Congress – Archived Innings

This day in baseball: Walter Johnson loses congressional bid

November 5, 2022

On November 5, 1940, Election Day in America that year, former pitcher Walter Johnson lost to William D. Byron, the Democrat incumbent, in a bid to represent Maryland’s sixth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Hall of Fame right-hander had been elected as a Montgomery County Commissioner in 1938 but lost this election to Byron by a total of 60,037 (53%) to 52,258 (47%).

1200px-Walter_Johnson_and_Calvin_Coolidge_shake_hands_FINAL — US President Calvin Coolidge and Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson shake hands, 1924 (National Photo Company collection, Library of Congress)

This day in baseball: Abe Ribicoff seeks to establish National Baseball Day

May 11, 2022

On May 11, 1950, Connecticut Senator Abe Ribicoff introduced a bill to Congress to designate June 26th “National Baseball Day,” in honor of the birthday of Major General Abner Doubleday. Doubleday, of course, was at one time credited with inventing the game of Baseball. Sadly, the bill was never approved by Congress.

Archived Innings

Exploring baseball's past and present

Tag: Congress

This day in baseball: Walter Johnson loses congressional bid

This day in baseball: Abe Ribicoff seeks to establish National Baseball Day