WASHINGTON, D.C. – Our congressional members are ditching the halls of Congress for the ball park. In a 13-2 victory, Republicans won over the Democrats in their annual baseball game. While this game is meant to be competitive, it’s also for a good cause.
Early Tuesday morning, Republican Representatives and Senators got in their final practice swings. They were gearing up for one of Washington’s most anticipated events: the annual congressional baseball game. In this game, Democrats and Republicans will swap congressional records for the scoreboard.
“We’ve been practicing since March and we’re ready to compete and put on a good show for the crowd and hopefully not look stupid as we fall down or make an error but we’ll laugh it off,” said Rep. Jack Bergman (R- MI).
Rep. Bergman, who has been on the team since 2017, said he’s played the game ever since he was old enough to hold a bat.
“I played all the way through college and I love the game of baseball and it’s one of those common grounds where it brings people together,” said Rep. Bergman. “I’ve had a chance to do everything I wanted to in this game including throw a person out, get a base hit, make a bad throw, steal a base, all of those things. Now at my age, because I’m the oldest guy on the field both sides, I coach first base. I’ve got my challenge because some of our runners don’t understand the game of baseball, so I gotta keep them from getting picked off or running at the wrong time.”
The inaugural game was organized in 1909. Organizers say in the past, the game has sometimes interfered with legislative business. In the 1950s, it became too physical between players. It has since turned into a more friendly yet competitive game that benefits local D.C. charities.
“I want the American people to know the good people the Democrats and Republicans who come here to serve in congress come here to do the right thing for all of their constituents but also spend some time together and in this case time together in a sporting event to show the American people we’ll work together,” said Rep. Bergman. “But we’ll compete. Everyday we compete on the floor. We compete in the committee room but now we’ll compete on the field, and we’ll have a winner.”
We’re told the game raised nearly three-million dollars for local D.C. charities.
