Bishop helps power dems to 22-0 win in congressional baseball game

Congressman Tim Bishop batted 2-2 with three RBI and turned in a flawless performance at Third Base to earn co-MVP honors in the 52nd Annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity last Thursday. The 22-0 victory was the Democrats’ fourth straight after years of Republican dominance.

Despite threatening skies and sporadic rain, the game went on at Nationals Park in Washington in front of 8,000 spectators. Democratic Coach Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania said Bishop “played like Brooks Robinson at Third Base,” after he successfully threw out five Republican batters at First.

In May, the Democratic team began holding 7 AM practices in Northeast Washington on days when Congress is in session. Bishop, 63, has started at Third Base in each of the last five games, and was previously named offensive MVP of the 2009 contest.

Bishop wore the uniform of the New York Yankees for this year’s contest, sporting the number 1 in honor of New York’s First Congressional District, which he has represented since 2003. Last year, Bishop wore the uniform of the Stony Brook University Seawolves to honor their College World Series appearance.

“It’s an honor to represent Long Island in Congress and on a big-league ball field,” said Bishop. “The game is also a great opportunity to build relationships across the aisle in the spirit of friendly sportsmanship and raise money for worthy charities.”

At January’s State of the Union Address, Bishop sat with Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus, the Republicans’ starting catcher. The two Members of Congress have developed a friendship through the game.

The gate receipts for the game are given each year to The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Strong attendance pushed the gate receipts close to $300,000 this year, according to game organizers.

Source: Press release issued by the Office of Tim Bishop, June 17.