[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 165 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6489-S6490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 618--COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE CHICAGO CUBS 
                   ON THEIR 2016 WORLD SERIES VICTORY

  Mr. KIRK (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Coats, and Mr. Donnelly) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 618

       Whereas, on November 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 
     World Series with an 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in Game 7 at 
     Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs came back from a 3-1 World Series 
     deficit to win 3 thrilling games in a row and became World 
     Series Champions for the first time in 108 years;
       Whereas all 25 players on the World Series roster of the 
     Chicago Cubs should be congratulated, including Albert Almora 
     Jr., Jake Arrieta, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Aroldis Chapman, 
     Chris Coghlan, Willson Contreras, Carl Edwards Jr., Dexter 
     Fowler, Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, Jason Heyward, John 
     Lackey, Jon Lester, Miguel Montero, Mike Montgomery, Anthony 
     Rizzo, Hector Rondon, David Ross, Addison Russell, Kyle 
     Schwarber, Jorge Soler, Pedro Strop, Travis Wood, and Ben 
     Zobrist;
       Whereas, in addition to the World Series roster, all 
     Chicago Cubs players who contributed to the 2016 regular 
     season should be congratulated, including Jake Buchanan, 
     Trevor Cahill, Jeimer Candelario, Gerardo Concepcion, Tim 
     Federowicz, Jason Hammel, Ryan Kalish, Munenori Kawasaki, 
     Tommy La Stella, Brian Matusz, Joe Nathan, Spencer Patton, 
     Felix Pena, Joel Peralta, Neil Ramirez, Clayton Richard, Joe 
     Smith, Matt Szczur, Adam Warren, and Rob Zastryzny;
       Whereas the front office, the clubhouse, and all supporting 
     staff and team members of the Chicago Cubs should be 
     congratulated;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs won an incredible 103 games during 
     the regular season, which earned the team the best record in 
     Major League Baseball;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs overcame the American League 
     winning the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which gave 
     the Indians home field advantage for the World Series;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs had 7 players selected to the 2016 
     Major League Baseball All-Star Game, who should be 
     congratulated, including Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris 
     Bryant, Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler, Jake Arrieta, and Jon 
     Lester;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs infield of Anthony Rizzo, Ben 
     Zobrist, Kris Bryant, and Addison Russell were the first 
     foursome to start an All-Star Game since 1963 and the second 
     one ever;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs bounced back from a disappointing 
     loss in the 2015 playoffs to win the National League 
     Championship pennant for the first time since 1945;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler became the 
     first African-American Chicago Cubs player to play in a World 
     Series and went on to hit a lead-off home run in Game 7 of 
     the World Series;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Montero hit a grand 
     slam in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and 
     drove in the final, winning Chicago Cubs run in the 10th 
     inning of Game 7 of the World Series;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell tied the 
     single-game record for runs batted in (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``RBI'') for a World Series game after he batted 
     in 6 runs in Game 6 of the World Series, including a grand 
     slam in the third inning;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross, in the final game 
     of his 15-year Major League Baseball career, hit a home run 
     in Game 7 of the World Series;
       Whereas Kyle Schwarber, after severely injuring his knee 
     during the third game of the regular season, recovered 
     through perseverance and determination and was added to the 
     World Series roster, where, in one of the greatest sports 
     comeback stories of all time, he--
       (1) hit .412 and had a .500 on-base-percentage in the World 
     Series; and
       (2) following a 17-minute rain delay, ignited the 10th 
     inning rally in Game 7 of the World Series with a lead-off 
     single;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez and pitcher 
     Jon Lester were corecipients of the National League 
     Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, after--
       (1) Javier Baez hit .318 in the 6-game National League 
     Championship Series, stole 2 bases, including home plate, and 
     made a number of incredible defensive plays; and
       (2) Jon Lester had a 1.38 earned run average in 2 starts 
     against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the National League 
     Championship Series, allowing just 2 runs over 13 innings and 
     striking out 9 batters;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs utility man and Eureka, Illinois, 
     native Ben Zobrist received unanimous support for and won the 
     World Series Most Valuable Player Award, the first Chicago 
     Cub ever to win the award, after--
       (1) hitting .357 in the World Series;
       (2) driving in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of Game 
     7 with an RBI double; and
       (3) leading the Chicago Cubs to an eventual World Series 
     win;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and 
     outfielder Jason Heyward received Gold Glove Awards for their 
     2016 defensive accomplishments;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and 
     pitcher Jake Arrieta received Silver Slugger Awards for their 
     2016 offensive accomplishments;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant received the 
     2016 National League Hank Aaron Award for his offensive 
     accomplishments and is a candidate for the 2016 National 
     League Most Valuable Player Award after having been 
     unanimously named the 2015 National League Rookie of the 
     Year;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester 
     were candidates for the 2016 National League Cy Young Award, 
     following pitcher Jake Arrieta having received the 2015 
     National League Cy Young Award;

[[Page S6490]]

       Whereas Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon was a candidate for 
     the 2016 National League Manager of the Year Award, after 
     having received the 2015 National League Manager of the Year 
     Award;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo 
     Epstein joined the Chicago Cubs front office in 2011 and 
     succeeded in building a World Series Champion team;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs fell short in the 2015 National 
     League Championship Series, fueling a determination--
       (1) to return to the playoffs; and
       (2) to win a World Series in 2016;
       Whereas Chicago Cubs fans followed the triumphs of the 2016 
     season by tuning into games called by Chicago Cubs television 
     broadcasters Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies and Chicago Cubs 
     radio broadcasters Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs played 3 excellent teams in the 
     2016 postseason that deserve congratulations for their 
     achievements, including--
       (1) the San Francisco Giants in the National League 
     Division Series;
       (2) the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League 
     Championship Series; and
       (3) the Cleveland Indians in the World Series;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 
     1908, filling people in Chicago and Chicago Cubs fans 
     everywhere with pride;
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs showed extraordinary steadiness, 
     teamwork, focus, and love of the game in proving again to be 
     an organization of great character, determination, and heart, 
     a reflection of the city of Chicago and the State of 
     Illinois;
       Whereas on November 4, 2016, an estimated 5,000,000 fans 
     gathered in Chicago to fly the W flag and celebrate the 
     Chicago Cubs victory in the largest parade and rally in 
     United States history; and
       Whereas the Chicago Cubs are the 2016 World Series 
     champions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Chicago Cubs on their--
       (A) 2016 World Series championship title; and
       (B) outstanding performance during the 2016 Major League 
     Baseball season;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     management, and support staff of the Chicago Cubs and the 
     operations staff of Wrigley Field, the dedication and 
     persistence of whom made victory possible;
       (3) congratulates--
       (A) the city of Chicago;
       (B) the entire Chicagoland area;
       (C) Chicago Cubs fans everywhere;
       (D) the mayor of the City of Chicago, the Honorable Rahm 
     Emanuel;
       (E) Chicago Cubs Chairman, Mr. Tom Ricketts, and the 
     Ricketts family;
       (F) Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Mr. Theo 
     Epstein;
       (G) Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President and General 
     Manager, Mr. Jed Hoyer;
       (H) Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations, Mr. 
     Crane Kenney; and
       (I) Executive Vice President of Community and Government 
     Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Michael Lufrano; and
       (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) Chicago Cubs Chairman, Mr. Tom Ricketts;
       (B) Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Mr. Theo 
     Epstein; and
       (C) Chicago Cubs Manager, Mr. Joe Maddon.

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