{"id":664018,"date":"2026-04-05T04:33:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T04:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/664018\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T04:33:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T04:33:42","slug":"nationals-celebrate-their-21st-anniversary-the-most-creative-way-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/664018\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationals Celebrate Their 21st Anniversary the Most Creative Way Possible"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington Nationals have now been in the DC area for 21 years. They celebrated their birthday in the coolest way.<\/p>\n

Over two decades ago, MLB<\/a> decided to move one of their francises from Canada to the United States. <\/p>\n

The Montreal Expos had a stadium that was falling apart and were consistently without suitable attendance. So, they left Canada and relocated to Washington DC, where they became the Washington Nationals. 21 years to the day of their first game after the rebrand, they celebrated their birthday in one of the coolest ways we\u2019ve seen in recent memory.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On April 4th, 2005, Washington played their first game as the Nationals in Philadelphia against the Phillies. They lost that game<\/a>, but gained a lifelong fan. The same day they took the field representing Washington DC, Sorcha Lewis was born. So, Budweiser partnered with the Nationals to have a ceremonial first sip.<\/p>\n

Lewis walked to the mound before Friday\u2019s game in a custom number 21 Nationals jersey. But instead of a baseball in her hand, there was an icy cold bottle of Budweiser. The public address announcer encouraged fans to join together in raising a toast to \u201c21 years of memories, milestones, and Nationals baseball.\u201d Lewis led the crowd in a ceremonial first sip.<\/p>\n

Story continues below.<\/p>\n

More Sports News<\/p>\n

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But Lewis didn\u2019t just sip. Who sips on their 21st birthday? She downed that Budweiser. She also got a special shoutout from the rebranded franchise\u2019s first-ever draft pick and Washington legend, Ryan Zimmerman.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sorcha might have just had the best 21st birthday of all-time. Happy birthday to her and the Nationals. Congrats on 21 years of life, and here\u2019s to many more.<\/p>\n