[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO BASEBALL GREAT MICKEY VERNON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today 
to legendary baseball batting champ Mickey Vernon who will be honored 
during Strath Haven High School's presentation of ``Damn Yankees'' at 
its spring musical production in Wallingford, Pennsylvania on Saturday, 
March 2, 2002. Music Director, John Shankweiler, selected this work as 
a tribute to Wallingford-Swarthmore School District residents Mr. and 
Mrs. James ``Mickey'' Vernon.
  For the past fifty years, Mickey and Libby, his wife of over 60 
years, have called Wallingford their home. However, it must be pointed 
out that Mickey Vernon is one of the favorite native sons of my 
hometown of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. Mickey Vernon is a hero in my 
hometown. Marcus Hook is a close-knit, working-class town on the 
Delaware River. The people of Marcus Hook have community spirit and 
have much cause for civic pride. One of the unifying bonds in our 
hometown is our great pride in the career and achievements of Mickey 
Vernon. In the ballparks of Marcus Hook the name of Mickey Vernon is 
revered. Even today, more than thirty years after his retirement, kids 
in Marcus Hook still play ball in the Mickey Vernon Little League.
  Mickey Vernon, one of baseball's greatest first basemen of all time 
has earned a special place in the annals of baseball history. Mickey 
played twenty-one years in the big leagues, thirteen of those in our 
Nation's Capital where he played for the Washington Senators. He was 
known as a slick-fielding lefthanded first baseman with a short, 
compact lefty swing.
  In 1946, Mickey won the first of his two American League batting 
titles, hitting 0.353 while banging out a league-leading 51 doubles and 
knocking in 85 runs. He won a second Silver Bat in 1953, when be again 
lead the league with a 0.337 average and 43 doubles. That year, he also 
smashed 15 home runs and drove in a career-best 115 runs.
  For his career, Mickey batted 0.286, drove in 1,311 runs, and hit 490 
doubles. He played in seven All-Star games, and held career records for 
first basemen in assists, put-outs, chances, and games played, 2,237. 
He was durable and consistent, playing 115 or more games for 14 
straight years.
  Typical of many ballplayers of his era, Mickey lost two years in the 
prime of his career, 1944-45, because he answered his country's call to 
service during World War II. When we honor individuals like Mickey 
Vernon we promote the essence of what is good and wholesome in our 
Nation. Individuals like Mickey Vernon represent the essence of courage 
and endurance--the qualities that helped make our Nation great. He is a 
true American hero in every sense of the word.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mickey Vernon for 
his outstanding career and his major league contributions to baseball, 
to his community, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to the Nation 
with best wishes as well to his wife, Libby.

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