WASHINGTON — They still play the congressional baseball game, a Democrats vs. Republicans rite of summer that continues despite extreme partisanship and a shocking mass shooting at a Republican practice in 2017.
“I mean, it’s precisely what we need more of,” said U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr., of Baltimore County, a Democrat who is the only Marylander on the roster of this year’s teams.
Olszewski, who practiced with the Towson High Generals baseball team on Tuesday, will wear one of the local school’s jerseys during the June 11 charity game at Nationals Park in Washington. Olszewski, a 6-foot-6 infielder who played competitively in his teen years, is a rare player who throws righthanded and bats lefthanded.
The game originated in 1909, with interruptions over the years due to wars and the Great Depression.
It was not halted, however, after Republican Rep. Steve Scalise, then the House majority whip, was shot by a lone gunman during a Republican practice in June 2017.
Rather than cancel the game, Republican and Democratic leaders of that time sought to make it a show of unity. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi made a point of standing together as fans as the game began. Scalise returned to Congress later that year.
Olszewski said the game presents an opportunity for the rival parties to engage in civil discourse in a highly partisan era.
“I’ve learned that the chair of my Small Business Committee, Roger Williams, is actually one of the coaches for the Republican baseball team, so we actually gave each other a good ribbing in between bill hearings,” Olszewski said.
Others on this year’s Democratic team include California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who is a University of Maryland graduate, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the House Democratic Caucus chair.
The Republican team includes Scalise, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst.
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