Washington Nationals: Birth Of A Franchise
By Ron Juckett
THE EXPANSION SENATORS
Born as an appeasement to the federal government, the expansion Washington Senators were a disaster from the start.
With ownership groups on the verge of bankruptcy annually and a team that floundered on the field, the new Senators were as the old—first in war, first in peace and last in the American League.
Only once, in 1969, did the club have a winning season. New manager Ted Williams tried to change the culture and outlook of the club and won 86 his first year. He never topped 70 after.
With three ownership groups in ten years, the team found no financial footing. Never topping one million in attendance, they bombed at the gate. The combination killed whatever momentum the franchise could develop. When new owner Bob Short could not find a buyer at his $12 million asking price, he told the city he would not renew their 10-year lease and move the team.
How a new stadium could open with only a 10-year lease is beyond bizarre. Short had his out and an interest in Dallas/Fort Worth.
As the team became the Texas Rangers, unless baseball fans watched whatever NBC showed on Saturday afternoons or the few Baltimore Oriole games on television, there was no more MLB in DC.