Last week, I played once again in the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, where Democratic Members of Congress face off on the diamond against Republican members in a tradition dating back over 50 years.
The game is a great opportunity to build relationships across the aisle in the spirit of friendly sportsmanship. At the President's State of the Union Address this year I sat next to John Shimkus of Illinois, who starts at Catcher for the Republican team. John and I have some disagreements about federal policy, but the friendship we have developed by participating in the game is helpful to our work together in government.
You can watch a fun video on the game on Yahoo! Sports.
It was very exciting to play in the MLB Nationals Ballpark in front of around 8,000 enthusiastic fans, including members of my family and staff. I am pleased to report that I played well. I batted 2-2 with 3 RBI and successfully fielded five ground balls from Third Base, where I have started for the past four games. I was named Democratic co-MVP along with Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, who pitched a shutout in our 22-0 victory.
But I think the real winners are The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, who received the nearly $300,000 in gate receipts to support their important work in the community. The costs of the game are borne by sponsors, and no taxpayer money is spent.
Traditions like this that build positive relationships and contribute to a good cause are important, and even more so in a time of increasing polarization in Congress. I'm also glad that at 63 I can still contribute to my team's success in a game I have loved since I was a child.
