Baseball is betting big on Democrats in the November Congressional elections – more than at any time in the last four election cycles.

Midway through the 2008 election cycle, the Major League Baseball Commissioner’s Office political action committee had handed out $92,500 to congressional candidates as of Feb. 29. Democrats had received $64,500 of that (70 percent) – compared to $28,000 for the Republicans.

See the full list of recipients here. See donors (basically executives from Major League teams) here.

Which begs the question: Is baseball just following the political winds in what most expect to be a big Democratic year? Or does official baseball just like Democrats better? A little of both, it seems.

In every year this decade, the commissioner’s PAC gave more money to congressional Democrats – even when Republicans were in control of both chambers and all committees (and baseball’s antitrust exemption):

In the Democratic rout year of 2006, the commissioner’s PAC gave 49 percent ($87,302) to Democrats ($87,302) and 46 percent to Republicans ($82,636). Details here. Recipients here.

In 2004, a Republican year, baseball gave 53 percent to Democrats ($113,288) and 47 percent to Republicans ($102,500). Details here. Recipients here.

In 2002, baseball gave 61 percent to Democrats ($66,000) and 39 percent to Republicans ($42,000). Details here. Recipients here.

It is noteworthy that baseball’s director of government relations is Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad’s wife. And the commissioner is a Democrat. Near as I can tell, Bud Selig has never given money his personal money to a Republican. He has given $80,850 of his own money to Democrats since 1996.

On Monday, we’ll look at contributions by employees of individual teams. A teaser: Derrek Lee gave to Obama.