[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.