The Washington Nationals toppled the Houston Astros 6-2 in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series to claim the city’s first-ever Commissioner’s Trophy. Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg took home World Series MVP honors after going 6-0 in his six playoff starts.
Their improbable October Classic victory came against the most difficult postseason schedule since the league expanded its regular season to 162 games, with victories against the 106-win Dodgers, 91-win Cardinals and the 107-win Astros.
With 50/1 odds at the All-Star break, just 11th in the league, a Word Series victory seemed impossible as their coveted star and former No. 1 pick, Bryce Harper bolted out of the nation’s capital for the city of brotherly love in the offseason. Fans showed no remorse, donning Harper’s jersey with duct tape and handwritten text sprawling across reading “Better without [Harper]” or “[Harper] is watching from home” throughout the playoff run.
Despite the odds against them, the Nationals achieved the impossible, becoming the sixth team to win it all as a wild card team.
“I literally had no expression, I think I almost shit my pants,” said Dominic Trapp, a Washington, D.C. resident and Nationals fanatic.
Washington, D.C. flew off the handle. Fans spilled onto the streets chanting “Go Nats!” before breaking into a flurry of songs while dancing and parading downtown. The celebration continued Nov. 2, when the team hosted a parade to honor the fans who stuck by their side through all of the playoff droughts and heartbreak that led to this moment.
Even manager Dave Martinez jumped off the parade bus to celebrate with fans cheering from the side.
“It is the first time since I moved to Washington that I didn’t go to a live baseball game this season,” said Steve Colton, a Washington, D.C. resident at the Nationals parade. “It’s clearly connected, I owe it to them to be here now.”