[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H10141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SCOTT BROSIUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Scott Brosius, 
the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees and a resident of 
McMinnville, Oregon. Scott announced his retirement from major league 
baseball on November 27.
  Born and raised in Oregon, Scott played baseball at Rex Putnam High 
School in Milwaukee and then at Linfield College in McMinnville. In 
1987, during his junior year in college, he was drafted by the Oakland 
Athletics.
  During his 11 seasons of major league baseball, first with the A's 
and later with the New York Yankees, Scott was known as a solid hitter 
and outstanding defensive third baseman, for which he won the Gold 
Glove award in 1999.
  His best season came in 1998. That year, he batted 300, with 98 RBIs 
and was named to the American League All Star team. But his career 
highlight came later that year. During the World Series, in a 4-game 
sweep of the San Diego Padres, Scott batted 471, hit two home runs, and 
had six RBIs. He was the clear choice for the World Series' Most 
Valuable Player. He accomplished all of these post-season feats while 
his father was undergoing cancer surgery and chemotherapy.
  Scott's flare for the dramatic resurfaced during this year's seven-
game World Series between the Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks, 
which many have called the most exciting World Series ever. In game 
five, with the Yankees trailing 2 to 0 in the ninth inning, Scott came 
to the plate with two outs and a runner on second base. Scott crushed a 
1-0 slider from Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim to tie the score and send 
the game into extra innings. Ultimately, the Yankees went on to win the 
game 3 to 2 in 12 innings.
  As an All Star, a Gold Glove winner, a World Series MVP, and a member 
of three world championship teams, Scott has a lifetime's worth of 
baseball memoirs. But, Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only to recognize 
Scott Brosius for his outstanding baseball career but also because I 
believe he embodies the best of Oregon, and American values.
  This year, Scott finished his contract with the New York Yankees and 
became eligible for free agency. At 35 years of age, and as an 11-year 
major league veteran, he could easily fetch millions of dollars as a 
free agent. But Scott turned down the money and the limelight so that 
he could return to McMinnville to raise his three young children. He 
has reenrolled at Linfield College to finish his college degree and has 
offered to help coach the Linfield varsity baseball team.
  The example set by people like Scott Brosius reminds us of what is 
most important in life: values, family, and community.
  I wish Scott and his family well, and I thank him for being such a 
positive role model. Scott, you have the admiration of us all, and 
personally I envy you for all the time that you will have in Oregon 
with your family.

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