With the Nationals firing both GM Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez just days before the All-Star break, it’s a moment of reckoning for the franchise. But amid the turmoil, there’s also a reason to look ahead: James Wood and MacKenzie Gore are headed to the All-Star Game, representing a new era of Nationals baseball. In times like these, it’s worth remembering the moments that brought pride and electricity to Washington fans in the past. All-Star Week has always been one of the most exciting stretches on the baseball calendar, packed with unique festivities, the Home Run Derby, and the Midsummer Classic itself. Since arriving in D.C. in 2005, the Nationals have delivered some unforgettable moments on this stage—moments that meant something to the fanbase.
This list highlights the most impactful, emotional, and unforgettable Nationals moments from All-Star Week, not only selections but also moments that have stuck with fans.
Let’s take a look at the top five.
#5 – Tyler Clippard "Steals" the 2011 All-Star Game Win
In one of the strangest All-Star victories ever, Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard became the winning pitcher in the 2011 Midsummer Classic in Arizona, despite not recording a single out.
Clippard, the Nationals’ lone representative that year, entered in the fourth inning with the National League trailing 1–0. He faced only one batter, Adrian Beltre, and gave up a sharp single. But thanks to a great throw from Hunter Pence, Jose Bautista was cut down at the plate to end the inning. When Prince Fielder launched a three-run homer in the bottom half, Clippard, despite facing just one hitter, became the winning pitcher in what ended as a 5–1 NL victory.
After the game, Clippard joked that "it was definitely a vulture," as his NL teammates playfully teased him for the fluke win.
For Nats fans, the moment became a quirky bit of trivia: in back-to-back years, Nationals relievers were credited with All-Star Game wins after facing just one batter. Matt Capps did it in 2010, and Clippard followed in 2011. In an era when wins were rare in D.C., it gave fans something to smile about. Clippard, always a fan favorite with his goggles and funky delivery, gave the Nationals their second straight All-Star W—even if it came in the most unorthodox way.
#4 – Bryce Harper’s All-Star Debut at 19 (2012)
In 2012, just two months after his MLB debut, 19-year-old Bryce Harper stepped onto the All-Star stage in Kansas City and became the youngest position player ever to appear in the Midsummer Classic. It went beyond just a personal milestone. It felt like a signal to the rest of the league: the Nationals had arrived.
Harper had replaced the injured Giancarlo Stanton on the roster, joining three other Nationals, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, and Ian Desmond, in what became the franchise’s first-ever quartet of All-Stars. For a fanbase that didn’t even have a team a decade earlier, seeing the game’s most hyped teenager wearing the Curly W alongside established stars was more than just surreal. It marked the Nationals’ transformation from a rebuilding project into a legitimate contender.
Harper drew a walk in his first plate appearance and later lost a fly ball in the lights, an endearing rookie miscue. But the stat line didn’t matter. What mattered was the moment: a teenage phenom representing D.C. on baseball’s biggest summer stage. Seeing Harper on the field with legends like Chipper Jones and Joey Votto felt like a changing of the guard.
It was a turning point in the Nationals’ story. From rebuilding to relevance. And it all started with a 19-year-old outfielder showing he belonged.
#3 – Washington, D.C. Hosts the 2018 All-Star Game
On July 17, 2018, Nationals Park hosted the All-Star Game for the first time, bringing the Midsummer Classic back to the nation’s capital 49 years after the Washington Senators hosted. For Washington baseball fans, it marked a proud milestone, one that reflected how far the franchise and its city had come.
From the first introductions, the atmosphere felt electric. Bryce Harper pumped his fist as the home crowd roared. Max Scherzer, named the NL’s starting pitcher on his home mound, was treated like a king. "It’s his city, it’s his ballpark," said NL manager Dave Roberts. Scherzer struck out four over two innings and called the experience "a dream come true."
Harper, voted a starter despite a down year, still drew loud ovations from the crowd, who had just watched him win the Home Run Derby the night before. His presence in the outfield, combined with Scherzer’s dominance on the mound, gave the fanbase a jolt of pride. The hometown stars were front and center.
The American League eventually won, 8–6 in extra innings, but the outcome hardly mattered. From fan fest and celebrity softball to national media coverage and skyline shots on the broadcast, the entire week felt like a celebration of Washington baseball. As Thomas Boswell put it, D.C. treated the game "as a symbol of a city’s successful emergence as a central spot on MLB’s map."
The event validated long-time fans who remembered empty seats at RFK or the years without a team. Hosting the All-Star Game at Nationals Park marked a franchise-defining milestone.
#2 – Juan Soto Wins the 2022 Home Run Derby
Nationals fans didn’t know for sure at the time, but Juan Soto’s Home Run Derby heroics in 2022 turned out to be his final gift in a Washington uniform.
On July 18 at Dodger Stadium, the 23-year-old superstar put on a show under the brightest lights and the biggest pressure. Trade rumors swirled, contract talks had recently broken down, and his Nationals future looked uncertain. But none of it fazed him. Soto stepped into the spotlight, smiled, and delivered.
He opened the Derby with 18 homers, including a 482-foot bomb, the longest of the night, to defeat José Ramírez. In the semifinals, he ousted his childhood idol, Albert Pujols, calling it "a special moment." Then came the final round against Seattle’s breakout rookie Julio Rodríguez, who had electrified the crowd all evening. With time to spare, Soto launched 19 home runs to edge J-Rod by one, clinching the trophy and sending Nationals fans into a whirlwind of pride and emotion.
