For a region that was baseball-starved since the departure of the Washington Senators decades ago, the arrival of the Nationals was like Christmas in July. The Washington Nationals occupy the same venue as their counterparts of the past, RFK Stadium, named not for a conglomerate, but in memory of Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy, son of Joseph, brother of JFK.

It’s an ironic juxtaposition, symmetrical at the same time, where baseball and all of sport has evolved from being about pride and blood and guts and heart and spirit to what has become of competition today. Nowhere has the effect of the evolution been more tongue-in-cheek than RFK Stadium, home of the Washington Nationals.

During the inaugural season, RFK Stadium was the place to be as the inimitable Frank Robinson led the Washington Nationals through the mud, muck and mire to a respectable showing. Buy Washington Nationals Tickets.

Hall of Famer Don Sutton has joined the Washington Nationals periphery as a broadcaster, joining Bob Carpenter in the booth to call the contests between the foul lines at RFK Stadium this season.

The Washington Nationals have much work ahead, including building a pitching rotation. Signed are Jerome Williams and Brandon Claussen, who recently endured rotator cuff surgery. Reliever Luis Ayala appears to be a question mark, as are many as spring training begins. Look for a contribution from the young Winston Abreu, who struck out seven in winter league playoff appearances. Where he starts the year may be in question, but you’ll most likely see him at RFK Stadium, hurling for the Washington Nationals, in the bigs. Buy Washington Nationals Tickets.