[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 18 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 18

 Honoring David Americo Ortiz Arias, the 3-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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2017

   Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
Hassan, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. King) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring David Americo Ortiz Arias, the 3-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 (in 
        this preamble referred to as ``MLB'') 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, hitting 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's improbable comeback from a 3 
games-to-none series deficit, the only time in MLB history a team has ever 
made such a comeback;

    (2) on October 19, 2004, hitting 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's comeback; and

    (3) on October 13, 2013, hitting 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 an 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 MLB in 
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013;

    (2) the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award from 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 MLB in 2004, 
2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013;

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

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

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

    (8) the Babe Ruth Award from 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 one of 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 a citizen of the United 
        States 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 gave a rousing and inspirational speech 
        after the Boston Marathon bombings, 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 MLB game on October 10, 2016: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 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.
                                 <all>