Projo Politics Blog

It’s not often that political battles involve weapons these days.

But they broke out the baseball bats this weekend as Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline’s posse took on city Republican Party Chairman Dave Talan’s crew.

It’s safe to say, however, that no one was seriously injured at the showdown, as they tend to keep things pretty light at the tee-ball games in the Elmhurst Little League.

Team Cicilline’s contest against Talan’s Tigers is one of many games this year in which 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds become billboards for political rivals. The league features what is believed to be the state’s only openly Republican Little League team, the “8th Ward Republicans.” Slater’s Sluggers are named for state Rep. Tom Slater, D-Providence.

“Obviously, all these kids have parents, relatives, family friends who are old enough to vote. It’s good advertising, good PR and it’s fun,” Talan said.

For $275, sponsors get their names on at least 18 hats and jerseys seen by people at the games and many more in the neighborhood. Many of the young children are so excited about being on a team that “they wear their T-shirts 24 hours a day,” Talan noted.

There’s no other commitment, although the political sponsors often make appearances at games. A player from the 8th Ward Republicans greeted Cicilline on opening day carrying an inflatable elephant.

Talan recalled the mayor’s response: “Mr. Talan, I noticed that there are more ballplayers on the 8th Ward Republicans team than there are actual Republicans in the entire city of Providence.”

League sponsor coordinator James Taylor said it’s a coincidence that half the teams in the tee-ball division have political connections. It’s not easy to find sponsors, he said.

“A lot of times we get the politicians to see if they want to sponsor a team,” said Taylor, sponsor of Taylor’s Tadpoles. “You try to hit small businesses. A lot of times they don’t want to put up the money. Would you rather have Slater’s Sluggers or a liquor store?”

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