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