Democrats Dominate Again at Congressional Baseball Game (photos)
By June 27, 2019 0 2358
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Members of Congress again stepped up to the plate for charity. It was the 2019 edition of the Congressional Baseball Game, played before two deeply partisan audiences on a warm Wednesday night, June 26. Republican fans lined the first-base side of Washington Nationals Park, while Democratic supporters occupied the third-base side.
The Dems continued their recent dominance of the event, winning 14-7 in a three-hour marathon. It was their 10th victory in the last 11 years, mostly behind the pitching and hitting of Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana). The longtime nemesis of the GOP riased his career-win total to eight without a loss. Only one time in a nine-year span has Richmond not finished a game: a no-decision in a 9-7 Republican win two years ago, when he was hobbled by an injury.
The Republicans got off to a quick start, scoring three runs in their first at-bat, but the Dems would score the next 11 runs. Richmond would eventually throw 157 pitches in the seven-inning game.
It was a sloppy game with numerous fielding miscues. The Democrats stole 23 bases with nary a runner being thrown out. Raul Ruiz (D-California) was victimized by the “hidden ball trick,” one of baseball’s rarest plays and one its most embarrasing, when a runner is tagged out after the fielder fakes giving the ball back to the pitcher.
Two women participated in the game in a reserve role, California Democratic Reps. Linda Sanchez and Nanette Diaz Barragan. Sanchez wore her traditional uniform number IX, a salute to the 1972 landmark Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity, including school sports, that receives federal funding.
In what may be a first for the sport, the baseball for the first pitch was brought onto the field by a horse, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales, escorted by country music star Big Kenny of the band Big & Rich. Kenny would later lead the crowd in a rousing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Josh Norman of the Washington Redskins made an attempt to throw out the first pitch, but it landed about 30 feet short. (Stick to your day job, Josh.)
In prior years, players from both sides would wear uniforms from schools and teams associated with their home districts. Perhaps hoping to change their luck, the Republican team wore identical red jerseys with white pants.
The game marked the return to play of Lousiana Rep. Steve Scalise, who was seriously injured two years ago when a gunman opened fire on the Republican practise field. A designated player took over running duties for Scalise, the game’s leadoff hitter, who received an ovation when his name was announced.
The game raised $1.3 million for the Congressional Sports for Charity foundation, which supports the Washington Literacy Center, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund, honoring officers at the scene of the 2017 shooting. Tim Johnson, a former congressional staffer and a founding member of Congressional Sports for Charity, who died a year ago, was honored with the creation of a new memorial scholarship in his name.
The Congressional Baseball game, with several interruptions, dates back to 1909, when William Howard Taft was president. With the win, the Democrats evened the series at 42-42 with one tie. The game has been held at Nats Park since 2008.
The game was video-streamed by WTOP for the sixth year, and by C-Span, and audio streamed on Federal News Radio.
View Jeff Malet’s photos from the 2019 Congressional Baseball Game by clicking on the photo icons below.
- The game marked the return to play of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), who was seriously injured two years ago. Photo by Jeff Malet.
- Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and family (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) poses in the dugout with granddaughter Emma (age 9) who served as bat girl for the GOP squad. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The GOP squad lines up in similar red uniforms. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Steve Scalise (R-Ala.) leads off the game (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Dean Phillips misjudges a fly ball (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) tries for a double play. Steve Watkins (Kan.) is out at second.(photo by Jeff Malet)
- Winning pitcher Cedric Richmond (D-La.) threw 159 pitches. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) takes a pitch. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Losing pitcher Greg Steube (R-Fla.) wearing a brace on his right leg threw 115 pitches and had 6 strikeouts in 5 full innings. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) collides with catcher Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) to score his teams 6th run in the 2nd inning. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) hugs catcher Rodney Davis after a collision at home. (R-Ill.) to score his teams 6th run in the 2nd inning. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Mark Walker (R-N.C.) comletes a double play. for the GOP. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Pitcher Cedric Richmond (D-La.) hovers under a pop up. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Denver Riggleman does what looks like a break dance on third base on a stop of a ground ball (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) handles a popup. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Mark Walker (R-N.C.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- GOP catcher Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) looks exhausted. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) is in ahead of a tag by Kevin Brady (R-Texas) Dems stole 23 bases. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) at bat. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Cedric Richmond avoids tag by Rodney Davis to score. (photo by Jeff Malet)David
- wore her tradition uniform number “IX”, a salute to the 1972 landmark Title IX. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Cedric Ricnmond hits a hard sground single to right late in the game (photo by Jeff Malet).
- Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.) took over 2nd base duties late in the game. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Colin Allred (D-Texas) kisses the trophy. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Democrats celebrate after the game. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Winning manager Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) holds trophy with Mike Levin (D-Calif.). (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Democrates celebrate with Speaker Nancy Pellosi offering her congratulations. (photo by Jeff Malet)