A wild, funny, emotional celebration for champs

It began at 15th Street NW and Constitution Avenue, where more than a dozen buses filled with Nationals players and coaches embarked on a mile-long parade along with plenty of marchers, including front office employees, local Little Leaguers, students from the team's Youth Baseball Academy and more.

The final bus held (among others) Ryan Zimmerman, Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo. Oh, and the Commissioner's Trophy, which was hoisted high in the air to the delight of the tens of thousands who lined both sides of the street, watched from overhead windows and balconies and even a few tree limbs.

And when they all reached the end of the line at 3rd Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, in the shadow of the Capitol dome, the Nationals were greeted by thousands more fans who continued to cheer them on through a nearly 90-minute rally that was at times rousing, at times hysterical and at times emotional for all those who still can't believe the Nationals finally won a World Series title a mere 95 years after the Senators captured the city's only previous Major League Baseball championship.

"They say good things come to those who wait," founding managing partner Ted Lerner, born in 1925, said to the crowd. "Ninety-five years is a pretty long time to wait. But it's worth the wait."

The Nationals and their fans celebrated today like a team and a city that hadn't done this in a very long time. In other words, they relished every single moment.

From the first playing of "Baby Shark" to the last playing of "Baby Shark" - and there were plenty of playings of the song Gerardo Parra turned into a local sensation this season - there were all kinds of references to the ups and downs of a season that began with a 19-31 record but finished with a 5-0 record in elimination games and ultimately victory Wednesday night in Game 7 of the World Series in Houston.

"Right now I'm just going to soak in the moment," said Stephen Strasburg, World Series MVP, "enjoy it with these guys right here."

Strasburg was one of several key players who appeared in today's parade and rally who aren't assured of returning to the Nationals in 2020. The right-hander must decide shortly whether to opt out of the rest of his contract, which still owes him $100 million over the next four years. The Nationals will make every effort to retain him, and Strasburg has shown no inclination to leave the organization that drafted him 10 years ago. But for now, his future is uncertain.

Same for Anthony Rendon, now a free agent following a brilliant regular season and postseason.

Fans chanted "Sign Rendon!" when managing principal owner Mark Lerner spoke on stage, and later on a couple teammates made their feelings on the subject clear.

During an impromptu session Adam Eaton referred to as "The Hotline," players were invited to the microphone to speak the truth and say whatever was on their mind. Trea Turner stepped up and asked: "Can we bring back Anthony Rendon?"

Eaton responded: "I second that motion. All in favor?"

The crowd (and plenty of players) immediately answered with a loud: "Aye!"

There were emotional moments as well, particularly from Davey Martinez and veterans Howie Kendrick and Zimmerman.

Martinez, who missed three days in September after undergoing a cardiac catheterization, reiterated the line he said after the team clinched the pennant: "These guys cured my heart." He also spoke of a future goal proposed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.

"The mayor said: 'Let's go back-to-back,'" Martinez said. "Hey, I'm all in. But let me enjoy this first!"

Kendrick, who delivered go-ahead homers in both Game 5 of the National League Division Series and Game 7 of the World Series, talked about thinking he might have to retire after rupturing his Achilles tendon last year. But referring to his teammates, he said: "They taught me to love the game again."

It was Zimmerman, though, who came closest to tearing up during his speech, and for good reason. The organization's first draft pick back in 2005 and the only player to appear in a game in each of the Nationals' 15 seasons in town, the veteran slugger finally appeared in and won his first Fall Classic. And he gave all credit to his teammates for making that possible.

"What a group of guys," Zimmerman said. "We're 2019 World Series champs, and nobody can ever take that away from us."