In 2012, the lovable loser finally won. This applies to the Nats and Teddy
As funny as it is to say, Teddy winning his first ever presidents race was a turning point in franchise history. It marked that the Nats had gone from lovable losers to a rising powerhouse.
On the last day of the 2012 season, it finally happened. After 533 losses, Teddy Roosevelt finally won the presidents race. After coming out of the gates slowly, a fake Philly Phanatic tripped up the other presidents and allowed the lovable loser to finally coast to victory.
This victory captured the mood of the fanbase at that moment in time. It was the last game of what had been by far the greatest season in team history to date. The team won 98 games, which remains a franchise record. The Nationals had won the division and reached the playoffs for the first time in team history as well. This Nats team was led by a young core which would lead the way for Nationals baseball for the rest of the 2010’s.
It was a team that was green and ahead of schedule. Bryce Harper was still just 19 years old, and Stephen Strasburg was just 23. There was an outpouring of optimism from the Nationals fanbase. That is what made Teddy’s win that much more special.
For years, people had been calling to ‘let Teddy win’, but over and over he tripped up at the final hurdle. However, as the Nationals finished off their greatest campaign to date, Teddy ran his greatest race. Teddy’s win meant more than just a silly president mascot winning a race, it marked the upward mobility of the franchise.