R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Baseball Hall-of-Famer Henry Aaron has long been
 1-2     recognized as one of our national pastime's brightest and most
 1-3     revered stars, and it is indeed a privilege to pay tribute to this
 1-4     distinguished gentleman at this time; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Although his playing days ended more than two
 1-6     decades ago in 1976, Mr. Aaron still holds many of Major League
 1-7     Baseball's most prestigious records; his 755 career home runs
 1-8     remains the mark to top, while he also holds records for runs
 1-9     batted in (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477), and total bases
1-10     (6,856); and
1-11           WHEREAS, Born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, Hank
1-12     Aaron began his professional baseball career with the Indianapolis
1-13     Clowns of the Negro American League; after signing with the
1-14     Milwaukee Braves he was assigned to the club's Eau Claire,
1-15     Wisconsin, farm team, where he won Rookie of the Year honors in
1-16     1952; and
1-17           WHEREAS, "Hammerin' Hank's" 1954 major league debut was
1-18     indeed auspicious, as he homered in his first at-bat on his way to
1-19     a productive, if not spectacular, rookie campaign; three years
1-20     later, Aaron led the Braves to their first World Series title,
1-21     winning the National League's Most Valuable Player award for his
1-22     sterling performance; and
1-23           WHEREAS, During the course of his 23-year career as a major
1-24     leaguer, Mr. Aaron played in 24 All-Star Games and two World
 2-1     Series, won three Gold Gloves, and was the first player in the
 2-2     history of Major League Baseball to compile both 3,000 hits and 500
 2-3     home runs; in addition to winning the 1957 NL-MVP award, he was
 2-4     named The Sporting News' Player of the Year in 1956 and 1963; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, April 8, 1974, was perhaps the most significant day
 2-6     in the professional life of Henry Aaron, for on that day he
 2-7     launched his 715th home run, breaking the record held for so many
 2-8     years by Babe Ruth; only a decade earlier, this monumental mark had
 2-9     seemed virtually unattainable, and the feat stands as one of the
2-10     most remarkable of the modern sports era; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Henry Aaron remains an ambassador for the game of
2-12     baseball, revered as much for his well-known battles against
2-13     racism, intolerance, and ignorance as for his statistical
2-14     achievements; he has transcended his role as a sports idol to
2-15     become a true American hero, a man whose humility, strength of
2-16     character, and diligence continue to inspire us all; now,
2-17     therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-19     Legislature hereby commend Henry Aaron for his superlative career
2-20     in baseball and his contributions to his country and recognize June
2-21     12, 1999, as Henry Aaron Day at The Ballpark in Arlington; and, be
2-22     it further
2-23           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-24     prepared for Mr. Aaron to commemorate this event and as an
2-25     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
                                                            Lewis of Tarrant
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 658 was adopted by the House on April
         30, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House