WASHINGTON -- The force was with the fans on Saturday at Nationals Park.
The Nationals hosted Star Wars Day over the weekend ahead of May 4, a scheduled off-day.
The afternoon was highlighted by a Grogu bobblehead giveaway, which depicted Grogu holding a baseball in his outstretched right hand. The players all received one before the game. Many took it out of the box and displayed it in their lockers.
“I love Star Wars,” said reliever Brad Lord. “I didn't really get into it until I was older. Then, I saw it on TV one time, and man, I’ve watched every one a couple times.”
The Nationals offered an out-of-this-world lineup of events for fans once they entered the ballpark.
There was lightsaber training in the Family Picnic Area; a Star Wars-themed photo booth and character meet and greets on the main concourse; and themed caricature artists, balloon twisters and face painting at the Kids Zone on the Right Field Plaza.
Fans 21 and older could enjoy special edition Star Wars cocktails sold at the concession stands. The beverages included the Skywalker Watermelon, Baby Yoda Colada, Dark Side Frosé and a Light Side vs. Dark Side duo-flavor Duel of the Fates.
Actor Omid Abtahi, who plays Doctor Pershing in The Mandalorian television series, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The in-game Presidents Race featured a full cast of characters. Ultimately, it was George with a lightsaber who won. He held up a sign that read, “Who’s your Founding Father now?” in victory.
“I love the first three movies, which are technically a fourth, fifth and sixth,” said Jake Irvin. “ ... I think it's cool that they've created an entire universe. The OGs are the best.”
Star Wars holds a place in Nationals lore. Sean Doolittle’s lightsaber was an iconic part of the club's celebrations on the path to winning the 2019 World Series. Doolittle, now the Nats' assistant pitching coach, even wrote a full movie review of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and discussed "The Last Jedi" at length in years past.
After Lord unboxed his new Grogu souvenir, he placed it next to a Nats collector’s item he had purchased on eBay honoring the reliever-turned-assistant pitching coach.
“I’ve got an Obi Sean Kenobi bobblehead, too,” Lord said. “It fits.”