Prior to the current Washington Nationals, professional baseball had a long history in our nation's capital. In fact, several different teams - most nicknamed the "Senators" and "Nationals" - called D.C. home for more than 100 years.

In fact, a team known as the Washington Nationals Baseball Club was established in our nation's capital on Nov. 27, 1859. The first recorded game took place on May 5, 1860, on a field called the "White Lot," now commonly referred to as "The Ellipse" just south of the White House gates. The Nationals continued to play baseball through the Civil War, with some games witnessed by President Abraham Lincoln.

For the next 34 years, the Nationals would join various leagues like the National Association of Professional Baseball Players, the American Association, the Union Association, and the National League.

Meanwhile, Western League president Ban Johnson announced plans to include a franchise in the nation's capital in a fledgling circuit called the American League. The American League team began play in 1901 as the Washington Senators. Following the 1904 season, the owners changed the team name to the Nationals and the locals continued with the nickname the "Nats." Newspaper accounts use the names Senators and Nationals interchangeably for the next five decades.

The signing of 19-year-old pitcher Walter Johnson in 1907 would signify a key moment in the franchise's history. "The Big Train" - whose statue can be seen on the timeline in front of the Home Plate Gate at Nationals Park - was one of baseball's first true elite power pitchers. In 21 seasons he totaled 417 wins, a 2.17 ERA, 3,509 strikeouts, an MLB all-time record 110 shutouts, 531 complete games and two MVP Awards. He was among the inaugural class of inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1936.

Following a 75-78 season in 1923, team owner Clark Griffith made a controversial decision by appointing 27-year-old second baseman Stanley "Bucky" Harris as field manager. The move paid off, as the Nationals in 1924 won more games than ever before, 92, and captured their first American League pennant.

In the 1924 World Series, the Nationals took on the New York Giants. The '24 series was one of the closest in history, as four games were decided by a single run, including the deciding Game 7. On the strength of Johnson's four innings of relief pitching on two days' rest and the series-clinching hit by Earl McNeely in the bottom of the 12th inning, the Nationals won D.C.'s first and only World Series Championship.

The following year, Harris once again led the Nationals to a stellar regular season as they posted 96 wins and clinched a second straight AL pennant. Their second trip to the World Series was just as close as the previous year, but this time they came up short in a seven-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After a handful of rebuilding years, lightning nearly struck twice with a player/manager in 1933. Joe Cronin, the team's 26 year old shortstop, took over as skipper and produced the franchise's best regular season mark ever at 99-53. The Nationals fell to the Giants in the World Series, but the three pennants in 10 seasons remains the best run of success in Washington history.

Unfortunately, the Nationals franchise then fell on hard times. Washington posted only two more winning seasons the next 25 years. The team name was officially changed to Senators for the 1956 campaign. Calvin Griffith, who became team president after his father's death in 1955, was granted permission to seek relocation, and an announcement was made in October of 1960 that the Senators were being moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

At that time, the American League announced plans to expand by two teams for the 1961 season. One team would be located in Los Angeles (the Angels) and the other in Washington. However, the expansion Senators fared no better than their predecessors, as they lost at least 100 games in each of their first four seasons.

Prior to the 1965 season, the Senators looked to bolster their offense by acquiring 1960 NL Rookie of the Year Frank Howard from the Los Angeles Dodgers. An imposing presence at 6-foot-7, 250 lbs., Howard won two AL home run titles in Washington, becoming a fan favorite. Over a three-year span from 1968-70, Howard averaged 45 home runs, 114 RBI and 96 walks. His best season may have been 1969, when rookie manager Ted Williams led the Senators to 86 wins.

It would be the only winning record for the expansion club.

On Sept. 21, 1971, the owners approved the transfer of the Senators to Arlington, TX, where they would become the Texas Rangers. Nine days later - more than 111 years after the original Nationals played their first game - Washington, D.C., hosted its "final" regular season on September 30, 1971. Washington, D.C. would be without Major League Baseball for 33 seasons.

* * *

Finally, on Wednesday, September 29, 2004, Major League Baseball selected the Washington, D.C. proposal as its choice for relocation of the Montreal Expos franchise.

Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig made the announcement.

"Washington, D.C., as our nation's capital, is one of the world's most important cities and Major League Baseball is gratified at the skill and perseverance shown by Mayor [Anthony] Williams throughout this long process," Selig said. "There has been tremendous growth in the Washington, D.C. area over the last 33 years and we in Major League Baseball believe that baseball will be welcomed there and will be a great success."

Without a doubt, Major League Baseball made the correct decision. The Nationals have continued to thrive to this day, and they continue to pursue the city's first World Series championship since 1924.