Democrats
Rep. Jason Altmire (Pa.) |
|
Pitcher |
Hits R |
The former health executive hopes to breathe some life back into the Democrats. A two-sport letterman in high school, Altmire was on Florida State University’s first Sugar Bowl championship team in 1989.
|
Rep. Michael Arcuri (N.Y.) |
|
Pitcher |
Hits R |
Wearing a Yankees jersey, Arcuri will help try to topple the GOP. His district includes the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which may turn out to be a good omen for the Democrats. Also a good sign: Arcuri is a lifelong athlete, having played football in college and earned a first-degree black belt in tae kwon do. Home Utica |
Rep. Joe Baca (Calif.) |
|
Pitcher |
Hits R |
Baca, a former semipro baseball player, successfully predicted last year that the Democrats would end the GOP’s dominance in November, but he was not such an oracle when it came to predicting similar success on the diamond. Baca started at pitcher in 2006 and allowed eight runs in just more than four innings.
|
Rep. Brian Baird (Wash.) |
|
Pitcher |
Hits R |
Wearing a Camas High School uniform, the veteran Baird hopes to continue his success from last year when he batted 1.000. Though the former high school baseball player got only one turn at bat, he made the most of it. Home Olympia |
Rep. Tim Bishop (N.Y.) |
|
|
Hits R |
While Bishop has a track record of batting well, last year’s performance didn’t reflect it. He had the most chances at-bat last year but couldn’t get on base in any of his three attempts. He will be wearing a St. Joseph’s College jersey as he tries to get back on track. Home Southampton |
Rep. Bruce Braley (Iowa) |
|
|
Hits R |
In a year loaded with new Democratic players, Braley is another guy the manager, Rep. Mike Doyle (Pa.), is looking at to help change his team’s recent negative momentum. He will be wearing a jersey from the University of Northern Iowa. Home Waterloo |
Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) |
|
|
Hits L |
After missing the game last year, Brown returns to RFK for the first time as a Senator. He began playing for the Democratic squad in 1993 as a freshman in the House. Now he is the only Senator playing on the Democratic side. Home Lorain |
Rep. Russ Carnahan (Mo.) |
|
|
Hits R |
After a stellar inaugural performance going 1-for-1 in 2005, Carnahan failed to get a hit last year. The former junior high shortstop and third baseman will hope to change course this year wearing a St. Louis Cardinals jersey. Home St. Louis |
Rep. Christopher Carney (Pa.) |
|
|
Hits R |
The former lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserves hopes to provide the boost that the Democrats have long been seeking. Carney will be wearing an Elk Lake High School jersey. Home Dimock |
Rep. Ben Chandler (Ky.) |
|
|
Hits R |
Chandler batted a respectable 1-for-2 last year, accounting for one of the Democrats’ seven hits. While he previously wore both University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University jerseys, he will be sporting an Eastern Kentucky University uniform this year. Home Versailles |
Rep. William Lacy Clay (Mo.) |
|
First Base |
Hits L |
Like many members of the Democratic squad, Clay underperformed last year. He went 0-for-1 as his team was blown out by the Republicans, 12-1. He will be wearing Home St. Louis |
Rep. Joe Donnelly (Ind.) |
|
First Base |
Hits R |
Donnelly, a rookie member of the squad, is new to Congress. He joins nine others from the class of 2006 in trying to get a win for the Democrats. Home Granger |
Rep. Mike Doyle (Pa.) |
|
|
Hits R |
Doyle, a two-time MVP, is back at the helm for the second consecutive year. While his team didn’t do as well as he would have liked last year, he believes November’s electoral victories brought new talent that will help overcome the Democrats’ six-game losing streak. Doyle will be wearing Pittsburgh Pirates jersey No. 14. Home Swissvale |
Rep. Jay Inslee (Wash.) |
|
Third Base Elected 2000 |
Hits R |
Inslee put his money where his mouth was last year, going 1-for-1 after telling Roll Call that “Shimkus’ fastball wouldn’t hurt if it hit you in the ribs. … They should finally give me a deed to John Shimkus because I own him.” This time, the Democrats need him to help them score some runs. Home Bainbridge Island |
Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.) |
|
First |
Hits R |
Lynch failed to impress last year in his inaugural performance. This year, he is still looking to record his first hit. He will be wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform. Home South Boston |
Rep. Jim Marshall (Ga.) |
|
Infield |
Hits S |
Last year’s marquee performer on the Democratic side, Marshall went 2-for-3 and scored the Democrats’ only run of the game. He again will be sporting a Georgia Military College jersey as he hopes to propel the Democrats to victory. Home Macon |
Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.) |
|
First |
Hits R |
Lynch failed to impress last year in his inaugural performance. This year, he is still looking to record his first hit. He will be wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform. Home South Boston |
Rep. Mike McIntyre (N.C.) |
|
|
Hits R |
A Congressional baseball veteran, McIntyre will be wearing the uniform of his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Home Lumberton |
Rep. Christopher Murphy (Conn.) |
|
|
Hits R |
While not the youngest person on the Democratic side — he is a couple of months older than Patrick Murphy (no relation) — Christopher Murphy has yet to reach his 34th birthday. He will wear a Wilby High School uniform. Home Cheshire |
Rep. Patrick Murphy (Pa.) |
|
|
Hits R |
The youngest player on the Democratic side at 33 years old, Murphy trails only Republican Adam Putnam for the honor of being the youngest player in the entire game. The Democrats hope his youthful exuberance will help guide them to victory as he dons a Bensalem Ramblers jersey. Home Bristol |
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (Colo.) |
|
Catcher |
Hits R |
Perlmutter makes his debut at RFK Stadium as the class of 2006 hopes to lead the Democrats to the baseball promised land. He will wear a Wheat Ridge High School uniform. Home Golden |
Rep. Christopher Murphy (Conn.) |
|
|
Hits R |
While not the youngest person on the Democratic side — he is a couple of months older than Patrick Murphy (no relation) — Christopher Murphy has yet to reach his 34th birthday. He will wear a Wilby High School uniform. Home Cheshire |
Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio) |
|
|
Hits R |
Though this is Ryan’s fifth year in Congress, he is just 33 years old. The team will look to him to bring two seemingly conflicting characteristics: youth and experience. He will be wearing the No. 7 jersey of the Cleveland Indians. Home Niles |
Rep. Linda Sánchez (Calif.) |
|
|
Hits S |
Sánchez is wearing a California State University at Long Beach uniform emblazoned with lucky number IX on it. She hopes her extracurricular success will follow her to the field. Last fall she won the Funniest Celebrity in Washington contest. If things don’t go well, at least she will be able to entertain her teammates. Home Lakewood |
Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.) |
|
|
Hits R |
The former University of Tennessee and NFL quarterback is seen by some as the Democratic version of ex-Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.). While a career-ending foot injury will prevent Shuler from playing the field, many hope he will light up the scoreboard when he bats. He will be wearing an Asheville Tourists uniform. Home Waynesville |
Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.) |
|
|
Hits L |
Smith went 1-for-2 last year, but it wasn’t on par with his past MVP performance. Maybe this year will be different. He will be in a Tacoma Rainiers uniform.
|
Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.) |
|
Pitcher |
Hits R |
One of the team’s strongest arms, Stupak pitched one inning last year, allowing two runs. He will again be wearing a Menominee American Legion Post 146 jersey.
|
Rep. Mel Watt (N.C.) |
|
|
Hits R |
The longtime starting pitcher and three-time MVP (1995, 1996 and 2000) lost his starting job last year to Rep. Joe Baca (Calif.). Like last year, he likely will see some relief pitching duty. Home Charlotte |
Rep. Anthony Weiner (N.Y.) |
|
Infield |
Hits R |
Weiner went 0-for-2 last year so he has no where to go but up. Maybe he hopes to harness some of the success his New York Met’s are having this year by wearing the team’s No. 9 jersey. Home Brooklyn |