The Washington Nationals adopted their name as a deliberate homage to the deep, century-spanning baseball heritage of the nation's capital. When the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C. prior to the 2005 season, team and city officials sought a moniker that celebrated civic pride and honored historical local baseball history. The name "Nationals" had been used by early professional and amateur baseball clubs in the District of Columbia as far back as the mid-19th century, and it served as the official legal name of the original American League Washington franchise established in 1901, even though sports journalists and fans universally popularized the nickname "Senators." Because the old "Senators" name had historical baggage from two prior relocations (to Minnesota and Texas), and given the unique status of Washington, D.C. as the federal capital of the United States, selecting "Nationals"—frequently shortened to "Nats"—offered a patriotic, classic, and historically authentic identity that resonated with generations of local baseball supporters.