Tryouts for Nats "Racing Presidents." Showing off dance moves before a victory pose. 34 guys tried out. No women came out this year.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart草莓传媒)
Tryout for the Nats "Racing Presidents." Talk about having a big head! Tom took a nose dive followed by George鈥檚 face plant.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart草莓传媒)
Nats tryouts for Racing Presidents.These guys are wearing 40lbs of costume. Very very top heavy. Not easy. Presidental Pileup!
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart草莓传媒)
The Nats tryouts for the Racing Presidents is on! Good luck guys!
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart草莓传媒)
WASHINGTON 鈥擮n Sunday morning, the Washington Nationals held tryouts for the next George, Tom, Abe, Teddy and Bill 鈥� you know, the presidential celebrities with the really big heads.
Sunday marked the 11th year for the tryouts for the Racing Presidents. These are the caricatures of former U.S. presidents that emerge during the fourth inning of Nats home games. Running around in these 40-pound, 12-foot tall costumes isn鈥檛 easy 鈥� but you wouldn鈥檛 be able to tell.
They make it look really easy.
On Sunday, about 34 people came to the tryouts, which were held at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast. Contestants, in costume, had to do a 40-yard dash, run two races from centerfield to first base, and do a freestyle dance and striking a 鈥渧ictory pose.鈥� The contestants also had to answer questions presented by a panel made up of Nationals entertainment staff members.
But since the identity of the 鈥淩acing Presidents鈥� is never made public, the contestants could only give their first names and where they are from.
Ken from Northwest did not let his family or friends know he was competing. Laughing, he said that if he did not make it, he would not have to admit that to them.
Ken said he was a huge baseball fan and a big history buff. So becoming a Racing President would bring those two passions together. He said he would love to wear the Abe Lincoln costume, since Abe is one of his favorite presidents.
But if does not make it this year, he said he would be back next year to tryout 鈥� if he gets invited. 鈥淎be wouldn鈥檛 have given up on it, so I won鈥檛 either.鈥�
During the 40-yard dash several contestants ended up doing a face plant because the costumes are extremely top heavy. At one point it there was a presidential pileup, with three presidents going down.
Only George, Tom and Abe were there on Sunday. Tom Davis, who鈥檚 with the Nationals, said both Teddy and Bill had the day off.
But as presidents were toppling over the people on the sideline waiting for their turn reconsidered their strategies. Paul, who lives near the Nats stadium, said he was a little nervous after seeing the falls. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to run as fast as I can and make sure I don鈥檛 fall,鈥� he said.
Mark from Woodbridge said he was thinking more about balance than speed. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to fall down,鈥� he said laughing. Mark also told his whole family that he was going to be there on Sunday. 鈥淲hen the Nats contact you, you want to let people know,鈥� he said.
Kris from Manassas said he was extremely excited to be there Sunday. He only told his wife he was trying out. 鈥淗opefully if I make it, you know, of course that鈥檒l be great,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I really want to do so hopefully I鈥檒l make it.鈥�
But he still would not be able to tell anyone, since the identities of the 鈥淩acing Presidents鈥� are kept secret.
And if he does not make it?
鈥淎bsolutely, I鈥檓 going to keep going and keep trying until I get it,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 absolutely going to be back. If I don鈥檛 make it this year, hopefully I鈥檒l be invited back again next year and keep trying.鈥�
Women had tried out for the racing presidents in prior years, but none turned out this year. It鈥檚 unknown if any women have ever made the cut, since the identities of the 鈥淩acing Presidents鈥� are kept secret. Davis said declined to give out that information.
Davis said that when the 鈥淩acing Presidents鈥� started in 2006 no one fathomed that they would become as popular as they have.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been special what they鈥檝e turned into,鈥� Davis said.
