Nats announce plans for 20th anniversary celebration

A lot can happen in 20 years. Two decades ago, the Nationals were scrambling to get RFK Stadium renovated and ready for the park’s first full-time baseball club in 33 years. A roster made up mostly of former Expos players was bolstered with a few affordable free agents. The general manager only had the job on an interim basis. The manager was a legitimate baseball legend finishing out his Hall of Fame career in a manner he never could have foreseen.

The Nationals of 2025 will look nothing like the Nationals of 2005. That’s true of the uniforms they now wear, the ballpark they now play in, the people in charge of the organization and the men who take the field for them. Only a couple of employees who embarked on this adventure from the outset remain.

The franchise was down for several years, then was up for several more, then was on top of the baseball world for a brief time, then came back down to earth and now hopes to climb that mountain again.

There’s a surprising amount of history packed into these 20 years of existence, enough to spur the organization to make the 2025 season a celebration of its history.

The Nationals announced plans this morning for a season-long anniversary celebration, dubbed “NATS20.” It will include a significant prize giveaway, planned appearances by team alumni and a revisiting of the most memorable moments of the last two decades.

“From our first game at RFK, to Ryan Zimmerman’s walk-off to open Nationals Park and of course 2019 World Series, the last 20 years have been filled with so many amazing and memorable moments,” managing principal owner Mark Lerner said. “And while the players, the ballpark and even the logo have changed, our fans have remained constant, which is why we’re so excited to put them at the forefront of our 20th anniversary celebration. We look forward to hearing their stories and to making many more with the next generation of our players and fans.”

The Nationals unveiled a special 20th anniversary patch, which will adorn the team’s home and road caps next season. The promotional calendar, which will be released next week, will include several 20th anniversary-themed giveaways and special events featuring former players.

Come January, fans will be invited to vote for their 20 favorite moments in Nationals history, which will be prominently displayed throughout the ballpark beginning on Opening Day.

Speaking of top-20 lists, be sure to check back here Sunday morning for the first installment of our “20 Greatest Nationals” series, which will run weekly through the end of December and is sure to stir up plenty of conversation and friendly debate.