The Congressional game will go on: Lawmakers to wear LSU gear for Rep. Scalise
WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - The show must go on.
This is the message members of Congress wanted to portray after Rep. Martha McSally announced in a briefing that the game would continue as scheduled. There will be no postponement or cancellation and first pitch is still expected from Nationals Park at 7:05 p.m.
Members on the House floor reportedly gave a standing ovation when McSally announced the news, according to Fox.
The first congressional baseball game was started by former professional baseball player and Pennsylvania Congressman John Tener in 1909.
Democrats beat Republicans during that first game 26-16. It wasn’t until six years later that Republicans scored their first win.
The game was first played at American League Field, an old baseball park in downtown Washington, D.C.
While Congress likes to participate in the game every year, the game has been canceled due to pressing political matters such as the Great Depression, World War II, according to the game's official website. In 1958, the House Speaker discontinued the game because he felt it had become too physical.
During World War II, The Washington Evening Star newspaper, which ceased publication in 1981, helped to sponsor the game.
The game is expected to raise at least $600,000 for charity this year and has been played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. since 2008.
The Democrats have had the upper hand for many years. Credit for their victories went to Rep. Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana Democrat who was a dominant pitcher for 5 straight years, according to CNN. But in 2016, the Republican party broke the streak and won the game. Richmond allowed six runs in six innings which helped contribute to the Democrats’ loss.
Last year’s game happened one day after House Democrats held a sit-in for 25 hours in support of gun control legislation. Senate Democrats also joined them in the protest before the House was adjourned by Speaker Paul Ryan.
Overall, the Republicans have more wins than the Democrats. Republicans have won 42 games while Democrats have won 39 games. In 1983, the game was tied at 17 and called off after nine innings.
Thursday’s game will raise money for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, The Fallen Officers Fund, The Nationals Dream Foundation and the Washington Literacy Center.
Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will wear LSU gear in honor of Rep. Scalise. LSU is Scalise’s alma mater where he graduated with a computer programming degree.
Here is the roster for the game Thursday night:
Democrats
Pete Aguilar (CA-31)
Nanette Diaz Barragan (CA-44)
Don Beyer (VA-08)
Brendan Boyle (PA-13)
Tony Cardenas (CA-29)
Joe Crowley (NY-07)
Joe Donnelly (IN – Sen.)
Mike Doyle (PA-14)
Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)
Jared Huffman (CA-02)
Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08)
Daniel Kildee (MI-05)
Ruben Kihuen (NV-04)
Chris Murphy (CT-Sen.)
Jimmy Panetta (CA-20)
Bill Pascrell (NJ-09)
Ed Perlmutter (CO-07)
Jared Polis (CO-02)
Cedric Richmond (LA-02)
Raul Ruiz (CA-36)
Tim Ryan (OH-17)
Linda Sanchez (CA-39)
Marc Veasey (TX-33)
Tom Suozzi (NY-03)
Eric Swalwell (CA-15)
Timothy Walz (MN-01)
Republicans
Joe Barton (TX-06)
Jack Bergman (MI-1)
Mike Bishop (MI-08)
Kevin Brady (TX-08)
Mo Brooks (AL-05)
Mike Conaway (TX-11)
Ryan Costello (PA-07)
Rodney Davis (IL-13)
Ron Desantis (FL-6)
Jeff Duncan (SC-03)
Jeff Flake (AZ)
Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03)
Matt Gaetz (FL-01)
Bill Johnson (OH-06)
Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Darren LaHood (IL-18)
Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)
Barry Loudermilk (GA-11)
Roger Marshall (KS-1)
Pat Meehan (PA-07)
John Moolenaar (MI-04)
Steve Palazzo (MS-04)
Gary Palmer (AL-06)
Rand Paul (KY)
Erik Paulsen (MN-03)
Steve Pearce (NM-02)
Thomas Rooney (FL-17)
Dennis Ross (FL-15)
Steve Scalise (LA-01) Injured
John Shimkus (IL-15)
Mark Walker (NC-06)
Brad Wenstrup (OH-02)
Roger Williams (TX-25)
Kevin Yoder (KS-03)