Rooney, Ross, Webster Suit up for the GOP, Ron Paul Joins Hall of Fame

In a day dominated by partisanship, it should be no surprise that the divide continued between the lines -- the foul lines -- last night for members of Congress.

Florida Congressmen Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, and Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, all suited up for the GOP in the annual CQ-Roll Call congressional baseball game, held at Nationals Park.

The game benefits the Washington Literacy Council's adult literacy programs and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. The contest generates more than $100,000 a year.

Prior to the game --with people holding signs stating Take me out to the PAUL game! --U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, wearing a throwback Houston Astros jersey, was inducted as the 22nd member of the CQ Roll Call Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame.

The jersey was reportedly the same one he wore in 1979 when he homered over the left field wall of Alexandrias Four Mile Run Park, for the first out-of-the-park home run in the congressional games history.

While the GOP continues to hold at 38-36 (one tie) advantage all time against the Democrats in the series started in 1909, the Republicans have now fallen the past four years.

Rooney, who is moving due to redistricting, again wore a Charlotte Stone Crabs uniform as he doubled and played five error-free innings at first in what otherwise was a Democrat-dominated 18-5 contest.

Typically the players wear uniforms of the professional baseball teams -- or college teams -- in their districts. Rooney is now running for the new district that was mostly part of the western portion of his current Palm Beach County-Treasure Coast-to Charlotte County district.

Rooney wore a Jupiter Hammerheads uniform in 2009, the Stone Crabs in 2010 and a Pittsburgh Pirates last year. The NFLs Pittsburgh Steelers, founded by Rooney's grandfather Art Rooney Sr. in 1933, were named the Pirates until 1940.