[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 98 (Friday, June 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INDIANAPOLIS ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS FOUNDATION BREAKFAST

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, the Indianapolis Indians professional 
baseball team has been an important institution in my life from the 
time that my dad, Marvin Lugar, took me to Indians' games in the 1940s. 
Those of us in Indiana who revere the Indianapolis Indians will 
celebrate two significant events in July when the final Indians' game 
is played at Bush Stadium on July 3 and the opening game at the new 
Victory Field takes place on July 11.
  I thank the Indianapolis Athletic Club Sports Foundation for honoring 
the Indianapolis Indians at a breakfast on July 2, a great opportunity 
to assemble so many of the renowned Indians players that are still 
alive and active in support of baseball in our State.
  The Indianapolis Athletic Club Sports Foundation has performed a 
vital role in bringing together and recognizing the important 
contributions to the Indianapolis community of the Indianapolis Indians 
and bringing together the people and much of the history that has meant 
so much to our community.
  I can remember vividly, a home run hit by third baseman Joe Bestudik, 
the first time I had ever seen a baseball hit over the wall of a 
baseball park.
  I can remember the thrill of attending baseball clinics given by 
professional players that allowed us to run the bases and gain some 
idea of the dimensions of the stadium.
  One of my closest friends at Shortridge High School, Max Schumacher, 
was captain of our high school's baseball team. Following his 
graduation from Butler University in Indianapolis, Max joined the 
Indianapolis Indians' organization as ticket manager, became president 
in 1969, and has presided over one of the truly outstanding success 
stories of minor league baseball in America.
  I congratulate Max, the remarkable board of directors he has 
assembled over the years, the Indian Hall of Fame members, and hundreds 
of thousands of baseball fans who have made the Indianapolis Indians 
such a remarkable pillar of strength.
  At the time that I was elected mayor of Indianapolis in 1967, I 
gained a much better insight of how much the Indians mean to our city 
when so many civic leaders came to me and asked that the city of 
Indianapolis take over the ballpark and provide the funds for proper 
restoration and maintenance. It was a personal thrill to see the 
stature of the stadium rise again and a personal challenge each year to 
throw the first ball of the season from the pitcher's mound with hopes 
that it would not fly over the catcher's head or into the dirt.
  Along with a large majority of Indians' fans, I will deeply miss the 
cool breezes and the great view of the city skyline that were a part of 
the summer evening at Bush Stadium, but I look forward to remarkable 
new opportunities for enjoyment of the Indianapolis Indians at a new 
stadium in the heart of a vital inner city of Indianapolis.
  I thank all Hoosiers who are endeavoring to make both celebrations an 
important part of our Hoosier historical heritage.

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