In the town named after our first president, the new Nationals park is set to include a floral homage to Washington in its outfield, the first park of its kind to do so:Come April 2008, Ryan Zimmerman might become the first player in major league history to hit a home run into a cherry tree.A grove of cherry blossoms behind the left field bleachers is one of the latest additions to the plans of the Washington Nationals stadium.
"We couldn't find another ballpark that had trees in the ballpark," team president Stan Kasten said Tuesday at the launch of a campaign to sell luxury suites.
Kasten said construction of the 41,000-seat ballpark remains on schedule for completion by Opening Day next year. The outline has taken shape, with the steel and concrete frame of the upper deck rising above the site along the Anacostia River.
That sounds like a pretty picture - after all, that picture of cherry blossoms in New York City is mighty purdy - even if the stadium's name is likely to be taken by the highest corporate bidder in the future.
The park will also include "Oval Office Bar" and the various suites will be named after notable presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, et al. Get it? Because it's in the capitol.
