[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14931-14932]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TWO WASHINGTON NATIONALS STARS HAIL FROM NEVADA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Nevada is a relatively small State 
population-wise but a large area. We are a State of about 3 million 
people. We take pride in our home State, as we should. Even though we 
have grown a lot in the last couple of decades, we are still a big 
family.
  Today Nevadans are celebrating two of our home State's native sons 
after the Washington Nationals clinched the National League East 
Division crown. There is a lot of dissension here on the Senate floor 
and a lot of talk back and forth, but one thing you never hear often 
enough is that the Republican leader and I love watching baseball. We 
often share our views of the team and how, if we were there, we may do 
things a little differently, but we are still a booster for the team.
  The reason I mention this today is because there are two individuals 
who helped the Nationals clinch the National League East Division who 
have deep roots in Nevada.
  In his first season as manager of the team, Matt Williams, from 
Carson City, NV, has led his team to the National Division series. He 
has a stunningly powerful record athletically and is just a nice 
person. He was a baseball and football star at Carson City High. Carson 
City is the capital of the State of Nevada.
  Matt Williams played baseball collegiately for the University of 
Nevada at Las Vegas, where he was a star. He was so good, he played 16 
years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Giants, Indians, and 
Diamondbacks. He played in the World Series for each of those teams. He 
is a five-time all-star and a four-time Gold Glove Award winner. He was 
a stunningly good third baseman, and he sports a World Series 
championship ring from the Diamondbacks.
  Bryce Harper had his picture on the front of Sports Illustrated when 
he was 15 years old for hitting a home run more than 500 feet. He is a 
fine young man from a wonderful family. He came to the Major Leagues 
when he was 18 years old--he may have been 19. I believe he is going to 
turn 22 soon.
  During his rookie year he had a very serious injury. What was the 
injury? He was running full speed and rammed into the wall at Dodger 
Stadium, and he was hurt. It took away from his stellar year, but he 
still did OK. He was Rookie of the Year and on the all-star team that 
first year. He played baseball at Las Vegas High School, and he left 
high school and went to a junior community college as a 17-year-old. 
Because of his power, he went to the National Junior College World 
Series. He is a two-time all-star. He is in his third season. In 2012 
he was Rookie of the Year, and he was hurt again this year because of 
his enthusiasm for the game and his never-ending hustle. He hit a 
triple and went into third base and messed up his thumb. That required 
surgery, and as a result he missed much of this season. However, he is 
having a good season in spite of that.
  We are very proud of our baseball athletes.
  This year one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Greg 
Maddux, was, of course, on the first ballot and was made a member of 
the Baseball Hall of Fame. This unassuming young man has been an 
example for how people should be athletes--not a lot of talk, other 
than when he does talk. He has a lot of humility. He is a great 
athlete.
  I wish Matt Williams, Bryce Harper, and the rest of the team the best 
of everything when the playoffs get underway. It should be an exciting 
divisional series.
  I also follow the Baltimore Orioles, and until the Nationals showed 
up, that was about all we had in the area. They have a great team. 
Their owner is a tremendous trial lawyer. He still works every day 
practicing law. They have a tremendous team. They have had a few bad 
breaks. Their very young third baseman was hurt. He lost a lot of this 
season, as he did last year.
  Anyway, it would be a great World Series to have Baltimore playing 
the Nationals. That would be something I would really look forward to. 
Again, it was exciting to watch them all year. Two or three games ago 
Bryce Harper hit one of his towering home runs. They are still talking 
about how far he hit it.

[[Page 14932]]



                          ____________________