[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10153-10154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING ALBERT PUJOLS ON BEING NAMED THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER 
   FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR THE 2005 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 626) congratulating Albert Pujols on being named 
the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major 
League Baseball season.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 626

       Whereas Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals was named 
     the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 
     Major League Baseball season;
       Whereas in 2005 Albert Pujols led the Cardinals with a 
     batting average of .330, 41 home runs, 117 runs batted in, 
     and 16 stolen bases;
       Whereas Albert Pujols is the only player in the history of 
     Major League Baseball to have a batting average higher than 
     .300, hit 30 or more home runs, drive in 100 or more runs, 
     and score 100 or more runs in each of his first five seasons 
     in the major leagues;
       Whereas Albert Pujols has already won the 2001 Rookie of 
     the Year Award for the National League, the 2003 National 
     League batting championship, and the Most Valuable Player 
     Award for the 2004 National League Championship Series;
       Whereas Albert Pujols exemplifies true sportsmanship and 
     class; and
       Whereas Albert Pujols is active in numerous St. Louis area 
     charities and causes, most notably through his establishment 
     of, and involvement in, the Pujols Family Foundation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the 
     National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the national pastime, obviously, is baseball and to 
honor the most valuable player of the 2005 season seems to be only 
appropriate. Certainly, there can be no more appropriate thing as we go 
into the heart of baseball season than to consider a resolution 
recognizing this amazingly great accomplishment and an amazing season 
in 2005. And so I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Jose Alberto Pujols is 
widely regarded as one of major league baseball's best offensive 
players because he hits consistently for average and power. On August 
5, 2005, Pujols became the first player in major league history to hit 
30 or more home runs in each of his first five seasons. On August 31, 
2005, he became the first major league player since Ted Williams to 
have 100 runs batted in during each of his first five seasons.
  Originally from the Dominican Republic, it was in the United States 
that Pujols developed his love for baseball and demonstrated his 
ability for the game. He batted over .500 during his first season of 
high school baseball. At Maple Woods Community College in the Kansas 
City area, Pujols showed off his talent by hitting a grand slam and 
recording an unassisted triple play during his first game and by 
batting .461 during his first season.

[[Page 10154]]

