Take me out to the ball game

It is no secret that I love baseball. Whether on the backyard patio listening to the crack of the bat over the radio waves or at the ballpark, it generates a certain feeling that only baseball can. Working in the garage with a cold lemonade nearby being serenaded by the announcer’s commentary on a hot summer day. A father and a son walking to the park, the son with a hat too big for his face and a baseball mitt dangling by his side. Men standing on the street corners pawning off tickets, hats, or programs. The crowds flowing into the stadium with a sense of anticipation. The sights. The sounds. The smells. It’s something special. 162 games a year, yet every game is exciting. Game 1, game 100, game 162. They will all be attended with enthusiasm. A blow-out turns into a late game rally with a walk-off run. A manager gets ejected. A leap into the stands. A wild pitch. A grand slam. The 7th Inning Stretch. A bobblehead. Doesn’t matter what game it is, but big things happen.

People come together from all over into this one place and bond. On a typical night you wouldn’t talk to the man standing next to you on public transportation, but on your way to a baseball game you’re the best of pals. Sharing stories from the past and discussing, to the best of your ability, the obviously high chance of winning tonight’s game.

Robert Frost once said, “I never feel more at home in America than when I’m at a baseball game.” I’ve always loved this quote and only recently did I discover it’s origin. In one of the last possible places I would have looked, I found it in a Sports Illustrated article from 1956 about the American All-Star game. It’s worth the read.

"It has been a day of prowess in spite of its being a little on the picnic side and possibly not as desperately fought as it might be in a World Series. Prowess, prowess, in about equal strength for both sides. Each team made 11 hits, two home runs and not a single error. The day was perfect, the scene perfect, the play perfect. Prowess of course comes first, the ability to perform with success in games, in the arts and, come right down to it, in battle. The nearest of kin to the artists in college where we all become bachelors of arts are their fellow performers in baseball, football and tennis. That's why I am so particular college athletics should be kept from corruption. They are close to the soul of culture. At any rate the Greeks thought so. Justice is a close second to prowess. When displayed toward each other by antagonists in war and peace, it is known as the nobility of noble natures. And I mustn't forget courage, for there is neither prowess nor justice without it. My fourth, if it is important enough in comparison to be worth bringing in, is knowledge, the mere information we can't get too much of and can't ever get enough of, we complain, before going into action. As I say, I never feel more at home in America than at a ball game be it in park or in sandlot. Beyond this I know not. And dare not.”

Okay, but enough already. Painting a vivid picture of one of my favorite hobbies was not the point of today’s blog. Rather, I wanted to tell about a D.C. tradition that I recently attended. The Congressional Baseball Game. For over 100 years (with several breaks in between for war and other American hardships), Congressmen and Senators have convened for an evening of baseball. This year, the game was at Nationals Park and it certainly far surpassed my expectations.

The game was like a squished peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The PB was the politics. The jelly was the baseball. They oozed together into a somewhat unexpected, yet enjoyable evening treat. Not knowing what to anticipate, I wore a College Republicans shirt and my Twins hat. While comfortable with my decision, leave it to D.C. to show up in business attire to a 90 degree baseball game. Most people were in work clothes or campaign shirts for their congressman or boss. Surprisingly, the Nats pre-game happy hour was still open outside the stadium, but we still made it in before the game. The next surprise was seeing them down on the field, it could have been the Nats hanging out in their dugout and I wouldn’t have known the difference. They were each in full uniform (of their home team) and they stood around looking pretty focused on the task at hand.

As with most baseball games, the crowd came together for a moment of American pride as the Anthem was sung and then we went our separate ways. Blue or Red. As I saw the donkey or the elephant show up next to each player’s name as they stepped up to the plate, it dawned on me. This wasn’t just a baseball game, it brought in another one of my hobbies and made it personal when the Democrats were cheering in victory. Oh how I wanted to win. Unfortunately their cheering that night far out-weighed ours largely due to their freshman congressman who pitched in college ball. No chance of hitting that.

We lost the game, but I had the opportunity to meet my MN Congressman, Eric Paulsen, and share a Minnesota-nice moment. I was happy to hear they had held many practices and to observe the players taking the game seriously. Some, like Paulsen, had their whole staff and their families there to watch. It wasn’t for show or even for their constituents, it was just good old American fun. It was nice to see that with battles raging all around us in Congress and out, everyone can take a break long enough to enjoy a little baseball.