Full History Of Congressional Baseball Game In Timeline From 1909

1909: House Members Only Participate

From its inception in 1909 until 1949, the Congressional Baseball Game was exclusively played by members of the House of Representatives.

1909: First Home Run and Injury

In 1909, two notable events occurred in the Congressional Baseball Game. Rep. Joseph F. O'Connell hit the first home run in the game's history, while Rep. Edward B. Vreeland became the first player to be withdrawn due to an injury.

1909: Details of the First Game

Organized by Representative John Tener of Pennsylvania, a former professional baseball player, the first game in 1909 saw the Democrats emerge victorious against the Republicans with a score of 26-16. The game was filled with excitement and anticipation, as noted by the Boston Daily Globe.

1909: First Congressional Baseball Game

The first Congressional Baseball Game for Charity took place in 1909. It started as a casual game between members of Congress and eventually grew into a beloved Washington, D.C. tradition.

March 1911: Game Moves to Griffith Stadium

The Congressional Baseball Game moved to Griffith Stadium in March 1911 after the original venue, American League Park II, was destroyed in a fire.

1914: Game Interrupts Congressional Proceedings

The popularity of the Congressional Baseball Game occasionally led to interruptions in legislative work. In 1914, Speaker James Beauchamp "Champ" Clark expressed his frustration over the game interfering with a House debate on an appropriations bill.

1916: Republicans' First Victory

After a series of wins by the Democrats, the Republicans finally secured their first victory in the Congressional Baseball Game in 1916.

1917: Jeannette Rankin First Woman to Participate

Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana made history in 1917 by becoming the first woman to participate in the Congressional Baseball Game. She threw the first pitch and kept score.

1926: Republicans Arrive with Elephant

Adding to the spectacle of the 1926 Congressional Baseball Game, the Republican team made a grand entrance by parading into American League Field on a live elephant.

1928: First Radio Broadcast

In 1928, the Congressional Baseball Game was broadcast on the radio for the first time, marking an expansion in its reach and popularity.

1928: Previous Scoring Record Set

The 1928 Congressional Baseball Game held the record for the highest number of runs scored by a single team until the 2024 game.

1932: Costumed Mascots Entertain Crowds

In 1932, both the Republican and Democratic teams brought costumed mascots to the Congressional Baseball Game, providing entertainment for the crowds and adding a festive atmosphere to the event.

1946: Washington Evening Star Sponsorship and Biennial Games

The Washington Evening Star newspaper became the sponsor of the Congressional Baseball Game in 1946, leading to the game being held every other year.

1949: Last Game with Only House Members

The 1949 Congressional Baseball Game marked the end of an era, as it was the final game with only House members participating.

1950: Senators Join the Game

In a historic change, Senators joined the Congressional Baseball Game for the first time in 1950, with Senator Harry P. Cain joining the Republican team and Senator-elect George Smathers joining the Democratic team.

1957: First Grand Slam

Rep. Gerald Ford of Michigan, playing for the Republicans, made history in 1957 by hitting the first known grand slam in the Congressional Baseball Game.

1958: Game Suspended Due to Injuries

Speaker Sam Rayburn put a halt to the Congressional Baseball Game in 1958 due to concerns about the physical strain and injuries it was causing the members.

1962: Game Moves to District Stadium (Later RFK Stadium)

The Congressional Baseball Game found a new home in 1962 at the newly constructed District Stadium, later renamed Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

1963: Washington Senators' George Susce Pitches for Both Teams

The 1963 Congressional Baseball Game saw a unique situation where neither team had a pitcher. To solve this, George Susce, a relief pitcher for the Washington Senators, ended up pitching for both teams.

1965: Roll Call Trophy Introduced

With the sponsorship of Roll Call, the Roll Call Trophy was introduced in 1965, to be awarded to the team that wins the best-of-five series. The Republicans were the first to claim this honor.

1971: First African Americans Join the Game

The year 1971 saw the inclusion of the first African American players in the Congressional Baseball Game, with Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy and Rep. Ron Dellums joining the Democratic team.

1972: Game Moves to Memorial Stadium

Following the Washington Senators' move to Texas in 1972, the Congressional Baseball Game relocated to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.

