Congressional Record, Volume 149 Issue 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)

[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8972-H8977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONGRATULATING THE NEW YORK YANKEES ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 100TH
ANNIVERSARY

Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 306) congratulating the New York Yankees on the
occasion of their 100th anniversary.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Res. 306

Whereas the New York Yankees were officially acquired in
1903 and are celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2003;
Whereas what would become the most successful team in
sports history actually began as the Baltimore Orioles in
1901. When that franchise folded after only two seasons, it
was purchased for $18,000 by two colorful New Yorkers, Frank
Farrell and Bill Devery;
Whereas New York's third Major-League team, joining the New
York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League,
would play its home games in a hastily constructed, all-wood
park at 168th Street and Broadway. Because the site was one
of the highest spots in Manhattan, the team was named the
``Highlanders'' and their home field ``Hilltop Park.'' They
played their inaugural game on April 22, 1903, losing 3-1 to
the Senators at Washington. New York recorded the first win
in franchise history the next day, a 7-2 decision at
Washington;
Whereas the Highlanders nearly captured the American-League
pennant in 1904--only their second season--as they finished
only 1.5 games behind the Boston Pilgrims in the first of
three second-place finishes from 1904 to 1910;
Whereas after a spectacular fire severely damaged the Polo
Grounds in 1911, the Highlanders' owners invited the Giants
to share Hilltop Park. Two years later the Giants returned
the favor and allowed the Highlanders to move into their
rebuilt and vastly superior park. With the move, the
Highlanders officially changed their nickname to ``Yankees
(by which they had actually been known for most of their
history).'' Two years after the move--on January 11, 1915--
Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast L'Hommedieu
Huston purchased the franchise from its by-now disgruntled
owners;
Whereas from 1911 to 1919, the Yankees won as many as 80
games in a season only twice, but the franchise's fortunes
would change forever on January 3, 1920. On what is perhaps
the most significant date in club history, the Yankees
purchased the contract of George Herman ``Babe'' Ruth from
the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and a $350,000 loan against
the mortgage on Fenway Park;
Whereas Ruth's impact was immediate. The Yankees won 95
games in 1920, their highest victory total to date, and
captured their first American-League pennant a year later.
Their attendance at the Polo grounds doubled to 1,289,422 in
1920 and, in 1921, the Giants notified their tenant to vacate
the Polo grounds as soon as possible. Now bitter rivals, the
two teams squared off in the World Series in 1921 and 1922
with the Giants winning both times;
Whereas with their departure from the Polo Grounds
inevitable, the Yankee owners set out to build a spectacular
ballpark of their own. Baseball's first triple-decked
structure with an advertised capacity of 70,000, it would
also be the first baseball facility to be labeled a
``stadium'';
Whereas construction began on May 5, 1922 and, in only 284
working days, Yankee Stadium was ready for its inaugural game
on April 18, 1923 vs. the Boston Red Sox. An announced crowd
of 74,200 fans packed Yankee Stadium for a glimpse of
Baseball's grandest facility while thousands milled around
outside after the fire department finally ordered the gates
closed. Appropriately, Ruth christened his new home with a
three-run homer to cap a four-run inning as the Yankees
coasted to a 4-1 win;
Whereas because it was widely recognized that Ruth's
tremendous drawing power made the new stadium possible, it
would immediately become known as ``The House that Ruth
Built''. Later that season, the Stadium hosted the first of
36 World Series and the Yankees won their first World
Championship over their former landlord, the Giants. Of
course, as the Stadium became the stage for a staggering
number of World titles--now totaling 26--it would also become
known as ``The Home of Champions'';
Whereas on June 1, 1925 in a 5-3 loss vs. Washington,
Manager Miller Huggins inserted a 21-year-old rookie first
baseman as a pinch hitter for light-hitting shortstop Pee Wee
Wanninger. No one could have imagined at the time that this
appearance would be the first of 2,130 consecutive games
played by Lou Gehrig, who, with Babe Ruth and later

[[Page H8973]]

