2012 was a breakthrough season for both the Nationals and for perpetual loser Teddy Roosevelt. As the team soared to the best record in Major League Baseball, pressure grew from all corners to Let Teddy Win. Competing players weighed in, law professors proposed legal remedies, the Orioles’ Adam Jones joined the movement, and calls for a Teddy victory came from The Washington Post to the Wall Street Journal to a Ken Burns-narrated video on ESPN. After The White House issued a statement, the Nats turned the final homestand into a tribute to Teddy, and finally let him taste his first victory at the final regular season game.
Final 2012 Presidents Race Standings**
#1 George Washington | 30 |
#16 Abraham Lincoln | 29 |
#3 Thomas Jefferson | 27 |
#26 Teddy Roosevelt | 4 |
**Includes three victories by Teddy Roosevelt during home playoff games.
2012 Presidents Race Highlights
* A second official presidents race is added when a game exceeds 12 innings. Late-inning bonus presidents races were run on April 13 (13 innings vs. Cincinnati Reds), June 16 (14 innings vs. New York Yankees), and August 20 (13 innings vs. Atlanta Braves). The Nationals also played two home games (i.e., baseball doubleheaders) on July 21 and September 19.