[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 24 (Friday, February 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1859-S1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOE BLANTON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding athlete from my home State of Kentucky, Joe Blanton, who 
was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Series 
Championship team.
  Blanton, who played baseball at Edmonson County High School in 
Brownsville, KY continued his baseball career in the Commonwealth by 
playing for the University of Kentucky. He was drafted by the Oakland 
Athletics after college and was traded to the Phillies during the All-
Star break this past summer.
  Recently, the Daily News in Bowling Green, KY, published an article 
detailing Mr. Blanton's journey and accomplishments. I will ask to have 
the full article printed in the Record.
  I also ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Joe Blanton for his 
accomplishments in the 2008 Major League Baseball postseason. Kentucky 
is proud of his success, and we look forward to seeing more of his 
prodigious athletic talent on the baseball diamond in the years ahead.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have the article to which I 
referred printed in the Record.
  There being no objection the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                  [From the Daily News, Jan. 24, 2009]

   Blanton's Day in Brownsville: Edmonson County Honors World Series 
                            Champion Pitcher

                          (By Micheal Compton)

       It's been an offseason to remember for Joe Blanton.
       Traded from the Oakland A's to the Philadelphia Phillies in 
     July, Blanton became a key member of a Philadelphia team that 
     celebrated its first World Series championship since 1980 by 
     beating the Tampa Bay Rays in five games in October.
       Blanton was honored Saturday at Edmonson County High 
     School, where he pitched until 1998, getting his jersey 
     retired in front of family, college coach and Edmonson County 
     alum Keith Madison and several hundred fans.
       Blanton, who signed autographs and took pictures with fans, 
     said his participation in the fundraiser for the ECHS 
     baseball program was his way of giving back to a community 
     that gave him so much as a young man.
       ``This is kind of a little way that I hope I can help (the 
     Edmonson County baseball program) a little bit, to make it 
     easier on them and give them a few nice things here and 
     there,'' Blanton said.
       Edmonson County coach Clint Clark said Saturday's event has 
     been in the works since August. But once Blanton won the 
     World Series with the Phillies in October, the process sped 
     up.
       ``What Joseph means to this community, words can't 
     describe,'' Clark said. ``By bringing him home and honoring 
     Joseph and having (former University of Kentucky) coach 
     Madison back to be a part of it, we wanted to be able to 
     bring back the tradition here at Edmonson County.''
       2008 was a year of highs and lows for Blanton, culminating 
     in a World Series performance that included one of the most 
     memorable moments in baseball history.
       ``It's been a ride,'' Blanton said. ``When you get traded, 
     it is definitely weird. It always shocks you a little bit. I 
     didn't know anybody (in Philadelphia), any of the coaches, 
     but it seemed to work out pretty good for me.''

[[Page S1860]]

       Blanton started the season 5-12 with the A's, but during 
     the All-Star break he was traded from the organization that 
     drafted him in the first round in 2002. In joining the 
     Phillies, Blanton was thrust into the National League pennant 
     race.
       Blanton went 4-0 in 13 starts for Philadelphia, helping the 
     Phillies win the NL's East Division. He pitched the decisive 
     Game 4 in the NL Division Series against Milwaukee, allowing 
     one run and five hits in six innings against a Brewers' 
     lineup that included former Greenwood High School star Corey 
     Hart.
       ``That was awesome getting to face somebody from the area--
     somebody I got to play with in summer ball,'' Blanton said. 
     ``We played together with the Kentucky Colonels. That's real 
     nice to see somebody else from here have success like he has 
     had the last couple of years.''
       Blanton got a no decision in his lone NL Championship 
     Series start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
       He saved his best game for last, going six innings and 
     allowing two runs in a 10-2 victory that helped the Phillies 
     take a 3-1 lead in the World Series.
       But it was Blanton's fifth-inning at-bat that will forever 
     be remembered--a solo home run to left field that Blanton 
     said was his first since 1999, when he played for Franklin-
     Simpson High School. Blanton's shot was the first World 
     Series home run by a pitcher in 34 years.
       ``It's what you dream about as a kid when you're in the 
     backyard playing Wiffleball with your buddies or your dad is 
     throwing you batting practice,'' Blanton said. ``You are 
     always taking that last swing like it's Game 7 of the World 
     Series. Mine wasn't Game 7, but it couldn't have been much 
     better if it was. I think other than maybe throwing a no-
     hitter or something, I wouldn't trade it for anything else.''
       Three nights later, Blanton charged the mound with his 
     teammates, celebrating a world title.
       ``It still gives me chills just thinking about it,'' 
     Blanton said. ``There's really not another feeling like it in 
     sports. It's the ultimate team accomplishment. Just having 
     the dogpile on the field, knowing no one in baseball is 
     better than you, it is really hard to put into words. It 
     feels good to be able to accomplish that.''
       While the World Series title was a life-altering 
     experience, Blanton insists he hasn't changed.
       ``I'm still the same,'' Blanton said. ``I think if anything 
     changed, it's getting (to the World Series) made me respect 
     it a lot more. I played with a guy, Jamie Moyer, who I think 
     last year was his 22nd year in the majors and that was his 
     first World Series. That shows you how hard it can be to make 
     it and win it.''
       And Blanton, who recently signed a one-year, $5.475 million 
     deal with Philadelphia, is determined to work just as hard to 
     help the Phillies defend their title.
       ``I feel like we have a great team coming back,'' Blanton 
     said. ``We have a solid lineup and a great bullpen. I feel 
     like we have a great starting staff and all the components 
     that it takes to win. We're not a one-dimensional team, and 
     we have a great clubhouse and coaching staff on top of it.''

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