The Best Giveaways at Nationals Park of All Time

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, better than a beautiful summer night at the ballpark. With rising prices and declining play over the past few seasons, the Nationals have had to pull out all the stops to get fans to the ballpark, always having an elite lineup of giveaway items year after year.

On Saturday, April 20th, I flocked to the ballpark with the fellas extremely early. This is an impressive feat for me as I am known as last-minute Larry (even though I never miss the first pitch). Although we bought tickets in advance and arrived almost an hour before the gates even opened, it was one of the longest lines I had ever seen entering the center field gates at Nationals Park. The anticipation of the giveaway was palpable, and without hesitation, I ran to the table to grab my ring before busting it open, and boy oh boy, it did not disappoint. The quality, the detail, and the build-up led to a perfect 10/10 score.

As I look at the ring on my desk while watching the Nationals get swept by the Dodgers it got me thinking: Is this the best Nationals Park giveaway ever? After careful consideration, I have ranked my top 5 giveaways below with some honorable mentions, and I apologize in advance for some awesome giveaways I have forgotten. 

5. The Nationals Cherry Blossom Fedora

It's 2024 and fedoras are in again. As a prominent hat guy myself, the fedora is perfect, with solid quality, and a blend of cherry blossom colors, the Fedora is a solid 7/10. The only reason it is not higher is that I wish it was more colorful and out there. If you’re wearing a fedora, you want to stick out.

4. Any Nationals Grateful Dead Shirt

Let me make something very clear: I am NOT a deadhead. As a classical rock guy myself, I appreciate the deadheads, but I have a strong loyalty to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With that being said, it is hard to not appreciate how beautiful the Grateful Dead Nationals giveaway shirts, and hats, are. I am extremely jealous whenever I see someone rocking it, especially the 2023 version.

3. Ryan Zimmerman Employee #11 T-Shirt

I will never forgive myself for missing out on this giveaway. Every time I see someone rocking the Employee #11 shirt I cringe, as my resentment and jealousy take over. That does not take away from how perfect this shirt is, with the curly W on the front and the Ryan Zimmerman pictures on the back. A beautiful shirt for a beautiful weekend honoring Mr. National. 

2. Replica World Series Ring

As I have said before, this is one of the best, if not the best, giveaways Nationals Park has ever had. For the first time since 2019, the Astros came into town, so we brought back some 2019 legends, Brian Dozier sang Calma and took his shirt off, and I got to watch a walkoff win and a ring that I will keep for life. If it were socially acceptable, I would literally be wearing the ring every single day of my life.

1. Jayson Werth Chia Pet

As an admittedly biased huge Jayson Werth fan, I could not have been more excited as a kid to get the Jayson Werth chia pet. The man who almost single-handedly turned around the culture, with his iconic beard and long hair, in the form of a chia pet, made me a whole year. The more I think about it and as I type this out it might sound stupid, but I do not care. What 12-year-old wasn't jealous of Jaysono's hair and beard? Give me the Jayson Werth Chia Pet as the best giveaway of all time. 

Honorable Mentions: Countless bobbleheads (including Juan Soto Shuffle, Obi “Sean” Kenobi- Sean Doolittle Star Wars, Bryce Harper 2015 MVP) the 2018 Hawaiian Shirt, the 2023 Opening Day City Connect T-Shirts, and plenty of others.