A group of Democrats in the United States House of Representatives and Senate over the past month began a rally urging President Joe Biden to consider dropping out of the presidential race against Donald Trump, and one member used the Boston Red Sox to make his point clear.
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who was a key member of the House committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, sent President Biden a four-page letter this month that urged him to consult with fellow Democrats about whether to continue his campaign. The letter, which was authenticated by Raskin on Thursday, was dated July 6 and was obtained by multiple news outlets.
The bulk of the letter contained praise for Biden, but an eye-popping note was at the end when Raskin chose to give “a final thought about baseball.”
Raskin calls back to the 2003 American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and the Yankees. He referenced Pedro Martínez reaching his limit after throwing over 100 pitches entering the ninth inning but still pushing back when then-Boston manager Grady Little attempted to take him out of what could have been the final frame of the matchup. Martínez gave up the tying run, and Aaron Boone hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to send New York to the World Series.
“There is no shame in taking a well-deserved bow to the overflowing appreciation of the crowd when your arm is tired out, and there is real danger for the team in ignoring the statistics,” Raskin wrote, per MSNBC. “Your situation is tricky because you are both our star pitcher and our manager. But in democracy, as you have shown us more than any prior president, you are not a manager acting all alone; you are the co-manager along with our great team and our great people. Caucus with the team, Mr. President. Hear them out. You will make the right decision.”
Raskin said in a statement that he still hoped Biden, who has rebuffed calls to consider quitting his campaign, would engage in a discussion with Democrats about whether he should seek reelection.
