A new playing ground in Southwest was officially christened Ryan Zimmerman Field on Saturday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Washington Nationals first baseman, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and other prominent local figures.
Despite horrendous weather that included temperatures in the 30s and a steady onslaught of rain, snow, and graupel, scores of Little Leaguers also made it out for the mid-morning event at Randall Recreation Center at South Capitol and I Streets. While the conditions were anything but conducive to baseball (that afternoon’s Nats game against Miami was subsequently postponed), the ceremony looked ahead to warmer days when the multipurpose artificial-turf field will host Capitol Hill Little League games, soccer matches, and other youth sporting events.
The 31-year-old Zimmerman, the Nationals’ first-ever draft pick and longest-tenured player, addressed the crowd before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.
“I do remember when I was playing Little League baseball and was in the same shoes as these kids here, and I didn’t have a field this nice to play on,” he said.
Zimmerman urged the youths in attendance to be active and take advantage of the lessons sports can offer. “Learn to be good teammates, learn to be good friends, stick up for each other. Sports is one of the beautiful things because it parallels life. You can learn a lot from being on a team. Winning, losing, playing in the rain and snow, it’s not always easy but if you do it together it makes it a lot easier.”
Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner noted that Zimmerman Field is the first “legacy field” refurbished through a project launched last summer by the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, with others to follow throughout the region. “This field will create opportunities for kids to make memories that they will never forget,” he declared. Lauding Zimmerman for his contributions to D.C. baseball, Lerner said: “Even at your young age, you are a baseball institution here. Thank you for contributing to this project and adding your name to the field. For the boys and girls who look up to you, it means a lot.”
In her brief remarks, Bowser thanked the Nationals, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Capitol Hill Little League for coming together on the project. “I just want to congratulate the boys and girls because you’re going to have a really great field to play on,” she added. “And let’s here it for Ryan Zimmerman! We’re really honored right here in the heart of Ward 6 to name this field in your honor.”
After cutting the ribbon along with Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and ANC Commissioner Stacy Cloyd, Bowser and Zimmerman braved the elements for a few more minutes to mingle and take selfies with some of the kids. Nationals manager Dusty Baker and pitcher Gio Gonzalez were also present to take in the festivities, as were representatives from sponsors Under Armour, who partnered with the Nationals and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to help fund the field.
