The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia

Woodbridge, Virginia

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...

. The Nationals play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League

Carolina League

The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...

, and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...

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History

The team began play in 1978 as the Alexandria Dukes

Alexandria Dukes

The Alexandria Dukes were a baseball team in the minor-league Class A Carolina League. The team was formed in 1978 by the then-floundering Carolina League, which had only four teams when the Dukes were formed...

. The Dukes moved from Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...

, for the 1984 season and were renamed the Prince William Pirates. Since then, the team has been named the Prince William Yankees, Prince William Cannons, Potomac Cannons, and now the Potomac Nationals.

The team has been affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...

, New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

, Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

, St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

, Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....

, and now the Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...

. Since moving to Woodbridge, the franchise has played all its home games at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium

G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium

G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium is a stadium in the Coles Magisterial District of Prince William County, Virginia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Potomac Nationals minor league baseball team. It was built in 1984...

, with an announced seating capacity

Seating capacity

Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...

 of 6,000 people.http://books.google.com/books?id=1DaQ8oNXuE0C&pg=PA88&dq=Potomac+Nationals&hl=en&ei=0iVkTYCWHYL78Ab2rqmZDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Potomac%20Nationals&f=false

Notable alumni of the Dukes/Mariners/Pirates/Yankees/Cannons/Nationals include:

Rick Ankiel

Rick Ankiel

Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....

, Magglio Ordóñez

Magglio Ordóñez

Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...

, Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds

Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...

, Bobby Bonilla

Bobby Bonilla

Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:...

, Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams

Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...

, Andy Pettitte

Andy Pettitte

Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...

, Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols

José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...

, Coco Crisp

Coco Crisp

Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp is an American professional baseball center fielder. Crisp is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed...

, Braden Looper

Braden Looper

Braden LaVerne Looper is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:Looper was a scholar athlete while a student at Mangum High School in Mangum, Oklahoma...

, Brad Ausmus

Brad Ausmus

Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....

, Jorge Posada

Jorge Posada

Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...

, Kevin Maas

Kevin Maas

Kevin Christian Maas is a former Major League Baseball player. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1986 draft after attending the University Of California. He made his major league debut for Yankees on June 29, 1990 when they called him up from the Columbus Clippers...

, Hensley Meulens

Hensley Meulens

Hensley Filemon Acasio Meulens is a former professional baseball player and current hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants. He played from to in Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Korea Baseball Organization...

, Gerald Williams, Edwin Encarnacion

Edwin Encarnación

Edwin Elpidio Encarnación , is a Dominican Republic Major League Baseball utility player with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 6 ft 2 in, 235-pound Encarnación bats and throws right-handed....

, Jack Wilson, Dimitri Young, Dan Haren

Dan Haren

Daniel John Haren is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.- High-school and college career :...

, Carmen Cali

Carmen Cali

Carmen Salvatore Cali is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is currently a free agent.Cali graduated in 1997 from Naples High School after lettering and starring four years in both football and baseball. He went on to graduate, and letter in baseball, at Florida Atlantic University.He...

, John Smiley, Scott Kamieniecki

Scott Kamieniecki

Scott Kamieniecki , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1991–2000 and played four years for the University of Michigan. He joined the New York Yankees in 1991....

, José Lind

José Lind

José Lind Salgado, nicknamed "Chico", is a former Major League Baseball player, and former manager of the Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish. He is the cousin of Onix Concepcion, another MLB player. Primarily a second baseman, Lind was highly regarded for his defensive skills, winning a Gold...

, Jeff King

Jeff King (baseball)

Jeffrey Wayne King is a former professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.-Career:...

, Félix Fermín

Felix Fermin

Félix José Fermín Minaya is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs ....

, Mike Cameron

Mike Cameron

Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...

, Sterling Hitchcock

Sterling Hitchcock

Sterling Alex Hitchcock is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played from to , mostly with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres....

, Joey Votto

Joey Votto

Joseph Daniel "Joey" Votto, is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 2010 NL MVP, the recipient of the National League Hank Aaron Award for 2010, and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year in 2010.-Early life:Votto was born on...

, John Lannan

John Lannan

John Edward Lannan is a left-handed starting pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization....

, Justin Maxwell

Justin Maxwell

Justin Adam Maxwell is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees organization.-Early years:...

, Josh Whitesell

Josh Whitesell

Joshua S. Whitesell is a 6' 1", 225-pound left-handed professional baseball first baseman for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball....

, Danny Espinosa

Danny Espinosa

Daniel Richard "Danny" Espinosa is a Major League Baseball Second baseman for the Washington Nationals.-College career:...

, and Ross Detwiler

Ross Detwiler

Ross Emery Detwiler is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He is a left-handed pitcher with a mid 90s fastball that has topped out at 96 miles per hour. He throws a fastball, curveball, and changeup....

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External links

• Potomac Nationals Official Site