[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H7538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 KIRBY PUCKETT: AN AMERICAN ROLE MODEL

  (Mr. RAMSTAD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise a very special 
person from the Third District of Minnesota, who exemplifies the 
unconquerable spirit of America, a man who overcame tremendous 
obstacles to become one of the greatest baseball players in major 
league history.
  All Minnesotans and baseball fans across the Nation were stunned last 
Friday when Kirby Puckett announced his retirement from baseball 
because of irreversible damage to his right eye. But Kirby Puckett's 
place in the hearts of Minnesotans and baseball fans everywhere will 
live everywhere.
  What a remarkable career: 2,304 hits. In 1989, he became the first 
right-handed hitter to win a batting title in two decades, played in 10 
consecutive All-Star games and won the Most Valuable Player Award in 
1993.
  Kirby collected more hits in his first 10 seasons than any other 
major league player in this century.
  Kirby Puckett's hall of fame career closely parallels his hall of 
fame performance as a role model for young people, his hall of fame 
work ethic, and his hall of fame public service in our community. From 
visiting kids in the hospital to raising badly needed funds for 
Children's Heartlink and inner city youth programs, Kirby Puckett has 
done so much for our community and State.

  On behalf of all of the people of Minnesota, I want to thank Kirby 
Puckett for the joy he has brought to our lives. Kirby Puckett's 
greatness and impact on the lives of people, Mr. Speaker, cannot be 
measured by mere statistics. His power will forever be felt in one 
place, where numbers do not matter, in the heart.
  Good luck, Kirby; we will be cheering for you for the rest of our 
lives. And we wish Kirby and Tonya and their two beautiful children the 
very best that life has to offer.

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