    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [February 17, 1998]
    [Pages 235-236]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the 1997 World Series Champion Florida Marlins
    February 17, 1998

        The President. Well, welcome to the White House. Mr. Smiley; Mr. Leyland; glad to be joined by
    the executive director of the players association, Don Fehr; Congressman Deutsch;
    Congressman Foley; Congressman Wexler. I think I should also say--I see my EPA Administrator,
    Carol Browner, here. You should know that
    this administration has three members--along with Carol Browner,
    Attorney General Janet Reno and the Secretary of
    the Treasury, Bob Rubin--who all grew up in
    south Florida. They're fairly happy about the outcome of the World
    Series.
        You can tell that I am not running for office anymore; I might not
    have said that here. [Laughter] But we are delighted.
        When I was first elected President, I never could have dreamed that
    a lot of the things that would occur in the last 5 years have occurred.
    I didn't imagine then that millions of people would be using the
    Internet every day. When I was first elected President, there were only
    50 sites, and they were all the province of physicists. I couldn't have
    imagined that the deficit would come from $300 billion to zero in 5
    years. And I could not have predicted that the Florida Marlins would be
    here because they hadn't even played a game yet. [Laughter] That is a
    truly astonishing achievement.
        But what you did in a short time was a gift to your magnificent
    leader, Jim Leyland, for a lifetime in
    professional baseball. And all of us who are baseball fans of whatever
    team had to be happy about that.
        And of course, a manager can't win without talented players and
    without teamwork. Livan Hernandez dazzled us
    with his pitching and became only the second rookie ever to win the
    World Series MVP Award. Charles Johnson's
    defense earned him the Gold Glove as catcher for the third year in a
    row. Edgar Renteria's name will live in
    baseball history forever for ending one of the most exciting World
    Series in history with his two-out single in the bottom of the 11th. You
    know, those games got so long, some of us really did want them to go on
    forever after a while. [Laughter]
        Baseball, I think, made a huge comeback as America's national
    pastime in this World Series, thanks to the magnificent competition
    which you won deservedly.
        You know, a lot of the players on this team are newcomers to our
    country, and so are many of the fans of the Florida Marlins. I suppose
    it's only right that the capital of the Americas

    [[Page 236]]

    would take its turn as the baseball capital of the world. But even more
    importantly, we should be proud of the example this team set, proving
    once again that people of very different ethnic backgrounds can play
    together and win together. Now, it may not be the precise same Marlin
    team that played the Indians last year that takes the field on opening
    day, but if the players keep the same spirit they'll be sure to be in
    the hunt again when the season comes to a close.
        Congratulations. For all of us who grew up with baseball as a
    national pastime, you gave America a great gift last year that none of
    us will ever forget. Thank you.

    [At this point, Florida Marlins president Don Smiley, manager Jim Leyland, and third
    baseman Bobby Bonilla made brief remarks. Mr.
    Leyland noted that the President was the most important person he had
    ever played golf with, and Mr. Bonilla presented the President with a
    World Series jersey.]

        The President. Thank you. Since you
    mentioned our golf game, I want to make two brief points before we
    adjourn--[laughter]--we're going to take a picture. Number one is, I
    want you to get another ring so you can quit about the time I quit, and
    then we'll go on the senior tour together. [Laughter]
        Secondly, if you really thought of that line about the budget, we
    have a position open in the speechwriting staff that you'd be welcome to
    anytime. [Laughter]

    Note: The President spoke at 4:42 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Donald Fehr, executive director,
    Major League Baseball Players Association; and shortstop Edgar Renteria.