Donkeys 8, Elephants 2 in Congressional Baseball Game
Tense debt-limit negotiations and partisan sniping was put aside for an evening of fun and charitable fundraising on the baseball diamond in Thursday's 50th Annual Congressional Baseball Game. Democrats scored an 8-2 victory in their third straight win.
The Democrats were led by their pitcher, freshman Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), who was declared the MVP. Richmond had a no-hitter through the first six innings. The former Morehouse College baseball player was also a force on offense, earning a hit each time he stepped up to the plate.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) was another strong hitter for the Democrats, helping them take a commanding 4-0 lead in the second inning.
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Democrats had not scored three straight wins since the 1950s. Republicans had been dominant over the previous two decades. They won 16 games while the Democrats won only five games from 1988 to 2008. During that period, the GOP had a number of former professional athletes on their team, such as NFL Hall of Fame wide reciever Steve Largent, MLB Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning, and Oklahoma Sooners' star quarterback J. C. Watts.
The first congressional baseball game was played in 1909. After a brief hiatus from 1958 to 1961, the game has been played every year since 1962. Republicans have won 38 games total to Democrats' 34 total wins. There was one tie game in 1983.
The game was played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., where the Washington Nationals play. Tickets for the game were $10 and proceeds went to The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and The Washington Literacy Council.
On the Web: http://www.rollcall.com/news/for_love_of_the_game-207336-1.html?pos=hln
http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/baseball/