Joe DiMaggio, anchored some of the greatest ball clubs of all
time;
Whereas after a disheartening loss to the St. Louis
Cardinals in the 1926 World Series, the Yankees rolled to
World Championships in both 1927 and 1928, sweeping the
Series both years. The 1927 club, the first Yankee team to be
labeled ``Murderers' Row'', became the yardstick by which
athletic greatness is measured. During that season, Ruth
shattered his own single-season home run record with his 60th
on the season's final day on September 30, 1927;
Whereas in his 15 seasons in pinstripes, Ruth helped build
a tradition of winning with seven American-League pennants
and four World Championships. He finished his unparalleled
career (with the Boston Braves in 1935) with 714 home runs,
12 American-League home-run titles and six RBI crowns,
including five seasons with more than 150. A charter member
of Baseball's Hall of Fame, he remains widely regarded as the
greatest player of all-time;
Whereas after the 1934 season, Ruth's last in New York, the
Yankees purchased the contract of a budding star named Joseph
Paul DiMaggio from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific
Coast League. Two years later, DiMaggio made his debut in
pinstripes and helped the Yankees to an incredible string of
four consecutive World Championships under Manager Joe
McCarthy from 1936 through 1939. The decade of the thirties
also produced one of the game's greatest lefty-righty
pitching combinations in future Hall of Famers Lefty Gomez
and Red Ruffing. A four-time 20-game winner-including 24-7 in
1932 and 26-5 in 1934--Gomez was also 6-0 in five World
Series. Ruffing posted seasons of 20, 20, 21 and 21 wins on
four World-Championship clubs from 1936-1939;
Whereas sadly, in 1939, Gehrig was diagnosed with a
crippling disease and his streak of 2,130 games came to an
end on May 2 when he did not appear in a 22-2 Yankees' win at
Detroit. On July 4, the Yankees honored their captain with an
emotional ``Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day'' at Yankee Stadium
and his uniform number (4) became the first in Baseball to be
retired. He died on June 2, 1941;
Whereas with the departure of Gehrig, DiMaggio became the
pillar of the next generation of Yankee champions. In his 13
seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees played in the World Series
in all but two years and won 10 World-Series titles. The
legendary ``Yankee Clipper'' compiled one of the game's most
remarkable--and perhaps unbreakable--records in 1941 when he
hit safely in a record 56 consecutive games;
Whereas the Yankees also made a seamless transition after
DiMaggio's retirement at the age of 37 after the 1951 season.
With Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle joining future Hall of
Famers Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto, the Yankees won eight
American-League pennants and six World Championships under
Manager Casey Stengel during the 1950's. Their streak of five
consecutive World-Series titles from 1949 through 1953
remains a Major-League record with no other winning as many
as four straight;
Whereas Mantle would achieve greatness despite an arrested
case of osteomyelitis and numerous injuries. The powerful
switch-hitter belted 536 home runs, collected 2,415 hits and
batted .300 or more 10 times in an 18-year career. In his
first 14 seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees missed the World
Series only twice (in 1954 and 1959);
Whereas Ford's lifetime record of 236-106 gives him the
best winning percentage (.690) of any 20th century pitcher
and he paced the American League in victories three times and
in ERA and shutouts twice. He still holds many World Series
records, including 10 wins, 33 consecutive scoreless innings
and 94 strikeouts;
Whereas the heart of the Yankees for 18 seasons, Berra
played on an incredible 14 pennant winners and 10 World
Champions. He was a three-time MVP and was selected to the
All-Star team in every season from 1948 through 1962;
Whereas Rizzuto was recognized as the glue of 10 pennant
winners and eight World-Series Champions from 1941-56 and
captured the league's MVP award in 1950, batting .324 with
200 hits and 125 runs scored;
Whereas not every contributor to Yankee--and Baseball
history was a future Hall of Famer. In Game Five of the 1956
World Series vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8th at
Yankee Stadium, right-hander Don Larsen authored what is
perhaps the game's greatest pitching performance when he
retired all 27 Dodger batters for the only perfect game in
World Series history;
Whereas the Yankees opened the decade of the sixties in
their usual fashion, winning pennants in the first five
seasons (1960-64) and World Series titles in 1961 and 1962.
Incredibly, in the 29 seasons from 1936 to 1964, the Yankees
won a remarkable 22 pennants and 16 World Championships. The
1961 club is still regarded as one of the best teams in
Baseball history. With Mantle and Roger Maris embroiled in a
season-long race to break Ruth's single-season home-run
record, the Yankees rolled to 109 wins en route to the World
Championship. Maris smashed Ruth's record when he belted his
61st home run on October 1 at Yankee Stadium in the last game
of the season;
Whereas but age finally caught up with the ball club after
a seven game Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.
The Yankees would finish in the first division only once in
the next nine seasons and actually plummeted to last place in
1966 for the first time in 53 years;
Whereas the team's fall from grace ended on January 2,
1973, when the most storied franchise in sports history was
sold by CBS to a group headed by George M. Steinbrenner III.
With the addition of Catfish Hunter--Baseball's first marquee
free agent--shrewd trades which brought Ed Figueroa, Mickey
Rivers, Chris Chambliss and Willie Randolph and a strong
nucleus which included Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Roy
White, and Sparky Lyle, the Yankees would make their first
post-season appearance in 12 years in 1976 by winning their
first American-League-East title. Then on October 14, 1976,
in the deciding fifth game of the League Championship Series
vs. the Kansas City Royals, Chambliss launched a ninth-
inning, pennant-winning home run to put the Yankees back in
the World Series;
Whereas after a disheartening four-game sweep vs. the
Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 World Series, the Yankees
introduced Reggie Jackson--the most prolific slugger of his
era--as the club's newest free-agent acquisition. Jackson
then capped an exciting 1977 season with one of Baseball's
greatest individual performances. In Game Six of the World
Series vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium on
October 18, ``Mr. October'' belted three home runs on three
swings of the bat;
Whereas in 1978, the Yankees overcame a 14.0-game deficit
in the American League East to force a one-game playoff with
the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park to decide the American-
League pennant. Shortstop Bucky Dent erased a 2-0 Red Sox
lead in the seventh inning with a dramatic three-run homer
and the Yankees went on to a 5-4 win en route to a second
straight World Championship;
Whereas the '78 season also saw the emergence of Ron Guidry
as one of the franchise's greatest pitchers. A four-time
American-League All-Star, Guidry compiled one of the most
dominating seasons in baseball history in 1978 and became
known as ``Louisiana Lightening''. He went 25-3 with a 1.74
earned run average in leading the Yankees to their dramatic
comeback, compiling a club-record 248 strikeouts and nine
shutouts en route to a unanimous selection as the A.L.'s Cy
Young Award recipient. On June 17, 1978 vs. the California
Angels at Yankee Stadium, Guidry shattered the club record
for strikeouts with 18. The Yankees' co-captain--with Willie
Randolph--from 1986 through 1988, Guidry also won 20 games in
1983 (21-9) and 1985 (22-6);
Whereas the seventies ended with tragedy as Thurman Munson,
the Yankees' first captain since Gehrig, was killed in the
crash of his private jet on August 2, 1979. Only 32 at the
time of his death, Munson was the undisputed leader of the
clubs that won three consecutive pennants and two World
Championships. After their Captain's death, the Yankees would
make only one more World-Series appearance (1981) in 17 years
despite compiling the best record in the Major Leagues during
the decade of the eighties;
Whereas the eighties also saw the development of one of the
franchise's greatest and most popular players, Don Mattingly,
``Donnie Baseball,'' the team captain from 1991 through 1995,
batted .307 in his Yankee career (1982-95) and compiled an
incredible six-year stretch from 1983-89. During those years,
he batted .327 and topped 100 RBI five times, including a
career-high 145 in 1985 when he captured the A.L. MVP award.
A year earlier, he outdueled teammate Dave Winfield on the
final day of the season for the league's batting crown (.343
to .340);
Whereas Winfield, who came to the Yankees as the game's
most-sought-after free agent in 1981, compiled Hall of Fame
credentials in his eight-plus seasons in pinstripes (1981-
90). He belted 205 home runs for the Yankees with 818 RBI and
won five gold gloves;
Whereas after an absence of 13 years, the Yankees returned
to post-season play in 1995 as the American League's first-
ever ``Wild-Card'' entry. A devastating five-game loss to the
Seattle Mariners in the Division Series was only the start of
an incredible run for eight consecutive post-season
appearances, a record shared only by the Atlanta Braves;
Whereas in 1996, under new skipper Joe Torre, the Yankees
returned to the World Series and would win four of the next
five World Championships, including three straight from 1998
through 2000. Their 114 victories in 1998 shattered the 44-
year-old American-League mark of 111 wins by the 1954
Cleveland Indians (was broken by Seattle in 2001) and their
125 total victories (with 11 post-season wins) remains
Baseball's best single-season total;
Whereas the Yankees' most-recent era of greatness featured
a consistent lineup of great homegrown and acquired players
to rival any period in franchise history. Since the arrival
of Bernie Williams in 1991, the Yankees' farm system has
produced All-Stars Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada
and Mariano Rivera. In addition, shrewd trades and free-agent
acquisitions have brought such All-Stars as Wade Boggs, Scott
Brosius, Roger Clemens, David Cone, Jason Giambi, Tino
Martinez, Mike Mussina, Paul O'Neil, Mike Stanton and David
Wells;
Whereas in 2001, the Yankees failed to become only the
second team in history to win four consecutive World-Series
titles, but captured the hearts of the nation in the
aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The Yankees dropped
the first two games of the Series vs. the Arizona
Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark, but rallied to win the

