after death becomes a part of their locker room. Some teams crumble, while others have pulled together on a common bond of trying to make the season special so their friends are not forgotten.

Cincinnati went to San Diego this past Sunday with the burden of a heavy heart from the sudden and recent death of wide receiver Chris Henry. Needing the win to secure the AFC North crown, players could be seen visibly in tears during a pregame tribute for Henry. The Bengals wound up losing due to a last second field goal by the Chargers, their second straight defeat.

The Bengals have been a team that has relied on creating turnovers while holding onto the football themselves. Their +24 giveaway/ takeaway ratio is currently the best in the NFL. Running a well balanced team that is equally adept in the run and pass on both sides of the ball, the team is well built for a run deep into the playoffs. Their lack of postseason experience may be the one hindrance they will face.

But Chris Henry may provide them a focal point to assemble a unified front in their goal to get the Bengals the first Super Bowl trophy in the franchises history.

Teams need momentum going into the playoffs, so it will be interesting to see how Cincinnati handles the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets in the final two games of the year. The sadness on Henry's passing will still be there, but it is up to the entire Bengals roster to leave him a memorial that will last in the Queen City for years to come.

THE MESSAGE

Peeling off that crusty and stained boa feather, it is once again time for POINTLESS PONDERING. That unretiring showgirl pulling her nipples out of her socks.



It is tough to say goodbye for some. Sports is not exempt from this. We have seen guys like Muhammed Ali hang on too long, and guys like Jim Brown get out ahead of the game.


Sports has said farewell to a few lately in different ways.


John Madden got off the bus, and now will chill at home full time. Madden was known as an intense coach in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, an actor in several commercials, a long time sports journalist, and a video game mogul.




The Onion is a humor "news"paper. They did a tribute to Madden by doing timeline on him. Many were funny, but the one I liked best said, "1936: Mary Margaret Madden feels what she believes is her child kicking, but is in actuality her unborn son John eating his twin brother."






There are rumblings about the return of Brett Farve




Teams know what they get with him as far as an experienced Hall of Fame bound player. There is that much talked about moxie and flare. There are other opinions, but let's just stick with facts. In 273 regular season games, Favre has coughed up the ball 376 times to the opposition. That is an average of 1.4 turnovers per game. I just hope Vinny Cerrato, of the Washington Redskins, isn't trying to convince owner Dan Snyder to sign him. Still, I wish Brett well. It is America, and he should play as long as both he and any interested team wants it to happen.




I almost feel like waving adios to the Washington Nationals already. Has ANYONE even noticed that Ryan Zimmerman is in the midst of an electric 29 game hitting streak? It is the second longest by any third baseman in the history of major league baseball. I have been a fan of this man since the day he put on a Nationals uniform. He has the best glove in thre hot corner since Brooks Robinson, the greatest ever. The Nationals may not be winning much, but they aren't selling many seats in their ballpark either. This is how D.C. has lost two baseball teams already. It is time for the Nationals public relations department to get busy, because this is a rare feat that Zimmerman is achieving at present time.



Then there are departures through mortality itself.

Here are a few recent partings that has me thankful for the moments shared, and saddened by the realization there will be no more.


Goodbye Dom DeLuise aka Captain Chaos






Peace Harry Kalas


Harry and Ritchie Are Back Together Again








A Bike Ride Is Ending, But The Mission Continues. Spread the Word!

http://www.orphanagefundraiser.com/

The Kids Still Need Our Help!




My friend did an interview with me recently, and I might put some of it in this blog. He is on tour, so grab a ticket for yourself if he heads your way.






MY Favorite Instrumental By Him



Well, it's that time to make like a baby and head out. Like they say on Ol' Mexico = A.M.F.

Wanna See Something Ugly?

Baseball begins this weekend, and I am in a fantasy league with the legendary Bartolis.

Played fantasy baseball for the first time last year, and think I finished last..or pretty darn near it.

I expect to keep that going this year.

