[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23630-23635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE NEW YORK YANKEES ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 306) congratulating the New York Yankees on the 
occasion of their 100th anniversary.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 306

       Whereas the New York Yankees were officially acquired in 
     1903 and are celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2003;
       Whereas what would become the most successful team in 
     sports history actually began as the Baltimore Orioles in 
     1901. When that franchise folded after only two seasons, it 
     was purchased for $18,000 by two colorful New Yorkers, Frank 
     Farrell and Bill Devery;
       Whereas New York's third Major-League team, joining the New 
     York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League, 
     would play its home games in a hastily constructed, all-wood 
     park at 168th Street and Broadway. Because the site was one 
     of the highest spots in Manhattan, the team was named the 
     ``Highlanders'' and their home field ``Hilltop Park.'' They 
     played their inaugural game on April 22, 1903, losing 3-1 to 
     the Senators at Washington. New York recorded the first win 
     in franchise history the next day, a 7-2 decision at 
     Washington;
       Whereas the Highlanders nearly captured the American-League 
     pennant in 1904--only their second season--as they finished 
     only 1.5 games behind the Boston Pilgrims in the first of 
     three second-place finishes from 1904 to 1910;
       Whereas after a spectacular fire severely damaged the Polo 
     Grounds in 1911, the Highlanders' owners invited the Giants 
     to share Hilltop Park. Two years later the Giants returned 
     the favor and allowed the Highlanders to move into their 
     rebuilt and vastly superior park. With the move, the 
     Highlanders officially changed their nickname to ``Yankees 
     (by which they had actually been known for most of their 
     history).'' Two years after the move--on January 11, 1915--
     Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast L'Hommedieu 
     Huston purchased the franchise from its by-now disgruntled 
     owners;
       Whereas from 1911 to 1919, the Yankees won as many as 80 
     games in a season only twice, but the franchise's fortunes 
     would change forever on January 3, 1920. On what is perhaps 
     the most significant date in club history, the Yankees 
     purchased the contract of George Herman ``Babe'' Ruth from 
     the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and a $350,000 loan against 
     the mortgage on Fenway Park;
       Whereas Ruth's impact was immediate. The Yankees won 95 
     games in 1920, their highest victory total to date, and 
     captured their first American-League pennant a year later. 
     Their attendance at the Polo grounds doubled to 1,289,422 in 
     1920 and, in 1921, the Giants notified their tenant to vacate 
     the Polo grounds as soon as possible. Now bitter rivals, the 
     two teams squared off in the World Series in 1921 and 1922 
     with the Giants winning both times;
       Whereas with their departure from the Polo Grounds 
     inevitable, the Yankee owners set out to build a spectacular 
     ballpark of their own. Baseball's first triple-decked 
     structure with an advertised capacity of 70,000, it would 
     also be the first baseball facility to be labeled a 
     ``stadium'';
       Whereas construction began on May 5, 1922 and, in only 284 
     working days, Yankee Stadium was ready for its inaugural game 
     on April 18, 1923 vs. the Boston Red Sox. An announced crowd 
     of 74,200 fans packed Yankee Stadium for a glimpse of 
     Baseball's grandest facility while thousands milled around 
     outside after the fire department finally ordered the gates 
     closed. Appropriately, Ruth christened his new home with a 
     three-run homer to cap a four-run inning as the Yankees 
     coasted to a 4-1 win;
       Whereas because it was widely recognized that Ruth's 
     tremendous drawing power made the new stadium possible, it 
     would immediately become known as ``The House that Ruth 
     Built''. Later that season, the Stadium hosted the first of 
     36 World Series and the Yankees won their first World 
     Championship over their former landlord, the Giants. Of 
     course, as the Stadium became the stage for a staggering 
     number of World titles--now totaling 26--it would also become 
     known as ``The Home of Champions'';
       Whereas on June 1, 1925 in a 5-3 loss vs. Washington, 
     Manager Miller Huggins inserted a 21-year-old rookie first 
     baseman as a pinch hitter for light-hitting shortstop Pee Wee 
     Wanninger. No one could have imagined at the time that this 
     appearance would be the first of 2,130 consecutive games 
     played by Lou Gehrig, who, with Babe Ruth and later Joe 
     DiMaggio, anchored some of the greatest ball clubs of all 
     time;
       Whereas after a disheartening loss to the St. Louis 
     Cardinals in the 1926 World Series, the Yankees rolled to 
     World Championships in both 1927 and 1928, sweeping the 
     Series both years. The 1927 club, the first Yankee team to be 
     labeled ``Murderers' Row'', became the yardstick by which 
     athletic greatness is measured. During that season, Ruth 
     shattered his own single-season home run record with his 60th 
     on the season's final day on September 30, 1927;
       Whereas in his 15 seasons in pinstripes, Ruth helped build 
     a tradition of winning with seven American-League pennants 
