1961 program and scorecard for the Washington Senators, That year was the team's first in Major League Baseball, with the earlier Senators franchise relocating after the previous season to become the Minnesota Twins. The new franchise was part of the American League’s first expansion, an effort that also saw the introduction of the Los Angeles Angels. The Senators finished 61-100 in their inaugural effort, and would have only one winning season before relocating to Arlington, Texas in 1972 to become the Rangers. America’s Capital was bereft of a MLB franchise until 2005, when the Montreal Expos relocated to the city to become the Washington Nationals.