[[Page H8974]]

next three at Yankee Stadium behind dramatic ninth-inning
comebacks in both games Three and Four. On consecutive
nights, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius erased two-run,
ninth-inning Diamondback leads with the Yankees winning both
games in extra innings. It marked the first time in World
Series history that a team won two games in the same series
when trailing by at least two runs in the ninth inning;
Whereas as the Yankees begin their second century in 2003,
they seek to extend their franchise record of consecutive
post-season appearances to nine (a record matched only by the
Atlanta Braves, 1995-02). They will do so by expanding upon
the kind of innovation that set their first century--and its
26 World Championships--in motion. One hundred years ago, the
original 1903 team was built with stars from no fewer than
eight different Major-League teams. The 2003 Yankees--with
the additions of Cuban All-Star pitcher Jose Contreras and
three-time Japan Central League MVP Hideki Matsui--will be
comprised of stars from no fewer than six nations;
Whereas the Yankees recorded their 41st first-place finish
in team history in 2002, the most of any professional sports
franchise . . . they are followed by the Montreal Canadians
(32), Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (27), Boston Celtics
(24), Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (24), Boston/Milwaukee/
Atlanta Braves (23), New York/San Francisco Giants (21),
Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland A's (20) and New York
(football) Giants (20) . . . the Yankees' first-place total
includes the strike-shortened 1981 season when they won the
first half title; and
Whereas the Yankees have won 26 of the 97 World Series'
played (27 percent) . . . they have won 38 of the 101
American League Pennants (38 percent). Since 1921, the
Yankees have been a participant in 38 of the 81 World Series'
played (47 percent). The Yankees have won a total of 127
games in the World Series . . . no other team has even played
in that many World Series games: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives and the
American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the New
York Yankees on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, and
express the sincerest gratitude to the entire organization.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

