[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 95 (Monday, July 15, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4592-H4594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING TED WILLIAMS

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 482) honoring Ted Williams and extending the 
condolences of the House of Representatives on his death.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 482

       Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 
     outstanding accomplishments of Ted Williams and expresses its 
     deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Ted 
     Williams on his passing.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Tierney) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 482.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Connecticut?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Resolution 
482, and I commend my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for introducing it. This resolution 
recognizes the enduring contributions, heroic achievements and 
dedicated work of Ted Williams.
  Mr. Speaker, it is truly my honor to rise today to support this 
resolution that honors Ted Williams. Ted Williams is not only one of 
baseball's greatest hitters, he was also a member of this Nation's 
greatest generation. Many of his baseball exploits still stand today.
  The last hitter to bat over .400, Ted approached that endeavor like 
anything else in his life, never taking a shortcut. Batting under .400 
but rounded off to .400 going into the last two games of the 1941 
season, Ted took to the field and went six for eight in a double header 
on the last day of the season, raising his average to .406, the last 
player to hit over .400. He led the American league in batting six 
times, slugging percentage nine times, and total bases six times, and 
runs scored six times. He won two triple crown titles and was named 
Most Valuable Player of the league twice. He was also named to the All 
Star Team 16 times. Yet Ted's love of country and duty to serve took 
him away from the game twice, once during the Second World War and 
again during the Korean War.
  During the Korean War, he flew 39 combat missions and earned an Air 
Medal and two Gold Stars. During his baseball career Ted had always 
hoped that people would see him and refer to him as the greatest hitter 
who ever lived. He was the greatest hitter that ever lived. But today 
this House recognizes Ted Williams as also a Navy aviator, a Marine, 
and a great American who exemplified dedication and sacrifice in 
absolutely everything he did.

