On Nov. 2, 2019, the Washington Nationals celebrated their World Series championship with a parade down Constitution Avenue, celebrating with thousands of their fans as the Capitol shimmered in the background on a gorgeous early autumn day. It was a high point for a baseball club that produced hundreds of victories, was a perennial playoff contender and was home to future Hall of Famers and All-Stars.

Since then, the franchise has been defined by nearly six years of failure and disaster, culminating with the firing of longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and dugout manager Dave Martinez on Sunday.

Maybe the team will start a more positive chapter, maybe not. Outfielder James Wood and starting pitcher McKenzie Gore were named to the All-Star Game roster on the same day Rizzo and Martinez were bounced, and the Nationals do have the No. 1 pick overall in the Major League Baseball draft this week, after all. But before we move on, it is worth noting the apex of the Nats’ existence and the very real joy guys like Rizzo and Martinez helped bring to the city.