MY fantasy team :


SP: Brandon Webb - Dude has been solid...one of my top players probably.
SP: Clayton Kershaw - Kid is a stud. Future ace...hoping he's ready now.
SP: Hiroki Kuroda - I have no idea what to expect from him.
SP: Jordan Zimmermann - A front runner for N.L. R.O.Y.

P: Andy Pettitte - I hope he has something left.
P: Scott Olsen - Dude eats up innings.

RP: B.J. Ryan - They say he has arm woes right now. Uh oh.
RP: George Sherrill - has had a bad spring, and might lose his closer job.




C: Jesus Flores - A future All Star.
1B: Casey Kotchman - If he stays healthy, he might be OK.
2B: Chase Utley - A stud. Hope he keeps it going.
SS: Mike Young - Carries a good stick in a launching pad ballpark.
3B: Ryan Zimmerman - I'm sure he will explode this year. Contract year.
OF: Ichiro Suzuki - I don't know his fantasy worth, but I like him.
OF: Jay Bruce - He will be a star. Just hope it's now.
OF: David Murphy - Another Ranger in that tiny ballpark.
OF: Adam Jones - He is ready to bust out.

Utility: Dave Ortiz - Hope Big Popi can get some big pops.
Utility: Carlos Guillen - Can hit in his sleep.


BENCH:

SS: Christian Guzman - Hoping he will play like last year.
OF: Fred Lewis - A future Giants leader.
OF: Garrett Anderson - Took the old pro for his stick.
2B: Ronnie Belliard - Dude can hit, when healthy.
1B: Kyle Blanks - Stashing him just in case he plays. Has huge power.








OK, Let me get my baseball predictions for 2009 out of the way:


AL EAST

1. Red Sox - I think Bay will fill the Manny void really well, the only thing I wonder if the bullpen up until Papelbon. But it's in better shape than most teams...so why nitpick?

2. Rays - I LIKE this squad. I think they have what it takes to get the wild card too. I see a 3-way battle this year...and I think the Rays will get it done to move on. They also have that great farm system.

3. Yankees - Ted Stepien (former Cav's owner) showed that money can't buy you love. Burnett pitching a whole season is questionable, in my eyes. Word is that Rivera has lost a yard off his heat too. Jeter is on his last legs, and is a liability in the field. Heck, there's a lot of oldsters in the field with fat wallets. I just don't see it...but I could be wrong.

4. Blue Jays - Cito doesn't have the same roster he had his first time around, but it's not bad. I think the Jays will push for a spot in the top three for quite a few months this year. They even have the skill set to stay there.

5. Orioles - Until Peter Angelos dies or sells, this is their spot. Good news is there are young players again, and the farm is trying to build. I'm not in love with the rotation, but the pen is maybe the best in the division. Adam Jones is primed to explode this year, making the Bedard trade look even better.




AL CENTRAL

1. Twins - I like the kids here. I can see them getting over the hump this year, making the future look even more promising.

2. White Sox - I think Ozzie will make sure these guys are competitive.

3. Indians - They have the talent to win it all, especially if Westbrook stays healthy.

4. Tigers - I don't like their pitching enough, and they seem like a bunch of under achievers as a whole to me. I could be wrong easily though.

5. Royals - They are building something in KC, and have enough talent to do well. IF that pitching staff can stay healthy and gel, they can make a push.




AL WEST

1. Angels - They are the best in this division by far, even minus K-Rod.

2. A's - I might be crazy here, but I'm liking the power on this squad.

3. Rangers - If they ever pitch, they will win the division with all their great sticks. Kinsler might be the best second baseman in baseball.

4. Mariners - Rebuilding takes time.




NL EAST


1. Mets - Just a feeling.

2. Phillies - Will win the wild card, and could win it all again.

3. Nationals - I am pulling a homer move here. I think Zimmerman and Zimmermann will be huge this year. Flores is a budding All Star, and the pitching staff is in better shape than last year. IF Dukes, Kearns, Milledge, and Willingham can hit, then Dunn can play more 1B. Unless Nick Johnson decides to play 162 games. IF Johnson lasts, he hits .280+...then the OF is strong. The only question will be second base. This team will score more runs, and might actually pitch too.

