[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 132 (Monday, September 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO FORGOTTEN BASEBALL HEROES

  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to ``Big Mac McGwire'' 
and ``Slamming Sammy Sosa.'' Their achievements and their character are 
in fact role models for all of America's youth.
  Today I rise, however, to pay tribute to 2 sort of forgotten past 
baseball heroes. Josh Gibson of the old Negro leagues hit 85 home runs 
in the early 1930s. Thank God it was recognized and he was placed into 
the Hall of Fame. The other forgotten man is the kid from Fargo. He 
stood right next to Babe Ruth for 37 years. Two-time MVP, home run 
king, and a good person, Roger Maris.
  I say to my colleagues, it is time for baseball to do the right thing 
like they did with Josh Gibson; it is time to put the kid from Fargo, 
Roger Maris, in the Hall of Fame. Sammy and Big Mac showed just what a 
tremendous achievement Roger Maris and Josh Gibson had, in fact, 
achieved.

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