[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 120 (Thursday, September 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF BOBBY BONDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 3, 2003

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a 
man that is considered one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of 
the Inland Empire. Bobby Bonds, a 14-year major league baseball player 
from Riverside, California, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2003. His 
legacy, however, lives on.
  Bobby Bonds was born with the talent and followed a dream. He began 
his baseball career in the Patterson Park Little League in Riverside's 
eastside neighborhood. Even then, crowds would gather to watch him 
play.
  In high school, Bobby excelled in more than one sport. He could be 
spotted being shuttled from the baseball field to the track field in 
order to compete; his love of sports was unparalleled. He also played 
basketball and football. Bobby was the 1964 state long jump champion 
and later graduated high school in 1965. He was immediately signed by 
the San Francisco Giants and worked his way up through the minor 
leagues. He was leading the Pacific Coast League in hitting when he 
joined the major leagues in 1968.
  In his first season, Bobby hit 32 home runs and stole 45 bases, 
becoming the fourth and, at 23 years old, youngest member of baseball's 
30-30 club.
  In 1971, Bonds was selected to the All-Star team, and later played in 
three All Star games. He won three Gold Gloves for fielding excellence 
as an outfielder. In 1973 he hit a career-high 39 home runs, was named 
Most Valuable Player. Four years later he would have another career-
high of 115 runs.
  After retiring from baseball in 1982, Bobby became a first-base coach 
for the Cleveland Indians and joined the Giants coaching staff in 1993 
when his son joined the team. After his role as the first-base coach, 
he became a special assistant for the Giants.
  Bobby is survived by his wife, Pat; a daughter, Cheryl Dugan; three 
sons, Barry, Ricky, and Bobby Jr., his mother, Elizabeth; a brother, 
Robert; and a sister Rosie.
  Although Bobby moved away from Riverside many years ago his influence 
remains. A park in Riverside was renamed the Bobby Bonds Park and the 
Bobby Bonds Head Start/State Preschool opened last November.
  Bobby's tireless passion for the game of baseball and his love of his 
hometown of Riverside, California will long be remembered by the 
residents of Riverside that grew up next door to him and the kids 
everywhere who grew up inspired by his life.

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