Washington Nationals (National Association)

Did You Know?

• The 1872 Nationals lost all 11 games before going out of business.
• The 1872 manager is listed as either Warren White or Joe Miller.
• The 1872 team's leading players included 1B Paul Hines, 2B Holly Hollingshead, and SS Jacob Doyle.

Pre-NA

The first Washington team, the Potomac Club, formed in summer 1859, and the Nationals formed that November; both clubs were largely composed of government clerks. They practiced in the backyard of the White House and played each other in spring 1860, with the Nationals consistently losing to the superior Potomacs. Gorman later became a U.S. Senator from Maryland. In summer 1865 the Nationals hosted the Philadelphia Athletics and Brooklyn Atlantics, losing 87–12 and 34–19 before 6,000 spectators including President Johnson; the club jealously guarded its amateur status by refusing all payments, even travel expenses. By 1867 the Nationals had improved greatly and, using the new national railroad network, became the first Eastern team to venture west of the Alleghenies. They crushed Columbus 90–10, the Cincinnati Red Stockings 53–10, and the Cincinnati Buckeyes 88–12, also beating Louisville, Indianapolis, and St. Louis before falling to Rockford Forest Citys 29–23. The next day they beat the Chicago Excelsiors 49–4. The tour's considerable expenses were covered by generous sponsors and by the indulgence of the Treasury Department.

1875

There is no firm consensus on whether the 1875 Washington team was the same franchise as the 1872 one. The 1875 team fared better, winning 5 games and losing 23. Hollingshead was again the top hitting regular, though with a much lower batting average of .247, and he served as a manager along with Bill Parks. The club went out of business in St. Louis after playing the local Red Stockings on July 3 and July 4. The players telegraphed that a club official had absconded with funds, but one source concludes the tale was planted to find good samaritans to pay for the trip home. The club likely failed due to unappealing play and consequent receipts too small to support travel.