  The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Pujols in the 13th round of the 1999 
draft. He initially turned down a $10,000 bonus and opted to play in 
the Jayhawk League in Kansas. By the end of the summer, the Cardinals 
had increased their bonus offer to $60,000. Pujols signed with the 
Cardinals and was assigned to the minor leagues. By the next year he 
was playing for Single A team the Peoria Chiefs where he was voted 
league Most Valuable Player. Pujols progressed quickly through the 
ranks of the St. Louis farm system and on to the major leagues.
  The 2005 season saw Pujols establish career highs in walks and stolen 
bases while leading the St. Louis Cardinals in almost every offensive 
category. He finished with a .330 batting average, a .430 on-base 
percentage, and a .609 slugging percentage, 41 home runs, a grand slam, 
117 RBIs, 97 walks and 16 stolen bases. The Cardinals were eliminated 
during the National League championship series, but only after Pujols 
hit a memorable home run in game five, a two-out, three-run blast in 
the top of the ninth inning off Houston Astro closer Brad Lidge. After 
the season, Pujols received his first National League Most Valuable 
Player award which underscored his critical role in keeping the injury-
plagued Cardinals on track throughout the season.
  Pujols should be commended for his work on the baseball field, for 
the foundation he and his wife, Diedre, have created and dedicated to 
the love, care and development of people with Downs Syndrome and their 
families, and for helping the poor in the Dominican Republic. For those 
and other reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 626, a 
tremendous athlete, but an even more tremendous humanitarian.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. I have no further speakers on this side, Mr. Speaker, so I 
will reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. It is my pleasure to yield such time as he 
might consume to that great St. Louis Cardinal fan and the sponsor of 
this legislation, Representative Carnahan from Missouri.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 626, congratulating Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals 
on being named the Most Valuable Player in the National League for the 
2005 Major League Baseball season.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, we recently passed a companion resolution, 
House Resolution 627, congratulating his teammate, Chris Carpenter, for 
winning the National League Cy Young Award. This marks the first time 
since 1968 that the Cardinals have won both an MVP and Cy Young Award 
in the same year.
  Albert Pujols came to spring training in 2001 as a 13th round draft 
choice. Not only did he make the St. Louis Cardinals opening day roster 
that year, but he won a starting job and went on to win the National 
League Rookie of the Year Award.
  The first 5 years of his career rank among the best in baseball 
history. He has a career .332 batting average, 201 home runs and 621 
runs batted in.
  He is the only player in the history of the major leagues to have a 
batting average higher than .300, hit 30 or more home runs, drive in 
100 or more runs, and score 100 or more runs in each of his first five 
seasons.
  During the 2005 season, Albert Pujols led the Cardinals with a 
batting average of .330, 41 home runs, 117 runs batted in, and 16 
stolen bases. He was a major factor in the Cardinals' 100-win season 
and run to the National League championship series.
  Albert Pujols is truly a champion on and off the field. He and his 
wife, Diedre, have three children, a son named Albert, Jr., a daughter 
named Sophia and a daughter Isabella who has Downs Syndrome.
  In 2005 they started the Pujols Family Foundations which is dedicated 
to the love, care and development of people with Downs Syndrome and 
also reaches out to impoverished families in the Dominican Republic, 
Albert's native country.
  As a lifelong Cardinals fan and St. Louis resident, it is an absolute 
joy to watch Albert Pujols on and off the field. He embodies the true 
spirit of Cardinal Nation, and I offer my most sincere congratulations 
on all that he has accomplished thus far, and wish him the best in the 
future, including recovering from his recent injuries.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the spirit that he brings to baseball and that 
has captured this country is also reflected in the numerous Members of 
this Congress, not just from St. Louis, not just from the State of 
Missouri, but from around the country and both sides of the aisle that 
joined in sponsoring this resolution of congratulations.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 626 introduced by 
my distinguished colleague from Missouri. This resolution will 
recognize the efforts and achievements of the 2005 National League Most 
Valuable Player, the legendary St. Louis Cardinals infielder, Albert 
Pujols.
  The professional career and life pursuits of Albert Pujols exemplify 
nothing short of perseverance, skill, and integrity. His statistics for 
the first 5 years of his career rank amongst the best in baseball 
history with a .332 career batting average, 201 home runs and 621 
RBI's. Pujols is distinguished as being the only player to have a 
batting average higher than .300--and to have hit over 30 home runs--
and to have driven in over 100 runs in each of his first 5 seasons. He 
was recipient of the 2001 Rookie of the Year Award for the National 
League, 2003 National League batting champion, and the Most Valuable 
Player of the 2004 National League Championship Series. Pujols 
throughout his athletic career has demonstrated the highest level of 
sportsmanship and showmanship--earning him the Most Valuable Player of 
the 2005 National League Championship Series.
  In an exceptional 2005 campaign Pujols established career highs in 
walks and stolen bases. With 41 home runs and 16 stolen bases, he 
became just the second Cardinal to finish with at least 40 home runs 
and 15 stolen bases in a single season, after Rogers Hornsby in 1922. 
Pujols finished second in the National League with a .330 batting 
average--hitting his 200th career homer along with a grand slam. 
Additionally, but not understated, Pujols finished with 117 RBI's, 97 
walks, and a career low 38 doubles caused by nagging injuries.
  Cardinals' fans were given even more ammunition to celebrate in 2005, 
because Albert Pujols' Most Valuable Player recognition marks the first 
time that the Cardinals have had both a Most Valuable Player and Cy 
Young award winner-pitcher, Chris Carpenter in the same year.
  Pujols' characteristics and accomplishments are not limited to his 
accolades on the field. Off the field Pujols and his wife, Deidre, have 
three children: Isabella, A.J. Alberto Jr., and their newest addition 
Sophia. Both Pujols and his wife are generous and active supporters of 
community issues and in 2005 established the Pujols Family Foundation. 
The Foundation is dedicated to the ``love, care and development of 
people with Down Syndrome and also reaches out to impoverished families 
in the Dominican Republic.''
  Recently Pujols became the third fastest player in major league 
history to reach 25 home runs in a season and was on pace to hit a 
record breaking 82 home runs--before an oblique injury--which would 
have surpassed the single-season home run record of 73 home runs held 
by Barry Bonds.
  Albert Pujols has become a role model and an inspiration to his fans, 
and others, through his many outstanding achievements. I congratulate 
him on his 2005 successes both on and off the field, and we all wish 
him a speedy recovery and a quick return from his present injuries. He 
is truly a modem American hero and I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption and yield back.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 626.
  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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