[[Page H4593]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to just reiterate some of the points that my 
esteemed colleague from Connecticut made, who has to travel a little 
bit further to Fenway Park than some of us who live in Massachusetts. 
The points he made are worth noting, but we also have a number of young 
people in the House today observing this particular proceeding, and I 
hope that what they take away from this even more so than the feats 
accomplished on Fenway Park and on the baseball fields around this 
country are the facts that Ted Williams served his country in the 
military, as the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) said, on two 
occasions. When he left the baseball field first was for World War II 
and, secondly, for the Korean Conflict. He served his country nobly 
there and was a hero and continued on beyond that. Even after he 
finished his baseball career, he provided invaluable assistance to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to others through his work and 
service for the Jimmy Fund, helping to eradicate cancer in children.
  So for all the good deeds he did in baseball, he was a rounded 
individual who served this country, who has continued to serve his 
fellow man in a humanitarian way, with very serious issues of health. 
Besides that, he had some fantastic eyesight, a great athletic ability, 
was a terrific fishermen, and probably was the greatest hitter to ever 
live.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), an individual who is better known 
around the House of Representatives for his fowl shooting percentage, 
more so than his batting average, the dean of the Massachusetts 
delegation, and a great baseball fan.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Tierney) for yielding me the time, and I thank the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays) for helping organize this tribute to Ted 
Williams.
  As has already been said, he served 5 years in the military, 3 years 
in World War II, 2 years in the Korean war, each of those years at the 
prime of his baseball career.
  We in Boston and many across the country believed that if he had not 
been forced because of the need to protect our country to actually play 
those five seasons that he would hold the record in just about every 
single offensive category of baseball statistics. That is how great a 
hitter he was. The amazing thing is that even though he missed 5 years, 
he is still near the top in so many of the important baseball 
categories.
  When I was a boy growing up in Malden, Massachusetts, playing 
baseball for 3 or 4 or 5 hours a day, the one thing that I did at night 
was to lie there at night trying to go to sleep, dreaming of myself as 
Ted Williams, trying to hit Whitey Ford or Bob Turley or Don Larson or 
some other Yankee pitcher because we knew that of all of the people who 
we could call upon in order to protect us against the hated Yankees 
that Ted Williams was at the top of the list. And not only did I go to 
sleep dreaming that I was Ted Williams with that perfect swing, but I 
am sure that there were millions of others having the very same dream 
about their own baseball aspirations.
  He not only was a great baseball player and a great patriot, but he 
was also a great fisherman. He is in the Fisherman's Hall of Fame. He, 
for over 50 years, was the living embodiment of the Jimmy Fund which is 
a fund which has been created up in Boston at the Farber Institute, 
which is now global in its reach which helps to treat cancer in 
children, which was his passion.
  A lot of people say that Ted Williams reminds them of John Wayne; but 
in reality, John Wayne only played those parts in movies. John Wayne 
wishes he was Ted Williams, wishes that he had had the life, the 
career, the success that he had had in every single endeavor that he 
touched in his life.
  If somebody says 406, everyone knows that Ted Williams hit that for 
batting average in 1941. There are so many things that we could talk 
about here today; but at bottom, this was a great man, a great American 
and someone who is deserving of all of the praise which he is receiving 
across this country, and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Again, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Markey) for introducing this resolution and working so hard to bring it 
to the floor. Frankly, when he speaks, no one else needs to.
  I also thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), chairman of the 
Committee on Government Reform, and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Waxman), the ranking member, for expediting its consideration. I ask 
all Members to support this resolution to express our condolences on 
Ted Williams' death and honor his awesome life and achievements.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 482 to honor and recognize the life of baseball legend Ted 
Williams. I would like to extend my condolences on his recent passing 
away on July 5, 2002. It is both fitting and proper to recognize Mr. 
Williams for both his on the field and off the field heroics. From his 
patriotism to his love for America's greatest past time, Ted Williams 
has touched the lives of millions.
  Theodore Samuel Williams was born in San Diego, California on August 
30, 1918. Immediately after high school graduation, he signed a 
contract with the San Diego minor league baseball team. There he played 
one and half seasons with the team until the Red Sox obtained him in 
1937, where he finished his career in 1960. After one year with the Red 
Sox, it was clear that Williams was destined to be a star. Throughout 
his career, the ``Splendid Splinter'' was one of the few people to post 
a batting average over .400 for a season and is the last player to date 
to do so. Ted Williams achieved the ``Triple Crown'' twice for leading 
the league in batting average, home runs, and runs-batted-in. He won 
the American League's Most Valuable Player Award twice and led the Red 
Sox to the pennant in 1946. He was elected into the Baseball Hall Of 
Fame in 1966. In his career, he slugged 521 home runs with a batting 
average of .344. In almost 8,000 at-bats, he struck out only 709 times. 
Ted Williams once said, ``When I walk down the street and meet people I 
just want them to think `There goes the greatest hitter who ever 
lived.' '' Few people would disagree with this statement.
  Not only did Ted Williams play baseball with excitement, but he loved 
his country with a passion as well. Mr. Williams was dedicated to his 
country and served in the Marine reserves for nearly five years. He 
selflessly put his baseball career aside two times at the peak of his 
performance in order to serve his country in its time of need. While in 
the service, he flew bomber planes in both World War II and in the 
Korean War. Many called him a hero. Williams was a patron for America.
  Ted Williams had no tolerance for anything but the best from his 
colleagues. His stubbornness and need for perfection helped Williams be 
the best at his trade, whether it be playing baseball, flying fighter 
planes, or fishing. Ted Williams will be missed. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in our condolences and remembrances of Ted Williams for his 
brilliant accomplishments, patriotism, and fantastic memories 
throughout the 20th century by voting in favor of H. Res. 482.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Markey for 
sponsoring H. Res. 482 honoring the great Ted Williams.
  Ted Williams--the Splendid Splinter--dominated baseball throughout 
the 1940s and 50s. As the Boston Red Sox left fielder, he batted a 
lifetime .344, batted in 1,839 runs, had 2654 hits, and hit 521 home 
runs. Throughout this time, he won two Triple Crowns. However, it is 
his season batting average of .406 in 1941 that will forever live in 
the hearts of all baseball fans. No other player has hit over .400 for 
a season since.
  Yet, if one asked Mr. Williams what he was most proud of in his life, 
he would say it was the time he spent fighting for this great nation. 
Mr. Williams spent five years--in the prime of his life and his 
baseball career--fighting in World War II and in the Korean War. Many 
often wonder how many more hits Williams would have had, had he not 
dedicated his life to the Navy and the Marines. And people throughout 
New England will remember Ted Williams for all the charitable work he 
performed for children.
  Ted Williams spend 19 seasons with the Red Sox, 19 summers in Fenway 
Park. In a city where baseball is more than just a pastime, Ted 
Williams is an icon. A tunnel running

