Other LanguagesFerguson and team intend to maintain bragging rights
OLYMPIA — This evening, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and his softball team will go head-to-head with Governor Jay Inslee to continue the softball rivalry between the offices — and the AGO winning streak. Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice and former AAG Mary Fairhurst will again call the balls and strikes as umpire.
In 2017, the AGO and the Governor’s Office reignited a decades-old rivalry softball game dating back to Attorney General “Subpoena” Slade Gorton and Governor “Dangerous” Dan Evans in 1969. The AGO took on the Governor’s Office in four outings, earning a perfect 4-0 record. Last year’s game extended the AGO winning streak to 5-0. Ferguson’s team expects a similar result this year.
“Last year’s game was more evidence I won’t let my team lose, either in the courtroom or on the field,” Ferguson said. “As long as I’m Washington’s Attorney General, I’ll do everything I can to maintain our winning streak — no matter who our opponent is.”
There are reports that David Postman, Governor Inslee’s Chief of Staff, is stacking the Governor’s team with softball ringers. Ferguson has directed his team to investigate.
Despite the AGO’s winning record, Evans once described the games as a “massive encounter between the formidable forces of the offices of the Governor and the Secretary of State and mealy-meak minions of the Office of the Attorney General.”
Competition was fierce in Evans’ and Gorton’s day. According to a 1971 Daily Olympian report, Evans issued an executive order directing the Attorney General’s pitcher, Charley Roe, to bicycle to Walla Walla shortly before the game started.
Winners of the game will receive bragging rights for 365 days.
Similar to last year, Ferguson will serve as second baseman for Team AGO, and Gov. Inslee will start for the Governor’s Office team. AGO attorneys stand ready to appeal any questionable calls with requests for an en banc review.
The game will be held at Yauger Park, 530 Alta Street SW, Olympia.
The game will begin at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20. It is expected to conclude around 7 p.m.
Follow the game on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AGOWA
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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Contacts:
Dan Jackson, Acting Communications Director, (360) 753-2716; DanJ1@atg.wa.gov