1972: Introduction of MVP Awards and Baseball Cards

Larry Horist, a Sears' Washington office Public Information Officer, brought significant changes to the post-game reception in 1972. He introduced the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards for each team and created baseball cards featuring the players in their hometown uniforms. These cards, featuring figures like Senator Eugene McCarthy, Barry Goldwater, Jr., and "Vinegar Bend" Mizell, gained recognition and are now part of the Baseball Hall of Fame's collection.

1977: Game at Langley High School

In 1977, the Congressional Baseball Game was held at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia.

1979: First Over-the-Fence Home Run

In 1979, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas achieved what is believed to be the first home run hit over the fence in the game's history.

1993: First Women in Starting Lineup

Marking a significant step for women in the game, Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Maria Cantwell, and Blanche Lincoln became the first women to break into the starting lineup of the Congressional Baseball Game in 1993.

1993: Hall of Fame Founded

The Roll Call Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to honor players and figures who have made significant contributions to the game.

1995: Game Moves to Prince George's Stadium

The Congressional Baseball Game moved to Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland, where it was played from 1995 to 2004.

1997: Out-of-the-Park Home Run

Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois joined a select group of players in 1997 by hitting an out-of-the-park home run during the Congressional Baseball Game.

2002: Republicans Secure 35th Win and 10th Trophy

The Republicans achieved their 35th victory in the Congressional Baseball Game in 2002, marking a significant milestone in the rivalry. This win also earned them their 10th Roll Call Trophy.

2003: Democrats Begin Period of Success

The 2003 Congressional Baseball Game marked the beginning of a successful period for the Democrats. They won seven games between 2003 and 2016, closing the gap in the overall series record.

2004: End of Games at Prince George's Stadium

The Congressional Baseball Game's time at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland concluded in 2004.

2005: Eleventh Roll Call Trophy Awarded

The eleventh Roll Call Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Congressional Baseball Game, was presented in 2005.

2005: Game Returns to RFK Stadium

With the Montreal Expos' move to Washington becoming the Washington Nationals, the Congressional Baseball Game returned to RFK Stadium in 2005.

2007: Last Game at RFK Stadium

The Congressional Baseball Game was held at RFK Stadium for the last time in 2007.

2008: Republicans Extend Winning Streak

The Republicans extended their winning streak in the Congressional Baseball Game in 2008, continuing their dominance in the series during the mid-2000s.

2008: Game Moves to Nationals Park

Upon the completion of Nationals Park in 2008, both the Washington Nationals and the Congressional Baseball Game moved to this new location.

2011: Hall of Fame Inductee Descriptions Available Online

By 2011, descriptions of each inductee into the Roll Call Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame were made available on the sponsor's website, providing fans and researchers with information about the game's most notable participants.

2012: Paul Inducted into Hall of Fame

In recognition of his contributions to the game, including hitting a historic home run, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was inducted into the Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.

June 14, 2017: Shooting at Congressional Baseball Game Practice

A gunman opened fire on Republican members of Congress practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game on June 14, 2017. This act of domestic terrorism resulted in injuries, including to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, and heightened security concerns.

2017: Fourteen Trophies Awarded

By 2017, fourteen Roll Call Trophies had been awarded since its inception - ten to the Republicans and four to the Democrats.

2017: Discrepancy in Series Record Noted

In 2017, a discrepancy was observed on the official website of the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity regarding the series record. While the Republicans were credited with 42 wins overall, the website's history section displayed the record as 39-39-1.

2017: Shooting at Congressional Baseball Game Practice and Addition of New Charity

In a significant turn of events, a gunman opened fire at a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in 2017, injuring several people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. The shooting led to the inclusion of the US Capitol Police Memorial Fund as a beneficiary of the game's proceeds.

2021: Game Televised on FS1

In a testament to the game's increasing popularity, the 2021 Congressional Baseball Game was broadcasted on FS1, expanding its audience reach.

2021: Steube Hits Out-of-the-Park Home Run and Richmond Retires

The 2021 Congressional Baseball Game saw Rep. Greg Steube of Florida hit an out-of-the-park home run. Additionally, Congressman Cedric Richmond, a dominant pitcher and hitter for the Democrats throughout the 2010s, announced his retirement from Congress before the game.

2024: Republicans Lead Series and Achieve Blowout Victory

As of the 2024 game, the Republicans hold a 46-42-1 lead in the Congressional Baseball Game series. They also secured a resounding 31-11 victory in the 2024 game, marking the highest number of runs scored by a single team since 1928.