Let Teddy Win T-Shirts
With the Baltimore Orioles in town, Teddy Roosevelt was looking for The Bird to show up, and finally got his wish Saturday night.
Teddy and the “creatively”-named Orioles mascot have a contentious history, but The Bird appeared ready to make peace as the fourth-inning presidents race began.
With Teddy rounding the outfield corner carrying a big lead, The Bird appeared on the first base line holding a “Go Teddy” sign.
But Teddy would have none of it.
With a sellout crowd of 42,331 cheering Teddy on, the site of an unprotected Bird was just too much for the Hero of San Juan Hill to resist.
He veered off course and put a highlight reel tackle on the mascot.
The Battle of the Beltways continues Sunday at Nationals Park.
Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome
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The annual “Battle of the Beltways” between the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles kicked off Friday afternoon as Nationals mascot Screech took on the creatively-named Orioles mascot “The Bird” in a series of challenges including arm wrestling and free-throw shooting at DC’s ESPN Zone. 
Today at Nationals Park, Teddy spotted the orioles mascot right out of the starting gate, ran after him and promptly slammed The Bird into the outfield wall, taking him down and out of the action. We’ve rarely seen Teddy so motivated.
Teddy Roosevelt had never won a race at Nationals Park (at least not without being disqualified for cheating); but tonight a packed house got to cheer as our beloved #26 came from behind and crossed the finish line to claim victory in a 1-on-1 grudge match vs. The Bird from Baltimore.
With the outfield scoreboard displaying the two contestants’ vital statistics (Moustache-span: 2.5 ft), the racers were introduced and Teddy appeared from the centerfield gate draped in an American flag. The Bird got a huge jump out of the gate, but Teddy quickly turned on the afterburners. As they raced past the centerfield wall flashing “TED-DY,” Teddy passed The Bird to run away with it in the home stretch.
The over 35,000 fans who packed Nationals Park for the opening game of the “Battle of the Beltways” series between the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles were treated to a spectacle of presidential proportions on Friday night.
presidents race kicked off, as Teddy Roosevelt took a commanding lead out of the gate and drew cheers as he rounded the warning track in right field.
One inning later, a “press conference” was shown on the outfield high-definition scoreboard, announcing a grudge match between Teddy and The Bird. Teddy challenged The Bird to an “unsanctioned race” to be held during the 4th inning of Saturday night’s game between the Orioles and Nationals. 
In addition to the special presidents race between Teddy and The Bird (which the announcer described “the race of the century”) on Saturday night the Nationals are kicking off Nationals Park Saturday Night Movies. On select Saturday nights throughout the season, the Nationals will play a feature film after the game on the high-definition scoreboard. Concessions and parking will remain open during the movie, and fans are encouraged to move to any open seat on the 3rd base side of Nationals Park (presidential seats excepted). 
