U.S. Representatives Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), and Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) are set to play in the 2024 Congressional Baseball Game for Charity on Wednesday at Nationals Park.
Burchett, Fleischmann, and Ogles – all a part of last year’s roster – are among the 34 Republican players set to play in Wednesday’s game. The Democrats’ roster lists 25 players for Wednesday’s game.
Texas U.S. Representative Roger Williams (R-TX-25) will coach the Republican team, while California U.S. Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38) and New Jersey U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-09) will coach the Democrats.
The Congressional Baseball Game was organized in 1909 by the late Pennsylvania U.S. Representative John Tener, who was also a former professional baseball player.
While it was played inconsistently in its early years, the game has been played annually since 1962.
The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity is conducted by the 501c3 Congressional Sports for Charity (CSC) and supports local charities serving children and families in the Washington, DC, area.
Charities that benefit from the Congressional Baseball Game include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Washington Literacy Center, and the Washington Nationals Philanthropies.
The United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund also benefits from the game “in gratitude to the brave officers at the Republican practice shooting on June 14, 2017.”
The shooting that unfolded during a practice session for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in 2017 resulted in six individuals being shot, including then-U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), U.S. Capitol Police Officer Crystal Griner, congressional aide Zack Barth, and lobbyist Matt Mika.
Scalise, who received multiple blood transfusions and underwent several surgeries as a result of being shot in the hip at the 2017 game, will play in Wednesday’s game.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