4. Braves - Rebuilding on the fly is hard to do.

5. Marlins - Cheap owners and no fans. It might get ugly down there.




NL CENTRAL

1. Cubs - I think the team will get that love they have been seeking. Pinella is the right man to give it.

2. Cardinals - Pujols alone gives you a chance to win.

3. Reds - LIKING this squad. PITCHING plus. Then there's the youngsters. I think they make the run.

4. Astros - I can't figure these guys out yet, so guessing here.

5. Brewers - I think they are either going to blow up...or hold it together. Not sure which one yet.

6. Pirates - I will not say a word.




NL WEST

1. Dodgers - They should win it if they pitch well.

2. Rockies - I can see an improvement this year.

3. Diamondbacks - The top three teams in this division are all capable of winning it.

4. Giants - They are improving yearly.

5. Padres - The rebuilding will happen after the divorce settlement, I guess.




AL Pennant

Boston



NL Pennant

Cubs



World Series

Too bad the Boston has won something already, so we can't call it the "Sad Sap Series". But, now that the BoSox have gotten two rings....I think they will get a third in a helluva 7 games series.





But then again...I am a last place fantasy baseball participant...so what do I know?

Chocolate City Professional Sports History

Washington D.C. is known as the capitol of the United States to all, but there is more to this little city that is 12 miles wide and 10 miles long. It's conception was born from a conversation between future President James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and founder of the U.S. Mint, while dining at the home of another future President (Thomas Jefferson) in 1790. It was initially planned to be shaped as a diamond by architects Charles L'Enfant and Benjamin Banneker and measure 10 miles on each side. Many may not know that D.C. was built over swamp land (locals do from the summer humidity). The city has gone through many changes since then. It survived being burned, along with the White House, Capitol, Treasury building and Navy Yard after a British invasion in 1814 in retaliation for America burning down York (now known as Toronto), Canada. Many of D.C.'s own citizens contributed to the fire, so that the British wouldn't take possession of properties. There have been countless other occurrences besides protest marches, riots, and failed invasions. George Washington referred to the city as Federal City and rarely visited, despite only living about 8 miles from it in Mount Vernon, Virginia. D.C, has always been run by the Federal government. It wasn't until 1973 that they allowed the city to elect a elected mayor, whose name coincidentally was Walter Washington. It is a transient city to some. Many come and go with the administrations elected, as well as government workers and contractors. Yet, through all of the marches, protests, tourists and temporary citizens, D.C. is a great city thanks to its native residents. Sports has had an erratic, but important role in every day life.


