As the great Abraham Lincoln once said: “Four score and seven years ago, there were dingers.” Or something like that.
Though Lincoln’s death predated the founding of the National League by over a decade, he—and all presidents throughout America’s history—would surely have appreciated the spectacle of a home run. And on Monday night, the team that calls the nation’s capital home found a way to honor the country’s history with its new home run celebration.
Facing the Cubs at home on Monday night, the Nationals got on the scoreboard in the second inning thanks to a solo home run by Lane Thomas. When the outfielder returned to the dugout, he was greeted with an appropriate nod to presidents of the past in the form of an old-timey powdered wig and a tiny American flag.
*Star-Spangled Banner intensifies* pic.twitter.com/BvDJGEcfbI
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 1, 2023
Dugout home run celebrations are all the rage these days, as teams league-wide have gotten creative in their pursuit of honoring the long ball. There’s the “Dong Bong” in Baltimore, the recently-discontinued “big hat” in Atlanta and an actual trident in Seattle. With its city-specific tie-in and authenticity, Washington’s powdered wig instantly enters the discussion as among the league’s best.
Now, is it possible we’ll ever see the powdered wigs featured during the famed mid-game president’s race at Nationals Park? Time will tell.
