The Congressional Baseball Game is an event in which staff and members, organized by political affiliation, play a baseball game to raise funds for charity. This event is scheduled to happen next week on June 12. The spectacle is known for its passionate moments and lack of athletic prowess.

However, the game is either banned or highly discouraged from being bet on across major betting sites. Despite a lack of strong federal legislation for or against sports betting, the standard has always been against betting on the Congressional Baseball Game.

The game has a deep-seated history in Washington, bringing together both sides of the aisle for friendly competition since 1909. The first game, like most years, was a comedy of errors, marked by members collapsing on second base and a total of 14 errors. Since then, we have seen players drop balls directly in front of them, 40-year-old members celebrate wildly after hitting the ball over the fence, and millions of dollars raised for community charities.

The contest has been split between Republicans and Democrats (45-42-1). However, it has also been marked by tragedy, with staffers having been attacked and a 2017 Republican practice being attacked by a gunman. Nevertheless, the contest has continued undeterred, with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who was injured in the shooting, returning to play in the 2018 game. Cedric Richmond, a former Democratic congressman who played alongside Scalise, exemplified the humanity the game is trying to showcase by being Scalise’s first visitor.

The Congressional Baseball Game brings people together. It may not showcase the most athletically talented or the best of the Capitol’s talent, but it is important for the community. The game brings lawmakers and friends together for a lighthearted match away from the fast-paced world of Washington. That being said, for the general public, it is an exhibition of our nation’s leaders failing to hit most balls well. One must hope and take comfort in the fact that legislators are usually worse at playing baseball than at making policy.

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So, should the general public be allowed to bet on the comedic show? Can we bet that someone charges the mound to hug the opposing pitcher, as Rep. Don Davis (D-NC) did at the 2023 contest? Can we bet that someone will hit a home run over the fence, considering that only three have been hit in the contest’s history?

I certainly hope so because allowing betting would raise interest in the game. Permitting bets on the game would underline the fun and comical nature of the series. This practice would give the general public a larger stake in what it means to be brought together through America’s pastime, but nevertheless, it will be a good game next week.