     and four World Championships. He finished his unparalleled 
     career (with the Boston Braves in 1935) with 714 home runs, 
     12 American-League home-run titles and six RBI crowns, 
     including five seasons with more than 150. A charter member 
     of Baseball's Hall of Fame, he remains widely regarded as the 
     greatest player of all-time;
       Whereas after the 1934 season, Ruth's last in New York, the 
     Yankees purchased the contract of a budding star named Joseph 
     Paul DiMaggio from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific 
     Coast League. Two years later, DiMaggio made his debut in 
     pinstripes and helped the Yankees to an incredible string of 
     four consecutive World Championships under Manager Joe 
     McCarthy from 1936 through 1939. The decade of the thirties 
     also produced one of the game's greatest lefty-righty 
     pitching combinations in future Hall of Famers Lefty Gomez 
     and Red Ruffing. A four-time 20-game winner-including 24-7 in 
     1932 and 26-5 in 1934--Gomez was also 6-0 in five World 
     Series. Ruffing posted seasons of 20, 20, 21 and 21 wins on 
     four World-Championship clubs from 1936-1939;
       Whereas sadly, in 1939, Gehrig was diagnosed with a 
     crippling disease and his streak of 2,130 games came to an 
     end on May 2 when he did not appear in a 22-2 Yankees' win at 
     Detroit. On July 4, the Yankees honored their captain with an 
     emotional ``Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day'' at Yankee Stadium 
     and his uniform number (4) became the first in Baseball to be 
     retired. He died on June 2, 1941;
       Whereas with the departure of Gehrig, DiMaggio became the 
     pillar of the next generation of Yankee champions. In his 13 
     seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees played in the World Series 
     in all but two years and won 10 World-Series titles. The 
     legendary ``Yankee Clipper'' compiled one of the game's most 
     remarkable--and perhaps unbreakable--records in 1941 when he 
     hit safely in a record 56 consecutive games;
       Whereas the Yankees also made a seamless transition after 
     DiMaggio's retirement at the age of 37 after the 1951 season. 
     With Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle joining future Hall of 
     Famers Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto, the Yankees won eight 
     American-League pennants and six World Championships under 
     Manager Casey Stengel during the 1950's. Their streak of five 
     consecutive World-Series titles from 1949 through 1953 
     remains a Major-League record with no other winning as many 
     as four straight;
       Whereas Mantle would achieve greatness despite an arrested 
     case of osteomyelitis and numerous injuries. The powerful 
     switch-hitter belted 536 home runs, collected 2,415 hits and 
     batted .300 or more 10 times in an 18-year career. In his 
     first 14 seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees missed the World 
     Series only twice (in 1954 and 1959);
       Whereas Ford's lifetime record of 236-106 gives him the 
     best winning percentage (.690) of any 20th century pitcher 
     and he paced the American League in victories three times and 
     in ERA and shutouts twice. He still holds many World Series 
     records, including 10 wins, 33 consecutive scoreless innings 
     and 94 strikeouts;
       Whereas the heart of the Yankees for 18 seasons, Berra 
     played on an incredible 14 pennant winners and 10 World 
     Champions. He was a three-time MVP and was selected to the 
     All-Star team in every season from 1948 through 1962;
       Whereas Rizzuto was recognized as the glue of 10 pennant 
     winners and eight World-Series Champions from 1941-56 and 
     captured the league's MVP award in 1950, batting .324 with 
     200 hits and 125 runs scored;
       Whereas not every contributor to Yankee--and Baseball 
     history was a future Hall of Famer. In Game Five of the 1956 
     World Series vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8th at 
     Yankee Stadium, right-hander Don Larsen authored what is 
     perhaps the game's greatest pitching performance when he 
     retired all 27 Dodger batters for the only perfect game in 
     World Series history;
       Whereas the Yankees opened the decade of the sixties in 
     their usual fashion, winning pennants in the first five 
     seasons (1960-64) and World Series titles in 1961 and 1962. 
     Incredibly, in the 29 seasons from 1936 to 1964, the Yankees 
     won a remarkable 22 pennants and 16 World Championships. The 
     1961 club is still regarded as one of the best teams in 
     Baseball history. With Mantle and Roger Maris embroiled in a 
     season-long race to break Ruth's single-season home-run 
     record, the Yankees rolled to 109 wins en route to the World 
     Championship. Maris smashed Ruth's record when he belted his 
     61st home run on October 1 at Yankee Stadium in the last game 
     of the season;
       Whereas but age finally caught up with the ball club after 
     a seven game Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. 
     The Yankees would finish in the first division only once in 
     the next nine seasons and actually plummeted to last place in 
     1966 for the first time in 53 years;
       Whereas the team's fall from grace ended on January 2, 
     1973, when the most storied franchise in sports history was 
     sold by CBS to a group headed by George M. Steinbrenner III. 
     With the addition of Catfish Hunter--Baseball's first marquee 
     free agent--shrewd