Since the 1870's, baseball has had teams come and go (a recurring theme) in D.C. Teams named the Statesmen, Senators, and Nationals all played for brief periods of time until the turn of the century, when the National League disbanded a version of the Senators in 1900. In 1901 the Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) were born when the newly formed American League decided to place a team in the nations capitol. This team employed such Hall of Fame players like Sam Rice, Bucky Harris, Goose Goslin, Heinie Manush, and Joe Cronin. The team was terrible its first few seasons, once losing 113 games in 1904. In 1905, the teams owners tried to rename the team the Nationals, but the move was so resisted by the locals that they switched it back to the Senators. Fortunes began to turn in 1907, when a 19 year old pitcher came to D.C. His name was Walter Johnson. Johnson would soon be called "The Big Train". Johnson threw the ball harder than anyone in all of baseball at the time. His frisbee like delivery also made it hard to pick up the ball until too late. In 1910, Johnson struck out 313 batter, while compiling a paltry E.R.A. of 1.36. Johnson would win 33 games in 1912, then 36 in 1913 with an E.R.A. of 1.14! The Senators improved yearly, then finally won its lone World Series in 1924 over the heavily favored New York Giants in 7 games when Johnson, pitching on 1 days rest, held the Giants scoreless for 4 innings until the Senators scored the winning run when a ground ball deflected off of a pebble over the Giants 3rd baseman's head in the 12th inning. It is called the greatest World Series Game 7 ever by many. In 1925, the Senators returned to the World Series, but lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Johnson retied after 1927, accumulating 417 wins and 3, 509 strikeouts (a record that stood for over 50 years), with an E.R.A. of 2.17 in 5914.2 innings pitched to go with 34 saves. Johnson (also nicknamed "Barney") led the league in wins in 1913-16, 18, 24, and in strike outs in 1910, 12-19, 21, 23-24. He was the Most Valuable Player Award in 1913 and '24. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936. He amassed 110 shutouts, the most ever. His 38 1-0 wins are an all-time record. 65 of his losses were by shutouts, 26 of them by 1-0 scores (both records). Johnson would return to the team as a manager to help a team mired in a losing slump of a few years and lead them to 3rd place finish, but was fired after the season. In 1933, led by player- manager Joe Cronin, the Senators returned to the World Series. They lost to the New York Giants. The team then would begin a swoon and endured losing seasons until 1960, when they would move to Minnesota. In 1957, Hall of Famer Joe Black played 1 season in Washington. 1959 saw Harmon Killebrew, the Senators last Hall of Famer, slug 42 home runs to be the last Senator from this incarnation to lead the league in a major category. This franchise was also the inspiration for the movie, "Damn Yankees".
In 1961, D.C. was awarded an expansion team to replace the old team now known as the Twins. This team was also called the Senators. This team was led by a 10 man committee of ownership and none knew anything about baseball. Most worked in government. This team averaged 90 losses a season in its brief existence. The owners made a serious error by only having the team involved in a 10 year lease in RFK stadium. In 1971, the Senators announced they were moving to Texas, and would be renamed the Rangers. This outraged fans and D.C. citizens. In the teams final game versus the Yankees, the security guards walked off the job early into the game. The paid attendance of 14,000 swelled to 25,000 non paying spectators. With 2 outs in the ninth, and the Senators up 7-5, the fans stormed the field. The game was awarded to the Yankees 9-0 due to forfeit. The teams highlights were Frank Howard leading the league twice in home runs. Their only winning season would be the year the Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams, was hired as manager in 1969. The team went 86-76. Williams stayed with the team in its move until he left after the 1972 season. This franchise would not approach that record again until their 6th year in Texas.
It would not be until 2005 that Washington D.C. would have another Major League baseball team. The Montreal Expos, then owned by MLB, were moved to D.C. and were renamed the Nationals. The new ownership still keeps the Expos records, but has put their retired numbers back into circulation. The team went .500 in its inaugural season, and has hovered just below that in the 2 seasons that followed. The teams first manager was Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who was replaced by Manny Acosta after 2006. The face of this franchise is 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
The Homestead Grays adopted D.C. as its "home away from home" in the late 1930's until the Negro Leagues disbanded in 1950. Such Hall of Fame players like Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, Ray Brown, Jud Wilson, as well as owner Come* (*TSN won't let me use the U : his actual name!) Posey, graced D.C.
In 1923, the Washington Potomacs played in the Eastern Colored League. They also played in Wilmington, Delaware and were known as the Rosedales briefly that one season.
In 1932, the Washington Pilots joined the East-West League and compiled a 15-37 record before the team, and league, went defunct. The team featured the Negro Leagues All Time Home Run king, and Hall of Famer George "Mule" Settles. Jesse "Nip" Winters, considered to be one of the best pitchers in all negro leagues baseball history, was also on the team.
In 1936, the Washington Elite Giants played two seasons in D.C. That team boasted Hall of Famer Roy Campanella in its final year.
In 1938, the Washington Black Senators lasted 15 games in the Negro National League, winning 2 games.
The Washington Glory is a woman's softball team that joined the National Pro Fastpitch league in 2007, and won the leagues championship.


