The Nationals last night won the first World Series championship in franchise history, and a championship parade will be held Saturday in DC, beginning at 2:00pm ET and "marching down Pennsylvania Avenue," according to Rachel Hopmayer of NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON. Both the DC Police Department and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted "in excitement and anticipation of the championship parade" in the hours after the Nationals beat the Astros 6-2 (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 10/31). Bowser's office said that it would "coordinate operations across multiple city agencies to 'ensure the celebration is a safe and enjoyable experience for all'" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/31).
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM: Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner following last night’s Game 7 said, "I'm speechless. I've dreamed of this my entire life" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/31). In Houston, David Barron notes with a crowd of 43,326 on hand at Minute Maid Park, the Nats completed the "unprecedented accomplishment of winning four road games" in the Series. Their championship "will be remembered as breathtaking in its scope, a historic triumph for a city that spent three decades" without an MLB franchise (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/31). In DC, Rick Maese notes a watch party at Nationals Park drew a crowd of more than 16,000. The "tide has turned" in DC, as a "city of sports fans used to suffering and heartbreak is suddenly celebrating yet another championship -- the third in two years" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/31). Also in DC, Adam Zielonka notes "used to be known for its playoff curse." Now, it is in an "unfamiliar position as the country's new 'Titletown.'" The Nationals’ win follows recent championships for both the Mystics and Capitals (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/31).
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: The AP notes in one "topsy-turvy week," the Nats "put aside the pain of past playoff failures" (AP, 10/31). In N.Y., Joel Sherman notes a club that "seemed done in May" now gets a "parade, rings, forever status" (N.Y. POST, 10/31). A WASHINGTON POST editorial states the "sheer improbability of it is a big part of what made this year so unforgettably great" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/31). In Houston, Jenny Dial Creech notes it was an "entertaining series, but one full of a lot of strange moments and surprises" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/31).
SHARK WEEK: Championship merchandise includes a new "Baby Shark"-themed T-shirt from Fanatics, a reference to Nationals CF Gerardo Parra's walkup music. Also, toy brand FOCO released a full line of Nats bobbleheads that shows players holding the World Series trophy (THE DAILY).
fanatics/foco
ANALYZE THIS: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes the Nationals are an "homage to old school baseball," as they are one of the few teams that "rely on scouts more than analytics." Nationals President of Baseball Operations & GM Mike Rizzo has a staff that "includes six former scouting directors, four former managers, and two former GMs," and all of the team's scouts "played pro baseball." The Nationals' operation is "about people more than numbers" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/31).
FRONT-PAGE HEADLINES: WASHINGTON POST: "At Last, Nats Are Champs"....HOUSTON CHRONICLE: "Not To Be"....GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS: "Taken Away"....N.Y. TIMES: "National Champions"....POLITICO PLAYBOOK: "Nats Win World Series … Is Anything Else Happening?"....ESPN.com: "'We're All Living The Dream': Inside The Nationals' Astonishing World Series Run"
