Congressional Baseball Game


The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity is an annual baseball game played each summer by members of the United States Congress. The game began as a casual event among colleagues in 1909 and eventually evolved into one of Washington, D.C.'s most anticipated annual pastimes, according to the House of Representatives Office of the Historian. In the game, Republicans and Democrats form separate teams and play against each other.
Today, the game raises money for four charities: the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the Washington Literacy Center,, and—following a pre-game practice shooting in 2017—the US Capitol Police Memorial Fund. The game is usually attended by crowds of congressional staffers and, occasionally, even dignitaries and US Presidents.

History

The 1909 game was organized by Representative John Tener of Pennsylvania, a former professional baseball player. 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."
The Democrats beat their Republican opponents, 26–16 in the first game and continued their winning streak for the first six games. 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.
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 because of the game.
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, saying it had become too physically straining on the members and was causing injuries. With the new sponsor, the Roll Call Trophy was created, for the team that wins each best-of-five series. It was first awarded in 1965—to the Republican team, which was the first team to win three games since Roll Call had begun its sponsorship. Since 1965, a new [|trophy is awarded to the next team to win three games], following the year in which the most recent trophy was awarded. As of the 2017 game, 14 trophies have been awarded—ten to the Republicans' team and four to the Democrats' team.
On June 14, 2017, one day before the annual event, a gunman opened fire on Republican members of Congress who were practicing for the next day's game. Four people were shot including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. The gunman was himself shot by Capitol Police and died at a nearby hospital later that day. Despite discussions about postponing the game, officials said the game would be held as scheduled. The shooting resulted in a dramatic increase in interest for the game; it was reported that revenue from ticket sales and online donations had exceeded $1 million, and organizers stated that 24,959 people were in attendance C-SPAN also announced that it would televise the game.

Locations

The Game was originally played at the American League Park. However, after the park's destruction in a fire in March 1911, it was played at the Griffith Stadium built on the same site in Northwest Washington, D.C. In 1962, it was moved to the new District Stadium. It remained there until 1972, when the Washington Senators moved to Texas becoming the Texas Rangers as RFK did not need a long-term baseball seating layout or field. It moved for the next two decades to the Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, then to Langley High School in McLean, Virginia for 1977; 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 RFK Stadium when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington to become the Washington Nationals. In 2008, Nationals Park was completed and the Nationals moved there along with the Congressional Baseball Game.
In the late 1960s, a post-game reception for members of Congress and their staffs was organized and sponsored by Sears, Roebuck and Company. However, attendance was very low until 1972 when Sears' Washington office Public Information officer, Larry Horist took over the management of the event, and established the Most Valuable Player awards to be voted by each team and presented by the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate. He also obtained photos of the players in their hometown uniforms, producing baseball cards packaged in gum wrappers. A limited number of autographed master sheets of the cards occasionally appear for sale on Internet auction sites. The cards included such personalities as Senator Eugene McCarthy, Barry Goldwater, Jr., and professional player "Vinegar Bend" Mizell. The cards were publicized in the Washington Post and became part of the permanent collection of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Rosters

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.
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.
In 1971, the first African Americans joined the game. Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy of the District of Columbia and Rep. Ron Dellums of California joined the Democratic roster. Despite Fauntroy's hitting prowess, the Democrats lost their eighth straight annual game, 7–3.
In 1909, Rep. Joseph F. O'Connell of Massachusetts hit the first home run, gaining three runs for the Democrats. In the same year, Republican Rep. Edward B. Vreeland of New York was the first player to be withdrawn due to an injury. In 1957, Rep. Gerald Ford of Michigan hit the first known grand slam, while playing for the Republicans. In 1979, Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas hit what was believed to be the first home run hit over the fence. Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois is the only other player to hit an out-of-the-park home run, doing so in 1997. Paul was inducted into the Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame prior to the 2012 game.

