The Congressional Baseball Game is a century-old tradition that has Republican and Democratic lawmakers settle their differences on the baseball diamond while raising money for charity.
The annual game has been played for decades in the greater Washington, D.C., area. It has served as a summer reprieve from partisan fighting in the halls of Congress in exchange for partisan fighting on the field. Here is everything to know about the 2025 game.
When and where to watch the game
The Congressional Baseball Game will be played at Nationals Park, home of the MLB’s Washington Nationals, in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C., less than two miles from the Capitol. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.
It will be televised by C-SPAN and FOX. C-SPAN, which airs congressional hearings and other political events daily, will provide an online livestream in addition to airing the program on its cable channel.
Star players
While known more for their legislating and cable news appearances than their baseball skills, the Democratic and Republican teams have notable players competing on Wednesday night.
Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves and played in the team’s farm system, will lead the Republicans as team manager. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) will make Congressional Baseball Game history as the first female to coach a team. She will be the team manager for the Democrats.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), who will be a pitcher, is a player to watch as he takes to the mound after a successful outing in 2023. During the 2023 game, he hit a ground rule double, and during the 2021 game, he hit a home run. Both of these feats are rare in these games. Other active players who hit a home run in previous games include Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). Panetta has 12 RBI in his last six outings on the baseball diamond, making him a player to watch on the Democratic side.
Another player to watch is House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), who has become a mainstay of the game and survived a shooting during a GOP baseball practice before the 2017 game.
Past results
The game has been played on and off since 1909, with Republicans leading the overall series 45-22-1. The GOP is currently on a four-game winning streak, defeating the Democrats in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Before the current streak, Democrats won 10 out of the 11 games between 2009 and 2019, with the 2020 game being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republicans trounced Democrats in the 2024 game, winning 31-11.
New players this year
The rosters for the 2024 game are mostly filled with players from the 2023 teams. However, for the GOP, Reps. Erin Houchin (R-IN) and Barry Moore (R-AL) will join the team, while Democrats have several new players this year.
Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI), Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Pat Ryan (D-NY), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), along with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), will join the Democratic roster for the 2024 contest.
Who has the edge
Like the House and Senate races in November, the 2024 Congressional Baseball Game is a toss-up. While Republicans are currently on a hot streak, the reshuffled Democratic roster could make waves against the GOP.
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The real winners of the game, regardless of party, will be the charities for which the annual bipartisan tradition raises money.
Proceeds from the game, which attracts tens of thousands of sports and Congress fans, benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Washington Literacy Center, the Washington Nationals Philanthropies, and the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund. In the last decade, the game has raised over $15 million.
