[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18--HONORING DAVID AMERICO ORTIZ ARIAS, 
   THE 3-TIME WORLD SERIES CHAMPION MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER WHO 
PLAYED FOR THE MINNESOTA TWINS AND THE BOSTON RED SOX FOR A COMBINED 20 
                                SEASONS

  Mr. MARKEY (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
Hassan, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. King) submitted 
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 18

       Whereas David Americo Ortiz Arias, known to fans as ``Big 
     Papi'', was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 
     November 18, 1975;
       Whereas after graduating from Estudia Espaillat High School 
     in the Dominican Republic in 1992, David Ortiz was signed by 
     the Seattle Mariners;
       Whereas on September 2, 1997, David Ortiz made his Major 
     League Baseball (in this preamble referred to as ``MLB'') 
     debut for the Minnesota Twins at age 21;
       Whereas on January 22, 2003, David Ortiz signed a free-
     agent contract with the Boston Red Sox;
       Whereas David Ortiz has created numerous iconic moments in 
     Boston sports history, including--
       (1) on October 18, 2004, hitting a walk-off home run in the 
     12th inning of Game 4 of the 2004 American League 
     Championship Series against the New York Yankees to spark the 
     Boston Red Sox's improbable comeback from a 3 games-to-none 
     series deficit, the only time in MLB history a team has ever 
     made such a comeback;
       (2) on October 19, 2004, hitting a walk-off single in the 
     14th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 American League 
     Championship Series against the New York Yankees to continue 
     the Boston Red Sox's comeback; and
       (3) on October 13, 2013, hitting a grand slam to right-
     center field to tie Game 2 of the 2013 American League 
     Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers;

       Whereas David Ortiz was instrumental in helping the Boston 
     Red Sox snap an 86-year World Series drought;
       Whereas David Ortiz played a crucial role in the Boston Red 
     Sox winning the World Series in 2007 and 2013;
       Whereas David Ortiz has won numerous awards for his 
     baseball prowess, including--
       (1) the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award 
     from MLB in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013;
       (2) the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player 
     Award from MLB in 2004;
       (3) the Thomas A. Yawkey Most Valuable Player Award from 
     the Boston Red Sox in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2013;
       (4) the Silver Slugger Award as a designated hitter from 
     MLB in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2013;
       (5) the designation of ``All-Star'' from MLB in 2004, 2005, 
     2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016;
       (6) the Hank Aaron Award from MLB in 2005;
       (7) the Roberto Clemente Award from MLB in 2011;
       (8) the Babe Ruth Award from MLB in 2013; and
       (9) the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in 2013;

       Whereas David Ortiz's ``Why not us?'' attitude in 2004 
     transformed the baseball culture of the city of Boston, the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and ``Red Sox Nation'' from 
     one of near misses to one of champions;
       Whereas David Ortiz founded the David Ortiz Children's Fund 
     in 2007;
       Whereas the David Ortiz Children's Fund has provided 
     millions of dollars of financial assistance to more than 500 
     children for life-saving surgeries;
       Whereas on June 11, 2008, David Ortiz was sworn in as a 
     citizen of the United States along with 226 other immigrants 
     at the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester, Massachusetts;
       Whereas David Ortiz instilled hope and pride in the city of 
     Boston in the days following the bombings at the Boston 
     Marathon in 2013;
       Whereas on April 20, 2013, David Ortiz gave a rousing and 
     inspirational speech after the Boston Marathon bombings, 
     reminding Boston and the country that ``nobody is going to 
     dictate our freedom'';
       Whereas David Ortiz comforted the victims of the Boston 
     Marathon bombings, visiting them in the hospital and giving 
     them tickets to games throughout the 2013 MLB season;
       Whereas the city of Boston has honored David Ortiz for his 
     impact on the city by naming a bridge and a street after him;
       Whereas the love and respect for David Ortiz felt by the 
     city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Red 
     Sox Nation is unparalleled; and
       Whereas David Ortiz played his final MLB game on October 
     10, 2016: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) honors the legendary career of David Americo Ortiz 
     Arias, whose character, leadership, and selflessness have 
     helped define the identity of the city of Boston, the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and all of Red Sox Nation; and
       (2) wishes David Ortiz a fulfilling retirement as he bids 
     farewell to the baseball diamond.

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