Hall of Fame

The Roll Call Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame was founded in 1993.
YearInducteeNotes
1993John TenerOrganized the first Congressional Baseball Game
1993Wilmer Mizell
1993William M. Wheeler
1993Ron Mottl
1993Silvio Conte
1993Robert H. Michel
1993Marty Russo
1995Dave McCurdy
1996Mike Synar
1997Bill Richardson
1998Sid YudainFounder of Roll Call
1999Dan Schaefer
2000Carl Pursell
2002Steve Largent
2003David Bonior
2004Charlie BrotmanHelped Sid Yudain revive Congressional baseball in the 1960s
2006Martin Sabo
2007Mike Oxley
2008Lou Frey
2009Kenny Hulshof
2011Mel Watt
2012Ron PaulHit first over-the-wall home run in 1979
2013Zach Wamp
2014Bart Stupak
2015Skip MaraneyPioneered Roll Call's sports coverage

Uniforms and 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 district or home state. In the 1920s, pomp and fanfare preceded each game. The United States Navy Band and United States Marine Corps Band 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.

Game results

As of the 2019 game, the series is tied, 42–42–1. The official website of the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity seemingly does not count three of those Republican wins, because its History page listed the series record as 39–39–1. The same page, however, states—in reference to the Roll Call Trophy—that "o date, 10 of these coveted trophies have been awarded, eight to the Republicans and two to the Democrats." That statement indicates that the paragraphs of the History page were probably written after the 2002 game and before the 2005 game, because the tenth trophy was awarded in 2002 and the eleventh trophy was awarded in 2005.
The Republicans won their 35th game in 2002 and then won seven more games thereafter. As of 2002, the Democrats had won 32 games; from 2003 to 2016, the Democrats won seven more games, for a total of 39 wins. Although the series record that is set forth in the bar near the bottom of the page includes the Democrats' seven wins between 2003 and 2016, the bar includes only four of the Republicans' seven wins during that same time period. Scores, locations, and other details of past games are available here to the extent they are known.
YearDateLocationWinnerScoreNotes
1909July 16American League Park IIDemocrats26–16'Sunny Jim' Sherman was the umpire for the Republicans. As of July 11, it was not clear who the Democrat umpire would be.
1910No game––
1911August 7Georgetown FieldDemocrats12–9Game ended in the fourth inning by unanimous consent. Most players were sore.
1912June 22National ParkDemocrats21–20Scheduled for Saturday June 15, 1912, it was rescheduled to the following Saturday, June 22, 1912.
1913National ParkDemocrats29–4Game was called due to rain in the 4th inning. Members disputed whether it counted as a full game. Congressman Victor Murdock was to umpired. Game benefiting the Washington Playground Association.
1914August 1National ParkDemocrats16–9Originally scheduled for June 27, it was rescheduled to August 26, 1914 due to rain. In the end it was played on August 1, 1914. Congressman "Walt" Elder of Louisiana lost his shoes and pitched in his socks.
1915National ParkDemocrats–
1916National ParkRepublicans18–13
1917June 30National ParkDemocrats22–21President Woodrow Wilson had to throw the first ball twice as Washington Senators Owner, Clark Griffith was unable to catch it. Suffragettes were in the stands but no banners were displayed. Sydney Mudd of Maryland scored the only home-run of the game.
1918June 9National ParkRepublicans19–5President Woodrow Wilson, Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall were present. The President tossed the first ball to Congressman James V. McClintic. Speaker Champ Clark was honorary umpire wearing a beaver hat of the seven-inning game. Sales of tickets and flowers were expected to bring in $1,200 for the Red Cross to provide bandages to the soldiers.
1919National ParkRepublicans–
1920–1925No information––Newspaper accounts refer to the 1926 game as the first game in years.
1926Griffith StadiumDemocrats12–9
1927No game––
1928Griffith StadiumDemocrats36–4
