[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 153 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING MAURY WILLS

 Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I submit the following statement 
to the Record in memory of Maury Wills, who passed away on September 
19, 2022, at the age of 89.
  Before there was Lou Brock and Rickey Henderson, there was Maury 
Wills. When he stole 104 bases in 1962, he not only beat out Willie 
Mays for the National League MVP award, he broke the single season 
stolen base record held by Ty Cobb that had stood for 47 years. That 
year, he was also named the first Black captain in the history of the 
Dodgers organization.
  A native of Washington, DC, Maury was inspired to pursue a Major 
League career after attending a youth baseball clinic held by Jerry 
Priddy of the Washington Senators.
  Maury was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers at the age of 17. He 
spent a decade in their Minor League system, honing his skills and 
working his way to the Major League.
  When Maury finally made it to the big league, he quickly became a 
foundational part of the Dodgers teams that went to four World Series 
from 1959 to 1966. During that time, he won two Gold Gloves and was 
named to five All Star teams. Maury, and so many other Dodgers legends 
from the era, helped Los Angeles fall in love with professional 
baseball.
  In the years following his playing career, Maury had stints as an 
announcer, manager, and even entertainer. He was also able to overcome 
addiction with the help of his future wife Angela George and support of 
the Dodgers organization. Maury was open about his challenges with 
addiction in hopes that others could learn from his journey to 
sobriety.
  Maury remained a member of the Dodgers family until his death. For 
years, he served as a base stealing and bunting instructor. He even 
helped mentor a young outfielder named Dave Roberts, who would go on to 
have one of the most famous stolen bases in MLB history in the 2004 
American League Championship Series. Maury's intensity and passion for 
the game was evident when I visited Dodgers Spring Training a few years 
ago; it was clear why they referred to his spot in the facility as 
Maury's Pit.
  I join Dodger fans across the Nation in remembering Maury and sending 
our condolences to his family.

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