[[Page 23631]]

     trades which brought Ed Figueroa, Mickey Rivers, Chris 
     Chambliss and Willie Randolph and a strong nucleus which 
     included Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Roy White, and Sparky 
     Lyle, the Yankees would make their first post-season 
     appearance in 12 years in 1976 by winning their first 
     American-League-East title. Then on October 14, 1976, in the 
     deciding fifth game of the League Championship Series vs. the 
     Kansas City Royals, Chambliss launched a ninth-inning, 
     pennant-winning home run to put the Yankees back in the World 
     Series;
       Whereas after a disheartening four-game sweep vs. the 
     Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 World Series, the Yankees 
     introduced Reggie Jackson--the most prolific slugger of his 
     era--as the club's newest free-agent acquisition. Jackson 
     then capped an exciting 1977 season with one of Baseball's 
     greatest individual performances. In Game Six of the World 
     Series vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium on 
     October 18, ``Mr. October'' belted three home runs on three 
     swings of the bat;
       Whereas in 1978, the Yankees overcame a 14.0-game deficit 
     in the American League East to force a one-game playoff with 
     the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park to decide the American-
     League pennant. Shortstop Bucky Dent erased a 2-0 Red Sox 
     lead in the seventh inning with a dramatic three-run homer 
     and the Yankees went on to a 5-4 win en route to a second 
     straight World Championship;
       Whereas the '78 season also saw the emergence of Ron Guidry 
     as one of the franchise's greatest pitchers. A four-time 
     American-League All-Star, Guidry compiled one of the most 
     dominating seasons in baseball history in 1978 and became 
     known as ``Louisiana Lightening''. He went 25-3 with a 1.74 
     earned run average in leading the Yankees to their dramatic 
     comeback, compiling a club-record 248 strikeouts and nine 
     shutouts en route to a unanimous selection as the A.L.'s Cy 
     Young Award recipient. On June 17, 1978 vs. the California 
     Angels at Yankee Stadium, Guidry shattered the club record 
     for strikeouts with 18. The Yankees' co-captain--with Willie 
     Randolph--from 1986 through 1988, Guidry also won 20 games in 
     1983 (21-9) and 1985 (22-6);
       Whereas the seventies ended with tragedy as Thurman Munson, 
     the Yankees' first captain since Gehrig, was killed in the 
     crash of his private jet on August 2, 1979. Only 32 at the 
     time of his death, Munson was the undisputed leader of the 
     clubs that won three consecutive pennants and two World 
     Championships. After their Captain's death, the Yankees would 
     make only one more World-Series appearance (1981) in 17 years 
     despite compiling the best record in the Major Leagues during 
     the decade of the eighties;
       Whereas the eighties also saw the development of one of the 
     franchise's greatest and most popular players, Don Mattingly, 
     ``Donnie Baseball,'' the team captain from 1991 through 1995, 
     batted .307 in his Yankee career (1982-95) and compiled an 
     incredible six-year stretch from 1983-89. During those years, 
     he batted .327 and topped 100 RBI five times, including a 
     career-high 145 in 1985 when he captured the A.L. MVP award. 
     A year earlier, he outdueled teammate Dave Winfield on the 
     final day of the season for the league's batting crown (.343 
     to .340);
       Whereas Winfield, who came to the Yankees as the game's 
     most-sought-after free agent in 1981, compiled Hall of Fame 
     credentials in his eight-plus seasons in pinstripes (1981-
     90). He belted 205 home runs for the Yankees with 818 RBI and 
     won five gold gloves;
       Whereas after an absence of 13 years, the Yankees returned 
     to post-season play in 1995 as the American League's first-
     ever ``Wild-Card'' entry. A devastating five-game loss to the 
     Seattle Mariners in the Division Series was only the start of 
     an incredible run for eight consecutive post-season 
     appearances, a record shared only by the Atlanta Braves;
       Whereas in 1996, under new skipper Joe Torre, the Yankees 
     returned to the World Series and would win four of the next 
     five World Championships, including three straight from 1998 
     through 2000. Their 114 victories in 1998 shattered the 44-
     year-old American-League mark of 111 wins by the 1954 
     Cleveland Indians (was broken by Seattle in 2001) and their 
     125 total victories (with 11 post-season wins) remains 
     Baseball's best single-season total;
       Whereas the Yankees' most-recent era of greatness featured 
     a consistent lineup of great homegrown and acquired players 
     to rival any period in franchise history. Since the arrival 
     of Bernie Williams in 1991, the Yankees' farm system has 
     produced All-Stars Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada 
     and Mariano Rivera. In addition, shrewd trades and free-agent 
     acquisitions have brought such All-Stars as Wade Boggs, Scott 
     Brosius, Roger Clemens, David Cone, Jason Giambi, Tino 
     Martinez, Mike Mussina, Paul O'Neil, Mike Stanton and David 
     Wells;
       Whereas in 2001, the Yankees failed to become only the 
     second team in history to win four consecutive World-Series 
     titles, but captured the hearts of the nation in the 
     aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The Yankees dropped 
     the first two games of the Series vs. the Arizona 
     Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark, but rallied to win the 
     next three at Yankee Stadium behind dramatic ninth-inning 
     comebacks in both games Three and Four. On consecutive 
     nights, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius erased two-run, 
     ninth-inning Diamondback leads with the Yankees winning both 
     games in extra innings. It marked the first time in World 
     Series history that a team won two games in the same series 
     when trailing by at least two runs in the ninth inning;
       Whereas as the Yankees begin their second century in 2003, 
     they seek to extend their franchise record of consecutive 
     post-season appearances to nine (a record matched only by the 
     Atlanta Braves, 1995-02). They will do so by expanding upon 
     the kind of innovation that set their first century--and its 
     26 World Championships--in motion. One hundred years ago, the 
     original 1903 team was built with stars from no fewer than 
     eight different Major-League teams. The 2003 Yankees--with 
     the additions of Cuban All-Star pitcher Jose Contreras and 
     three-time Japan Central League MVP Hideki Matsui--will be 
     comprised of stars from no fewer than six nations;
       Whereas the Yankees recorded their 41st first-place finish 
     in team history in 2002, the most of any professional sports 
     franchise . . . they are followed by the Montreal Canadians 
     (32), Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (27), Boston Celtics 
     (24), Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (24), Boston/Milwaukee/
     Atlanta Braves (23), New York/San Francisco Giants (21), 
     Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland A's (20) and New York 
     (football) Giants (20) . . . the Yankees' first-place total 
     includes the strike-shortened 1981 season when they won the 
     first half title; and
       Whereas the Yankees have won 26 of the 97 World Series' 
     played (27 percent) . . . they have won 38 of the 101 
     American League Pennants (38 percent). Since 1921, the 
     Yankees have been a participant in 38 of the 81 World Series' 
     played (47 percent). The Yankees have won a total of 127 
     games in the World Series . . . no other team has even played 
     in that many World Series games: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives and the 
     American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the New 
     York Yankees on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, and 
     express the sincerest gratitude to the entire organization.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 306.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution congratulates Major League Baseball's 
New York Yankees for their 100th anniversary. Let me make it clear at 
the outset, as my colleague from Illinois may as well, I am not a 
Yankees fan. My favorite year for the Yankees was 1959 when the White 
Sox won the American League Pennant, not all these Yankee 
championships. But I, like most Americans, give begrudging respect to 
the Boston Celtics and the University of Notre Dame football, for over 
the years, like the New York Yankees, they have been able to retain a 
remarkable tradition of winning. And the Yankees have the most 
extraordinary history of any professional sports team.
  It is one thing to win a few, but it is another thing to do it decade 
after decade as the New York Yankees have done. The Yankees franchise 
has won 38 American League pennants and 26 World Series championships 
in its history, both are the most of any major league baseball team.
  In January of 1903, two New York businessmen named Frank Farrell and 
Bill Devery purchased the failing Baltimore Orioles franchise for a 
mere $18,000. At the same time, the American League operated the 
Orioles, similar to Major League Baseball's management of today's 
Montreal Expos.
  The team's new stadium in New York was located on a hill overlooking 
the Bronx. Consequently, the team was renamed the Highlanders. The team 
became the Yankees and moved to the Polo Grounds in 1913. Also, the 
team added its famous navy blue pinstripes in 1912. The team's 
ascension to greatness perhaps commenced on January 3, 1920 when the 
Yankees acquired from the Boston Red Sox, something which

