When Schmitt dove headfirst into the grass with his nose bleeding and his uniform ruined and the ball in his glove, he looked – briefly, perfectly – like a ballplayer. And the crowd that watched him, sun-warm and loud and happy, looked like an America that was, at least for seven innings, having an absolutely fine time of it.

"The Congressional Baseball Game is a great tradition that brings Republicans and Democrats together at the Washington Nationals stadium,” Rep. Brooks said.