General Leave

Mr. SOUDER. 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. 306.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution congratulates Major League Baseball's
New York Yankees for their 100th anniversary. Let me make it clear at
the outset, as my colleague from Illinois may as well, I am not a
Yankees fan. My favorite year for the Yankees was 1959 when the White
Sox won the American League Pennant, not all these Yankee
championships. But I, like most Americans, give begrudging respect to
the Boston Celtics and the University of Notre Dame football, for over
the years, like the New York Yankees, they have been able to retain a
remarkable tradition of winning. And the Yankees have the most
extraordinary history of any professional sports team.
It is one thing to win a few, but it is another thing to do it decade
after decade as the New York Yankees have done. The Yankees franchise
has won 38 American League pennants and 26 World Series championships
in its history, both are the most of any major league baseball team.
In January of 1903, two New York businessmen named Frank Farrell and
Bill Devery purchased the failing Baltimore Orioles franchise for a
mere $18,000. At the same time, the American League operated the
Orioles, similar to Major League Baseball's management of today's
Montreal Expos.
The team's new stadium in New York was located on a hill overlooking
the Bronx. Consequently, the team was renamed the Highlanders. The team
became the Yankees and moved to the Polo Grounds in 1913. Also, the
team added its famous navy blue pinstripes in 1912. The team's
ascension to greatness perhaps commenced on January 3, 1920 when the
Yankees acquired from the Boston Red Sox, something which Boston has
forever regretted, a rising star by the name of Babe Ruth.
During his first year with the Yankees, Ruth hit 54 home runs and the
Yankees won 95 games. In 1923, the Yankees began playing at the newly-
constructed Yankee Stadium, and they won their first World Series
against the cross-town Giants.
The Yankees won 19 more World Series through the 1964 season. The
franchise only won two more titles in 1977 and 1978 prior to 1996. But
since 1996, the Yankees have been to five World Series and won four, in
1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. The Yankees have now won six straight
American League Eastern Division titles and seven in manager Joe
Torre's 8-year tenure in the Bronx.
On Sunday, the Yankees finished the season tied with the Atlanta
Braves for having the best record in baseball, 101 wins and 61 losses.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano)
for his work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I have never really been a Yankee fan. As a matter of
fact, I grew up as a Dodger fan; and, of course, the Yankees generally
got the best of that competition. But over the past 100 years, the New
York Yankees have spun memorable personalities and indelible moments.
The Yankees franchise is defined by team success and excellence. New
York has won an American League pennant and appeared in a World Series
in every decade since the 1920s, however, that was not always the case.
The Yankee franchise formed in 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland as the
Baltimore Orioles. They played their first game on April 26, 1902 in
Oriole Park.
In 1903, the franchise moved to New York and was renamed the New York
Highlanders. From 1905 to 1919, the club was a regular inhabitant of
the second division, seldom posted a winning record and lost 100-plus
games twice. In 1913, they were renamed the New York Yankees. In 1923,
they moved in to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.
After spending their first 18 seasons, a cumulative 41 games, under
the .55 percent, the Yankees swaggered into the Nation's consciousness
with their first American League pennant in 1921. The legendary Yankee
dynasty of the 1920s and 1930s won 11 pennants and eight World Series
championships with players such as outfielders Babe Ruth, Earle Combs,
and Joe DiMaggio; first baseman Lou Gehrig; infielder Tony Lazzeri;
pitcher Waite Hoyt.

{time} 1500

From 1941 to 1947, New York continued its success, winning four
pennants and three World Series titles.
Manager Casey Stengel guided the Yankees from 1948 through the 1960s,
the team's most overpowering era. During this period, the club won 10
American League pennants and seven World Series championships,
including five straight championships from 1949 to 1953, a major league
record. The teams Stengel managed featured Joe DiMaggio, catcher Yogi
Berra, pitcher Whitey Ford, and outfielders Mickey Mantle and Roger
Maris. The Yankee dynasty continued through the early 1960s as the team
won the American League pennant from 1961 to 1964 and World Series
crowns in 1961 and 1962.
The next period of greatness came in the 1970s, after businessman
George Steinbrenner bought the franchise and hired former Yankee Billy
Martin as manager. Led by outfielder Reggie Jackson, the Yankees won
three straight pennants from 1976 through 1978, going on to win the
World Series in 1977 and 1978. The Yankees won another American League
pennant in 1981. After a relative dry spell, the franchise returned to
dominance in the late 1990s, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998,
1999, and 2000.
Yes, the Yankees are indeed the pride of millions of New Yorkers and
millions of Americans who love the game of baseball, the great American
pastime. I commend and congratulate them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As I earlier mentioned, the famous Yankees dynasty compares like to
the Boston Celtics who had Larry Bird from Indiana as one of their
anchors

[[Page H8975]]

