Last night, the Washington Nationals did what was unthinkable just less than a handful of years ago. They clinched one of the toughest divisions in baseball.

Upon winning the National League East, the Nats officially dethroned the reigning five-time division champion Philadelphia Phillies. Despite the 2-0 victory for the rivals who reside two hours up I-95, a changing of the guard managed to take place in their presence.

At 96-64, winning the NL East pennant is a culmination of years of last-place finishes (five of eight since moving to D.C. to be exact) and a lack of a support system from Major League Baseball when ownership as well as major league and minor league talent were absent.

For D.C. baseball fans, this title was 79 years in the making, with the last pennant coming before World War II. The success of this miraculous 2012 team will not only transition fans from an older era recalling the days of the Senators but will introduce proper baseball to a newer generation.

Just for fun, here is video of Gio Gonzalez calling Nats owner Mark Lerner “The Pimp With the Limp.” Imagine Robert Griffin III calling Dan Snyder by that name.

Tags: dan snyder, Gio Gonzalez, Mark Lerner, Robert Griffin III, Washington Nationals