[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13953]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 CLEVELAND INDIANS 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I am here on the Floor to 
recognize the Cleveland Indians because this year, the team is 
celebrating an incredible achievement, both for baseball and America. 
On April 24th, the Indians celebrated their 100th Anniversary. Over the 
last century, Indians fans have seen their team win two World Series 
and five American League Pennants. One of my most vivid baseball 
memories is the 1954 World Series, which I attended with my dad when I 
was seven years old.
  I think the inaugural Indians manager, James McAleer, would have been 
proud to lead the Tribe teams of the past five years in their string of 
five Central Division Titles and two World Series appearances. The 
Indians claim 22 players in the Hall of Fame, including the following:

       Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker, Cy Young (1937); Jesse Burkett 
     (1946); Bob Feller (1962); Elmer Flick, Sam Rice (1963); Stan 
     Coveleski (1969); Lou Boudreau (1970); Satchel Paige (1971); 
     Early Wynn (1972); Ralph Kiner (1975); Bob Lemon (1976); Joe 
     Sewell, Al Lopez (1977); Addie Joss (1978); Frank Robinson 
     (1982); Hoyt Wilhelm (1985); Gaylord Perry, Bill Veeck 
     (1991); Phil Niekro (1997); Larry Doby (1998).

  Additionally, the Indians have retired the numbers of six players, 
including:

       Bob Lemon (21); Earl Averill (3); Lou Boudreau (5); Larry 
     Doby (14); Mel Harder (18); Bob Feller (19).

  Adding to these accomplishments, by the end of the 2000 season, the 
team had racked up 7,896 total wins. Also, the Indians are just one of 
four American League teams to spend their entire history in one city. 
The Indians have been loyal to their fans, and the fans have, in turn, 
been loyal to their team. After Jacob's Field was built in 1994, fans 
responded by selling out 455 consecutive games. And, the Indians led 
Major League Baseball in attendance last year for the first time since 
1948.
  The Indians are a treasure for the City of Cleveland and the State of 
Ohio, but I also believe the Indians hold a larger significance for 
America. Walt Whitman once wrote that baseball was ``America's game . . 
. it belongs as much to our institutions, fits into them as 
significantly as our Constitution's laws . . . and it is just as 
important in the sum total of our historic life.'' I think Whitman had 
it absolutely right. Baseball is a vital part of our American culture, 
and for 100 years, the Cleveland Indians have served as an outstanding 
ambassador for the sport of baseball.
  I congratulate the Cleveland Indians on a century of rich history, 
loyal fans, and great success. I hope that my colleagues will join me 
in wishing the Indians the best of luck in the next 100 years.

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