Basketball has long been considered a primary sport in D.C. Such luminaries like Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing, Adrian Dantley, Thurl Bailey, Kenny Carr, Jerome Williams, Kermit Washington, John Thompson Jr., and many, many more D.C. natives have played at the NBA level.
The Washington Capitols were D.C.'s first pro team. They joined the Basketball Association of America in 1946. Their first coach was legendary Hall of Famer Arnold "Red" Auerbach, who had played his college basketball at D.C.'s George Washington University. Led by star players (and later head coaches of the team), Horace "Bones" McKinney and Bob Feerick, the team had a 17 game winning steak (a record that stood for 23 years) in its inaugural season. The 1948-49 season saw the Capitols start the season by winning a record (that still stands and tied with the 1993-94 Houston Rockets) 15 games in a row. That team reached the Finals, but lost to the George Mikan - led Minneapolis Lakers. The next year the BAA merged with rival league, National Basketball League, to become the NBA. Auerbachs proposals for roster changes were deterred by the owner, so Red resigned and went on to greater things. The first black player to play in the NBA, Hall of Famer Earl Lloyd,played for the Capitols in the 1950 season after being drafted in the 9th round. The Capitols went defunct after the 1951 season, which featured Hall of Famer Bill Sharman. The teams .817 winning percentage in its inaugural season still ranks in the NBA's top ten of All Time best winning percentages. Coincidentally, the teams colors were green and white, the same as Auerbachs Boston Celtics.
The Washington Bullets moved from Baltimore to Landover, Maryland in 1973 and were named the Capital Bullets. In 1974, they were named the Washington Bullets. They won one NBA title in 1977-78. They also made 2 other NBA Finals appearances, losing to the Golden State Warriors and Seattle Super Sonics. Such Hall of Famers like Wes Unseld, Elvin "The Big E" Hayes, Earl "The Peal" Monroe, and Moses Malone wore Bullets uniforms in Washington. Other greats, like Phil Chenier, Bobby Dandridge, Mitch Richmond, Jeff Ruland, and Bernard King also did. In 1995, the Bullets name was changed to the Wizards. Such greats like Michael Jordan have worn this jersey, as has Richard "Rip" Hamilton and several other current NBA players.
Wes Unseld is one of only 2 players (Wilt Chamberlain) to have won both the NBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.
The Washington Mystics are a WNBA team formed in 1998. They have led the league in attendance in 1998 through 2000 and from 2002 through 2004. Maryland University legend and Olympic Gold Medalist Vicky Bullett was once a member of the team. They have made the WNBA playoffs 4 times, They lost in the first round 3 of those times, and the conference finals the other time. Newly drafted Crystal Langhorne, is also a legend at Maryland University. She broke most of Bulletts records and is the first player in the University of Maryland's history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds for either the men's or women's basketball teams histories.