[[Page 23632]]

Boston has forever regretted, a rising star by the name of Babe Ruth.
  During his first year with the Yankees, Ruth hit 54 home runs and the 
Yankees won 95 games. In 1923, the Yankees began playing at the newly-
constructed Yankee Stadium, and they won their first World Series 
against the cross-town Giants.
  The Yankees won 19 more World Series through the 1964 season. The 
franchise only won two more titles in 1977 and 1978 prior to 1996. But 
since 1996, the Yankees have been to five World Series and won four, in 
1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. The Yankees have now won six straight 
American League Eastern Division titles and seven in manager Joe 
Torre's 8-year tenure in the Bronx.
  On Sunday, the Yankees finished the season tied with the Atlanta 
Braves for having the best record in baseball, 101 wins and 61 losses.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) 
for his work on this bill.
  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, I have never really been a Yankee fan. As a matter of 
fact, I grew up as a Dodger fan; and, of course, the Yankees generally 
got the best of that competition. But over the past 100 years, the New 
York Yankees have spun memorable personalities and indelible moments.
  The Yankees franchise is defined by team success and excellence. New 
York has won an American League pennant and appeared in a World Series 
in every decade since the 1920s, however, that was not always the case.
  The Yankee franchise formed in 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland as the 
Baltimore Orioles. They played their first game on April 26, 1902 in 
Oriole Park.
  In 1903, the franchise moved to New York and was renamed the New York 
Highlanders. From 1905 to 1919, the club was a regular inhabitant of 
the second division, seldom posted a winning record and lost 100-plus 
games twice. In 1913, they were renamed the New York Yankees. In 1923, 
they moved in to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.
  After spending their first 18 seasons, a cumulative 41 games, under 
the .55 percent, the Yankees swaggered into the Nation's consciousness 
with their first American League pennant in 1921. The legendary Yankee 
dynasty of the 1920s and 1930s won 11 pennants and eight World Series 
championships with players such as outfielders Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, 
and Joe DiMaggio; first baseman Lou Gehrig; infielder Tony Lazzeri; 
pitcher Waite Hoyt.

                              {time}  1500

  From 1941 to 1947, New York continued its success, winning four 
pennants and three World Series titles.
  Manager Casey Stengel guided the Yankees from 1948 through the 1960s, 
the team's most overpowering era. During this period, the club won 10 
American League pennants and seven World Series championships, 
including five straight championships from 1949 to 1953, a major league 
record. The teams Stengel managed featured Joe DiMaggio, catcher Yogi 
Berra, pitcher Whitey Ford, and outfielders Mickey Mantle and Roger 
Maris. The Yankee dynasty continued through the early 1960s as the team 
won the American League pennant from 1961 to 1964 and World Series 
crowns in 1961 and 1962.
  The next period of greatness came in the 1970s, after businessman 
George Steinbrenner bought the franchise and hired former Yankee Billy 
Martin as manager. Led by outfielder Reggie Jackson, the Yankees won 
three straight pennants from 1976 through 1978, going on to win the 
World Series in 1977 and 1978. The Yankees won another American League 
pennant in 1981. After a relative dry spell, the franchise returned to 
dominance in the late 1990s, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 
1999, and 2000.
  Yes, the Yankees are indeed the pride of millions of New Yorkers and 
millions of Americans who love the game of baseball, the great American 
pastime. I commend and congratulate them.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As I earlier mentioned, the famous Yankees dynasty compares like to 
the Boston Celtics who had Larry Bird from Indiana as one of their 
anchors and the University of Notre Dame which, of course, is based in 
Indiana, although most people do not realize that.
  I do want to pay tribute to two Yankee ties who clearly show that 
even the Yankees have Hoosier ties, which partly makes them successful. 
Don Mattingly will not be remembered in the same light as Ruth, Mantle, 
and DiMaggio given his lack of World Series rings; but this Evansville-
native-turned-New York Yankees legend has made a claim to be one of the 
best pure baseball players the Yankees ever had. During his prime in 
the 1980s, he had an on-base slugging of over .900, bettered only by 
Wade Boggs. On top of his outstanding hitting, he also tied for having 
the best fielding percentage of any first baseman ever to play the 
game. Between 1985 and 1989, he won a Yankee record for five 
consecutive Gold Glove awards at first base. Indiana is proud to be the 
home of this Yankee legend.
  The second Yankee I want to highlight with Hoosier ties is a man who 
never played a game for this proud organization. George Steinbrenner, 
better known as The Boss, has been called many things by his critics. 
Unsuccessful will never be one of them. During his tenure as the 
principal owner of the Yankees, he has guided this franchise to six 
World Series titles and put them back on top as the most recognized 
sports franchise in the world. I highlight this because Steinbrenner 
was a 1948 graduate of the Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. 
The Steinbrenners are a three-generation Culver family. George 
Steinbrenner's father, Henry, was a 1919 Culver Summer Schools 
graduate, and each of his children graduated from the academy as well.
  So I not only pay tribute to the New York Yankees but some of their 
Hoosier roots with the New York Yankees.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 5 
minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), a tremendous 
Yankee fan and the author of this resolution.
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank both gentlemen for the time and for 
bringing this resolution to the House floor. I cautiously stand to 
celebrate and with great joy 100 years of Yankee baseball. I do that 
because the gentlemen were very clear that they are not Yankee fans, 
that they are just carrying on their legislative duties today.
  I am a very happy man. As a lover of music and of baseball, today's a 
great day for me. We will celebrate Johnny Cash later on and Bob Hope, 
and now we celebrate 100 years of Yankee baseball.
  I grew up in the Bronx, coming from Puerto Rico; and if you grow up 
in the Bronx, you, of course, are aware of the fact that the Bronx 
Bombers reside within your neighborhood. I am a fortunate man still. I 
reside a few city streets, or as we call them city blocks, from Yankee 
Stadium; and my office is a few city blocks from Yankee Stadium.
  In that stadium for 100 years now, some of the best and most 
successful baseball has been played. If you are a Yankee fan, you deal 
with the fact that you have people who are very passionate about the 
Yankees and others who would want nothing more than to see them lose, 
starting today, they are playing right now, and never win again; and I 
understand that.
  What we do here today, and I know the gentlemen have said that, is to 
celebrate America's pastime, baseball, and in so doing, celebrate the 
most successful franchise within that sport.
  The Yankees have had, as has been stated here, many eras; and when 
you get into overlapping eras, you run the risk of leaving people out, 
but there was a Ruth-Gehrig era. There was the overlapping DiMaggio 
era. There was the area of Mantle and Berra and Rizzuto, Ford and 
Maris. There was later the exciting era for my children, where they 
became aware of baseball,