and the University of Notre Dame which, of course, is based in Indiana,
although most people do not realize that.
I do want to pay tribute to two Yankee ties who clearly show that
even the Yankees have Hoosier ties, which partly makes them successful.
Don Mattingly will not be remembered in the same light as Ruth, Mantle,
and DiMaggio given his lack of World Series rings; but this Evansville-
native-turned-New York Yankees legend has made a claim to be one of the
best pure baseball players the Yankees ever had. During his prime in
the 1980s, he had an on-base slugging of over .900, bettered only by
Wade Boggs. On top of his outstanding hitting, he also tied for having
the best fielding percentage of any first baseman ever to play the
game. Between 1985 and 1989, he won a Yankee record for five
consecutive Gold Glove awards at first base. Indiana is proud to be the
home of this Yankee legend.
The second Yankee I want to highlight with Hoosier ties is a man who
never played a game for this proud organization. George Steinbrenner,
better known as The Boss, has been called many things by his critics.
Unsuccessful will never be one of them. During his tenure as the
principal owner of the Yankees, he has guided this franchise to six
World Series titles and put them back on top as the most recognized
sports franchise in the world. I highlight this because Steinbrenner
was a 1948 graduate of the Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana.
The Steinbrenners are a three-generation Culver family. George
Steinbrenner's father, Henry, was a 1919 Culver Summer Schools
graduate, and each of his children graduated from the academy as well.
So I not only pay tribute to the New York Yankees but some of their
Hoosier roots with the New York Yankees.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 5
minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), a tremendous
Yankee fan and the author of this resolution.
(Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank both gentlemen for the time and for
bringing this resolution to the House floor. I cautiously stand to
celebrate and with great joy 100 years of Yankee baseball. I do that
because the gentlemen were very clear that they are not Yankee fans,
that they are just carrying on their legislative duties today.
I am a very happy man. As a lover of music and of baseball, today's a
great day for me. We will celebrate Johnny Cash later on and Bob Hope,
and now we celebrate 100 years of Yankee baseball.
I grew up in the Bronx, coming from Puerto Rico; and if you grow up
in the Bronx, you, of course, are aware of the fact that the Bronx
Bombers reside within your neighborhood. I am a fortunate man still. I
reside a few city streets, or as we call them city blocks, from Yankee
Stadium; and my office is a few city blocks from Yankee Stadium.
In that stadium for 100 years now, some of the best and most
successful baseball has been played. If you are a Yankee fan, you deal
with the fact that you have people who are very passionate about the
Yankees and others who would want nothing more than to see them lose,
starting today, they are playing right now, and never win again; and I
understand that.
What we do here today, and I know the gentlemen have said that, is to
celebrate America's pastime, baseball, and in so doing, celebrate the
most successful franchise within that sport.
The Yankees have had, as has been stated here, many eras; and when
you get into overlapping eras, you run the risk of leaving people out,
but there was a Ruth-Gehrig era. There was the overlapping DiMaggio
era. There was the area of Mantle and Berra and Rizzuto, Ford and
Maris. There was later the exciting era for my children, where they
became aware of baseball, with Jackson and Mattingly and Winfield and
Guidry; and lately, we have the Williams-Posada-Jeter-Pettite era,
joined very recently by, and I am sorry to say this for our Yankee and
Orioles fans, by Clemens, Mussina, Wells, Giambi, Soriano and, of
course, Joe Torre.
Just think of it, when the Yankees first started out they were made
up of players from different baseball teams. This year, the winning
Yankee team is made up of players from no fewer than six nations,
including our latest additions of Cuban All Star pitcher Jose Contreras
and Japanese Central League MVP Hideki Matsui.
Yankee baseball is, therefore, the American Dream personified. It is
success on the field. It is a behavior for most of the time outside the
field, off the field, which typifies how we are as a people and how we
care for each other; but to celebrate the Yankees without speaking to
some of their stats would be totally improper. So at the expense of
being driven out by the chairman and the ranking member, let me just
remind my colleagues of a few.
This was the Yankees' 42nd first-place finish. Of the 97 World Series
played, the Yankees have won 26 of them or 27 percent. They have won 38
of 101 American League pennants. Since 1921, they participated in 38 of
the 81 World Series seasons, played 47 percent, and they have won 127
World Series games. That is more victories than any other team has
played in the World Series, and this will not end. Trust me, I just
spoke to The Boss this morning; and there are a lot of Yankee players
available, either through free agency or in the minor leagues.
This is, again, the beginning of another play-off season; and we
celebrate this team's success, and we celebrate what the Yankees mean
to America, to the world now, to New York and to the Bronx.
At different times in the history of my congressional district, at
different times in the history of the Bronx, some negative things have
been said about our neighborhoods; but never has anyone questioned the
success of the Yankees, and these new Yankees, the Yankees who take
players from all over the world, personify truly what the Bronx is. It
is a place where people come together to work, to live, to be
patriotic, and to enjoy baseball.
So let this Yankee fan in the most diplomatic way, not to anger any
Boston or Oriole fan, say that we are happy to celebrate 100 years of
the Bronx Bombers, 100 years of New York Yankees baseball, and as the
great Ernie Banks used to say, let us play two today, let us play
three, and that is how many we can watch on TV today.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) control the rest of the time
for this side.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. TIERNEY).
(Mr. TIERNEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks and include extraneous material.)
Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding the
time.
Mr. Speaker, I understand the levity in which we all rise here today;
and I think in the best of spiritedness, the question for us that this
would be a time for the House of Representatives to pass a resolution
congratulating just a single baseball team. Major league baseball is
currently in the midst of a play-off series including the Yankees as
well as seven other teams that are worthy of our praise and our
congratulations. In the middle of the baseball play-offs, I think we
will all be rooting for our own respective teams and promoting team
unity and sportsmanship.
There are many other baseball teams that deserve our praise and
congratulations, in particular the Boston Red Sox. In fact, this year
the Red Sox are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their victory in
the first-ever World Series. Red Sox history is peppered with record-
setting victories, triumph over adversity, and the dedication of Red
Sox players, coaches, and fans.
Now, it is true, Mr. Speaker, it is very true that in the long
tradition of buying their way to the top, the Yankees were bought 100
years ago; but if we are to recognize any team for its 100th
anniversary, we ought to congratulate the Red Sox for their World
Series, not just congratulate a team simply for being acquired.

[[Page H8976]]

I have prepared an amendment to offer to this resolution to include
congratulations to the Red Sox on the 100th anniversary of their
victory in the first World Series; but I understand that since the bill
was brought to the floor on the suspension calendar, that cannot be
done. So I instead, Mr. Speaker, I will enter the amendment text in the
Record at this point.

