Marty Niland

Author's posts

The team that almost moved to Washington in 1973

Imagine if the names of franchise greats inscribed on the mezzanine of Nationals Park included Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith and Willie McCovey. What if, instead of tracing its roots back to Montreal, Washington’s baseball team had its origins in San Diego? It might have happened if the dreams of Washington baseball fans 45 summers ago …

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Soto joins ranks of teen phenoms to play in Washington

The newest Washington National, Juan Soto, got a nice ovation Sunday when he came to bat in the eighth inning as the youngest player currently in the major leagues at age 19. He struck out in his debut, but with the Nats lineup currently decimated by injuries, there will be plenty of opportunities for Soto …

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Adams’ home run tear conjures memories of Howard’s historic streak in 1968

Nationals fans are hopeful again, with the club coming off 6-1 road trip and threatening to return to the top of the National League East standings. One key has been the powerful bat of Matt Adams, who homered seven times in five games from May 1 through the May 7 win over San Diego. A …

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Myer finally gets the spotlight in Hall of Stars induction

Sunday was a great day for Washington sports. Before celebrating the Nationals’ first walk-off victory of 2018, fans at Nationals Park got to see another set of local heroes inducted to the Washington Hall of Stars. In addition to fairly recent greats, like basketball stars Len Bias, Grant Hill and Walt Williams, came Buddy Myer, …

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Rickey’s papers set the stage for a historic baseball summer in Washington

Former Senators outfielder Curt Flood “approach(ed) perfection” with St. Louis in 1963. That same year, former Senator slugger Harmon Killebrew was described as strikeout prone and overpriced as a Minnesota Twin. Former Nationals manager Frank Robinson was “upset” by the change-up as a Cincinnati Red in the spring of 1964. Those are the professional opinions …

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Recalling Washington’s struggles with baseball integration

It was great to be at the Nationals Park on Jackie Robinson Day. Even if the crowd was sparse in the cool, wet weather, it was heartwarming to see all the players wearing No. 42 in honor of the man who broke baseball’s color barrier. Reflecting on the legacy of Robinson and those who followed …

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Nats won fans hearts early in inaugural season

I will always love the Nationals, but I’m still waiting for something that will make me fall in love with this year’s team – something momentous to convince me that this year’s edition of the Nats is capable of doing great things. In their first year in Washington, 2005, it took just two games for …

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“Wait’ll next year and hope?” Nope. Nats fans demand more

Baseball is said to be a timeless game. The rhythm of the game and the season bring generations together, and phrases like ‘Bang! Zoom!’ and ‘See you later!’ take on a special meaning around here every spring, summer and fall. Year after year, we pack the ballpark, gather around the television, tune in to broadcasts, …

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Three reasons the Nats will advance in the 2017 postseason

By Marty Niland It’s fun to be a Nationals fan right now. The team is winning on its final road trip of a record-setting offensive season. It has locked up home-field advantage in the National League Division Series, and Bryce Harper is most likely headed back into action for the final week of the regular …

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Nats and their fans get the celebration they deserve

We partied like it was 1933. For the first time in several generations, Washington baseball fans celebrated a championship  the right way: on their home field after a win. It hadn’t happened in Washington since Sept. 21, 1933, when the original Nats beat the St. Louis Browns, 2-1 at Griffith Stadium. After Lefty Stewart tossed …

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