2006 Ryan Zimmerman walk-off homer on Opening Day

Lore & Background

The 2006 season marked the Nationals' second year in Washington after relocating from Montreal. The team was still building its identity, and RFK Stadium, a former football venue, lacked the charm of a classic ballpark. Yet on that chilly April afternoon, the crowd of over 40,000 was electric, eager for a fresh start. Ryan Zimmerman, a 21-year-old rookie drafted fourth overall in 2005, had already shown promise but was not yet a household name. His walk-off homer changed that forever, etching his name into Nationals lore and setting the stage for his future as the face of the franchise.

In Their Own Story

The air was crisp, the stands a sea of red and white. Two outs, bottom of the ninth, the score tied. Ryan Zimmerman stepped into the batter's box, his heart pounding beneath his jersey. The Mets' closer, Billy Wagner, fired a fastball—ball one. Then another—strike one. The crowd roared, a wall of sound. On a 2-2 count, Wagner delivered a slider that hung just a little too long. Zimmerman's bat connected with a crack that silenced the visiting dugout. The ball sailed high and deep, clearing the left-center field wall. As it disappeared into the gray sky, RFK erupted. Zimmerman rounded the bases, his teammates mobbing him at home plate, a moment of pure, unscripted joy.

Reader's Guide

The 2006 Opening Day matchup between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets was a tightly contested game. The Nationals trailed early but tied the game in the sixth inning on a double by Alfonso Soriano. The Mets threatened in the top of the ninth, but Nationals closer Chad Cordero escaped a jam. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and the count full, Ryan Zimmerman faced Mets closer Billy Wagner. Wagner, known for his overpowering fastball, tried to fool Zimmerman with a slider, but the rookie was ready. He drove the ball over the fence for a walk-off home run, the first of his career. The moment is remembered as a signature event in Nationals history, symbolizing the team's resilience and the emergence of a young star. It remains one of the most iconic plays in the franchise's early years.

Did You Know?

• Ryan Zimmerman was just 21 years old when he hit this walk-off homer, making him one of the youngest players to do so on Opening Day in MLB history.
• This was Zimmerman's first career walk-off home run, and he would go on to hit more than 10 such homers for the Nationals, earning the nickname 'Mr. Walk-off.'
• The home run came off Billy Wagner, a future Hall of Fame closer who had 422 career saves.
• RFK Stadium, the venue for this game, was originally built for football and hosted the Washington Redskins before the Nationals arrived.
• The homer was so sudden that the Nationals' radio broadcaster, Charlie Slowes, famously shouted 'Zimmerman! Zimmerman!' into the mic, a call that became a team trademark.