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Fox News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Power players or baseball players? The history behind the Congressional Baseball Game
Washington is stocked with power players. The president. White House officials. Cabinet secretaries. U.S. Representatives. Senators. Powerful aides. Lobbyists. Journalists. But how about baseball players? Democrats and Republicans convene Wednesday night at Nats Park just blocks from the Capitol for the annual Congressional game. Since 1909, Democrats and Republicans have traded in conference committees for mound visits. The Congressional Record for scorecards. And parliamentarians for umpires. 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? 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. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas, played right field last year. He moves to center field in place of Moore Wednesday night. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., patrols right field for Republicans. Stutzman returned to Congress this year after an eight-year hiatus. Stutzman played in six games before, hitting .083. Stutzman used to pitch for the GOP. But his services out of the bullpen probably aren't necessary. After all, Stutzman might not match up to other Hoosier State hurlers like Tommy John and Don Larsen. On the mound, Stutzman sports an 0-2 record with a 14.44 ERA in the Congressional contest. That said, Williams does have a potential newcomer who can throw: Freshman Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., is a rookie and a fireballer. "He's my Ryne Duren," said Williams of Harrigan. To the uninitiated, Duren was a flamethrowing all-star in the 1950s and '60s – mostly with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds. Duren wore Coke-bottle glasses. The line "Oh say can you see" during "The Star-Spangled Banner" took on a little more meaning for opposing hitters when Duren was on the mound with his fastball. Williams says Harrigan can bring it. But his control needs work. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., enters her third year as the Democrats' skipper. She's the first woman to manage the team. Women first played in the game in 1993. Former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., along with former Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and current Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., broke the gender barrier. Both Lincoln and Cantwell played as House Members. Sanchez appeared in 11 games and is one of the best women to suit up. She hit .455, going 5-11 with two walks. Sanchez bleeds Dodger blue. She historically wears a Fernando Valenzuela jersey while managing. Valenzuela was one of the most iconic Dodgers of all time, capturing the 1981 Cy Young Award with his screwball as "Fernandomania" seized southern California. Valenzuela died last fall. 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? 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. Sanchez is buoyed by at least four new freshmen – or rookies – on her club. Reps. Dave Min, D-Calif., Derek Tran, D-Calif., John Mannion, D-N.Y., and Johnny Olszewski, D-Md. "Our principal weakness has been not a lot of depth to our bullpen. And this year we've got a couple of freshmen that can throw. So we're hoping that with those additions, we can do a lot better this year," said Sanchez. Expect Mannion to work in relief. Like most Major League clubs, the Democrats need pitching. "We had a great run for a little while when Cedric Richmond was on the mound," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., who pitches, catches and plays infield for the Democrats. Former Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., is one of the greatest players in Congressional Baseball Game history. He pitched in college. He threw 80-mph-plus to stymie fellow lawmakers. Richmond boasted an 8-0 record and a miniscule 2.64 ERA. But Richmond left Congress to work for former President Biden in 2021. The Democrats haven't been formidable since. 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. 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. Gametime at 7pm ET on FS1 Wednesday. Yours truly will be on the call alongside colleague Kevin Corke.
Axios
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Exclusive: The Nationals reveal new local food and drink vendors for 2025 season
Tacos. Banh mi. Boozy slushies. Exciting eats and drinks are popping up at Nationals Park this season and 11 local businesses are joining the vendor lineup. Why it matters: Nats Park has won awards for its standout stadium food, and the team is upping their game to keep hungry fans returning. The starting lineup: New eats and drinks among 30+ local vendors at the park. Food Kam & 46 (Section 105): The food truck-turned-vendor makes fun riffs on Hawaiian and Filipino street fare (e.g. tuna tartare or sisig nachos). Taqueria Picoso (Section 117): Mexico City natives branch out from their Alexandria restaurant with home-style tacos and tortas. Mush (Section 137): Look for veggie sandwiches, bowls and sides. Phowheels (Section 140): Vietnamese street eats from the OG food truck include banh mi, egg rolls and Vietnamese tacos. Lucky Danger (Section 238): Chef Tim Ma 's popular American-Chinese takeout gets its place at the park for dumplings, lo mein and orange chicken bites. Cocktails Cotton & Reed (Section 109): The Union Market rum distillery will mix tropical cocktails like strawberry daiquiris and dark n' stormies. Electric Cool-Aid (Sections 102 and 147): Boozy slushies, courtesy of Shaw's "frozen bar." Little treats Grab-and-go items from the stadium's new marketplace stands include sweet treats from veteran-owned Dog Tag Bakery, Moore Crunch flavor-dusted mini-pretzels, and Party Of Popcorn 's Thai-flavored pops. Also, a Maracas Ice Pops bicycle for delicious Mexican fruit and cream popsicles. How it works The intrigue: This season's new vendors were chosen in a Shark Tank-style "Pitch Your Product" competition, where 23 DMV businesses presented their specialty fare and ballpark dreams to a panel of judges, including yours truly, who got a behind-the-scenes look for Axios. It's the second time they've done it. The first in 2015 yielded a bunch of cool new vendors including Haute Dogs & Fries, which you can still snag at the ballpark today. The mix of contenders mirrored D.C.'s food scene — decades-old businesses and young startups, global chefs creating everything from West African street eats to German schnitzel. Everyone's eager to get their products in front of thousands of people and grow. The ultimate question: Can small businesses go big? Serving fans at a 41,000-seat stadium is like its own endurance sport. Vendors are expected to supply top-quality fare over 81 games — kudos if it's Insta-worthy for those ballpark shots — plus during post-game concerts and events. All while running their established businesses. A lot of the specialty prep by local providers has to be done offsite, like when Medium Rare brewed its top-secret steak sauce for sandwiches. Behind the scenes: Assembling the vendor roster is a lot like putting together a restaurant menu — my fellow judges and I looked for consistency, approachability, dietary needs, and of course, deliciousness (knowing there's the added obstacle of outdoor temps). Dishes also need to be equally enticing spring through fall. Scalability is the big question. Beef suya skewers or spaetzle bowls are delicious, but can a chef turn out thousands per game? Also, what are fans into right now? Cue more "plant-based" vendors at the park, and specialty cocktails alongside non-alcoholic options. What they're saying:"We're 100% paying attention to what D.C. is reacting to," Lisa Marie Czop, senior VP of ballpark operations, tells Axios. The mix has become as global as the city itself — Venezuelan arepas and Salvadoran pupusas alongside hot dogs and ice cream. The big picture: Nats Park is increasingly about more than baseball, especially during the team's recent rebuilding years. Popular theme nights, post-game concerts and festivals are all designed to appeal to a broad audience. Same for the food. "We want to win a World Series every year, but we can't control that," says Czop. "We can make sure people come to D.C. and fall in love with the ballpark, regardless of what's happening."
