With ten home games remaining in the season, the 2017 presidents race crown remains up in the air, with George Washington and Abe Lincoln each within four victories of leader Thomas Jefferson in the standings. But one thing we know for sure:
Teddy Roosevelt doesn’t stand a chance.
We haven’t published full stories about every race this season, but we’ve continued to post summaries and videos after every race, and the narrative is worth revisiting. The Nationals revived their conspiracy against Theodore Roosevelt, and he is losing in spectacular and creative ways.
Teddy has been bowled over by Lincoln, battled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on 90s night, danced the Vogue on Maddona’s birthday, and been fooled by counterfeit currency on National Dollar Day.
He’s been distracted by the 2018 All Star Game logo, by fans in the stands, by Nats 50/50 raffle tickets, and by a book about Mount Rushmore on National Book Lovers Day.
And that’s just since the All Star break.
But now that the Nats have clinched, some fans are saying on social media that that’s enough. Harkening back to the 2012 season, when the Nationals won their first division, they say the Nats will now let Teddy win.
For others, letting Teddy win is a bad memory. They’ve reversed the curse concept, as they did in 2014 and again in 2016, saying that the Nats won’t win a playoff series if they let Roosevelt win.
To those fans, I point to Barry Svrluga’s column in Sunday’s Post, in which he chronicles Jayson Werth’s decision to sign with baseball’s losing-est franchise in 2010, and the team’s rise to elite status during the course of Werth’s seven-year contract.
Soon after joining the team, Werth become the most prominent member of the Let Teddy Win movement, lobbying and scheming to get the team to allow Teddy to win. “To me, the Presidents Race and Teddy Roosevelt are very symbolic of where this organization goes,” he said on ESPN in 2012. “It needs to be addressed. It needs to be answered.”
Entering the final year of his contract with the winningest record in baseball over the previous six seasons, Werth proclaimed “We did it” when I saw him in 2016.
Now Werth, who teammates call the heart of the franchise, faces what is likely his last opportunity to win a championship with the Nationals. Why on this occasion would the Nats decide to rub it in his face and turn Teddy into a loser again?
Dear Nationals. Let Teddy Win!
The presidents stop to admire the 2018 All Star Game logo:
Teddy stops to wave at former Nat Pack members in the crowd:
Abe pummels Teddy, then is attacked by a shark:
Washington fools the presidents with fake currency on National Dollar Day:
Teddy is distracted by a Mount Rushmore book on National Book Lover’s Day:
Abe distracts Teddy with Dream Foundation raffle tickets:
On 90s night, Teenage Mutant Ninja Teddy pauses to gloat:
Presidents dance The Vogue on Madonna’s birthday:
On extra-long extended course, Teddy gets winded:
Grounds crew enters field to tackle the presidents:
LET TEDDY WIN 