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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 286 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 286

  Expressing the Sense of the Senate that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa 
             should be commended for their accomplishments.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

              October 5 (legislative day, October 2), 1998

 Mr. Mack submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Expressing the Sense of the Senate that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa 
             should be commended for their accomplishments.

Whereas the recent conclusion of the regular baseball season marked the end of 
        an unprecedented home run race between the St. Louis Cardinals' Mark 
        McGwire and the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa;
Whereas both broke Roger Maris' home run record that many though would stand 
        untouched as indeed it has since Maris passed the ``Babe'' by one home 
        run when it hit his 61st some 37 years ago;
Whereas ``Mighty Mac'' rounded out his record setting season by sending two more 
        over the fence in the team's final game to finish the year with 70 home 
        runs while ``Slammin' Sammy'' finished close behind with 66;
Whereas McGwire and Sosa brought to the game much more than a new record for the 
        books, even though they are both great competitors, they showed the 
        nation how competitors can show mutual respect and appreciation toward 
        each other and to the game;
Whereas Mark McGwire is surely an ideal role model for tomorrow's baseball stars 
        as evidenced by his quiet dignity, love of the game and respect for his 
        competitors which was clearly demonstrated the night he broke the home 
        run record--from his triumphant jog around the bases, to hugging his son 
        at home plate, to saluting Sammy Sosa, and then finally spending a few 
        moments in the stands with the family of Roger Maris;
Whereas Sammy Sosa who stayed on McGwire's heels throughout the home run chase 
        is also a role model who, as a native from the Dominican Republic, rose 
        from near poverty to be one of the greatest home run hitters in the 
        history of the game, and is a hero in his home country where he 
        continues to share his success by funding special programs for its 
        underprivileged children;
Whereas the nation witnessed this year a flashback to an earlier time when the 
        fans felt a connection to the players and the players gave their all for 
        the fans;
Whereas baseball is a game of magic moments, like a perfect game or a triple 
        play--or watching the ball fly over the fence for a home run, and, this 
        year, McGwire and Sosa brought the nation plenty of those magic moments; 
        and
Whereas through class and character Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are modern day 
        heroes who brought out the best in baseball and reminded us all why 
        baseball is the great American pastime: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are to be commended for 
their record achievement, for reinvigorating the game of baseball, for 
their decency, and for giving our children sports heroes worthy of that 
status.
                                 <all>
```