[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8800-H8801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT PRESIDENT SHOULD POSTHUMOUSLY AWARD PRESIDENTIAL 
           MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO LEROY ROBERT ``SATCHEL'' PAIGE

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur 
in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 91) expressing the 
sense of Congress that the President should posthumously award the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom to Leroy Robert ``Satchel'' Paige.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 91

       Whereas Satchel Paige, who was born on July 7, 1906, in 
     Mobile, Alabama, lived a life that was marked by his 
     outstanding contributions to the game of baseball;
       Whereas Satchel Paige was a dominating pitcher whose 
     baseball career spanned several decades, from 1927 to 1965;
       Whereas Satchel Paige played in the Negro Leagues and 
     became famous for his unusual pitching style and his ability 
     to strike out almost any player he faced;
       Whereas Satchel Paige pitched 62 consecutive scoreless 
     innings in 1933;
       Whereas due to the practice of segregation in baseball, 
     Satchel Paige was prohibited for many years from playing 
     baseball at the major league level;
       Whereas Satchel Paige played for many Negro League teams, 
     including--
       (1) the Chattanooga Black Lookouts;
       (2) the Birmingham Black Barons;
       (3) the Nashville Elite Giants;
       (4) the Mobile Tigers;
       (5) the Pittsburgh Crawfords; and
       (6) the Kansas City Monarchs;
       Whereas while pitching for the Kansas City Monarchs, 
     Satchel Paige won 4 consecutive league pennants from 1939 to 
     1942, and later won a 5th pennant in 1946 with that team;
       Whereas after the desegregation of baseball, Satchel Paige 
     signed a contract to pitch for the Cleveland Indians at age 
     42, and soon thereafter became the oldest rookie ever to play 
     baseball at the major league level;
       Whereas the extraordinary pitching of Satchel Paige helped 
     the Cleveland Indians

[[Page H8801]]

     complete a championship season in 1948, as the team won the 
     American League Championship and the World Series;
       Whereas Satchel Paige threw an estimated 300 career 
     shutouts;
       Whereas in 1971, Satchel Paige became the first Negro 
     League player to be inducted into the Major League Baseball 
     Hall of Fame;
       Whereas the legendary pitching of Satchel Paige earned him 
     numerous awards and accolades, including--
       (1) a nomination to the All Century Team by Major League 
     Baseball as 1 of the greatest players of the 20th century; 
     and
       (2) a selection to the 50 Legends of Baseball by the Postal 
     Service;
       Whereas despite years of discrimination that limited the 
     play of Satchel Paige to the Negro Leagues, his prowess on 
     the pitching mound earned him the respect and admiration of 
     fans and players throughout the world of baseball;
       Whereas Satchel Paige passed away on June 8, 1982; and
       Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest 
     civilian honor in the United States, was established in 1945 
     to recognize citizens of the United States who have made 
     exceptional contributions to--
       (1) the security or national interests of the United 
     States;
       (2) world peace;
       (3) the culture of the United States or the world; or
       (4) the citizens of the United States or the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
     posthumously to Leroy ``Satchel'' Paige in honor of his 
     distinguished baseball career and the contributions that he 
     has made to the improvement of the society of the United 
     States and the world.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Satchel Paige began playing baseball at a time when 
segregation prevented African American players from participating at 
the Major League level. He was a powerhouse pitcher for what was called 
the Negro League, and in 1933 pitched 62 consecutive scoreless innings 
for his team. With his animated personality, he was the main attraction 
at games and fans marveled at the famous pitches he creatively coined 
with names like ``bat dodger'' and ``the hesitation pitch.''
  In July of 1948, after segregation in baseball had ended, Satchel 
Paige signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. He was 42 years old 
at the time and he was the oldest rookie in the Major Leagues. The 
Indians won the American League championship and the World Series that 
year, thanks in no small part to his pitching talent.
  I would add as an addendum, Mr. Speaker, being from Cleveland, Ohio, 
that is the last time that the Cleveland Indians have won the World 
Series.
  In total, Satchel Paige threw close to 300 career shutouts, and in 
1971 he was the first Negro League player inducted into the Major 
League Baseball Hall of Fame.
  He is remembered by his family and friends not just as a baseball 
player who made history, but as a man who was full of warmth, full of 
energy and quick to make people laugh. Satchel Paige's contributions to 
the sport of baseball and United States culture are undoubtedly 
exceptional, and I am happy to support this resolution.
  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, it is believed that Leroy ``Satchel'' Paige was born on 
July 7, 1905. In 1965, 60 years after Page's estimated birth, he took 
the mound for the last time and threw three shutout innings for the 
Kansas City Athletics.
  Paige's pitching was amazing and his showboating was legendary. Joe 
DiMaggio called Paige ``the best and fastest pitcher I have ever 
faced.'' His career highlights spanned five decades. Pronounced the 
greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues, Paige compiled 
such feats as 64 consecutive scoreless innings, a stretch of 21 
straight wins, and a 31-4 record in 1933. For 22 years, Paige mauled 
the competition in front of sellout crowds. His goal was to pitch in 
the Major Leagues.
  In 1948, Paige's dream came true. The Cleveland Indians were in need 
of extra pitching for the pennant race. Paige stepped to the mound and 
helped the Indians win. He also played for St. Louis and Kansas City.
  When Paige's Major League career was completed, he compiled a modest 
28-31 record with a 3.29 earned run average. He also served as a coach 
for the Atlanta Braves in 1968. In 1971, Paige was given the ultimate 
honor. He was elected to join the very best in baseball history by 
being elected to the Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support S. Con. Res. 91.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 91.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate 
concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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