    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [June 10, 1999]
    [Pages 912-913]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the 1998 World Series Champion New York Yankees
    June 10, 1999

        I'm up--and we're not rained out yet. [Laughter]
        Let me say to all of you how delighted I am to see Joe and George and
    the entire team here. As you might imagine, this has been a very happy
    day at the White House because of the peace agreement in Kosovo. And
    it's a happy day in New York. One of our friends, who has a business in
    the Bronx, came through today and said that a lot of his customers are
    Albanians who have relatives and friends who will be able to go home
    now.
        And I think, if you look at the composition of the Yankee team
    behind us, and you look at the composition of the city and State they
    represent, the United States should be proud that at this moment in our
    history we were able to stand against the proposition that any people
    should be killed or uprooted or abused because of their race, their
    ethnic heritage, or their religious faith. It's a good day for America.
        I also want to thank David Cone for coming up
    here and making this presentation. I understand that he got his first
    hit in several years last night--[laughter]--and I feel like that some
    days around here. [Laughter] So, congratulations. It's never too late to
    start making hits.
        I also was glad to hear the spirit of the team, that we're not going
    to come down here in second place; but for all of us who are genuine
    baseball fans, it's nice to see that the Yankees are at least getting a
    little competition this year--[laughter]--but still winning and doing
    very well, thank you.
        You know, last year was a season--for those of us who've loved
    baseball all our lives--that clearly, irrevocably restored baseball as
    America's pastime. And once again, the Bronx Bombers--heavy emphasis on
    Bronx, for Congressman

    [[Page 913]]

    Rangel and others--[laughter]--proved
    themselves to be America's greatest team.
        You know, this was a team that reminded a lot of people of the
    Yankees that made the Yankees America's team--of Ruth and Gehrig, of
    Mantle and Maris, of DiMaggio, who threw out the first pitch at Yankee
    Stadium in the last season. And for lifetime baseball fans, I can't help
    saying a word, since he's passed away, that I'm awful glad that he was
    able to see one last championship season for the Yankees.
        You know, Yogi Berra said a lot of interesting things. I've tried to
    commit a lot of them to memory, and they always get a laugh, and I won't
    bother you with any of them today, except he said one thing that I think
    is worth repeating, because I think it is the motto of this team and it
    reflects the spirit that I hope we have when we come to work here every
    day. He said, ``You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and
    if that isn't enough, in the second half, you give what's left.''
    [Laughter]
        Well, last year, that's what the Yankees did all year long: more
    victories in a year than any other team in Major League history, 125. I
    understand that even George
    Steinbrenner was impressed. [Laughter] Although I think he still wants
    to know what happened to the other 50 games. [Laughter] Joe Torre inspired America with his leadership, his character, and
    his comeback. But I can tell you, after having been President now for
    6\1/2\ years, the leader can't win without good players.
        I was glad to see Donna Shalala
    acknowledge Mr. Steinbrenner,
    and now I know where she got her grit. We all remember the clutch hits
    of Paul O'Neill and Derek Jeter. You remember David's 20 wins;
    Bernie Williams' battle--title, captured in
    the very last day of the season; Tino Martinez's game-winning grand slam home run in the first game of
    the World Series; and of course, World Series MVP Scott
    Brosius' two homers, six RBI's, and steady
    defense in the four-game series. [Laughter]
        Now, I don't know how long America will have to wait for another
    baseball season where two guys hit over 60 home runs, but the New York
    Yankees defied every conventional wisdom about what a professional
    baseball team could achieve in a highly competitive league, with more
    and more teams and more and more talented players.
        But again, I say to all of you, all Americans--Yankee fans, and even
    the couple of guys in the press who waved their hands when I said it was
    a good thing there was a little more competition this season--everybody
    who's loved baseball from childhood will never forget that Yankee team
    and what it did to clearly, clearly make baseball our national pastime
    and remind us that New York Yankees are America's team.
        Thank you, and God bless you. Welcome.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 5:45 p.m. in the South
    Portico at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Joe Torre,
    manager, and George M. Steinbrenner III, owner, New York Yankees, and
    1998 team members David Cone, Paul O'Neill, Derek Jeter, Bernie
    Williams, Tino Martinez, and Scott Brosius. The transcript released by
    the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of the First
    Lady.