Nationals’ National (League Pennant)

The Washington Nationals nee Montreal Expos franchise captured their first pennant, in this their 50th completed season (’69-2019, with no post-season in ’94, when it should be noted the then Montreal Expos had baseball’s best record, when the season was canceled), completing a four game NLCS sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals last night.

It is the third time the Cardinals have been swept in a best of 7 series, the first vs the great Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig Yankees in 1928 and the more recent one, in the ’04 World Series, vs the Boston Red Sox.

The 2004 World Series victory for the Red Sox ended an 86 year title drought, while last night’s Washington Nationals pennant means World Series games will be played in the United States capital for the first time in 86 years.

Howie Kendrick, pictured above, was named NLCS MVP.

In the division series vs L.A. in the decisive 5th game,  Kendrick’s top of the tenth inning, grand slam home run, essentially lifted the Nationals into the NLCS.