has anyone ever hit a homerun in the congressional baseball game
Congressional Baseball Game In 1909, Rep. Joseph F. O'Connell of Massachusetts hit the first home run, gaining three runs for the Democrats. In the same year, Republican Rep. Edward B. Vreeland of New York was the first player to be withdrawn due to an injury. In 1957, Rep. Gerald Ford of Michigan hit the first known grand slam, while playing for the Republicans.[17] In 1979, Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas hit what was believed to be (at that time) the first home run hit over the fence.[18] Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois is the only other player to hit an out-of-the-park home run, doing so in 1997.[18] Paul was inducted into the Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame prior to the 2012 game.[19]
Randy Johnson In a freak accident on March 24, 2001 at Tucson Electric Park, during the 7th inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants, Johnson threw a fastball to Calvin Murray that struck and killed a dove. The bird swooped across the infield just as Johnson was releasing the ball. After being struck, the bird fell amid a "sea of feathers."[25] The official call was "no pitch."[26] The event was not unique in baseball history, but it became one of Johnson's most-remembered baseball feats;[27] a news story fifteen years later remarked, "the event remains iconic, and the Big Unit says he gets asked about the incident nearly as much as he does about winning the World Series later that year with the Arizona Diamondbacks".[28]