[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 126 (Thursday, July 25, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME RAISES WELL OVER $1 MILLION FOR CHARITY

  (Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission 
to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, we didn't want to 
let the August recess go by without giving our annual report on the 
Congressional Baseball Game for Charity. I know you have been waiting 
for this moment, Mr. Speaker.
  Once again, over 20,000 people came to Nationals Park to watch an 
exciting game of baseball between the Democrats and the Republicans. It 
was a rowdy crowd at Nationals Park. It was an exciting, action-packed 
game.
  I am happy to report to the House of Representatives that, once 
again, the Democrats won the game 14-7.
  I want to commend the Republican team. They played a very competitive 
game. They have got some new players. They are playing with a lot more 
resolve, and we look forward to competitive matches with them in the 
future.
  Our MVP this year was Cedric Richmond, who pitched a complete game, 
and we had a record number of freshman Members playing on the team this 
year. In addition, we had two outstanding women on the team, Linda 
Sanchez and Nanette Barragan, who added much to the team.
  So, in the end, Mr. Speaker, the real winners of this game are the 
charities. The game this year raised a little shy of $1.3 million for 
the charities. So it was a good cause and good camaraderie.
  I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, that those of us on the Democratic team 
genuinely like our colleagues on the Republican baseball team. We get 
along great together. We have a lot of fun. We practice hard, and we 
play our hearts out to give the crowd a good game and raise money for 
the charity.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams), the 
Republican manager.
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Michael F. Doyle), and I just want to congratulate the Democrats 
for a hard victory.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman used some words over there that I didn't 
understand when he said ``generally'' and some other things, but we 
will talk about that later. But I congratulate them for their victory.
  I also want to congratulate our players for the Republican team. From 
March 1 to game day, from 6 to 7:30, they played and practiced, and I 
thank the gentleman for their involvement.
  I also congratulate the gentleman from the great State of Florida 
(Mr. Steube), who was our most valuable player. Mr. Speaker, I asked 
him to throw strikes, and he threw strikes and did a great job for us.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to just remind everybody, this is a 
bipartisan event--it truly is--and for at least a moment, we come 
together to share the love of this country and the love of the great 
game of baseball. I want to thank everybody for participating.
  The charities were mentioned; the largest amount raised for the 
charities since we have been playing this ball game, and that is the 
most important thing.
  And, also, I want to say to my players, who I dearly love, we come 
back, I think, September 3. At 6 will be our first practice, September 
3, to begin the journey to victory next year over the Democrats.
  I just close with a quote from the great Satchel Paige, a great Hall 
of Fame pitcher, who won two games of a doubleheader in 1948. When 
asked what his best pitch was, was it his curve ball or his fastball, 
he told the press it was neither. ``It was my `be' ball.''
  The press said: ``What is your `be' ball?''
  He said: ``When I throw it, it goes where I want it to be.''
  And where we want to be next year is right over there holding that 
trophy, beating the Democrats.

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