[[Page 23633]]

with Jackson and Mattingly and Winfield and Guidry; and lately, we have 
the Williams-Posada-Jeter-Pettite era, joined very recently by, and I 
am sorry to say this for our Yankee and Orioles fans, by Clemens, 
Mussina, Wells, Giambi, Soriano and, of course, Joe Torre.
  Just think of it, when the Yankees first started out they were made 
up of players from different baseball teams. This year, the winning 
Yankee team is made up of players from no fewer than six nations, 
including our latest additions of Cuban All Star pitcher Jose Contreras 
and Japanese Central League MVP Hideki Matsui.
  Yankee baseball is, therefore, the American Dream personified. It is 
success on the field. It is a behavior for most of the time outside the 
field, off the field, which typifies how we are as a people and how we 
care for each other; but to celebrate the Yankees without speaking to 
some of their stats would be totally improper. So at the expense of 
being driven out by the chairman and the ranking member, let me just 
remind my colleagues of a few.
  This was the Yankees' 42nd first-place finish. Of the 97 World Series 
played, the Yankees have won 26 of them or 27 percent. They have won 38 
of 101 American League pennants. Since 1921, they participated in 38 of 
the 81 World Series seasons, played 47 percent, and they have won 127 
World Series games. That is more victories than any other team has 
played in the World Series, and this will not end. Trust me, I just 
spoke to The Boss this morning; and there are a lot of Yankee players 
available, either through free agency or in the minor leagues.
  This is, again, the beginning of another play-off season; and we 
celebrate this team's success, and we celebrate what the Yankees mean 
to America, to the world now, to New York and to the Bronx.
  At different times in the history of my congressional district, at 
different times in the history of the Bronx, some negative things have 
been said about our neighborhoods; but never has anyone questioned the 
success of the Yankees, and these new Yankees, the Yankees who take 
players from all over the world, personify truly what the Bronx is. It 
is a place where people come together to work, to live, to be 
patriotic, and to enjoy baseball.
  So let this Yankee fan in the most diplomatic way, not to anger any 
Boston or Oriole fan, say that we are happy to celebrate 100 years of 
the Bronx Bombers, 100 years of New York Yankees baseball, and as the 
great Ernie Banks used to say, let us play two today, let us play 
three, and that is how many we can watch on TV today.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) control the rest of the time 
for this side.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney).
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I understand the levity in which we all rise here today; 
and I think in the best of spiritedness, the question for us that this 
would be a time for the House of Representatives to pass a resolution 
congratulating just a single baseball team. Major league baseball is 
currently in the midst of a play-off series including the Yankees as 
well as seven other teams that are worthy of our praise and our 
congratulations. In the middle of the baseball play-offs, I think we 
will all be rooting for our own respective teams and promoting team 
unity and sportsmanship.
  There are many other baseball teams that deserve our praise and 
congratulations, in particular the Boston Red Sox. In fact, this year 
the Red Sox are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their victory in 
the first-ever World Series. Red Sox history is peppered with record-
setting victories, triumph over adversity, and the dedication of Red 
Sox players, coaches, and fans.
  Now, it is true, Mr. Speaker, it is very true that in the long 
tradition of buying their way to the top, the Yankees were bought 100 
years ago; but if we are to recognize any team for its 100th 
anniversary, we ought to congratulate the Red Sox for their World 
Series, not just congratulate a team simply for being acquired.
  I have prepared an amendment to offer to this resolution to include 
congratulations to the Red Sox on the 100th anniversary of their 
victory in the first World Series; but I understand that since the bill 
was brought to the floor on the suspension calendar, that cannot be 
done. So I instead, Mr. Speaker, I will enter the amendment text in the 
Record at this point.

