Washington Nationals (NA)
Encyclopedia
The Washington Nationals were the first important baseball club in the nation's capital. They played part of one season or parts of two seasons in the National Association
, the first professional league, so they are considered a major league team by those who count the NA as a major league
. Several baseball clubs in Washington have used the historic name Nationals; indeed, there is disagreement whether the 1872 and 1875 NA members should be considered the same club.
, the darling of the spectators. Young Gorham quickly rose to stardom on the not-too-brilliant Nationals." (Gorman later became a senator
from Maryland
.) In the summer of 1865 the Nationals invited the Philadelphia Athletics and Brooklyn Atlantics
, two of the major teams of the era, to Washington, losing to the former 87-12 and to the latter 34-19, before 6,000 spectators, including President Johnson
. They "jealously guarded their amateur status by refusing all payments, including travel expenses."
By 1867, the Nationals were much improved, and the new national network of railroads prompted them "to do the previously unthinkable by becoming the first Eastern team to venture west of the Alleghenies." They defeated the best the locals had to offer, crushing Columbus 90-10, the Cincinnati Red Stockings
53-10, and the Cincinnati Buckeyes
88-12, beating Louisville, Indianapolis, and St. Louis as well before falling to the Rockford Forest Citys
(with future Hall of Famer Albert Spalding
) 29-23. The Nats ended the road trip the next day by beating the Chicago Excelsiors 49-4. The "considerable expenses" of the tour were made possible by generous
sponsors and "by the indulgence of the Treasury Department."
Washington was one of the early homes of commercialism:
in Washington, D.C.
. They lost all 11 games before going out of business.
The manager
was 21-year-old Joe Miller, a native of Germany
. Their top hitter was second baseman
Holly Hollingshead
, who went 15-for-44, a batting average
of .341.
was again their top hitting regular, though with a much lower batting average
of .247. He was also one of the club's managers
, along with Bill Parks
.
The Washingtons went out of business in St. Louis, Missouri
, after playing the local Red Stockings
on July 3 and July 4. Next day the players announced by telegraph that a club official had absconded with the funds but (Ryczek 1992: 194) concludes that "the tale had been planted by the players in an effort to find enough good samaritans to foot the bill for the trip home". The club probably failed by "unappealing play" and consequent receipts too small to support travel. On the final trip, they lost two in Philadelphia and five of six in St. Louis. The final game was a 12-5 victory but the two local teams outscored Washington 42-5 in the first five games, which must have been repelling.
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
, the first professional league, so they are considered a major league team by those who count the NA as a major league
National Association as a major league
Whether to cover the National Association as a major league is a recurring and crucial matter of difference in historical work on American baseball—that is, among historians, encyclopedists, database builders, and others who work on the facts of baseball history on the playing field.- First...
. Several baseball clubs in Washington have used the historic name Nationals; indeed, there is disagreement whether the 1872 and 1875 NA members should be considered the same club.
Pre-NA
The first team in Washington, the Potomac Club, was formed in the summer of 1859, and the Nationals were formed in November of the same year; both teams consisted mostly of government clerks. The two teams practiced in the backyard of the White House and played each other in the spring of 1860; the Nationals consistently lost to the superior Potomacs, but the latter disbanded on the outbreak of the Civil War while the Nationals kept playing, and by the end of the war were "solidly in the esteem of Washington fans, with the club's shortstop, slight, 23-year-old Arthur Pue GormanArthur Pue Gorman
Arthur Pue Gorman was a United States Senator from Maryland, serving from 1881 to 1899 and from 1903 to 1906. He also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1869 to 1875...
, the darling of the spectators. Young Gorham quickly rose to stardom on the not-too-brilliant Nationals." (Gorman later became a senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.) In the summer of 1865 the Nationals invited the Philadelphia Athletics and Brooklyn Atlantics
Brooklyn Atlantics
The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
, two of the major teams of the era, to Washington, losing to the former 87-12 and to the latter 34-19, before 6,000 spectators, including President Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. They "jealously guarded their amateur status by refusing all payments, including travel expenses."
By 1867, the Nationals were much improved, and the new national network of railroads prompted them "to do the previously unthinkable by becoming the first Eastern team to venture west of the Alleghenies." They defeated the best the locals had to offer, crushing Columbus 90-10, the Cincinnati Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
53-10, and the Cincinnati Buckeyes
Cincinnati Buckeyes (19th century team)
The Cincinnati Buckeyes was the name of two amateur baseball teams in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first, formed in 1859, disbanded during the Civil War....
88-12, beating Louisville, Indianapolis, and St. Louis as well before falling to the Rockford Forest Citys
Rockford Forest Citys
Rockford Forest Citys , from Rockford, Illinois was one of the first professional baseball clubs. Rockford played for one season during the National Association inaugural year of 1871.-Origins:...
(with future Hall of Famer Albert Spalding
Albert Spalding
Albert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.-Biography:...
) 29-23. The Nats ended the road trip the next day by beating the Chicago Excelsiors 49-4. The "considerable expenses" of the tour were made possible by generous
sponsors and "by the indulgence of the Treasury Department."
Washington was one of the early homes of commercialism:
One writer, Thomas Henry, said the U. S. Treasury Department was "the real birthplace of professional base ball in Washington." As a source of patronage for good players, this bureau was widely exploited after the Civil War. In addition, Washington players benefited from the collection plates passed at games. By this kind of enterprise Washington clubs were able to keep a cadre of good players and to offer excellent accommodations. In 1867 the Nationals' park was located on a field four hundred feet square, surrounded by a ten foot fence, and shaded on the north side by roofed stands. To discourage gamblers, a sign which read "Betting Positively Prohibited" was posted.
1872
The 1872 Nationals home games were played at Olympics GroundsOlympics Grounds
Olympics Grounds was a baseball grounds located in Washington, D.C.. It was home to the Washington Olympics of the National Association in 1871–1872 and home to the short-lived Washington clubs of 1873 and 1875, including the Washington Blue Legs...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. They lost all 11 games before going out of business.
The manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
was 21-year-old Joe Miller, a native of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Their top hitter was second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Holly Hollingshead
Holly Hollingshead
John Samuel "Holly" Hollingshead was a Major League Baseball center fielder, second baseman, and manager in the 19th century....
, who went 15-for-44, a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .341.
1875
The 1875 NA rendition fared better, as they won 5 games and lost 23. HollingsheadHolly Hollingshead
John Samuel "Holly" Hollingshead was a Major League Baseball center fielder, second baseman, and manager in the 19th century....
was again their top hitting regular, though with a much lower batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .247. He was also one of the club's managers
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, along with Bill Parks
Bill Parks
William Robert Parks was an American left fielder, pitcher, and manager in Major League Baseball from Easton, Pennsylvania. A native of Easton, Pennsylvania, Parks played for the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia White Stockings, both of the National Association, in 1875. Then, in 1876, he...
.
The Washingtons went out of business in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, after playing the local Red Stockings
St. Louis (NA)
In the standard short format for identifying professional baseball clubs in the U.S., St. Louis means the "St. Louis" club in the "NA" league...
on July 3 and July 4. Next day the players announced by telegraph that a club official had absconded with the funds but (Ryczek 1992: 194) concludes that "the tale had been planted by the players in an effort to find enough good samaritans to foot the bill for the trip home". The club probably failed by "unappealing play" and consequent receipts too small to support travel. On the final trip, they lost two in Philadelphia and five of six in St. Louis. The final game was a 12-5 victory but the two local teams outscored Washington 42-5 in the first five games, which must have been repelling.