"It’s really exciting… I never thought I’d get this far," Soto said afterward, beaming as he hoisted the trophy and waved a Dominican flag in celebration. The moment captured everything Nationals fans loved about him: joy, swagger, and composure under pressure.
He became the second National to win the Derby, following Bryce Harper’s 2018 triumph. Fittingly, Soto matched Harper’s final score: 19–18 in walk-off fashion. The symmetry was uncanny. Two Nationals. Two walk-offs. And, in a bittersweet twist, both were gone not long after their Derby magic. At just 23 years old, Soto was also the second-youngest player ever to win the event.
The context made it even more special. With his departure seemingly inevitable, the moment felt like a final chapter and one last explosion of brilliance before everything changed. When asked before the Derby if he thought he would win, Soto smirked and replied, "Probably." That mix of confidence and calm defined him. And on that night, he delivered on that bold promise and proudly represented D.C., turning chaos into triumph.
For a franchise in transition, it was a reminder of what greatness looked like. It cemented his status as a franchise legend, even as the end of his D.C. chapter drew near.
#1 – Bryce Harper’s Epic 2018 Home Run Derby Win (at Nationals Park)
There was only one choice for the top spot: the night Bryce Harper brought the house down in Washington.
On July 16, 2018, the Home Run Derby came to Nationals Park, and Bryce Harper delivered a performance for the ages. With the All-Star spotlight shining on Washington, the hometown star stepped to the plate. With his father Ron pitching to him, he had the weight of the city’s hopes on his back. What followed was more than just the greatest All-Star moment in Nationals history. Harper created one of the most iconic nights in franchise history and one of the most unforgettable Home Run Derby performances Major League Baseball has ever seen.
Harper advanced to the final round after defeating Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. But it was the showdown with Kyle Schwarber that became legend. Nationals Park felt like October. Over 43,000 fans were on their feet, roaring with every swing. With just 47 seconds left, Harper trailed 18-9. Then came a comeback that still gives fans goosebumps. As AC/DC blared through the stadium, he crushed nine homers in ten swings to tie it at 18 as time expired. Because he had earned bonus time, he wasn’t done. On the second pitch of overtime, Harper launched his 19th homer deep into the D.C. night. The stadium erupted.
Harper tossed his bat high into the air and raised his arms to the sky. His teammates swarmed the field as Davey Martinez lifted him off the ground in celebration. Then, Harper brought out his father and handed him the trophy in a moment that was cinematic and heartfelt.
Harper later said, "It’s unbelievable. We have some of the best fans in all of baseball. To do that with my family out there, that’s an incredible moment." Nationals Park had never been louder. For Washington fans, it was more than a win. It was a release. It was pride. It was love.
The Derby win put Harper in rare company. He became just the third player ever to win the event in his home ballpark. Even opposing players acknowledged the magic. Kyle Schwarber tweeted that Nationals Park "was rockin’."
That night felt like a love letter between a star and his city. Harper left in free agency the following spring, so this was his final great act in a Nationals uniform. The roar, the energy, the comeback. It was the perfect storm of symbolism and swagger. As Thomas Boswell wrote, "At the Home Run Derby, Bryce Harper and D.C. fell back in love—at least for one night."
Still to this day, no Nationals All-Star moment has matched its emotion, intensity, or connection with the fans.
Bonus Moments Nationals Fans Shouldn’t Forget
2006: Alfonso Soriano Starts in the All-Star Game
Just two years after the team arrived in D.C., Alfonso Soriano became the Nationals’ first All-Star starter. He singled, stole a base, and gave Nationals fans their first real taste of star power on a national stage.
2012: Strasburg & Gio Pitch Back-to-Back
Stephen Strasburg and Gio González tossed consecutive shutout innings in the Midsummer Classic, a showcase of the Nationals’ rising young rotation.
2013: Harper Nearly Wins the Derby
At age 20, with his dad pitching to him, Bryce Harper reached the Derby finals in a touching father-son moment that offered a preview of the fireworks to come in 2018.
2017 & 2018: Max Scherzer Starts Back-to-Back All-Star Games
The Nationals’ ace got the starting nod in both games, including the 2018 edition at Nationals Park, where he electrified the hometown crowd right from the first pitch.
2021: Soto Defeats Ohtani and Launches 520-Foot Bomb
In a legendary Derby showdown, Juan Soto outlasted Shohei Ohtani in a dramatic swing-off and crushed a 520-foot blast, the longest home run in Derby history.
A History Still in the Making
All-Star Week has given Nationals fans a collection of memorable moments full of pride, excitement, and a few surprises. From Bryce Harper’s comeback win in 2018 to Juan Soto’s last big swing in 2022, these events have helped shape the franchise’s story and given fans plenty to cheer about on the national stage.
Now, a new chapter may lie ahead.
Next week in Atlanta, James Wood will become just the third National ever to compete in the Home Run Derby, joining Bryce Harper and Juan Soto. At 22, he has the power and presence to make a serious run at the crown. With a strong showing, he could earn a spot on this very list. Wood represents the franchise’s future, and another unforgettable All-Star moment might be just around the corner.
No matter the year, All-Star Week will always be a celebration of the Nationals’ brightest stars, past, present, and future.