[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1823]
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

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2003

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Saturday, September 20, 2003 
will be a special day for legendary baseball batting champ Mickey 
Vernon as his hometown of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania honors their 
favorite son by unveiling a life size statue of Vernon on the same ball 
field where he played sandlot ball. The statue will be unveiled at 2:30 
p.m. at the Marcus Hook Memorial Field on Market Street.
  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 21 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 left-handed first baseman with a short, compact lefty 
swing.
  In 1946, Mickey won the first of his two American League batting 
titles, hitting .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 .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 .286, drove in 1,311 runs, and hit 490 
doubles. He played in seven All-Star games, and after a time held 
career records for first basemen in assists, put-outs, chances, and 
games played. He was durable and consistent, playing 115 or more games 
for 14 straight years.
  It is well known that Mickey Vernon was President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower's favorite player. On opening day, 1954, with Ike in 
attendance, Vernon hit a home run in the 10th inning to defeat the New 
York Yankees. President Eisenhower called Vernon into his box to 
congratulate him.
  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.
  Few towns in America can claim to be birthplace of a genuine baseball 
hero, and the people of Marcus Hook are very proud to call Mickey 
Vernon one of our own.
  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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