[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO EDDIE MURRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, the words most often used to describe Eddie 
Murray are ``team-player,'' ``reliable,'' ``steady,'' and ``clutch-
player.'' What these words fail to convey is just how much fun it was 
to watch Eddie play, particularly for the Orioles, particularly in 
Memorial Stadium where he spent his first 12 years as a professional 
baseball player. He helped the team excel in every way, from winning a 
World Series and a pair of American League Championships, to being an 
exciting home team to root for at the ballpark.
  This wonderful and often under appreciated ball player known in my 
hometown simply as ``Eddie'' will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of 
Fame this weekend in the first year he is eligible. The statistics are 
important, and they show just how steady and yet remarkable Eddie's 
career was: Eddie Murray is one of three players (the other two are 
Hank Aaron and Willie Mays) to hit over a lifetime 500 home runs and 
3,000 hits. He is the only switch hitter to accomplish this feat. He 
homered from both sides of the plate in 11 games--a Major League 
record. He was the 1977 American League Rookie of the Year, an 8-time 
All-Star (in both Leagues), a 3-time Golden Glove winner, and shares 
the distinction with Cal Ripken and Pete Rose of playing at least 150 
games in 16 seasons--all in a career that was 20 years long. He ranks 
2nd in all-time career grand slams with 19. He ranks 8th all-time in 
RBIs, 17th in home runs, 12th in hits. He holds the Major League record 
for games played and assists by a first baseman. He batted in 1,917 
RBIs--more than 75 a season in 20 consecutive seasons.
  He hit 996 RBIs in the 80's--the most any player hit in the decade--
and was known for being able to play his best in situations where his 
team needed him the most. Murray was a career .410 hitter with the 
bases loaded. In fact, he hit 117 game-winning RBIs, an American League 
record, and hit a Major League record 128 sacrifice flies. Murray was 
in every way the ultimate clutch player and a team player who thought 
of the team and the game before his own glory. In total, he hit 504 
home runs, 3,255 hits, and played for the Orioles, the Dodgers, the 
Mets, the Indians, and the Angels. But he started his career and hit 
his 500th home run in Baltimore, and he will be inducted on Sunday as 
an Oriole. We are proud to claim him.
  Eddie Murray told the Baltimore Sun in January when he found out 
about the induction: ``The 500 home runs, to me, is the most mind-
boggling, because I didn't think I was strong enough. I never thought 
of myself as a home-run hitter.'' He gave back to other players, on the 
field with his selfless play and off. When Cal Ripken broke Lou 
Gehrig's record, he singled his former teammate out for praise, saying 
``when I got to the big leagues, there was a man--Eddie Murray--who 
showed me how to play this game, day in and day out. I thank him for 
his example and for his friendship. I was lucky to have him as my 
teammate for the years we were together . . .'' Murray also gave to his 
community, starting, with Ripken, a program giving Orioles tickets to 
underprivileged children. He also created an outdoor education program 
in the second largest urban park in the nation, Leakin Park in 
Baltimore, named The Carrie Murray Nature Center in honor of his late 
mother.
  Of sharing his achievement with Aaron and Mays, Murray said, ``I'm 
not in their class.'' Mr. Murray, your fans in Baltimore and across the 
Country beg to disagree.

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