The charity game on Thursday night began on a somber note with a prayer and a moment of silence for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and three others who were shot by a gunman on Wednesday at the GOP team's practice for the event.
Thursday, the nonprofit that organizes the event - called The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity - posted on its Facebook page, "We have exceeded 20,000 in ticket sales" after the Washington Nationals released additional seats to sell. The crowd chanted "USA!"
Hodgkinson, from IL, died in hospital of gunshot wounds sustained in a gun battle with Capitol Hill police.
President Donald Trump said in a taped message to the players and spectators that coming together for a ball game a day after a tragedy shows "the world that we will not be intimidated by assaults. on our democracy".
Ticket sales picked up after Wednesday's shooting, eventually setting an attendance record, the organizers said, as attendees such as Alexander Hilten, 16, of Arlington, Va., chose to come to the game for the first time. Trump visited the Louisiana congressman at the hospital Wednesday night, and Vice President Mike Pence paid a visit Thursday morning.
Since 1909, the annual congressional baseball game has been a popular annual partisan showdown by members of Congress, their aides and lobbyists. "There was a lot of camaraderie", Aguilar said.
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Capitol Police Special Agent David Bailey, who was wounded when he and another officer engaged in a shootout with the gunman, hobbled onto the field on crutches to throw out the first pitch.
Shooter James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill., was shot and died later Wednesday of his wounds in the hospital.
"It's kind of a somber mood", said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.
"In Washington we have our disagreements, but we all agree that we are here to serve this nation we love and the people who call it home", Mr Trump said. "That's the source of unity and more than ever we must embrace it". "But during the game, we're going to play to win, and I know Joe's team is going to do the same thing", Doyle said on Wednesday. "It's bipartisan, it's a charity, for crying out loud, it's in Washington D.C., we'll be able to honor Scalise and those others who have hurt". "While the president would like to attend the game and show his support for all of these fearless public servants, he has been advised that there is not enough time to follow Secret Service protocols", he said.
United States politicians are playing in a charity baseball game a day after a shooting - as they practised - wounded a top Republican and three others.
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