#TBT: Baseball and Cigars

Conte lights a victory cigar after Republicans won the 1975 Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game. Click on photo to enlarge. (Pen Wilson/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Conte lights a victory cigar after Republicans won the 1975 Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game. Click on photo to enlarge. (Pen Wilson/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
By Meredith Dake-O'Connor
Posted June 19, 2014 at 1:20pm

Rep. Silvio Conte, R-Mass., was an prominent figure on Capitol Hill during his years in office from 1959 to 1991. A major player in the Congressional Baseball Game, Conte was rarely seen on the field without a cigar. Capitol Lens dug into our archives to find some of Conte’s most iconic pictures.  

Don’t forget to get your ticket for the 53rd Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game, which is on June 25 this year. And get in the spirit with our coverage of the Wednesday night Congressional Women’s Softball Game.  

congressional baseball game
Conte, with a cigar clamped in his teeth, jokes with Bill Chapel, D-Fla., during the 1986 Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game. Click on photo to enlarge. (Keith Jewell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

   

congressional baseball game
Conte, center, claps with a cigar in his mouth during a Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game. Click on photo to enlarge. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

   

congressional baseball game
Conte, with his recently discarded crutches below him, lines up to take a pitch during the 1966 game. Click on photo to enlarge. (Mickey Senko/CQ Roll Call File Photo)