1929No game––
1930No information––Newspaper accounts refer to the game during this period as "biennial."
1931No game––
1932Griffith StadiumRepublicans19–5The official score of this game is disputed. Umpire Tunney ruled a high fly ball hit in the last inning by Republicans an out instead of a home run.
1933Griffith StadiumRepublicans18–16
1934–1944No information––In lieu of a traditional Congressional Baseball Game, ballgames between members and the press were played in 1935, 1938, 1939, and 1941.
1945Griffith StadiumDemocrats–
1946Griffith StadiumDemocrats–
1947Griffith StadiumRepublicans16–13
1948Griffith StadiumDemocrats23–14
1949Griffith StadiumDemocrats16–10
1950Griffith StadiumDemocrats8–4
1951Griffith StadiumDemocrats7–3
1952Griffith StadiumDemocrats6–3
1953June 5Griffith StadiumDemocrats3–2
1954Griffith StadiumDemocrats2–1
1955Griffith StadiumRepublicans12–4
1956Griffith StadiumRepublicans8–7
1957Griffith StadiumDemocrats10–9
1958–1961No game––
1962D.C. StadiumRepublicans4–0
1963D.C. StadiumDemocrats11–0
1964D.C. StadiumRepublicans6–5
1965D.C. StadiumRepublicans3–1Roll Call Trophy
1966D.C. StadiumRepublicans14–7
1967D.C. StadiumRepublicans9–7
1968D.C. StadiumRepublicans16–1Roll Call Trophy
1969RFK StadiumRepublicans6–2
1970RFK StadiumRepublicans6–4
1971RFK StadiumRepublicans7–3Roll Call Trophy
1972RFK StadiumRepublicans7–2
1973Memorial StadiumRepublicans12–4
1974Memorial StadiumRepublicans7–3Roll Call Trophy
1975Memorial StadiumDemocrats3–2
1976Memorial StadiumDemocrats5–4
1977Langley High School, McLean, VirginiaRepublicans7–6A rainout forced the game to an alternative field.
1978Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans4–3
1979Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats7–3Roll Call Trophy
1980Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats21–9
1981Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans6–4
1982Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats7–5, C-SPAN
1983Four Mile Run ParkTied17–17Called after 9 innings.
, C-SPAN
1984Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans13–4
1985Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans9–3Roll Call Trophy
1986Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats8–6
1987Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats15–14
1988Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans14–13
1989Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans8–2
1990Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans9–6Roll Call Trophy
1991Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats13–9
1992Four Mile Run ParkRepublicans11–7
1993Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats13–1
1994Four Mile Run ParkDemocrats9–2Roll Call Trophy
Rep. Mike Oxley broke his arm when colliding with Rep. Sherrod Brown at first base.
, C-SPAN
1995August 1Prince George's StadiumRepublicans6–0, C-SPAN
1996Prince George's StadiumDemocrats16–14
1997Prince George's StadiumRepublicans10–9
1998Prince George's StadiumRepublicans4–1Roll Call Trophy
1999Prince George's StadiumRepublicans17–1
2000Prince George's StadiumDemocrats13–8
2001Prince George's StadiumRepublicans9–1
2002Prince George's StadiumRepublicans9–2Roll Call Trophy
2003Prince George's StadiumRepublicans5–3
2004Prince George's StadiumRepublicans14–7
2005RFK StadiumRepublicans19–10Roll Call Trophy
2006RFK StadiumRepublicans12–1
2007RFK StadiumRepublicans5–2
2008Nationals ParkRepublicans11–10Roll Call Trophy
2009Nationals ParkDemocrats15–10
2010June 29Nationals ParkDemocrats13–5
2011Nationals ParkDemocrats8–2Roll Call Trophy
2012June 28Nationals ParkDemocrats18–5
2013June 14Nationals ParkDemocrats22–0
2014June 25Nationals ParkDemocrats15–6Roll Call Trophy
2015June 11Nationals ParkDemocrats5–2, Washington Journal, C-SPAN
2016June 23Nationals ParkRepublicans8–7
2017June 15Nationals ParkDemocrats11–2Shooting occurred at Republican practice on June 14
2018June 14Nationals ParkDemocrats21–5House Majority Whip Steve Scalise returned to the field after being critically injured from a gunshot at a practice in 2017.
Roll Call Trophy
2019June 26Nationals ParkDemocrats14–7