April 4, 2015 [LINK / comment]
Does anyone remember what happened, or where they were, exactly ten years ago today -- April 4, 2005? I sure do! The Washington Nationals were officially "born," playing their first regulation game on the road in Philadelphia at Citizen's Bank Park. And I was there! The Phillies ended up winning, 8 to 4, but that hardly mattered, as the Nats took the next two games to win their very first series, and went on to take first place in the NL East and finished the season with a more-than-satisfactory 81-81 record.
At that game, I had the pleasure to meet (in person) Phil Faranda, one of the folks who first started following my Web site in the early years. He has since become a very successful real estate executive in the suburbs of New York.
Center field at Citizens Bank Park, from the left field corner. (Taken April 4, 2005 at the very first Washington Nationals game!)
The Nats played their first game in Nationals Park this year today (just an exhibition game, of course), taking a 3-0 lead over the Yankees in the first inning, but then they stalled, as the Yankees won the game, 4-3.
Opening Night 2015, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, is less than 24 hours away, and Opening Day in D.C. and 13 other cities is less than 48 hours away! The Nats will host the New York Mets, with their new ace pitcher Max Scherzer taking the mound.