[[Page H4594]]

underneath the city of Boston is named after the Splendid Splinter--the 
first of many expected tributes and memorials. Baseball fans throughout 
New England and across the nation now join in mourning the loss of Ted 
Williams--the greatest hitter of all time and a man of great dignity 
and character.
  And I think I speak for Red Sox fans everywhere in encouraging this 
year's team to win the World Series in Ted Williams' honor. A guy can 
always hope, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank Mr. Markey and my other 
colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation for sponsoring this 
resolution. I ask Members to support this bill.
  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great 
American, Ted Williams and in strong support of a resolution that the 
House with my support passed earlier this afternoon.
  I would also like to bring to my colleagues' attention legislation 
that I am introducing to name a post office in Hernando, Florida the 
``Ted Williams Post Office Building.''
  We all know about Mr. Williams' legendary baseball achievements, such 
as hitting .406 in 1941 and hitting a home run in his last at bat. We 
also know about his dedication to our country, which he showed by 
interrupting his baseball career TWICE, to serve in World War II and 
Korea.
  However, I am her to talk about what Mr. Williams did for Citrus 
County in my district, where he lived from the mid-1980's until his 
passing earlier this month.
  As most of you know, Mr. Williams was a fabulous fisherman, and he 
first came to Citrus County in 1950 for that reason. However, it wasn't 
until over 30 years later that he began to leave his mark on the 
County.
  In 1982, Mr. Williams was named a marketing consultant for the Citrus 
Hills residential development, lent his name to the project and, most 
importantly, moved to the County shortly afterward. This helped bring 
thousands of transplanted New Englanders who followed his playing 
career to retire in Citrus County.
  Mr. Williams put Citrus County in the national spotlight in 1994 with 
the opening of the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame, which 
is located in Citrus Hills. The event brought plenty of celebrities to 
the area, such as Joe DiMaggio, Muhammad Ali and Bob Costas, who served 
as master of ceremonies.
  The Museum would have an incredible effect on tourism in the area--
which continues to this day. Despite his failing health, Mr. Williams 
appeared before 2,000 fans at the Museum's yearly hall of fame 
induction ceremony in February.
  Everyone in Citrus County--baseball fans or not--had tremendous pride 
in the fact that one of the world's greatest baseball players lived in 
the area. However, he wasn't just a great ballplayer--he was a great 
American, and he left his mark on Citrus County.
  The last day of the 1941 season, Mr. Williams was hitting .400 and 
was given the opportunity by his manager to sit out the game in order 
to preserve this monumental achievement. Of course, he did not sit, and 
finished going 6 for 8 in both games of a doubleheader.
  Ted Williams would continue that dedication when he arrived in Citrus 
County. Indeed, the last player to bat over .400 batted 1.000 in Citrus 
Countys.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
482, legislation that honors one of baseball's finest players, and one 
of America's finest citizens, Ted Williams. I also want to commend the 
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Markey for offering this fitting 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, Ted Williams was respected by his peers, admired by his 
successors, and adored by his fans. His work-ethic was second to none, 
and he toiled day in and day out, dreaming that one day people would 
see him and remark: ``There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived.''
  His wiry frame and pure talent earned him the nickname ``The Splendid 
Splinter,'' and Ted Williams never failed to live up to that reputation 
on the field.
  Williams is best remembered for batting .406 in 1941. In the sixty 
years since that tremendous season, no one has approached the 
milestone.
  That 1941 season typified Williams' supreme devotion to the sport of 
baseball. Before the final day of the season, Williams had secured a 
.400 batting average. Yet he refused to sit out that day's double-
header, playing both games and batting 6 for 8, raising his average 6 
points.
  Ted Williams' dedication to the game of baseball was evident as he 
continued to excel at an age when most ballplayers would have long 
since hung up their cleats. At the age of 40, he added his sixth and 
final batting title to his long list of accomplishments, becoming the 
oldest player to ever lead the league in hitting.
  Williams was also a master of dramatic finishes, as he closed out his 
career in Fenway Park with a home run in his last at-bat. It was a 
fitting end for Boston's greatest and most beloved baseball player of 
all time.
  While Teddy Ballgame will always be remembered as a baseball player, 
some of his greatest accomplishments came off the field. Williams' 
devotion to baseball was matched only by his devotion to his country. 
He acted as a true role model and hero during a time of war, 
sacrificing three years in the prime of his career to serve in the 
United States Marines in World War II from 1943-1945. Seven years 
later, he again left the baseball diamond to serve his country, this 
time in the Korean War. And even though his time in the military 
undoubtedly cost him some of his best playing days, he never regretted 
his service. In fact, Williams often counted his enlistment as a Marine 
as one of his greatest accomplishments.
  In addition to his heroic sacrifices as a Marine, Williams will be 
remembered as the first Hall of Famer to have the courage to insist 
upon the inclusion of Negro League stars in Cooperstown. And we will be 
forever grateful to Williams for his generous support of the Jimmy 
Fund, a local charity that aids the fight against cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, when Ted Williams passed away on July 5th, America lost 
a baseball legend. But we also lost a man with courage, dedication, and 
desire rarely equaled. It was these qualities that allowed Ted Williams 
to accomplish his lifelong goal. For when Ted Williams, the Splendid 
Splinter, passed away, there was one phrase that was on everyone's 
lips: ``There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived.''
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 482.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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