[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATING HENRY ``HANK'' AARON

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 201, submitted 
earlier by Senators Coverdell and Cleland.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 201) congratulating Henry ``Hank'' 
     Aaron on the 25th anniversary of breaking the Major League 
     Baseball career home run record established by Babe Ruth and 
     recognizing him as one of the greatest baseball players of 
     all time.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
commemorating one of the great heroes of American sport. Twenty-five 
years ago, Henry ``Hank'' Aaron broke one of baseball's most legendary 
records--the all time home run record set by George Herman ``Babe'' 
Ruth. In 1974 Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run and forever 
etched his name in the annals of baseball history. But we should always 
remember that this record was only part of the story for an athlete 
whose impact on the game and society is still felt today.
  From the time he first arrived in the major leagues with the 
Milwaukee Braves in 1954, Hank Aaron gained a reputation as one of the 
most feared hitters in the National League, prompting the rival 
Brooklyn Dodgers to quickly give him the nickname ``Bad Henry.'' In 
1957 he led the Braves to the World Series and earned himself the 
League's Most Valuable Player Award.
  Aaron continued his consistently outstanding play through the 1960s 
and was with the Braves when they moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 
1966. During these years, Hank Aaron continued to lead the Braves' 
offense and began amassing an impressive number of home runs. By the 
early 1970s it was clear that Aaron was on the verge of breaking a 
record many thought was unreachable--Babe Ruth's record of 714 career 
home runs.
  Despite numerous threats to himself and his family from those who did 
not want to see him break the record, Hank Aaron persevered and made 
the record his own on the evening of April 8, 1974 at Atlanta Stadium. 
He went on to finish his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and retired 
with an amazing total of 755 career home runs, along with a .305 
lifetime batting average and 2,297 career runs batted in, also a major 
league record. He entered baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982, receiving 
one of the highest vote totals in the history of Hall of Fame 
balloting.
  After his playing days were over, Aaron returned to the Braves and 
became a pivotal part of the team's front office staff as their vice 
president of player development. He continues to serve the Atlanta 
community through various charities, including his own Chasing the 
Dream Foundation, and as corporate vice president of community 
relations for Turner Broadcasting.
  Few players have had as large an impact on their sport and the cities 
where they played. As one of baseball's first African-American stars, 
Hank Aaron withstood prejudice and bigotry and helped to create the 
modern integrated game where stars like Ken Griffey, Jr., Ramon 
Martinez, Brian Jordan and Sammy Sosa flourish. His calm, quiet, 
methodical style is a lasting example that actions always speak louder 
than words. The game of baseball and society as a whole owes a debt of 
gratitude to Henry Aaron, and this resolution will show the Senate's 
appreciation for the all-time home run king on the anniversary of his 
greatest achievement on the field.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 201) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 201

       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron hit a historic home run in 
     1974 to become the all-time Major League Baseball home run 
     leader;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron over the course of his career 
     created a lasting legacy in the game of baseball and 
     continues to contribute to society through his Chasing the 
     Dream Foundation;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron hit more than 40 home runs in 
     8 different seasons;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron appeared in 20 All-Star games;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron was elected to the National 
     Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, 
     receiving one of the highest vote totals (406 votes) in the 
     history of National Baseball Hall of Fame voting;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron was inducted into the National 
     Baseball Hall of Fame on August 1, 1982;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron finished his career in 1976 
     with 755 home runs, a lifetime batting average of .305, and 
     2,297 runs batted in;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron taught us to follow our 
     dreams;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron continues to serve the 
     community through his various commitments to charities and as 
     corporate vice president of community relations for Turner 
     Broadcasting;
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron became one of the first 
     African-Americans in Major League Baseball upper management, 
     as Atlanta's vice president of player development; and
       Whereas Henry ``Hank'' Aaron is one of the greatest 
     baseball players: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Henry ``Hank'' Aaron on his great 
     achievements in baseball and recognizes Henry ``Hank'' Aaron 
     as one of the greatest professional baseball players of all 
     time; and
       (2) commends Henry ``Hank'' Aaron for his commitment to 
     young people, earning him a permanent place in both sports 
     history and American society.

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