[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S15145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT JOSEPH JEFFERSON ``SHOELESS 
   JOE'' JACKSON SHOULD BE APPROPRIATELY HONORED FOR HIS OUTSTANDING 
                        BASEBALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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                      THURMOND AMENDMENT NO. 2800

  Ms. COLLINS (for Mr. Thurmond) proposed an amendment to the 
resolution (S. Res. 134) expressing the sense of the Senate that Joseph 
Jefferson ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson should be appropriately honored for 
his outstanding baseball accomplishments; as follows:

       Strike all after the Resolved clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT ``SHOELESS JOE'' JACKSON 
                   SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS BASEBALL 
                   ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate finds the following:
       (1) In 1919, the infamous ``Black Sox'' scandal erupted 
     when an employee of a New York gambler allegedly bribed 8 
     players of the Chicago White Sox, including Joseph Jefferson 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson, to throw the 1919 World Series 
     against the Cincinnati Reds.
       (2) In 1921, a criminal court acquitted ``Shoeless Joe'' 
     Jackson of charges brought against him as a consequence of 
     his participation in the 1919 World Series.
       (3) Despite the acquittal, Commissioner Landis banned 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson from playing Major League Baseball 
     for life without conducting a hearing, receiving evidence of 
     Jackson's alleged activities, or giving Mr. Jackson a forum 
     to rebut the allegations, issuing a summary punishment that 
     fell far short of due process standards.
       (4) During the 1919 World Series, Jackson's play was 
     outstanding--his batting average was .375, the highest of any 
     player from either team; he had 12 hits, setting a World 
     Series record; he did not commit any errors; and he hit the 
     only home run of the Series.
       (5) Not only was Jackson's performance during the 1919 
     World Series unmatched, but his accomplishments throughout 
     his 13-year career in professional baseball were outstanding 
     as well--he was 1 of only 7 Major League Baseball players to 
     ever top the coveted mark of a .400 batting average for a 
     season, and he earned a lifetime batting average of .356, the 
     third highest of all time.
       (6) ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson's career record clearly makes 
     him one of our Nation's top baseball players of all time.
       (7) Because of his lifetime ban from Major League Baseball, 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson has been excluded from consideration 
     for admission to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
       (8) ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson passed away in 1951, and 80 
     years have elapsed since the 1919 World Series scandal 
     erupted.
       (9) Recently, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig 
     took an important step by agreeing to investigate whether 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson was involved in a conspiracy to 
     alter the outcome of the 1919 World Series and whether he 
     should be eligible for inclusion in the Major League Baseball 
     Hall of Fame.
       (10) Courts have exonerated ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson, the 
     1919 World Series box score stands as a witness of his record 
     setting play, and 80 years have passed since the scandal 
     erupted; therefore, Major League Baseball should 
     appropriately honor the outstanding baseball accomplishments 
     of Joseph Jefferson ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson.
       (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that Joseph Jefferson ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson should be 
     appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball 
     accomplishments.

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