The annual Congressional Baseball Game will take place on Wednesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington.
The Democrats hope their revitalized roster can end their five-year losing streak to the Republicans. Last year, the Republicans defeated the Democrats 13-2.
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This may be the Democrats’ last chance to turn the tide, if professional baseball player Mark Teixeira wins in the race for Texas’s 21st District and joins the Republican team next year.
“I’m excited about knocking off the rust — then beating the Democrats on and off the field,” Teixeira said about next year’s game, confident about his campaign’s chances.
The Congressional Baseball Game dates back to 1909, when John Tener, a U.S. representative and former professional baseball player, organized the inaugural event. Now a summertime tradition, Democrats and Republicans organize themselves along party-affiliated seats, raise money for charity, and enjoy one of the country’s great pastimes.
The event’s popularity helps fund its foundation, Congressional Sports for Charity, which supports other charities in the Washington area and provides scholarships for children.
Republican roster
Coach: Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), who was an All-Southwest Conference baseball player at Texas Christian University while he was a student in the 1960s.
The rest of the roster includes Reps. Aaron Bean (FL), Jack Bergman (MI), Mike Bost (IL), Tim Burchett (TN), Eric Burlison (MO), Kat Cammack (FL), Juan Ciscomani (AZ), Andrew Clyde (GA), Troy Downing (MT), Jake Ellzey (TX), Randy Feenstra (IA), Brad Finstad (MN), Chuck Fleischmann (TN), Clay Fuller (GA), Craig Goldman (TX), Pat Harrigan (NC), Erin Houchin (IN), Bill Huizenga (MI), Morgan Luttrell (TX), Rich McCormick (GA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA), Cory Mills (FL), John Moolenaar (MI), Blake Moore (UT), Nathaniel Moran (TX), Greg Murphy (NC), Andy Ogles (TN), Gary Palmer (AL), August Pfluger (TX), Steve Scalise (LA), Greg Steube (FL), Marlin Stutzman (IN), Dave Taylor (OH), William Timmons (SC), Matt Van Epps (TN), Roger Williams (TX), and Sens. Joni Ernst (IA) and Eric Schmitt (MO).
Williams said the rivalry is serious.
“Everybody says it’s bipartisan, and it is, but it’s not,” he said to Roll Call. “The Democrats are practicing every day like we are. They want to beat us, we want to beat them. There’s bragging rights at stake.”
Democratic roster
Coach: Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), a proud Dodgers fan.
The rest of the roster includes Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA), Greg Casar (TX), Gil Cisneros (CA), Chris Deluzio (PA), Sarah Elfreth (MD), Shomari Figures (AL), Adam Gray (CA), Tim Kennedy (NY), Mike Levin (CA), John Mannion (NY), Morgan McGarvey (KY), Christian Menefee (TX), Dave Min (CA), Joe Morelle (NY), Frank Mrvan (IN), Kevin Mullin (CA), Johnny Olszewski (MD), Jimmy Panetta (CA), Josh Riley (NY), Raul Ruiz (CA), Pat Ryan (NY), Linda Sanchez (CA), Greg Stanton (AZ), Suhas Subramanyam (VA), Tom Suozzi (NY), and Sens. Ruben Gallego (AZ) and Alex Padilla (CA).
Despite their past losses, Sanchez said the Democrats have spent time practicing and should be more competitive, with significant roster changes.
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“Last year, we really suffered from things that were beyond our control in terms of substituting players in and out,” she said to Roll Call. “So this year I think the guys have taken it a lot more seriously. A lot of them have been practicing a lot more outside of our team practices, and the individual work that they have put into it is clearly having benefits.”
The game can be watched on C-Span, Prime Video, and Fox Sports 1.
