[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 415 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
October 29, 2003.
Whereas Pro Player Stadium, located in the City of Miami Gardens and Miami-Dade
County, is the home field for the Florida Marlins;
Whereas Major League Baseball is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the World
Series this year;
Whereas on October 25, 2003, the Florida Marlins won the 2003 World Series in a
six game series;
Whereas by defeating an excellent New York Yankees team--the American League
Champions and the latest team in a storied franchise which, with 26
World Series victories, dominated professional baseball's first 100
years--the Florida Marlins have captured their second World Series title
in the brief ten year history of the team;
Whereas, during the World Series, Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett struck out 19
Yankee batters in two games, maintained a 1.10 earned run average,
including a 2-0 shutout during the crucial 6th game, and was named the
2003 World Series Most Valuable Player;
Whereas the Marlins won 91 games during the regular season to earn a playoff
berth by clinching the National League Wild Card slot;
Whereas the Marlins have never lost a post-season series;
Whereas the Marlins defeated the Western Division Champion and defending
National League Champion San Francisco Giants in the National League
Divisional Series;
Whereas the Marlins defeated the Central Division Champion Chicago Cubs in the
National League Championship Series;
Whereas, during the National League Championship Series, Marlins catcher Ivan
Rodriguez batted .321 with 2 home runs and ten runs batted in while
playing stellar defense, and was named the 2003 National League
Championship Series Most Valuable Player;
Whereas the Marlins team of skilled players, including Josh Beckett, Ivan
Rodriguez, Juan Pierre, Jeff Conine, Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo, Alex
Gonzalez, Miguel Cabrera, Derek Lee, Juan Encarnacion, Brad Penny, Carl
Pavano, Mark Redman, Dontrelle Willis, Ugueth Urbina, Braden Looper,
Chad Fox, Michael Tejera, Nate Bump, Rick Helling, Mike Redmond, Brian
Banks, Lenny Harris, Mike Mordecai, Todd Hollandsworth, Armando Almanza,
Toby Borland, Blaine Neal, Kevin Olsen, Tommy Phelps, Tim Spooneybarger,
Justin Wayne, Ramon Castro, Josh Willingham, Andy Fox, Kevin Hooper,
Jesus Medrano, Wilson Valdez, Josh Wilson, Chad Allen, Chip Ambres,
Abraham Nunez, Gerald Williams, and A.J. Burnett, contributed
extraordinary performances during the regular season, the playoffs, and
the World Series;
Whereas Manager Jack McKeon, who was hired on May 11, 2003, provided strong and
wise leadership and bold strategy for a young and resilient baseball
team during the regular season and in the postseason and, in the words
of one columnist, ``. . . recapture[d] much of what baseball once was,
how tangy it tasted, what a field of honor it celebrated and how its
central emotion should be joy'';
Whereas the Marlins coaching and support staff, which included Pitching Coach
Wayne Rosenthal, Bench Coach Doug Davis, Hitting Coach Bill Robinson,
First Base and Infield Coach Perry Hill, Third Base Coach Ozzie Guillen,
Bullpen Coaches Pierre Arsenault and Jeff Cox, Team Physician Dr. Daniel
Kanell, Trainer Sean Cunningham, Assistant Trainer Mike Kozak, Equipment
Manager John Silverman, Assistant Equipment Manager Mark Brown, Visiting
Clubhouse Manager Bryan Greenberg, Clubhouse Attendant and Umpire's Room
Assistant Michael Hughes, and Visiting Clubhouse Assistant Michael King,
exhibited exemplary leadership and guidance to the team;
Whereas Jeffrey Loria purchased the Florida Marlins franchise on February 12,
2002, and stated: ``Our goal is to restore the organization to
championship form.'';
Whereas Jeffrey Loria, Chairman, CEO, and Managing General Partner of the
Florida Marlins, David Samson, President of the Florida Marlins, and
Larry Beinfest, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Florida
Marlins, have shown a positive commitment to the Marlins franchise by
successfully acquiring, assembling, and maintaining a team of high-
quality, winning players;
Whereas the dedicated Marlins fans supported their team with joy and enthusiasm;
and
Whereas the Marlins captivated the United States with their ``never-say-die''
playing style during this historic performance: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates--
(A) the Florida Marlins for winning the 2003 Major League
Baseball World Series championship and for their outstanding
performance during the 2003 Major League Baseball season; and
(B) Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett for winning the
2003 World Series Most Valuable Player Award;
(2) recognizes and praises the achievements of the Marlins players,
coaches, management, and support staff whose hard work, dedication, and
resiliency proved instrumental throughout their World Series
Championship Season;
(3) commends the Florida community and the Marlins fans for their
dedication; and
(4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an
enrolled copy of this resolution to--
(A) the Marlins players;
(B) Marlins Manager Jack McKeon;
(C) Marlins Chairman, CEO, and Managing General Partner
Jeffrey Loria;
(D) Marlins President David Samson;
(E) Marlins Senior Vice President and General Manager Larry
Beinfest;
(F) the Marlins Coaches;
(G) The Honorable Shirley Gibson, Mayor of the City of Miami
Gardens, Florida;
(H) The Honorable Manny Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami,
Florida;
(I) The Honorable Alex Penelas, Mayor of Miami-Dade County,
Florida; and
(J) The Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of
Florida.
Attest:
Clerk.