RFK Stadium Facts:(courtesy of Wikipedia)...
Officially known as Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.
Affectionately known as RFK.
Opened as District of Columbia(DC) Stadium in 1961.
Construction costs - $20 Million
Washington Senators played (1962-71)
Washington Nationals (2005-2007)
Fourth oldest stadium in the Majors.
It is indeed a "multi-purpose, cookie-cutter" design.
Last Nationals game 9/23/07...
The Washington Nationals play their last game in RFK Stadium this afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of their four game weekend series. The Phillies have taken the first three games in DC, but the Nationals will be celebrating the history of Washington baseball in the stadium and will be looking to honor the past with their on-field play. Ryan Zimmerman just led Frank Howard onto the field during pregame intros, and Howard towers over Zimmerman in every sense. Justin Maxwell's starting in left. Washington righty Joel Hanrahan goes to a three ball count with each batter he faces, but manages to retire the side in the first.
D'Angelo "Red Hot" Jimenez is starting at short and leading off against Philly lefty Cole Hamels in the bottom of the first. Jimenez lines a single over second. Hamels walks Ronnie Belliard on four straight. Ryan Zimmerman hits a "do-it-yourself" grounder to Jimmy Rollins who steps on second and throws to first for the DP. Austin Kearns lines the first pitch to center for an RBI single and a 1-0 Nationals lead.
Three up and three down for the Phillies against Hanrahan in the second. Rookie catcher Jesus Flores fouls the third strike into Carlos Ruiz's glove in the bottom of the frame. Rookie left fielder Justin Maxwell grounds out to short. Nook Logan tries unsuccessfully to bunt his way on, and Cole Hamels fields and throws in time to end the second.
Cole Hamels' two-out single in the third is the first hit of the game for the Phillies off of Joel Hanrahan. Jimmy Rollins singles to center. Hanrahan gets Chase Utley swinging at a late-sinking fastball to end the top of the frame. D'Angelo "Red Hot" Jimenez singles with one out in the Nationals third, and then beats out a throw to second after getting caught on a pickoff throw from Hamels. Ryan Zimmerman lines out to Howard to end the third. 1-0 Nationals.
Joel Hanrahan strikes out Pat Burrell for his fifth K to start the fourth. Joel Hanrahan gets Ryan Howard swinging over a change for strike three. A two-out walk to Aaron Rowand, and a single to Gregg Dobbs, but Hanrahan gets Jayson Werth to swing over a ball in the dirt to end the top of the fourth...Wait for it...
...Big Head Teddy Roosevelt....Does NOT WIN!! his first Presidents Race. Teddy Roosevelt had the help of the entire Washington Nationals bullpen, who held Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington back, but it turns out President Roosevelt mistakenly went to the new stadium down the river, and thus missed the last race of the season on a scheduling miscue...("Give whoever wrote that a bonus," Scout, my Brother, Braves Fan and Source For All Things Baseball says). I really thought Teddy would win...
Cole Hamels retires the Nationals in order to end the fourth. Hanrahan issues a one-out walk to the opposing pitcher, and pops up Jimmy Rollins, before giving up another walk to Chase Utley and a single to Pat Burrell that scores Hamels and chases the Nationals starter. "Hollywood" Mike Bacsik comes on to face Ryan Howard. Bacsik walks Howard. Bacsik's done. Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera comes on to face Aaron Rowand. Rowand grounds into a force at second. 1-1 after four and a half.
Hamels gets Justin Maxwell reaching out for a swinging strike three off the plate. Nook Logan swings through the high heater. Cristian Guzmann receives a mixed-reception as he picks up a bat to pinch hit with two down in the fifth. Guzman grounds to first. 1-1 after five.
As of right now, Chase Utley's home run last night stands as the last HR hit at RFK. Washington reliever Luis Ayala walks Gregg Dobbs to start the sixth. Jayson Werth strikes out swinging, and Jesus Flores fires to first and throws it away, Dobbs takes third on an errant throw in from right fielder Austin Kearns. Carlos Ruiz drops a tweener into right. Dobbs scores. 2-1 Philly. Ayala holds it there.
Antonio Alfonseca takes over for Hamels in the bottom of the sixth. D'Angelo "Red Hot" Jimenez doubles to right to start the sixth. Ronnie Belliard walks. One out later, Austin Kearns hits a sinker up the middle off Alfonseca for a run scoring single, and a 2-2 tie. The Professional Pinch Hitter Tony Batista walks to load the bases. Jesus Flores is hit by the new pitcher Geoff Geary to force Belliard in. 3-2 Nationals after six.
Nationals lefty Arnie Munoz gets Chase Utley to pop out for the first out of the seventh, but then walks two before the Tallest Pitcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch comes on to hold the lead. Aaron Rowand flies out. Pinch hitter Tad Iguchi flies to center. 3-2 Nationals after six and a half. Rauch Rules. The DC Faithful let him know it.
Rauch strikes out Werth and Carlos Ruiz to start the eigth after the Nationals fail to add to their lead in the bottom of the seventh. Abraham Nunez hits a two-out single off Rauch, but the 6'11'' right-hander gets Jimmy Rollins to fly to right to end the frame. Still 3-2 DC. Ryan Zimmerman singles, Austin Kearns singles, Robert Fick singles, Zimmerman scores, Kearns to third, all off Philly reliever Kane Davis. 4-2 Nationals. Brian Schneider hits a sac fly to right. Kearns crosses. 5-2 Nationals after eight...Wait for it...
Chad Cordero enters RFK Stadium with the lead in the ninth for the last time. The Nationals Flat-Brimmed Closer is wearing the day game reds, with the interlocking DC logo on the jersey and on the cap, stitched in white lettering above a brim as flat as the fans reception to Teddy Roosevelt losing again. Cordero struggles...Chase Utley hits a ground rule double to left to start the ninth. Cordero gets Shane Victorino swinging. Howard walks. Aaron Rowand singles in Utley. 5-3 Nationals. Wes Helms...down swinging. Jayson Werth...2-2 count...The Last Pitch in RFK Stadium's baseball history is a strike from Chad Cordero that Werth swings over to end it. 1,2,3 Nationals win. 5-3 Final.
So Long RFK Stadium. I'll miss you `til April...
Nationals now 69-87.