Football may be the most beloved professional sport in Washington. The Redskins came to D.C. from Boston in 1937 due to lack of fan support, even though they had won the NFL Championship (led by Hall of Famers Cliff Battles, Wayne Milner, and Turk Edwards) 2 seasons before and lost in the NFL Championship the following season. Hall of Famer "Slingin" Sammy Baugh was signed that year. While most teams hardly passed the football, the Redskins used it as their primary weapon as Baugh is hailed as the man who perfected the passing game and moved the NFL forward. Baugh also was a NFL record setting punter and played cornerback as well. Baugh led the Redskins to a NFL Championship win over the Chicago Bears in his first season. The teams met again for the 1940 Championship, where the Bears smashed the Redskins 73-0. The teams met yet again in the 1942 Championship, this time the Redskins won and spoiled the Bears run for a perfect season. The teams met for the final time in the 1943 Championship and the Bears won. The Redskins then would appear in their final NFL Championship in 1945 and lost to the Cleveland Rams. Baugh retired after the 1952 season with many NFL records. His passing records are now broken, but his 4 interceptions in one game as a cornerback still stands. His season punting average of 51. 4 (1940) still stands as well. Baugh was a 9 time All Pro and one of Cantons first inductees. He is a member of the 1940's NFL All Decade team and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins. He is the only Redskin to have his number (33) officially retired. Baugh and Sid Luckman careers are the only players from that era in which todays passer ratings apply.
The Redskins would then go 27 years before getting to a championship game, now called the Super Bowl. In 1966, the highest scoring game was played between the Redskins and New York Giants. The Redskins won 72-41. Many Hall of Famers played on the organization during that time such as Charley Taylor, Sonny Jurgenson, Bobby Mitchell, Sam Huff, Paul Krause, Bill Dudley and Stan Jones. Hall of Famers like Ray Flaherty, Otto Graham, Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, George Allen and Joe Gibbs have been head coaches of the Redskins. Hall of Famers Charley Taylor, Mike McCormack, and Emmitt Thomas have been assistant coaches in the organization. In 1972, coached by George Allen, the Redskins were led by the Over The Hill Gang to Super Bowl VII before falling the the Miami Dolphins 14-7. Such great players like Chris Hanburger, Jerry Smith, Taylor, Harold McClinton, Jack Pardee, Brig Owens, Ron McDole, Diron Talbert, Bill Brundige, Jurgenson, Billy Kilmer, Larry Brown, Pat Fischer, Mike Bass, Rusty Tillman, and Len Hauss was on that team and are all members of the 70 Greatest Redskins team. Hall of Famer Deacon Jones was a member of the 1974 Redskins, and Hall of Famer Ken Houston (considered to be the best SS to ever play) was on the team from 1973-80. George Allen was the first to hire a special teams coach (Dick Vermeil for the LA Rams, then Marv Levy for the Redskins). The Redskin/ Cowboy rivalry was introduced to NFL during this time. The team continued to make the play offs many years, but did not return to the Super Bowl until second year coach Joe Gibbs led the Redskins, in 1982-83, to a victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. Hall of Famers like John Riggins and Art Monk were on that team. Such great terms now commonly known were invented during the Gibbs era. Gibbs invented the 2 tight end set with an H-back in motion. Joe Bugel coached up the best offensive line in football then : The Hogs. Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic, Mark May, and George Starke were the original members and all are members of the 70 Greatest Redskins. Riggins, along with tight ends Don Warren and Clint Didier were "Honerary Hogs". The Smurfs and the Fun Bunch were two different groups of receivers during that era which excelled. The Redskins would draft Hall of Famer Darrell Green after the '82 season. The Redskins Dynasty would last a decade. 4 Super Bowl appearances between 1983 - 92. 3 wins (Miami, Denver, Buffalo) and 1 loss (Los Angeles Raiders). The Redskins set NFL records for scoring in a season (541-since broken), as well as Riggins scoring a then record 24 rushing touchdowns. In Super Bowl XXII, Doug Williams set a Super Bowl record of 4 passing touchdowns in one quarter, and Timmy Smith set a record for accumulating 204 yards rushing. Many great players passed through this era. Joe Theisman, Jim Lachey, Ed Simmons, Raleigh McKenzie, Gary Clark, Brian Mitchell, Mike Nelms, Dexter Manley, Charles Mann, Joe Washington, Ricky Sanders, Williams, Mark Murphy, Mark Moseley, Wilbur Marshall, Monte Coleman, Dave Butz, Earnest Byner, Gerald Riggs, George Rogers, Terry Allen, and many more. Most of these listed players are on the 70 Greatest Redskin Team. Gibbs retired after 1993 and the teams fortunes began to fade. Under present ownership, there has been a coaching carousel (including a brief return by Gibbs), as well as bad drafting and other extremely poor personnel decisions that have contributed to the Redskins non appearances in Super Bowls since 1991. Still, at present time, the Redskins are the NFL's 2nd most valuable franchise and valued well over a billion dollars.
The Washington Federals were created in 1983 and joined the United States Football League. They lasted until 1984. The team had the worst attendance in the league and their owner called them "trained gerbils" after selling them with 6 games left in the 1984 season. They won only 7 out of 36 games. They would move to Orlando in 1985 and be renamed the Renegades. They, and the league, folded after that season. Such notable NFL players like "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam, Craig James, Coy Bacon (who had 130 sacks in his 14 year NFL career), and CFL Hall of Famer Ron Estay played for the Federals.
The D.C. Divas are a woman's tackle football team that was formed in 2001, joining the National Woman's Football Association. They were mostly dominant in the regular seasons they played, winning the 2006 championship game. The team then joined the Independent Womans Football League in 2007. They finished that season 8-1, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
D.C. Explosion is a minor league men's football team that has existed since 2001. They have won the 2006 and 2007 USA Bowl Division 1 AAA National Championships.


