Nationals manager Dave Martinez knows the significance of bringing a title to Washington. Decades before he and the Nats accomplished it last season, the Homestead Grays were championship powerhouses in the Negro Leagues.

Founded in 1910 and originally based in Homestead, Pa., the Grays began traveling to Washington's Griffith Stadium for their home games 30 years later. They won three Colored World Series titles ('43, '44 and '48) to add to their prolific championship-winning tenure. Their '31 team is considered one of the best squads of all time, boasting six future Hall of Famers.

• The Negro Leagues: Complete coverage

“For me, it just opened the doors for so many unbelievably important athletes, especially in our game,” Martinez said. “They were the root of baseball. They really were.”

As Martinez made his way through 16 years in the Majors, he would learn of the Negro Leagues along the way, including meeting Buck O'Neil. Those moments still stick with him.

“Those guys were really important to our sport,” Martinez said.

Martinez made history by winning a World Series championship with the Nationals. He’s been around the game long enough to appreciate those who accomplished similar feats before him, as well as those who helped pave the path to get there.

“Congratulations to a hundred years,” he said. “It’s amazing.”

Soto becoming baseball goals
If Martinez were to turn back the clock and start his big league career all over again, he would have a new baseball player to look up to.

“When I grow up, in my next life, I want to be just Juan Soto,” he said.

Martinez continues to be impressed by the hot-hitting 21-year-old, who has belted six home runs in his first 11 games this season. Soto established himself as a slugger last year, when he smacked five home runs in the playoffs -- including three in the World Series -- but now, he is enhancing his game with a studied approach to his at-bats. In Sunday's 6-5 win over the O's, he went 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored, including the go-ahead run.

“When he gets in trouble, he starts trying to pull everything,” Martinez said. “I think he’s making a conscious effort right now to really stay in the middle of the field. When he does that, he gets the balls, his swing stays in the zone for such a long time when he’s able to do that.”

In a season played in front of empty stands, Martinez has one of the best seats in the house to watch Soto progress in his third Major League season.

“If you’re sitting in the dugout and watching from my view, man, it’s a beautiful thing,” Martinez said. “It really is. If I had to do it all over again and start playing right now, he’d be the guy I want my kid to watch hit, because he’s got that swing. He stays back, he uses his hands and tries to stay in the middle of the field.”