Amendment to H. Res. 306, Offered by Mr. Tierney of Massachusetts:

After ``Congratulating the New York Yankees on the occasion
of their 100th anniversary'' insert ``and the Boston Red Sox
on the 100th anniversary of their victory in the first ever
World Series;
Whereas the Boston Pilgrims (who would become the Boston
Red Sox in 1907), in 1903 met the Pittsburgh Pirates in the
first ever World Series in 1903 after winning the American
league pennant by an unprecedented 14\1/2\ games;
Whereas Denton True ``Cy'' Young pitched a dramatic 11-2
win in Game 5 of the best-of-nine series, yielding only six
hits and himself driving in three runs;
Whereas Bill Dinneen struck out Honus Wagner, widely
considered the best player in the game at the time, to win
the 1903 World Series;
Whereas Denton True ``Cy'' Young played for Boston from
1901 until 1908, beginning at age 34, and finished his eight
years in Boston with a 192-112 record. In his first year with
the Pilgrims, Young posted a 33-10 record, a 1.62 ERA, 5
shutouts and 158 K's, walking a mere 37 batters in 371
innings. In addition, Young was the only pitcher in
baseball's first 100 years to win 500 games, including three
no-hit shutouts and a perfect game on May 5, 1904;
Whereas in 1908 the Red Sox acquired from Kansas City
``Smokey'' Joe Wood, who was known as the successor to the
great Cy Young. By the 1911 season, Wood was smoking and he
showed his golden arm for the baseball world to see. His 23-
17 record that year included a no-hitter against the St.
Louis Browns on July 29. He also recorded 15 strikeouts in
one game--a record that wouldn't be broken until Boston's
Bill Monbouquette fanned 17 in 1961. In 1912, Wood's 34-5
record was the best in the league;
Whereas ``Smokey'' Joe's most memorable game came on
September 6, 1912. Carrying a 13-game winning streak, the
Washington Senators came to town and challenged the Red Sox
to throw their bright, young talent a day ahead of his
scheduled start against their staff's ace: Walter ``Big
Train'' Johnson. Johnson's record-setting 16-game consecutive
win streak had just been snapped. Wood accepted the challenge
and the newspapers went wild. They compared the two hurlers
to prize fighters. In the sixth inning, Tris Speaker and
Duffy Lewis traded doubles off of Johnson and scored a run.
It would be the only time either team crossed the plate that
afternoon as Wood won his 14th straight. Wood went on to
notch two more wins, tying Johnson's 16-game record, before
losing;
Whereas in 1912 the Boston Red Sox moved from the
Huntington Avenue Grounds to Fenway Park, the new stadium
built specifically for the Red Sox. The season opener against
the New York Highlanders (later known as the Yankees) was
delayed two days by rain, but 27,000 ``Fenway Faithful''
showed up on April 20 to watch what turned into a three hour
and 20 minute game that went into the 11th inning, when Red
Sox player Tris Speaker knocked in second baseman Steve
Yerkes to win the game 7-6. The spectacular win was kept off
the front page due to the sinking of the Titanic;
Whereas the 1912 Red Sox went on to post their best record
ever: 105-47, (a mark which stands today). They also beat the
New York Giants that year in the first ``true'' World Series
match of the National and American League champions;
Whereas the Red Sox acquired Lefty Grove from the
Philadelphia Athletics in 1934. He led the American League in
strikeouts for seven consecutive years (1925-1931). Nine
times he led AL pitchers with his stingy ERA in his 17-
year career. Only two other pitchers led the league in ERA
as many as five times. After a year plagued by arm
problems that led him to pitch an 8-8 record, the first
time he failed to win 20 wins since 1926, Grove was back
to form in 1935, posting a 20-12 mark and a league-leading
2.70 ERA. Grove went 17-12 in 1936 for Boston 17-9 in
1937, 14-4 in 1938 and 15-4 in 1939. In four of his eight
years with the Red Sox he led the league in ERA. On July
25, 1941, at 41 years old, Lefty Grove put the finishing
touches on his spectacular career. Pitching through nine
innings and 90-degree heat, Grove notched his 300th win in
a 10-6 win over Cleveland and became the fifth all-time
winningest pitcher in baseball history;
Whereas in just his third year, at only 23 years of age,
Ted Williams went into the last day of the 1941 season
hitting .3996, an average that officially rounds up to .400.
The last major leaguer to hit over .400 was Bill Terry in
1930 and the last American League player was Harry Heilmann
in 1923;
Whereas on June 18, 1953, the Red Sox scored 17 runs in one
inning against the Detroit Tigers with 14 hits and six walks
in the record-setting inning. The Red Sox broke or tied 17
major league records that day, including the most runs in one
inning (17) and the most hits in a game (27);
Whereas on September 28, 1960 Ted Williams ended his Hall
of Fame career when he sent 10,454 fans into a frenzy by
launching a 1-1 pitch from Baltimore Orioles' pitcher Jack
Fisher high into the damp gray sky and into the Red Sox
bullpen for his 521st home run;
Whereas in 1961 Carl Michael Yastrzemski, later known
