The 1904 Washington Senators, who opened the season 0-13-1, were the butt of jokes. The team’s .252 winning percentage remains MLB’s fourth worst since 1900.

Time flies. The Washington Nationals are about to turn 20. Next season will be the 20th anniversary of the franchise and its move to Washington D.C.

On a sunny, breezy, April afternoon in Philadelphia exactly 20 years ago, a major league ballclub wearing navy blue caps with a curly W logo and gray jerseys with “Washington” emblazoned acr ...