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WASHINGTON — With a government shutdown looming and partisan rancor at a fever pitch, 10 Texas congressmen joined colleagues at Nationals Park just south of the Capitol on Wednesday night, temporarily trading squabbles over infrastructure and debt for a shot at bragging rights on the diamond.
Under the big league lights, the Congressional Baseball Game — canceled last year due to the pandemic — took on new weight as the Republican and Democratic teams met for the first time since 2019. President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance in the second inning, taking a minute to shake hands and take pictures with the teams.
Republicans won for only the second time in the last 10 games, winning 13-12 as the annual event served its purpose: bringing partisan adversaries together to bond over “America’s pastime.” The win was the first for the GOP since 2016.
The Republican roster was stacked with Texans, led by coach Roger Williams, a former star player at Texas Christian University who played in the Atlanta Braves’ farm system, became a car dealer and landed a seat in Congress in 2012.
And he wasn’t the only ringer. Freshman Rep. August Pfluger of San Angelo played for the U.S. Air Force Academy, and played a key role for the GOP in the victory.
On the Democratic team, Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, a former NFL player, helped lead his side to victory in 2019 with two doubles. He was joined on the roster by Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth.
Other Texans on the GOP squad were Reps. Jodey Arrington of Lubbock, Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, Jake Ellzey of Midlothian (sworn in just two months ago after a special election),Troy Nehls of Richmond, Pete Sessions of Waco and Van Taylor of Plano.
Brady, elected in 1996, is retiring after this term. This was his 24th congressional baseball game. He played college ball in South Dakota and has been known through the years for his aggressive base-running, including headfirst slides most politicians fear to attempt.
In an exciting first inning, the Democrats took an early lead but were quickly met and surpassed by the Republicans. By the beginning of the second inning, the GOP had a 5-4 lead thanks to some long hits to centerfield over Allred’s head. When Biden appeared, the crowd was split: Democrats stood and cheered while Republicans noticeably did the opposite. While Biden appeared to address the Republican dugout, GOP Rep. Greg Steube of Florida hit the first home run of the night.
But by the fourth inning, the Democrats pulled even and the lead bounced back and forth after that, with the Republicans prevailing 13-12 in the seven-inning game, with Pfluger on the mound for the GOP getting the final outs.
COVID-19 forced organizers to cancel the 2020 game and push this year’s back to September — it’s typically a summer affair — though it was a lovely fall evening at the ballpark, with a clear blue sky and temperature near 70 for the opening pitch.
A government shutdown looms at midnight Thursday as September and the fiscal year come to an end.
Democrats are trying to maneuver their thin majorities to keep the government open, as Republicans dig in against raising the debt ceiling by an Oct. 18 deadline, threatening an unprecedented federal default.
All this weighed on players as they took the field, but Williams insisted baseball has a way of bringing people together.
“If you look at history, baseball got us out of World War I, got us out of World War II, got us out of 9/11,” Williams said in an interview with 7 News DC before the game. “This is a big game tonight; both sides want to win.”
The Congressional Baseball Game started in 1909 as a way to raise money for charity. It’s the longest-running of Capitol Hill’s semi-celebrity sporting events, which also include flag football, softball, basketball and hockey. According to Roll Call, this year’s game generated about $1.2 million.
Charities include The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Washington Nationals Philanthropies and the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund, which became a new recipient after the 2017 shooting at a Republican practice in Alexandria, Va.
At their final practice before the annual game in 2017, members of the Republican team were ambushed by a gunman. Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the GOP whip, was shot in the hip and seriously injured. A Williams staffer, two members of the Capitol Police and a lobbyist were also hit in the attack.
Scalise, still on the Republican roster, played Wednesday night..
Though the game may have been a welcome reprieve, the lawmakers will return Thursday to the Capitol with their hands full.