simply as ``Yaz,'' joined the Red Sox, replacing Ted Williams
in left field. Yastrzemski tops the Red Sox charts for runs
batted in, hits, games, at-bats, runs scored, extra base hits
and total bases. He holds a top-ten rank in eight of
baseball's offensive categories and became the first American
Leaguer to reach the 3,000-hit and 400-home run milestone;
Whereas in 1967 Yastrzemski led ``The Impossible Dream,''
He took a Red Sox team that led the majors in losses the
previous season and guided it on one of sport's most engaging
turnarounds. A .326 average, 44 home runs and 121 RBI gave
``Yaz'' the American League Triple Crown;
Whereas Carl Yastrzemski, at age 40, notched his 3,000th
hit on September 12, 1979;
Whereas in 1964 Tony Conigliaro, known as ``Tony C'' to his
fans, burst onto the baseball scene in Fenway Park, taking 24
homers over the ``Green Monster'' in 111 games while batting
.290. In his second year with the Sox, Conigliaro belted 32
homes runs, leading the American League. At 20 years old,
Conigliaro became the youngest home-run leader in baseball
history. He followed that effort in 1966 with 28 home runs;
Whereas on August 18, 1967, Conigliaro was gravely injured
by a rising, inside fastball from California's Jack Hamilton.
After missing the remainder of the 1967 season and all of
1968, Conigliaro surpassed remarkable odds and returned in
1969. He batted .255, hit 20 homers and won the ``Comeback
Player of the Year'' award. He improved in 1970 when he
belted 36 home runs and 116 RBI;
Whereas the Fenway Park fans showed great passion and
sensitivity by avoiding wearing light-colored clothing in the
center field bleachers to help Conigliaro see pitches;
Whereas Carlton Fisk, known as ``Pudge,'' joined the Red
Sox in 1972. In his rookie year he batted .293, hit 22 home
runs and finished tied for the league lead with nine triples,
marks which earned him the season's ``Rookie of the Year''
award. His most memorable moment turned into a scene that
encompasses the tradition and faith of all Red Sox fans. The
dominating catcher stepped to the plate in the bottom of the
12th inning of World Series Game Six in 1975. After Bernie
Carbo's three-run pinch hit homer tied the game in the eighth
and Dwight Evans' stunning catch gave the team life in the
eleventh, Fisk was ready to close the door on a night of
heroes. The catcher jumped on the second offering from Pat
Darcy and lifted a high blast down the left field line that
seemed to turn one of baseball's greatest games into a slow
motion dream. Fisk stood at home plate, waving the ball fair
like a man controlling the winds and leaped in elation as the
game winning home run bounced off the foul pole, opening the
gates for a wild celebration guided by a home run dance
around the bases. It was a moment that typified a great
career;
Whereas through 10-plus seasons in Boston, Fisk accumulated
162 home runs while compiling a .481 slugging percentage--
tenth in club history. Fisk is among the leaders in three
other offensive categories and is remembered for his uncanny
stature in the field. For his career, Fisk caught more games
(2,226) and hit more home runs (351 of his career 376) than
any player at his position ever;
Whereas in 1975, a rookie named Fred Lynn made baseball
history by earning both the 1975 Rookie of the Year and Most
Valuable Player Awards, an accomplishment that had neither
been done before. Lynn also earned a batting championship and
four gold gloves, played in six All-Star games and led the
league in slugging percentage twice and doubles once;
Whereas outfielder Dwight ``Dewey'' Evans entered the big
leagues in 1972 with the Red Sox and at the end of his career
placed in the top five of ten offensive categories in the
club's records, the most notable being the 379 home runs and
1,346 RBI that put him fourth, behind Ted Williams, Carl
Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice. Evans also finished his career
with the second most games played and at-bats in Boston
history;
Whereas Jim Rice joined the Red Sox in 1974 after securing
the International League's triple crown and in his first full
year with the team batted .309 with 22 home runs and 102 RBI,
leading the Sox to the American League pennant and the 1975
World Series. In 1978 he was named the A.L.'s MVP after
setting staggering marks including major league leading
totals of 46 homers, 139 RBI, 15 triples, 406 total bases,
213 hits and a .600 slugging percentage;
Whereas Roger Clemens warmed up a cannon before a Tuesday
night game in April of 1986 and shot down 20 Seattle Mariners
by night's end to break the Major League record for
strikeouts in a nine inning game. It was an exhibition of
sheer power and by the time the smoke cleared, the ``Rocket''
had fanned the side three times and during one stretch sat
down eight Mariners in a row. He looked unhitable. Seventy
percent of his pitches were strikes, many of which topped the
radar gun at 95 mph and higher;
Whereas in 1997 the Red Sox were treated to the arrival of
a rookie named Nomar Garciaparra, who immediately turned into
a superstar. The dynamic shortstop won ``Rookie of the Year''
honors by hitting .306

