Washington area lawmakers celebrate Nationals title with World Series trophy

The World Series trophy arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, giving D.C.-area lawmakers, their staffs and other Washington Nationals fans a chance to snap a photo and celebrate the team’s 2019 championship season.

Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined fellow fans in the Russell Senate Office Building, where the Commissioner’s Trophy was on display for the day.

“You have been an incredible team, a great spirit, and as you can see, from your games and the following you’ve got, a great fan base,” Van Hollen said.

The four lawmakers had put forth a resolution, passed unanimously in the Senate in November, congratulating the Nationals for their World Series victory over the Houston Astros.

Van Hollen noted that the resolution was unanimous. “Even the Texas guys voted,” he joked.

Kaine and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) made a bet ahead of last year’s World Series, with Cruz promising Kaine’s staff a Texas barbecue meal with some Shiner beer if the Nationals won. Kaine offered up crab cakes and whiskey from Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. if the Astros won.

Before last year, a Washington team hadn’t won a World Series since the Senators in 1924. That team played its last season in Washington in 1971.

Gregory McCarthy, senior vice president of community engagement for the Nationals, said the 2019 title “was a way for the region to come together and be unified and joyous about something, so it’s very special to be part of that.”

“Congress is an important federal institution, but it’s also an incredibly important local institution. It’s populated by our fans basically, so it’s a special treat to bring our trophy here to the Capitol,” McCarthy added.

The trophy itself was in the news recently after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred referred to it as a “piece of metal.”

Those remarks came during the fallout from the Astros sign-stealing scandal, with Manfred being asked about pressure to strip the team of their 2017 title. Manfred later apologized for his comments about the trophy.

The trophy, which has been on display at the White House and was overseas for viewing by U.S. troops stationed abroad, now heads back to Nationals Park for the team’s home opener on April 2.