[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 65 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 65

    Honoring David Americo Ortiz Arias, the three-time World Series 
  Champion Major League Baseball player who played for the Minnesota 
        Twins and the Boston Red Sox for a combined 20 seasons.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 23, 2017

   Mr. Moulton (for himself, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Neal, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. 
Pingree, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Keating, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Larson 
    of Connecticut, Ms. Tsongas, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Poliquin, Mr. 
  Langevin, Mr. Welch, and Ms. Clark of Massachusetts) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                    Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Honoring David Americo Ortiz Arias, the three-time World Series 
  Champion Major League Baseball player who played for the Minnesota 
        Twins and the Boston Red Sox for a combined 20 seasons.

Whereas David Americo Ortiz Arias, known to fans as ``Big Papi'', was born in 
        Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on November 18, 1975;
Whereas after graduating from Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican 
        Republic in 1992, David Ortiz was signed by the Seattle Mariners;
Whereas, on September 2, 1997, David Ortiz made his Major League Baseball debut 
        for the Minnesota Twins at age 21;
Whereas, on January 22, 2003, David Ortiz signed a free-agent contract with the 
        Boston Red Sox;
Whereas David Ortiz has created numerous iconic moments in Boston sports 
        history, including--

    (1) on October 18, 2004, David Ortiz hit a walk-off home run in the 
12th inning of Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series 
against the New York Yankees to spark the Boston Red Sox' improbable 
comeback from a three games to zero series deficit, the only time in MLB 
history a team has ever done so;

    (2) on October 19, 2004, David Ortiz hit a walk-off single in the 14th 
inning of Game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against 
the New York Yankees to continue the Boston Red Sox' comeback; and

    (3) on October 13, 2013, David Ortiz hit a grand slam to right-center 
field to tie Game 2 of the 2013 American League Championship Series against 
the Detroit Tigers;

Whereas David Ortiz was instrumental in helping the Boston Red Sox snap their 
        86-year World Series drought;
Whereas David Ortiz played a crucial role in the Boston Red Sox winning the 
        World Series in 2007 and 2013;
Whereas David Ortiz has won numerous awards for his baseball prowess, 
        including--

    (1) the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award from the MLB 
in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013;

    (2) the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award from the 
MLB in 2004;

    (3) the Thomas A. Yawkey Most Valuable Player Award from the Boston Red 
Sox in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2013;

    (4) the Silver Slugger Award as a designated hitter from the MLB in 
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013;

    (5) the designation of ``All-Star'' from the MLB in 2004, 2005, 2006, 
2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016;

    (6) the Hank Aaron Award from the MLB in 2005;

    (7) the Roberto Clemente Award from the MLB in 2011;

    (8) the Babe Ruth Award from the MLB in 2013; and

    (9) the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in 2013;

Whereas David Ortiz's ``Why not us?'' attitude in 2004 transformed the baseball 
        culture of the city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
        ``Red Sox Nation'' from one of near misses to champions;
Whereas David Ortiz founded the David Ortiz Children's Fund in 2007;
Whereas the David Ortiz Children's Fund has provided millions of dollars of 
        financial assistance to more than 500 children for life-saving 
        surgeries;
Whereas, on June 11, 2008, David Ortiz was sworn in as an American citizen along 
        with 226 other immigrants at the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester, 
        Massachusetts;
Whereas David Ortiz instilled hope and pride in the city of Boston in the days 
        following the bombings at the Boston Marathon in 2013;
Whereas, on April 20, 2013, David Ortiz, following the Boston Marathon bombings, 
        gave a rousing and inspirational speech reminding Boston and the country 
        that ``nobody is going to dictate our freedom'';
Whereas David Ortiz comforted the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, 
        visiting them in the hospital and giving them tickets to games 
        throughout the 2013 MLB season;
Whereas the city of Boston has honored David Ortiz for his impact on the city by 
        naming a bridge and a street after him;
Whereas the love and respect for David Ortiz felt by the city of Boston, the 
        Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Red Sox Nation is unparalleled; and
Whereas David Ortiz played his final Major League Baseball game on October 10, 
        2016: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) honors the legendary career of David Americo Ortiz 
        Arias, whose character, leadership, and selflessness have 
        helped define the identity of the city of Boston, the 
        Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and all of Red Sox Nation; and
            (2) wishes David Ortiz a fulfilling retirement as he bids 
        farewell to the baseball diamond.
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