Boston Globe: ⚾ Congressman Amo won’t be running (the bases)

Ha, made ya’ click.

US Representative Gabe Amo is absolutely seeking reelection this fall, but he won’t be running the bases tonight when Democrats and Republicans take the field in the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park.

Amo was planning to be the first member of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation to play in the big game in several decades, but his hopes were derailed when he suffered a slight tear to his Achilles tendon.

In practice.

Amo, who was elected to succeed David Cicilline in last year’s special election in the First Congressional District, has been attending the early morning practices, but injured himself during a running drill.

At Moses Brown, Amo was on both the football and track teams, and he said he was really hoping to steal a base in tonight’s game. Instead, he’ll be wearing his Smithfield Little League jersey and cheering on his team from the dugout.

The first Congressional Baseball Game was held in 1909, and it was organized by representative John Tener of Pennsylvania, who was a former professional baseball player. In Rhode Island, representatives John Fogarty and Robert Tiernan played in the game.

We’d kick the rest of the country’s butt at sailing, though.

All kidding aside, Amo said it’s refreshing to see Democrats and Republicans come together to have a little fun amid all the strife in Congress.

“It offers a glimmer of hope for the future,” Amo said.

When it comes to his injury, Amo said he expects to make a full recovery and is setting a goal to be on the field next season. Assuming he wins in November.

“There’s the whole election thing, too,” he joked.