Republicans are looking to keep their winning streak alive at this year's Congressional Baseball Game. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, is a former Atlanta Braves farmhand. He gets his squad out on the practice diamond nearly every morning when lawmakers are in session at 5:45.
"We’ve been working out since March 1," said Williams. "I think we’re as good as we were last year."
However, he noted that springtime rain limited practice time. And, an injury might beset the GOP squad.
House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Blake Moore, R-Utah, started in center field for Republicans last year. Moore is one of the best overall athletes for either team. Moore won the high school Heisman Trophy in 1997. However, Moore injured his collar bone diving to make a save as a goalie in the Congressional soccer game a few weeks ago.
Yes, there’s a Congressional soccer game, too. And flag football game. And basketball game. And hockey game.
And voters sometimes wonder why nothing ever gets done in Washington?
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Anyway, Moore says his clavicle has healed. Ironically, he can golf. But can’t play baseball. And can’t reach up to put away the dishes in the cupboard after dinner.
"That goes over really well with my wife," said Moore.
A penalty for playing soccer?
"I fined him $500," said Williams – we believe jokingly.
Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., coaches the Democrats. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
But Sanchez used to pull for the "California" Angels – now the Los Angeles Angels. Sanchez switched her allegiance from the Halos to the Dodgers after the Angels let Nolan Ryan escape to the Houston Astros in late 1979.
One wonders how Sanchez would have felt if she were a New York Mets fan back when they traded Ryan to the Angels?
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Sanchez’s success at the plate hasn’t followed her into the Democrats’ dugout. Republicans have captured the last four contests – including the two which Sanchez managed. Republicans pounded the Democrats last year, 31-11. The GOP topped the Democrats 16-6 in 2023. There was no game in 2020 due to the pandemic. So the Democrats haven’t won since 2019. Republicans hold a 38-23 advantage in the "modern" era of the game. They began playing the Congressional game in 1909. But late House Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, halted the game because it became too violent.
There was a legendary collision at home plate in the 1956 game. Late Rep. Charles Curtis, R-Mo., was catching for the GOP. Rep. Olin "Tiger" Teague, D-Texas, steamrolled Curtis at the plate. Teague is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. But Teague buried Curtis at home in that game. Orderlies hauled Curtis off the old Griffith Stadium field on a stretcher.
Lawmakers resumed the game in 1962.
Former Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., was one of the best baseball players to have ever seen the halls of Congress. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Heading into Wednesday’s contest, Sanchez teased that her goal with the Republicans in the game is "making them cry."
"But we come together and do something good for the area," added Sanchez, noting the $2 million the game raises for children’s charities in the DC area.
But she concedes, "there’s always trash talk."
So Democrats try to escape from their slump. The Democrats haven’t won under Sanchez. But they’re oh-fer since House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., took over in 2023.
"It's my expectation that the Democratic comeback is going to begin in 2025 at the Congressional Baseball Game," said Jeffries last week.
But the Brooklyn Democrat said the same thing two years ago.
"I think this is the year for the big, Democratic comeback," said Jeffries in June 2023.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has been hinging on a Democratic comeback for years. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
So, I questioned Jeffries in the Capitol corridors late last week.
"You realize since you've been the Minority Leader that the Republicans have defeated the Democrats by a combined score of 47 to 1?" asked yours truly.
"I also realize that my record as an active member of the Congressional Baseball Game team, I believe, was 9-1," replied Jeffries.
But is that because of Jeffries? Or Cedric Richmond?
Statistics are paramount in baseball. Whether you’re scoring at home. Or using the Congressional Budget Office. Jeffries is 1-6 hitting in his nine games on the Democratic squad. That’s good for a .167 average. Well below the Mendoza Line. But he did swipe seven bases.
And this year, Democrats will again try to steal a win against a talented Republican club.
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Gametime at 7pm ET on FS1 Wednesday. Yours truly will be on the call alongside colleague Kevin Corke.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
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