What Might Have Been, 40th Anniversary: "Washington Nat'l League"

ThatSeventiesGuy · 02-18-2014, 08:04 AM

40 years ago, the San Diego Padres almost moved to Washington, DC. For awhile, it looked like a sure thing. Even Topps thought so...

San Diego Padres Move to Washington for 1974 Season - Ghosts of DC

But at the last moment, Ray Kroc of McDonalds fame saved the franchise for San Diego (along with some help from a tough-to-break lease agreement), and the Washington NL franchise was not be be...at least for another 31 years.

They did have an away jersey made up. No home uniform, though, since the team had no name yet, and probably wasn't going to be the Washington Padres (although since the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers exist, you can never be sure). Federals was one name thrown around, but it never really got that far. In the immortal words of that great Washingtonian, Maxwell Smart: "Missed it...by THAT much!" I'm betting that DC baseball fans didn't eat any Big Macs for quite a while after that.

Here's the cap and jersey, to commemorate what might have been:

shawa666 · 02-18-2014, 08:50 AM

Damn I hated powder blue aways.

ThatSeventiesGuy · 02-18-2014, 09:30 AM

They were all the rage in the '70s, though. That uniform almost looks like they ripped the birds-on-bat off a Cardinals road jersey and stuck "Washington" on it.

No Pepper · 02-18-2014, 10:06 AM

Nice piece of what-if history! Only nitpick here would be to up the blue component in the powder and it appears the star is behind the W. I'd be interested to see you come up with a home uni!

cephasjames · 02-18-2014, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatSeventiesGuy

40 years ago, the San Diego Padres almost moved to Washington, DC. For awhile, it looked like a sure thing. Even Topps thought so...

San Diego Padres Move to Washington for 1974 Season - Ghosts of DC

But at the last moment, Ray Kroc of McDonalds fame saved the franchise for San Diego (along with some help from a tough-to-break lease agreement), and the Washington NL franchise was not be be...at least for another 31 years.

They did have an away jersey made up. No home uniform, though, since the team had no name yet, and probably wasn't going to be the Washington Padres (although since the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers exist, you can never be sure). Federals was one name thrown around, but it never really got that far. In the immortal words of that great Washingtonian, Maxwell Smart: "Missed it...by THAT much!" I'm betting that DC baseball fans didn't eat any Big Macs for quite a while after that.

I love "what-if" tidbits. A couple of times I've thought about puting together logos and uniforms for a "What if the Continental League actually formed?" league.

RMc · 02-20-2014, 11:59 AM

I sort of like the uni, in an ironic-retro-70s kinda way.

If anyone wants to create the "Washington Federals" home jersey, I'll write the dynasty about it!

02-18-2014, 08:04 AM	#1
ThatSeventiesGuy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 3,429	What Might Have Been, 40th Anniversary: "Washington Nat'l League" 40 years ago, the San Diego Padres almost moved to Washington, DC. For awhile, it looked like a sure thing. Even Topps thought so... San Diego Padres Move to Washington for 1974 Season - Ghosts of DC But at the last moment, Ray Kroc of McDonalds fame saved the franchise for San Diego (along with some help from a tough-to-break lease agreement), and the Washington NL franchise was not be be...at least for another 31 years. They did have an away jersey made up. No home uniform, though, since the team had no name yet, and probably wasn't going to be the Washington Padres (although since the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers exist, you can never be sure). Federals was one name thrown around, but it never really got that far. In the immortal words of that great Washingtonian, Maxwell Smart: "Missed it...by THAT much!" I'm betting that DC baseball fans didn't eat any Big Macs for quite a while after that. Here's the cap and jersey, to commemorate what might have been: __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...00&postcount=1

02-18-2014, 08:50 AM	#2
shawa666 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Damn I hated powder blue aways. __________________ Remove Selig from the premises.

02-18-2014, 09:30 AM	#3
ThatSeventiesGuy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 3,429	They were all the rage in the '70s, though. That uniform almost looks like they ripped the birds-on-bat off a Cardinals road jersey and stuck "Washington" on it. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...00&postcount=1

02-18-2014, 10:06 AM	#4
No Pepper All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,570	Nice piece of what-if history! Only nitpick here would be to up the blue component in the powder and it appears the star is behind the W. I'd be interested to see you come up with a home uni! __________________ Uniforms compatible with OOTP23/24 Historical Major League Baseball 1901-current Historical Major League Baseball 1871-1900 Historical Federal League Historical Negro Leagues

02-20-2014, 11:59 AM	#6
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,718	I sort of like the uni, in an ironic-retro-70s kinda way. If anyone wants to create the "Washington Federals" home jersey, I'll write the dynasty about it! __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..."