   Amendment to H. Res. 306, Offered by Mr. Tierney of Massachusetts:

       After ``Congratulating the New York Yankees on the occasion 
     of their 100th anniversary'' insert ``and the Boston Red Sox 
     on the 100th anniversary of their victory in the first ever 
     World Series;
       Whereas the Boston Pilgrims (who would become the Boston 
     Red Sox in 1907), in 1903 met the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 
     first ever World Series in 1903 after winning the American 
     league pennant by an unprecedented 14\1/2\ games;
       Whereas Denton True ``Cy'' Young pitched a dramatic 11-2 
     win in Game 5 of the best-of-nine series, yielding only six 
     hits and himself driving in three runs;
       Whereas Bill Dinneen struck out Honus Wagner, widely 
     considered the best player in the game at the time, to win 
     the 1903 World Series;
       Whereas Denton True ``Cy'' Young played for Boston from 
     1901 until 1908, beginning at age 34, and finished his eight 
     years in Boston with a 192-112 record. In his first year with 
     the Pilgrims, Young posted a 33-10 record, a 1.62 ERA, 5 
     shutouts and 158 K's, walking a mere 37 batters in 371 
     innings. In addition, Young was the only pitcher in 
     baseball's first 100 years to win 500 games, including three 
     no-hit shutouts and a perfect game on May 5, 1904;
       Whereas in 1908 the Red Sox acquired from Kansas City 
     ``Smokey'' Joe Wood, who was known as the successor to the 
     great Cy Young. By the 1911 season, Wood was smoking and he 
     showed his golden arm for the baseball world to see. His 23-
     17 record that year included a no-hitter against the St. 
     Louis Browns on July 29. He also recorded 15 strikeouts in 
     the game--a record that wouldn't be broken until Boston's 
     Bill Monbouquette fanned 17 in 1961. In 1912, Wood's 34-5 
     record was the best in the league;
       Whereas ``Smokey'' Joe's most memorable game came on 
     September 6, 1912. Carrying a 13-game winning streak, the 
     Washington Senators came to town and challenged the Red Sox 
     to throw their bright, young talent a day ahead of his 
     scheduled start against their staff's ace: Walter ``Big 
     Train'' Johnson. Johnson's record-setting 16-game consecutive 
     win streak had just been snapped. Wood accepted the challenge 
     and the newspapers went wild. They compared the two hurlers 
     to prize fighters. In the sixth inning, Tris Speaker and 
     Duffy Lewis traded doubles off of Johnson and scored a run. 
     It would be the only time either team crossed the plate that 
     afternoon as Wood won his 14th straight. Wood went on to 
     notch two more wins, tying Johnson's 16-game record, before 
     losing;
       Whereas in 1912 the Boston Red Sox moved from the 
     Huntington Avenue Grounds to Fenway Park, the new stadium 
     built specifically for the Red Sox. The season opener against 
     the New York Highlanders (later known as the Yankees) was 
     delayed two days by rain, but 27,000 ``Fenway Faithful'' 
     showed up on April 20 to watch what turned into a three hour 
     and 20 minute game that went into the 11th inning, when Red 
     Sox player Tris Speaker knocked in second baseman Steve 
     Yerkes to win the game 7-6. The spectacular win was kept off 
     the front page due to the sinking of the Titanic;
       Whereas the 1912 Red Sox went on to post their best record 
     ever: 105-47, (a mark which stands today). They also beat the 
     New York Giants that year in the first ``true'' World Series 
     match of the National and American League champions;
       Whereas the Red Sox acquired Lefty Grove from the 
     Philadelphia Athletics in 1934. He led the American League in 
     strikeouts for seven consecutive years (1925-1931). Nine 
     times he led AL pitchers with his stingy ERA in his 17-year 
     career. Only two other pitchers led the league in ERA as many 
     as five times. After a year plagued by arm problems that led 
     him to pitch an 8-8 record, the first time he failed to win 
     20 wins since 1926, Grove was back to form in 1935, posting a 
     20-12 mark and a league-leading 2.70 ERA. Grove went 17-12 in 
     1936 for Boston 17-9 in 1937, 14-4 in 1938 and 15-4 in 1939. 
     In four of his eight years with the Red Sox he led the league 
     in ERA. On July 25, 1941, at 41 years old, Lefty Grove put 
     the finishing touches on his spectacular career. Pitching 
     through nine innings and 90-degree heat, Grove notched his 
     300th win in a 10-6 win over Cleveland and became the fifth 
     all-time winningest pitcher in baseball history;

[[Page 23634]]