Hockey has, for the most part, been the 4th sport in D.C. The Washington Capitals were formed in 1974, joining the NHL. The "Caps" have mostly been at the bottom in their divisions throughout the history of the franchise. They did make on Stanley Cup Finals in 1998, where they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Hall of Famers Rod Langway, Scott Stevens, Mike Gartner, and Larry Murphy all spent many years in a Capitals jersey. Other notable players who were part of the organization are Yvon Labre, Bob Carpenter (1st American to score 50 goals in a season), Sergei Gonchar, Olaf Kolzig, Jaromir Jagr, Peter Bondra, Dale Hunter, Kevin Hatcher, Robert Lang, Adam Oates, Dino Ciccarelli, and Dennis Maruk. The teams recent fortunes and future have turned much brighter when they drafted the top player in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin, in 2004.
The Potomac Mavericks joined the Professional Inline Hockey Association in 2008 and are currently in 4th place in their division.


Soccer has always had a decent following thanks, in part, to its popularity in the D.C. Metro area. The Washington Diplomats were formed in 1974 and joined the North American Soccer League. This incarnation lasted until 1980. They made the playoffs 3 times. After they folded after the 1979 season, the Detroit Express moved to Washington and were renamed the Diplomats. They only lasted one season and lost in their only playoff game in 1981.
In 1988, another team came to Washington as part of the American Soccer League. They also were named the Diplomats. They lasted until 1990.
D.C. United was formed in 1995. They are one of the ten founding members of Major League Soccer. The team has been popular in the area and enjoyed many successes. They have won the MLS Cup 4 times (1996,'97, 99, 2004), the MLS Supporters Shield 4 times (1997, 99, 2006, '07), the US Open Cup (1996), the CONCACAF Champions Cup (1998 ), and the InterAmerican Cup in 1998. Many casual fans may best remember them as the team who signed 14 year old Freddy Adu to a huge contract in 2004. Adu is the youngest player to appear in a United States professional sporting event since 1887.
The Washington Freedom is a woman's soccer team that was formed in 2001 and is part of the United States Leagues W-League currently. They initially joined the Woman's United Soccer Association in 2001 until 2003, when the league folded. That team featured Mia Hamm and won the 2003 WUSA Founders Cup Championship. From 2004 to 2005, the team played exhibition matches. In 2006, they joined their current league and won the 2007 championship.

Lacrosse is popular in the area, and D.C. has hosted professional team, the Washington Bayhawks, since 2007. They are part of Major League Lacrosse. They were very successful in Baltimore from 2001-06, having won 2 championships in 4 finals appearances.
The Washington Wave were members of both the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1987 to 1989. They appeared, and lost, in 2 championship games.


Rugby is also a sport that does pretty well in D.C. The Washington Football Club is a SuperLeague rugby union team since 1963. They are the founders of D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival, which started in 1966. The club has won many championships in different divisions throughout their existence. They also host the Potomac Rugby League.
The Washington D.C. Slayers are a semi-pro rugby team that was formed in 2003 and play in the American National Rugby League.

Cricket also has a pro league since 1974 called the Washington Cricket League. There are 28 clubs consisting on 923 members currently.

D.C. also hosts 2 annual marathons: the National Marathon and Marine Corps Marathon.
The city also hosts the annual Leggs Mason Pro Tennis Championships.


As you can see = there is much more to do than visit the monuments, museums, zoo, and other popular points of interest. Washington D.C. has a rich sports history that holds a very strong bond with its citizens. So, if you come to D.C., don't just bring a camera or buy a tourist map. Take a look around and envelop its great people and the traditions.