James Hodgkinson, congressional baseball

Commentary

By Deborah Simmons - The Washington Times - Wednesday, June 14, 2017

OPINION:

Few things are as truly American as the nation’s favorite pastime, baseball.

So it will be Thursday for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, a longtime Washington tradition.

This year’s charities are the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, the Washington Literacy and the Washington National Dream Foundation, which helps fund youth-targeted programs on academics, arts, nutrition and, of course, athletics.

Here are so other quick facts about the game, including the cost of tickets to the red-white-and-blue matchup.

1) The Republicans broke the Democrats’ winning streak last year when Sen. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican, tagged home for an 8-7 win. Roll Call, which will be sponsoring its 56th at bat, called the game a “thriller.”

Mr. Flake was practicing at the Alexandria, Virginia, ballpark when shots rang out early Wednesday morning but was uninjured.

2) Democrats and Republicans have been playing the matchup every year since 1909 but for a few exceptions, among them the Great Depression and WWII.

3) The GOP usually use the first-base dugout to the right, while the Dems use third plate dugout to the left. Fans are usually seated accordingly.

4) Tickets to the game at Nationals Park are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission tickets. Parking is $11.

5) The game is on traditional social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.