The Washington Nationals are playing their first World Series game tonight.
Just let that sink in—the Washington Nationals are playing their first World Series game tonight.
In case you haven’t been wearing the same jersey or pair of underwear in preparation, there are other ways to feel like part of the Nats community.
For instance, the digital signs on all 1,500 MetroBuses are flashing a “Go Nats” message, in addition to listing the line and destination of the vehicle, on both the front and back. According to WMATA spokesperson Dan Stessel, this is the company’s practice every time one of D.C.’s major teams make it to the finals—the Mystics and Capitals got similar treatment during their respective championship series (as did one Arya Stark when she defeated the Night King in the most high-stakes postseason of them all). There’s also pro-Nats messages at the station manager kiosks on Metrorail.
However, Stessel adds, “the biggest demonstration of our support is the ‘flexing’ of Metrorail hours throughout the postseason—in the absence of a sponsorship or funding source—to ensure that fans can confidently choose Metro as their ride home after the game.” (For more information about how to navigate Nationals Park during the World Series, see here.)
Metro isn’t the only one getting into the celebratory spirit. A slew of local institutions are flexing their fandom, with a healthy smattering of “Baby Shark” nods, considering outfielder Gerardo Parra’s at-bat song has become the representation of the team’s turnaround. And if you’re looking for drink deals, watch parties, and other potential bargains, we’ve got you covered.
National Symphony Orchestra
The musicians of the NSO donned baby shark costumes and performed a rendition of “Baby Shark” in the lobby of the Kennedy Center.
https://twitter.com/nso_musicians/status/1186007127325839360
Washington National Cathedral
In a surprisingly moving take on the children’s earworm, the Washington National Cathedral used its 10,647-pipe organ and two instrumentalists to play an arrangement of “Baby Shark” that echoes through the historic vaulted ceilings.
https://twitter.com/WNCathedral/status/1186639578582736896
National Mall Division Of The National Park Service
The National Mall team over at NPS says it has rechristened its domain as “Nationals Mall”—but don’t check the paperwork on that one quite yet. It’s really only on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/NationalMallNPS/status/1186627683935031296
National Airport
More baby sharks, baby! Inspired by the song that has symbolized the team’s fun-loving chemistry (with an unmistakable whiff of Katy Perry’s 2015 Super Bowl halftime show), DCA workers suit up in full-body shark costumes to groove around the airport.
https://twitter.com/Reagan_Airport/status/1186278401952440323
Smithsonian
The national institution has come out in support of its home team, with one of the only (very, very tame) digs we’ve seen at the opponents, the Astros, with a very on-brand “Houston, YOU have a problem.”
https://twitter.com/smithsonian/status/1186661401516892161
Not everyone is ready to throw convention aside to celebrate the Nationals, though.
Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh asked D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson if the legislative body could sing “Baby Shark” as a way of wishing the team good luck on Tuesday. But Mendelson called it “out of order,” per Washington Times reporter Sophie Kaplan. Still, some rogue ultimately played the song over the speakers.
https://twitter.com/FenitN/status/1186675138433032192
Rachel Kurzius