       Whereas in just his third year, at only 23 years of age, 
     Ted Williams went into the last day of the 1941 season 
     hitting .3996, an average that officially rounds up to .400. 
     The last major leaguer to hit over .400 was Bill Terry in 
     1930 and the last American League player was Harry Heilmann 
     in 1923;
       Whereas on June 18, 1953, the Red Sox scored 17 runs in one 
     inning against the Detroit Tigers with 14 hits and six walks 
     in the record-setting inning. The Red Sox broke or tied 17 
     major league records that day, including the most runs in one 
     inning (17) and the most hits in a game (27);
       Whereas on September 28, 1960 Ted Williams ended his Hall 
     of Fame career when he sent 10,454 fans into a frenzy by 
     launching a 1-1 pitch from Baltimore Orioles' pitcher Jack 
     Fisher high into the damp gray sky and into the Red Sox 
     bullpen for his 521st home run;
       Whereas in 1961 Carl Michael Yastrzemski, later known 
     simply as ``Yaz,'' joined the Red Sox, replacing Ted Williams 
     in left field. Yastrzemski tops the Red Sox charts for runs 
     batted in, hits, games, at-bats, runs scored, extra base hits 
     and total bases. He holds a top-ten rank in eight of 
     baseball's offensive categories and became the first American 
     Leaguer to reach the 3,000-hit and 400-home run milestone;
       Whereas in 1967 Yastrzemski led ``The Impossible Dream,'' 
     He took a Red Sox team that led the majors in losses the 
     previous season and guided it on one of sport's most engaging 
     turnarounds. A .326 average, 44 home runs and 121 RBI gave 
     ``Yaz'' the American League Triple Crown;
       Whereas Carl Yastrzemski, at age 40, notched his 3,000th 
     hit on September 12, 1979;
       Whereas in 1964 Tony Conigliaro, known as ``Tony C'' to his 
     fans, burst onto the baseball scene in Fenway Park, taking 24 
     homers over the ``Green Monster'' in 111 games while batting 
     .290. In his second year with the Sox, Conigliaro belted 32 
     home runs, leading the American League. At 20 years old, 
     Conigliaro became the youngest home-run leader in baseball 
     history. He followed that effort in 1966 with 28 home runs;
       Whereas on August 18, 1967, Conigliaro was gravely injured 
     by a rising, inside fastball from California's Jack Hamilton. 
     After missing the remainder of the 1967 season and all of 
     1968, Conigliaro surpassed remarkable odds and returned in 
     1969. He batted .255, hit 20 homers and won the ``Comeback 
     Player of the Year'' award. He improved in 1970 when he 
     belted 36 home runs and 116 RBI;
       Whereas the Fenway Park fans showed great passion and 
     sensitivity by avoiding wearing light-colored clothing in the 
     center field bleachers to help Conigliaro see pitches;
       Whereas Carlton Fisk, known as ``Pudge,'' joined the Red 
     Sox in 1972. In his rookie year he batted .293, hit 22 home 
     runs and finished tied for the league lead with nine triples, 
     marks which earned him the season's ``Rookie of the Year'' 
     award. His most memorable moment turned into a scene that 
     encompasses the tradition and faith of all Red Sox fans. The 
     dominating catcher stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 
     12th inning of World Series Game Six in 1975. After Bernie 
     Carbo's three-run pinch hit homer tied the game in the eighth 
     and Dwight Evans' stunning catch gave the team life in the 
     eleventh, Fisk was ready to close the door on a night of 
     heroes. The catcher jumped on the second offering from Pat 
     Darcy and lifted a high blast down the left field line that 
     seemed to turn one of baseball's greatest games into a slow 
     motion dream. Fisk stood at home plate, waving the ball fair 
     like a man controlling the winds and leaped in elation as the 
     game winning home run bounced off the foul pole, opening the 
     gates for a wild celebration guided by a home run dance 
     around the bases. It was a moment that typified a great 
     career;
       Whereas through 10-plus seasons in Boston, Fisk accumulated 
     162 home runs while compiling a .481 slugging percentage--
     tenth in club history. Fisk is among the leaders in three 
     other offensive categories and is remembered for his uncanny 
     stature in the field. For his career, Fisk caught more games 
     (2,226) and hit more home runs (351 of his career 376) than 
     any player at his position ever;
       Whereas in 1975, a rookie named Fred Lynn made baseball 
     history by earning both the 1975 Rookie of the Year and Most 
     Valuable Player Awards, an accomplishment that had neither 
     been done before. Lynn also earned a batting championship and 
     four gold gloves, played in six All-Star games and led the 
     league in slugging percentage twice and doubles once;
       Whereas outfielder Dwight ``Dewey'' Evans entered the big 
     leagues in 1972 with the Red Sox and at the end of his career 
     placed in the top five of ten offensive categories in the 
     club's records, the most notable being the 379 home runs and 
     1,346 RBI that put him fourth, behind Ted Williams, Carl 
     Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice. Evans also finished his career 
     with the second most games played and at-bats in Boston 
     history;
       Whereas Jim Rice joined the Red Sox in 1974 after securing 
     the International League's triple crown and in his first full 
     year with the team batted .309 with 22 home runs and 102 RBI, 
     leading the Sox to the American League pennant and the 1975 
     World Series. In 1978 he was named the A.L.'s MVP after 
     setting staggering marks including major league leading 
     totals of 46 homers, 139 RBI, 15 triples, 406 total bases, 
     213 hits and a .600 slugging percentage;
       Whereas Roger Clemens warmed up a cannon before a Tuesday 
     night game in April of 1986 and shot down 20 Seattle Mariners 
     by night's end to break the Major League record for 
     strikeouts in a nine inning game. It was an exhibition of 
     sheer power and by the time the smoke cleared, the ``Rocket'' 
     had fanned the side three times and during one stretch sat 
     down eight Mariners in a row. He looked unhitable. Seventy 
     percent of his pitches were strikes, many of which topped the 
     radar gun at 95 mph and higher;
       Whereas in 1997 the Red Sox were treated to the arrival of 
     a rookie named Nomar Garciaparra, who immediately turned into 
     a superstar. The dynamic shortstop won ``Rookie of the Year'' 
     honors by hitting .306 with 122 runs, 209 hits, 44 doubles, 
     11 triples, 30 homers, 98 RBIs and 22 stolen bases;
       Whereas in 1998, after acquiring star right-hander Pedro 
     Martinez, the Red Sox produced their first 90-win season 
     since 1996. The 92-70 finish was good enough to vault them 
     into the playoffs as the AL Wild Card. Nomar Garciaparra 
     finished second in AL MVP balloting. The Red Sox snapped 
     their postseason losing streak of 13 games by beating the 
     Indians 11-3 in Game 1;
       Whereas in 2000 Nomar Garciaparra earned his second 
     consecutive batting title and Pedro Martinez earned his third 
     Cy Young award in four years. Garciaparra's .372 batting 
     average was the best batting average for a right-handed 
     hitter in the past 50 years;
       Whereas in 2001 the Red Sox signed superstar slugger Manny 
     Ramirez off the free agent market, who clubbed a three-run 
     homer in the first pitch he saw in a home uniform at Fenway 
     Park;
       Whereas on April 4, 2001, Hideo Nomo pitched Boston's first 
     no-hitter since 1965. The start against the Orioles at Camden 
     Yards was Nomo's first in a Boston uniform;
       Whereas in 2002 the Red Sox began a new era, as the 
     ownership group led by John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry 
     Lucchino officially took over on Feb. 27. The Red Sox went 
     93-69 under new manager Grady Little, but missed the playoffs 
     for the third straight year. Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe 
     gave the Sox their first 20-win tandem since 1949. The 
     highlight of the season was Lowe's no-hitter at Fenway on 
     April 27 against the Devil Rays. Manny Ramirez, despite 
     missing six weeks with a fractured left index finger, won his 
     first batting title;
       Whereas Red Sox have appeared in the post-season seven 
     times (1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2003) since 
     1986;''
       After ``Resolved, That the House of Representatives and the 
     American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the New 
     York Yankees on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, and 
     express the sincerest gratitude to the entire organization.'' 
     Insert ``Resolved, That the House of Representatives and the 
     American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the 
     Boston Red Sox on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of 
     its victory in the first World Series and express the 
     sincerest gratitude to the entire organization.''

