The following press release was posted this week on MLB.com:
11/22/2004 12:26 PM ET
Washington Nationals selected as name of D.C. Major League Baseball team
Washington, DC — At a ceremony held today in the historical Main Hall at Union Station, team president Tony Tavares announced the new Washington Major League Baseball franchise will be named the Washington Nationals. The team’s color scheme will consist of red, white and blue.
“This is a thrilling and important step in returning the National Pastime to the Nation’s Capital,” said Tavares. “The team name and colors not only represent our new home, but symbolize the joining together of Washington’s baseball past and its future.”
The Nationals moniker has served two other Washington baseball franchises. A team called the Nationals first played in the District during the 1870s and 1880s, and second team played at Griffith Stadium from 1901 until 1956. Owner Calvin Griffith changed Washington’s name to Senators for the 1957 season.
“The District is proud to welcome the Nationals name and logo to our community. I think the name and logo will quickly become commonplace across the District, symbols of the people and spirit of our city,” said Mayor Anthony A. Williams. “Today is the first of many new memories that this team will create for baseball fans throughout the Washington area. I’m looking forward to many more–and I’m looking forward to watching the Nationals play on opening day.”
The name was selected based on an evaluation of a myriad of factors, including data collected through local focus groups and other forms of research and merchandise sampling.
The Nationals’ baseball cap logo will be a modern script “W,” while the secondary logo will feature an interlocking “DC.” Team uniforms are expected to be unveiled within the next few weeks.
The Nationals also announced the launch of its new website www.nationals.com, which immediately replaces www.dcbaseball.com. Fans can log on to the new site to receive news, register for e-mail updates, and learn about ticket and merchandise purchasing options.
