America’s capital, Washington, DC erupted with “Natitude” on Wednesday as the city hosts its first postseason baseball game in 79 years, reminding Republicans and Democrats that baseball - not political gridlock - is America’s national pastime as both sides come together to root for the Washington Nationals.
“Baseball is fun, and it gives us something to talk about, from both sides of the aisle,” Republican Senator Mitch McConnell told Sports Illustrated.
No Washington team has won a World Series championship since the Senators did it back in 1924, and the city hosted its last baseball playoff game on October 7, 1933 when the New York Giants beat the Senators 4-3.
The Nationals have ended the dry spell and given the city its best hope of winning the World Series, especially since the team had the best record in baseball during the regular season.
The Nationals are playing the third game in the best-of-five National League Division Series on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, the defending World Series champions.
The series was tied 1-1 going into Wednesday’s game.
Many Nationals fans were upset upon finding out that the first postseason game in Washington in generations would be held at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, a time when most are at work and would have to beg their bosses to leave for the game or come up with a good excuse for missing work.
Ticket prices were going for as high as $1,000, and fans lined up early Wednesday morning to grab the last tickets remaining for standing-room only seats.
