WASHINGTON -- The transplanted Expos might soon have a new name, though it's really an old name and probably not the one you think.
Because of the pressure to sell tickets, merchandise and sponsorships before the franchise is sold, Major League Baseball is expected to rename the Expos within the next two weeks, according to the Washington Times.
Though the team that left Washington for Texas after the 1971 season was officially named the Senators, for most of its history the team in the Nation's Capital was more often known as or familiarly referred to as the Nationals.
And, Nationals the new team apparently will be, fittingly because whereas the former Nats were "first in war, first in peace and last in the American League," the new Nationals will be in the National League.
Sources told the Times that Nationals is a near lock, ahead of Grays, historical name of the Negro League team in Washington, and Senators, following a process that involved focus groups, marketing executives and polling data.
However, baseball spokesman Rich Levin said reports that the Expos would be renamed the Nationals were premature. Levin said other names, such as the Senators, remain under consideration and that baseball still was conducting focus groups.
"We're about 10-15 days from having this done," team president Tony Tavares told the newspaper. "We're getting real close."
The team logo and uniform designs also are nearing completion, sources told the Times. Team colors will be red, white and blue, of course, although there's no indication which will be the primary color.
The clear aim is to put caps, shirts and other merchandise on sale for holiday shopping, which begins in less than three weeks.
