The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Nationals Is NeW Name
To DispLace ''Senators''
F. L. MCKcnna Lucky Man to First Suggest
Title Adopted for Ball CIub-OId
Nationals Were Winners.

NATIONALS.
This is the new name for the Wash
ington baseball team. The Senators
have adjourned sine die, it is to be
hoped. and the tailenders will try to
make a better showing under their new
title.
#. l.. McKenna 40S K street north
west, was the first man to suggest
Nationals" and he will get the prize
a season pass. Mr.. McKenna's letter
WAS the thirty-second one opened and it
.'eached Pr ,sident Thomas G. Noyes on
the morning of the day the announce
ment was made that the new owners
OF the club wished to get rid of the hoo
doo nickname, which has marked defeat
for9so many years.
Sententious Letter.
Mr.. McKenna was extrtmely senten-
t.ous and confident in making his sug-
| gestiOn. His letter read:
Call the team Nationals and send
| pass to +. L. McKenna. 4CS K street
| northwest
| 1t would be hard to beat that sim
| plicity and tirectness
| The winner of the prize was born in
d
ever since the days when Uncle Nick
Young played the game and used his
whiskers for chest protector. Those
ere the times when Senator German
was a prominent figure in the baseball
world. The winner was a sergeant In
| the United States Marine Corps from
1861 to 1865 and saw much active serv-
ice. He was appointed a clerk in the
and has been there number of years.
Mr. Mex emma has always been active in
| q. A. r. affairs and was commander of
John F. Ryan Post in 1894, and L. 5.
Grant Post in 1903. He is now assist
| ant quartermaster genera, Of the Depart
ment OF the Potomac.
Friend of Uncle Nick.
| The schooling of Mr.. McKenna in fam
dom was obtained under the tutelage OF
| Uncle Nick Young, who has been his
| intimate friend for thirty-five years. and
| your Uncle Nick has seen that Mr.. Nc
| Kenna never lost interest in the national
game.
| In letter stating why he made the
suggestion which won the season pass.
| Mr.. Mckenna said:
| MY reasons for the name Nationals
| is that 1t has greater significance and
! will be more appreciated than Sen
ators. and incite the players TO greater
/ efforts. l believe the people OF Wash
/ ington Will support a winning club.
/ When Washington had a club called
| Nationals it was a winner, and the peo-
| pie were proud of it and supported it.
! / most sincerely wish the club well and
hope 1t may prove financially a success
| for the new owners"
Meets Approval.
| 1t Is believed that the new name will
| be approved by all, especially the old
| timers who have followed the baseball
career of tho Capital for the past TWEEN
! ty years About the only time team
| representing this city has been able to
| do anything of particular note. except
! break losing records, was in 1885, when
| IL won the pennant in the Eastern
| league, as Michael Scanlon, who was
| owner of the club then. will tell you al
length should you ask him If Washing
ton ever finished better than last.
The nearest II came to getting into
good company again was in the year tbs
National League got foolish with the
heat and decided TO divide the cham
! pionship into two seasons. Washington
| finished among the first six the first hall
| of the games, and then fell off its perct
! with its usual sickening thud.
Hoodoo Name.
| When the Wagners came to Wash
| ington they changed the name of the
club 10 Senator's" and, true to the
name, they have never passed any
thing since. There has been too much
Senatorial courtesy
| The veterans are pleased with the
| new handle by which to address tn,
team, and there were many letters re
| ceiyed after that of Mr.. McKenna
Nearly all were based upon it's ap