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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former Houston Astro Jeff Bagwell 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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2017, and this honor provides recognition for an athlete who is one |
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of the best first basemen in history; and |
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WHEREAS, born on May 27, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts, |
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Mr. Bagwell graduated from Xavier High School in Middletown, |
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Connecticut where he also excelled in soccer and basketball; chose |
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to pursue baseball at the University of Hartford; he twice earned |
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recognition as the Eastern College Athletic Conference player of |
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the year, and he was drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of |
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the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft; and |
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WHEREAS Mr. Bagwell was a standout player for the AA New |
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Britain Red Sox, finishing first in the league in hits and doubles; |
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the Houston Astros wisely requested Mr. Bagwell in a trade with the |
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Red Sox, initiating one of the most one-sided trades in baseball |
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history; and |
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WHEREAS making the rare leap from AA to the major leagues, |
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Mr. Bagwell was named the 1991 National League Rookie of the Year, |
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the first Astros player to win the award, Baseball America's Rookie |
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of the Year, The Sporting News Rookie of the Year, and post-season |
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All-Star and on the Topps' Rookie All-Star Team; and |
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WHEREAS his batting power was renowned and record-breaking; |
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he was the first Houston Astro to win the National League Most |
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Valuable Player Award; only the fourth player to win unanimously; |
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and |
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WHEREAS along with teammates such as Craig Biggio, Lance |
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Berkman, and Derek Bell, he was one of the beloved "Killer Bs"; and |
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WHEREAS Mr. Bagwell battled through injuries to return to the |
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Houston Astros season after season, leading his team by example; |
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steering them into the playoffs for multiple seasons; and |
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WHEREAS Mr. Bagwell spent his entire career with the Houston |
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Astros, the first baseman holds Astros records of 449 home runs and |
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1,529 RBIs. In 15 seasons, he had a .408 on-base average, a .540 |
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slugging percentage and batted .297; and |
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WHEREAS Mr. Bagwell remains one of the most consistent |
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players in baseball history; he has amassed multiple records and |
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awards for his contribution to baseball, including Baseball |
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America's Lifetime Achievement Award along with pal Craig Biggio; |
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and |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulates Jeff Bagwell on his election to |
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the National Baseball Hall of Fame and his many seasons bringing joy |
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to Houston Astros fans; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Jeff Bagwell as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |