Table of Contents Page Chapter Chapter Page Meet the Nationals 4 Glory Days 6 Home Turf 12 Dressed for Success 14 We Won 16 Go-To Guys 20 Calling the Shots 24 One Great Day 26 Legend Has It 28 It Really Happened 30 Team Spirit 32 Timeline 34 Fun Facts 36 Talking Baseball 38 Great Debates 40 For the Record 42 Pinpoints 44 Glossary 46 Extra Innings 47 Index 48 ABOUT OUR GLOSSARY In this book there may be several words that you are reading for the first time Some are sports words some are new vocabulary words and some are familiar words that are used in an unusual way All of these words are defined on page 46 Throughout the book sports words appear in bold type Regular vocabulary words appear in bold italic type
Meet the Nationals B uilding a winning team in baseball is one of the greatest challenges in all of sports Doing this in a new city is even ty is even harder The Washington Nationals are showing the world how how it’s done It takes time and patience plus talent It also takes es a little luck The Nationals mix exciting new hitters and pitchers with faces that are familiar to their fans The older stars teach the younger ones The younger ones remind the experienced players that baseball can be fun Luck hasn’t always been on Washington’s side but the Nats always seek the best talent for their lineup This book tells the story of the Nationals They started d with another name in another city in another country Back ack then many of their fans also spoke another language But good d baseball sounds the same wherever it is played Young pitcher Drew Storen gives Ivan Rodriguez a high five Rodriguez is one of many experienced stars who have worn the Washington uniform 5