  So I join, Mr. Speaker, the Red Sox nation in congratulating the Red 
Sox on the 100th anniversary of their victory in the first World Series 
and for their recent wild-card victory in the 2003 play-offs. On behalf 
of the Red Sox fans across the country and the world, I hope that the 
85th time is a charm and it is this year. Good luck for all the teams 
in the play-offs and the Red Sox in particular, as well as the Yankees.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 306, which congratulates the New York Yankees on their 100th 
anniversary.
  Others who have spoken before me, and will speak after me, will have 
talked about the Yankees' prowess on the baseball field. Certainly 
their 26 World championships and 38 American League Pennants are 
unsurpassed in all of professional sports.
  With my time today, however, I want to speak about one of the 
legendary New York Yankees, a man who has left his mark on this 
organization without ever taking to the field. That is George 
Steinbrenner, who bought the Yankees in January 1973 and has since then 
made it the most valuable sports franchise in the world.
  Sports fans and non-sports fans alike know of George Steinbrenner's 
pride in the Yankees and his drive and desire to win the World 
Championship. Few people, however, know of his compassion and 
willingness to come to the aid of those most in need.
  George Steinbrenner and his son Hal Steinbrenner devote much of their 
personal time in support of the Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit 
organization that assists the families of U.S. Special Operations 
Forces who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. The 
Foundation provides scholarships for the children of these brave 
warriors who serve our Nation in anonymity.
  George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees also show their support 
of our troops

[[Page 23635]]

throughout the season, by regularly honoring them at Yankee Stadium. 
During New York's Fleet Week, the Yankees honor thousands of sailors, 
soldiers, marines, airmen, and Coast Guardsmen while hosting them at 
baseball games. The Yankees regularly pay personal visits to our troops 
when they are hospitalized with injuries, and they honor those who are 
able to travel to Yankee Stadium.
  Few people will ever forget the special bond that developed between 
the Yankees and the fire and police departments of New York City 
following the tragic events of 9/11. Our Nation will never forget the 
spiritual and emotional lift that those same Yankees gave our Nation 
with their never say die effort during the 2001 World Series.
  Back home in the Tampa Bay area that I have the honor to represent, 
George Steinbrenner annually sponsors of series of holiday shows with 
the Florida Orchestra for underprivileged youth. Having participated in 
many of these shows, I can tell you that he brings greater happiness to 
thousands of children at these events each year.
  He also reaches out to lend a helping hand to individuals and 
families with special needs throughout our community. He does not seek 
publicity for his efforts, he just does it because it's the right thing 
to do.
  Mr. Speaker, George Steinbrenner is an American icon for his success 
as the owner of a professional sports team. For me, however, he is a 
true hero for his selfless acts to support our service members and our 
neighbors most in need. This is the side of George Steinbrenner few 
will ever see or read about but for which thousands are thankful and 
eternally grateful.
  As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of this storied sports 
franchise, let us also say thank you to a great American with the heart 
of a champion. He has given our Nation much to cheer both on and off 
the playing field.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, to the city of New York, the New York 
Yankees are truly more than just a baseball team.
  For 100 years, they have captured the imagination, brought New 
Yorkers together and given our city of champions a championship spirit.
  The numbers speak for themselves: 26 World Series won. 38 Hall-of-
Famers. 6 consecutive division titles--and counting.
  From Manhattan to Moscow, The Bronx to Beijing, you're likely to see 
someone wearing the distinctive Yankees ball cap wherever you go.
  The world over, everyone knows the Yankees. But my most cherished 
Yankees memory, and the one that confirmed the uplifting, inspirational 
power the Yankees have was in the aftermath of the tragic attacks of 9/
11.
  It was the City's darkest hour and New Yorkers' most harrowing 
experience. Collectively, New Yorkers rallied around their neighbors, 
their leaders--and their championship teams.
  That year, the Yankees put on an exhilarating, magical performance in 
the World Series, constantly fighting back from the brink of defeat to 
push the series to the limit.
  That year, the Yankees' post-season performance was the first bit of 
good news many New Yorkers had received in weeks.
  For that, and so many other memories, I am thrilled to join with my 
colleagues here and millions of New Yorkers back home in congratulating 
the New York Yankees for 100 years of thrills, excitement and 
excellence.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 306.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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