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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former Houston Astro Craig Biggio is being inducted |
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into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of |
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2015, and this honor provides fitting recognition for an athlete |
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who proved himself one of the best players of his era; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on December 14, 1965, in Smithtown, New York, |
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Mr. Biggio was a multisport star at Kings Park High School; |
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recruited by a number of college programs for his skills as a |
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football player, he instead chose to pursue his passion for |
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baseball at Seton Hall University; he earned All-American |
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recognition while playing for the Pirates, and he was subsequently |
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chosen by the Houston Astros in the first round of the Major League |
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Baseball draft in 1987; and |
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WHEREAS, This versatile player made his major league debut in |
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1988, after a short but successful stint in the Astros' minor league |
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system; he won the starting catcher spot the next year, and he |
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earned the first of a club-record seven selections to the All-Star |
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Game in 1991; he switched to second base the following season, and |
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he logged more than a decade at that position in addition to playing |
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both center field and left field for Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 20-year tenure, |
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Mr. Biggio compiled a .281 batting average, 3,060 hits, 291 home |
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runs, and 1,175 runs batted in; his 668 career doubles are more than |
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any other right-handed batter in major league history, and he is the |
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only player to ever realize the impressive combination of tallying |
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600 doubles, 250 home runs, 2,700 hits, and 400 stolen bases; his |
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myriad professional achievements also include winning four Gold |
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Glove Awards and five Silver Slugger Awards; and |
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WHEREAS, Always a fan favorite, Mr. Biggio endeared himself |
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to the Astros' faithful with his hustling style of play as well as |
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the intentionally dirty batting helmet he wore to the plate; he was |
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an opening day starter for Houston for 19 consecutive seasons, and |
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along with such teammates as Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman, he was |
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one of the beloved "Killer Bs" who paced the Houston attack in the |
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1990s and 2000s; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Biggio was an integral part of the 2005 squad |
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that reached the World Series, making the franchise's first and |
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only appearance to date in the Fall Classic; another highlight of |
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his career came in his final season, when he slugged his 3,000th |
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career hit against the Colorado Rockies on June 28, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, A player who demonstrated outstanding skill and |
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gritty determination on the baseball diamond over the course of two |
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decades, Craig Biggio may take justifiable pride in his remarkable |
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accomplishments, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious |
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hall of fame honor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Craig Biggio on his induction into |
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the National Baseball Hall of Fame and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Biggio as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Alvarado |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 169 was adopted by the House on |
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February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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