Washington Nationals: A Remembrance Of Turner Field

As the Washington Nationals get set for their final series at Turner Field, we look back at some of the top moments there in franchise history

Tomorrow night, the Washington Nationals will play their final series against the Atlanta Braves in 2016 at Turner Field. It will also be the last time they play a game in Turner Field as the Braves will be moving into a new ballpark next season. The Nats will make their first visit to SunTrust Park on April 18, 2017.

Turner Field was a house of horrors for the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos when it opened in 1997. During the Expos playing days, the team went a combined 22-41 from ’97-2004 and only had one year where they had a winning record in that ballpark (5-2 in 2000).

As for the Washington Nationals, they have a 48-59 record at Turner Field since the team moved from Montreal to DC. Their only two winning seasons were in 2012 (5-4) and this season (5-1). Everyone remembers the Nats clinching the NL East at Turner Field back in 2014.

Of course, the Braves were the rulers of the NL East for many years in that ballpark. They won the NL East from 1997-2005 and then won it again in 2013. While they only made it to one World Series over that time, the Braves always seemed to find a way to beat Montreal/Washington DC.

According to the Baseball Reference Play Index, second baseman Jose Vidro hit ten home runs at Turner Field in his career to lead all Nats/Expos. He hit .305 in those seasons and had multiple home runs in 2000, 2002, and 2005. The current Washington National with the most home runs is Ryan Zimmerman with nine.

When you look at the starting rotation, the pitchers with the most wins at Turner Field (according to Baseball Reference Play Index) were Javier Vazquez and John Lannan (five). Vazquez had two complete game shutouts when he was with the Expos (2000 and 2001). In 2000, he struck out 11 and outdueled 19-win Tom Glavine (finished second in NL Cy Young to Randy Johnson).

Before the final game in Turner Field Sunday afternoon, let’s take a look back at some of the great moments for the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos at Turner Field:

Next: 2014 - Nats Clinch NL East