[[Page H8977]]

with 122 runs, 209 hits, 44 doubles, 11 triples, 30 homers,
98 RBIs and 22 stolen bases;
Whereas in 1998, after acquiring star right-hander Pedro
Martinez, the Red Sox produced their first 90-win season
since 1996. The 92-70 finish was good enough to vault them
into the playoffs as the AL Wild Card. Nomar Garciaparra
finished second in AL MVP balloting. The Red Sox snapped
their postseason losing streak of 13 games by beating the
Indians 11-3 in Game 1;
Whereas in 2000 Nomar Garciaparra earned his second
consecutive batting title and Pedro Martinez earned his third
Cy Young award in four years. Garciaparra's .372 batting
average was the best batting average for a right-handed
hitter in the past 50 years;
Whereas in 2001 the Red Sox signed superstar slugger Manny
Ramirez off the free agent market, who clubbed a three-run
homer in the first pitch he saw in a home uniform at Fenway
Park;
Whereas on April 4, 2001, Hideo Nomo pitched Boston's first
no-hitter since 1965. The start against the Orioles at Camden
Yards was Nomo's first in a Boston uniform;
Whereas in 2002 the Red Sox began a new era, as the
ownership group led by John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry
Lucchino officially took over on Feb. 27. The Red Sox went
93-69 under new manager Grady Little, but missed the playoffs
for the third straight year. Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe
gave the Sox their first 20-win tandem since 1949. The
highlight of the season was Lowe's no-hitter at Fenway on
April 27 against the Devil Rays. Manny Ramirez, despite
missing six weeks with a fractured left index finger, won his
first batting title;
Whereas Red Sox have appeared in the post-season seven
times (1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2003) since
1986;''
After ``Resolved, That the House of Representatives and the
American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the New
York Yankees on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, and
express the sincerest gratitude to the entire organization.''
Insert ``Resolved, That the House of Representatives and the
American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the
Boston Red Sox on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of
its victory in the first World Series and express the
sincerest gratitude to the entire organization.''

So I join, Mr. Speaker, the Red Sox nation in congratulating the Red
Sox on the 100th anniversary of their victory in the first World Series
and for their recent wild-card victory in the 2003 play-offs. On behalf
of the Red Sox fans across the country and the world, I hope that the
85th time is a charm and it is this year. Good luck for all the teams
in the play-offs and the Red Sox in particular, as well as the Yankees.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. speaker, I rise in strong support of House
Resolution 306, which congratulates the New York Yankees on their 100th
anniversary.
Others who have spoken before me, and will speak after me, will have
talked about the Yankees' prowess on the baseball field. Certainly
their 26 World championships and 38 American League Pennants are
unsurpassed in all of professional sports.
With my time today, however, I want to speak about one of the
legendary New York Yankees, a man who has left his mark on this
organization without ever taking to the field. That is George
Steinbrenner, who bought the Yankees in January 1973 and has since then
made it the most valuable sports franchise in the world.
Sports fans and non-sports fans alike know of George Steinbrenner's
pride in the Yankees and his drive and desire to win the World
Championship. Few people, however, know of his compassion and
willingness to come to the aid of those most in need.
George Steinbrenner and his son Hal Steinbrenner devote much of their
personal time in support of the Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit
organization that assists the families of U.S. Special Operations
Forces who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. The
Foundation provides scholarships for the children of these brave
warriors who serve our Nation in anonymity.
George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees also show their support
of our troops throughout the season, by regularly honoring them at
Yankee Stadium. During New York's Fleet Week, the Yankees honor
thousands of sailors, soldiers, marines, airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
while hosting them at baseball games. The Yankees regularly pay
personal visits to our troops when they are hospitalized with injuries,
and they honor those who are able to travel to Yankee Stadium.
Few people will ever forget the special bond that developed between
the Yankees and the fire and police departments of New York City
following the tragic events of 9/11. Our Nation will never forget the
spiritual and emotional lift that those same Yankees gave our Nation
with their never say die effort during the 2001 World Series.
Back home in the Tampa Bay area that I have the honor to represent,
George Steinbrenner annually sponsors of series of holiday shows with
the Florida Orchestra for underprivileged youth. Having participated in
many of these shows, I can tell you that he brings greater happiness to
thousands of children at these events each year.
He also reaches out to lend a helping hand to individuals and
families with special needs throughout our community. He does not seek
publicity for his efforts, he just does it because it's the right thing
to do.
Mr. Speaker, George Steinbrenner is an American icon for his success
as the owner of a professional sports team. For me, however, he is a
true hero for his selfless acts to support our service members and our
neighbors most in need. This is the side of George Steinbrenner few
will ever see or read about but for which thousands are thankful and
eternally grateful.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of this storied sports
franchise, let us also say thank you to a great American with the heart
of a champion. He has given our Nation much to cheer both on and off
the playing field.
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, to the city of New York, the New York
Yankees are truly more than just a baseball team.
For 100 years, they have captured the imagination, brought New
Yorkers together and given our city of champions a championship spirit.
The numbers speak for themselves: 26 World Series won. 38 Hall-of-
Famers. 6 consecutive division titles--and counting.
From Manhattan to Moscow, The Bronx to Beijing, you're likely to see
someone wearing the distinctive Yankees ball cap wherever you go.
The world over, everyone knows the Yankees. But my most cherished
Yankees memory, and the one that confirmed the uplifting, inspirational
power the Yankees have was in the aftermath of the tragic attacks of 9/
11.
It was the City's darkest hour and New Yorkers' most harrowing
experience. Collectively, New Yorkers rallied around their neighbors,
their leaders--and their championship teams.
That year, the Yankees put on an exhilarating, magical performance in
the World Series, constantly fighting back from the brink of defeat to
push the series to the limit.
That year, the Yankees' post-season performance was the first bit of
good news many New Yorkers had received in weeks.
For that, and so many other memories, I am thrilled to join with my
colleagues here and millions of New Yorkers back home in congratulating
the New York Yankees for 100 years of thrills, excitement and
excellence.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 306.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________