Washington Steps Into the On-Deck Circle (Marlins to DC)

Washington Post ^ | January 18, 2002 | Thomas Boswell

[testforecho]

So, what's in the cards for Washington? According to highly placed management sources, there are two scenarios in which the Washington area ends up with a team.

If everything turns out exactly as Selig and his owners prefer, a team would relocate to Washington for the 2003 season.

That team would almost certainly be the Florida Marlins.

John Henry, a lodge member in good standing, was unhappy as the Marlins owner. Taxpayers wouldn't build him a few stadium. So, baseball put together a Good-Old-Boys group, with Henry at its head, to buy the Red Sox.

[testforecho]

Okay, just to get some informational links out of the way (also WP):

O's Maintain Opposition To Move of a Club to D.C. (Washington Post)

By Mark Asher Page D1,                 Jan 19, 2002
Joe Foss, the Baltimore Orioles chief operating officer, said yesterday that the organization has not changed its position opposing Major League ...

Around the Horn: Excitement (Washington Post)

By Craig Timberg and Steve Twomey                 Page A10, Jan 18, 2002
News that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig anointed the Washington area the "prime candidate" for a relocated team yesterday electrified ...

Hopes Rise for Baseball In D.C. (Washington Post)

By Steve Fainaru and Dave Sheinin                Page A01, Jan 18, 2002
PHOENIX, Jan. 17 -- Commissioner Bud Selig today for the first time said Washington is "the prime candidate" to receive a relocated Major League ...

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What a convoluted scenario. Sorry Marlins fans, your team is going to a deserving city. The Nation's Capitol needs a baseball team. D.C. residents appreciate your patriotic support.

[sig226]

From Keith Olberman, subbing for Paul Harvey today:
Might not want to get Don Mincher for that team.

1960: played for Washington, DC, Senators, who moved to Minnesota.
1969: played for Seattle, Washington, Pilots, who moved to Milwaukee.
1971: played for Washington, DC, Senators, who moved to Texas.

Just wondering, does Honolulu want a team? :)

[RFP]

That team would almost certainly be the Florida Marlins.

I find this hard to believe. That team would almost certainly be the Montreal EXPOS.... hopefully renamed the Washington Bullets, but more likely to be the Potomac PCs.