[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             RICHIE ASHBURN

  (Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we lost a 
Philadelphia legend, a baseball legend and an American legend. Richie 
Ashburn passed away at 6 a.m. yesterday morning after having broadcast 
the baseball game for the Phillies the evening before.
  Richie Ashburn was involved in major league baseball for 50 years of 
his life. Forty-seven of those years with the Philadelphia Phillies 
organization. He was Rookie of the Year, two-time national league 
batting champ. Nine times he batted over .300. He had an exemplary 
career and was recognized by being inducted into the baseball Hall of 
Fame in 1995.
  But Richie Ashburn, being one of the Whiz Kids from Philadelphia, was 
more than a baseball legend. He was a role model. He was an example for 
this country and our young people to follow and to look up to. He 
really was an American hero.
  Born and raised in Tilden, NE, he became the favorite son of the city 
of Philadelphia and the region around the Philadelphia city. In fact, 
his most famous quote was, in talking about his city that he loved so 
dearly, ``If I looked at my life and I had a chance to change it, I 
wouldn't change anything. I really wouldn't. Philadelphia is where I 
wanted to be, and where I wanted to play, and where I wanted to live.''
  We are going to miss Richie Ashburn.

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