Washington Nationals

Illustration of the dome of the United States Capitol in the center with two black stars on the left and right sides; red text on a white background above and white text on a red background below

The Washington Nationals are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team from Washington, D.C., but their history stretches back through earlier franchises. Baseball in the nation’s capital has had a unique past; Washington was home to two different teams called the Senators. The first Senators (1901–1960) eventually moved and became the Minnesota Twins, while a second Senators team (1961–1971) was later relocated to Texas, where they became the Rangers. That left Washington without an MLB club for over three decades, until 2005. The Nationals’ franchise actually started as the Montreal Expos, Canada’s first major league team, in 1969. When the Expos moved to D.C. in 2005, they became the Nationals, marking the city’s return to big-league baseball after 34 years. By 2012, the team had captured its first major league title and went on to be a regular playoff contender throughout the 2010s.

Crane Potato Chips, once based in Decatur, Illinois, has its own distinctive story. The company got its start in 1938 under Licek Confectioners and changed hands a few times before Ollie Crane purchased it in 1944, running it for nearly three decades. One of the brand’s most memorable features was its creative packaging—chips sold in large beige cans that doubled as handy storage. But what really stuck with fans were Crane’s baseball promotions in the 1960s. Each summer, the company handed out collectible pins featuring bright team logos and names, with Crane’s branding stamped on the back along with a promise of a free baseball. These colorful pins became a summertime tradition for kids and collectors, with the only dated set known from 1961.