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The United States Congressional Baseball Game is an annual baseball game played by members of the United States Congress. The game began as a casual event among colleagues in 1909 and eventually evolved one of Washington, D.C.'s most anticipated annual pastimes. Each summer, Representatives and Senators don baseball uniforms, organize teams along party lines, and play ball for charity.

The Game has raised millions of dollars for local charities in the District of Columbia. Spectators include crowds of congressional staffers and, occasionally, even dignitaries and presidents.^[1]

History

John Tener organized the first Congressional baseball game

Representative John Tener of Pennsylvania, a former professional baseball player, organized the inaugural baseball game in 1909. The Boston Daily Globe observed, "The game was brewing for weeks and the members of the house were keyed up a high pitch of enthusiasm. Deep, dark rumors were in circulation that 'ringers' would be introduced, but when they lined up at 4 o'clock the nine republicans were stalwart, grand old party men, while the democrats were of the pure Jeffersonian strain." Democrats drubbed their Republican opponents, 26-16, for the first of six consecutive wins. Republicans won their first game in 1916. Due to its growing popularity, the Congressional Baseball Game was first covered via radio in 1928. The radio broadcast continued in succeeding years.^[2]

The event has at times interrupted the work flow of Congress. In 1914, Speaker James Beauchamp "Champ" Clark of Missouri became frustrated with the Congressional Baseball Game interfering with legislative business. An Appropriations bill on Civil War cotton damage was to be debated on the House floor, but a quorum was not present. Speaker Clark sent the House Sergeant at Arms to American League Field to return the Members to the House chamber. When the Sergeant at Arms Charles P. Higgins arrived, rain had already canceled the game. The House eventually achieved a quorum, but adjourned without making progress on the bill because Members remained preoccupied with their unfinished work on the baseball diamond.^[2]

Despite its appeal, the annual game occurred intermittently because of interruptions due to the Great Depression, the Second World War, and intervention by the House leadership. For a while the game was held biennially, until the Washington Evening Star newspaper sponsored it annually from 1946 to 1958. Despite the sponsorship, Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas ended the game in 1958. Rayburn contended that the game should be discontinued because it had become too physical. Speaker John McCormack of Massachusetts, revived the game in 1962 with the support of the new Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. With the new sponsor, a best-of-five game trophy series was created, awarding a trophy to the team that won three of the five games. To date, 12 trophies have been awarded, ten to the Republicans and two to the Democrats.^[2]

Locations

Memorial Stadium

Games were initially held at American League Park in northeast Washington, D.C., and its successor Griffith Stadium, which was built at the same location. In 1962, the game was moved to the new District Stadium (later known as Robert F. Kennedy Stadium), where it remained until 1972. For the next two decades, the teams played at the Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland; one year (1977) at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia; and Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, Virginia. From 1995 to 2004, the game was played in Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. From 2005 to 2007, the event returned to Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium while awaiting construction of the new Washington Nationals stadium in the District of Columbia. In 2008, the Congressional Baseball game moved to the new Nationals Park. The game continues to raise more than $100,000 annually for local area charities.^[3]

Rosters

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

While the modern Congressional Baseball Game comprises both House and Senate Members, this was not always the case. From 1909 to 1949, House Members exclusively filled the rosters—although there appears to have been no prohibition against Senators. Bicameral baseball was inaugurated in 1950, when Senator Harry P. Cain of Washington joined the Republican team and Senator-elect George Smathers of Florida, a former Representative, joined the Democratic team.^[4]

In a few cases, former professional baseball players were elected to Congress and had a large impact on the game. In the case of Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell of North Carolina, a former professional pitcher, the Republican team was victorious for each year that he played. Fielding a once-a-year team presented some problems for Members, who often grew rusty when it came to batting. Strong pitching proved decisive in most games but, in 1963, neither team could field a pitcher. As a result, relief pitcher George Susce of the Washington Senators pitched for both teams. In 1917, Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana tossed out the first pitch and kept score, becoming the first woman to participate in the annual event. More than 70 years later, in 1993, Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Maria Cantwell of Washington, and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas became the first women to break into the starting lineup.^[4]

In 1971, the first African Americans joined the game. Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy of the District of Columbia, and Representative Ronald Dellums of California, joined the Democrats roster. Despite Fauntroy's hitting prowess, the Democrats lost their eighth straight annual game, 7–3.^[4]

Fanfare

In the early years of the game, each team wore a uniform that was either plain or had the words "Republicans" or "Democrats" embroidered on it. In modern games, Members typically have worn uniforms of the professional baseball teams or college baseball teams in their congressional districts. In the 1920s, pomp and fanfare preceded each game. The Navy and Marine Corps bands traditionally kicked off the festivities with patriotic tunes. In 1926, the Republicans paraded into American League Field on a live elephant, while in 1932 both teams had costumed mascots entertain the crowds. During the 1960s, the teams had cheerleaders dressed in uniforms.^[4]

Game results

Scores, locations, and other details of past games are available here to the extent they are known.^[1]

References