Washington Nationals Clinch Playoff Berth, but What Was It Like in 1933?

The last time a D.C. team was in the MLB playoffs was October 7, 1933. The Washington Senators lost Game 5 of the World Series to the New York Giants.

It has bee a long 79 years since that last playoff date and much has changed. The Senators left, the Montreal Expos formed and then came the Washington Nationals in 2005. With last night's 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nationals became the second team in MLB to clinch a playoff berth behind the Cincinnati Reds. 

The Nats' magic number to clinch the NL East division title is down to eight. Not many people expected the Nats to come this far, but they have the one thing every postseason team desires: Pitching. 

The pitching this season is what got the Nationals their first winning season, their first playoff berth and just their second postseason appearance ever as a franchise.

But this article isn't about the current Nationals. It's about the world the last time a D.C. team went to the playoffs in 1933.

DISCLAIMER: I am fully aware of factors such as inflation. This article is meant as a fun comparison between then and now.

The President

1933

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was serving his first term as President of the United States. John Garner was his Vice President.

Now

Barack Obama is in his first term. Joe Biden is the VP.

Food

1933

A loaf of bread cost just 7 cents. If you wanted to have some milk with it, a jug only cost you 41 cents.

Now

An average loaf of bread costs $1.45. A gallon of milk will cost you $3.48.

Transportation

In 1933, a new car would cost you $550. In 2012, a new car on the cheaper end of the spectrum can run about $20,000.

The gas price to fill a car in 1933 was 18 cents a gallon. The current price of gas in D.C. at a cheap rate runs about $3.95.

Living Expenses

A brand new house might only cost you $5,759 back in 1933, but then again the average income was only about $1,400 per year.

Today, a house might cost you $173,600, while the median income is around $50,000. 

Some Headlines in 1933

1. Alcatraz becomes a Federal Prison
2. John Dillinger Escapes from the Allen County, Ohio Jail
3. The Coit Tower is dedicated in San Francisco
4. Esquire Magazine is first published