GOP Notches Big Win in Charity Baseball Game

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WASHINGTON—In a feat they surely hope to replicate at the polls this November, Republicans beat Democrats by 20 runs on June 12 at the Annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity.

The Democrats fought valiantly; for a moment it seemed as if the contest would be closer than last year’s blowout.

But by the end of the three-hour game, the Democrats were overwhelmed 31–11. However, it was all in good fun, and for a good cause.

The game is a tradition dating back to 1909; it is meant to be an amiable display of bipartisanship and a way of recognizing the mutual humanity of political opponents across the aisle.

In 2016 Congressional Sports for Charity was established around the annual event, and it works with the Washington Nationals philanthropic arm, Nationals Charities, to benefit nonprofit organizations.

The charity event also raises money for scholarships and organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and The Washington Literacy Center.

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Congressional Sports for Charity brought in more than $2.2 million this year alone.

It was a beautiful June evening, but the game was not without incident. At one point activists from the anti-fossil fuel group Climate Defiance rushed the field, but were quickly tackled by police officers.

Eight of them will face federal charges over the protest action.

The fun was also briefly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters chanting “Free-Free Palestine,” but they were quickly overwhelmed by the whole stadium chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!”

Officers were later seen escorting some of the pro-Palestine demonstrators out of the stadium.

House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was first up at bat, although the 58-year-old cancer survivor required a substitute to run bases for him.

Mr. Scalise was shot, along with five others, in 2017 while practicing for that year’s game.

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) called Mr. Scalise a “spiritual leader, and the heart and soul of the team.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) takes practice swings before his bat during the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nationals Park on June 12, 2024, in Washington. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) said he draws inspiration from Mr. Scalise’s continued willingness to participate.

“I think about it every day; it’s created quite a bond. He still has so much courage.”

The Republicans made a strong start, scoring four runs at the top of the first inning, but the Democrats immediately struck back, clinching two runs of their own; by the end of the second inning, they had pulled ahead 5–4.

But the GOP rallied in the fourth, scoring seven runs. Although the Democrats recovered a bit and got a few more runners across the home plate, they were no match for the GOP’s offense.