SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 463

WHEREAS, An unforgettable moment in Texas sports history took place on November 1, 2017, when the Houston Astros won the World Series, becoming the first team from the Lone Star State to hoist the trophy as the champions of Major League Baseball; and

WHEREAS, After an exceptional regular season and victories in the Division and League Championship Series, Houston met the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic; it proved one of the most exciting showdowns in recent World Series history, with the two clubs battling one another through seven hard-fought contests; Games 2 and 5 were particularly thrilling, filled with home runs and dramatic shifts in momentum, and in both cases, the Astros ultimately prevailed; finally, with the teams deadlocked at three wins apiece, Houston took charge early in the decisive Game 7 and earned the mantle of world champions with a 5-1 victory; and

WHEREAS, The team's run through the postseason was all the more special in that it provided a much-needed boost for residents of Houston and the Gulf Coast area, who were grappling with the immense destruction inflicted by Hurricane Harvey in late August 2017; wearing jerseys emblazoned with a special "H Strong" patch, the Astros served as a source of inspiration for millions of Texans by overcoming all obstacles to achieve their championship goal; and

WHEREAS, A versatile ball club featuring a wealth of talented players, the 2017 Astros were put together by owner Jim Crane and general manager Jeff Luhnow, and the team was guided by manager A. J. Hinch; while all members of the roster contributed to the title quest, several were recognized with prestigious honors for their superb play; José Altuve was named the American League Most Valuable Player for his season-long excellence, George Springer became the World Series MVP after smashing five home runs against the Dodgers, and pitcher Justin Verlander was selected as the League Championship Series MVP for his spectacular work in helping Houston clinch the AL pennant; the list of the other players who earned a special place in the hearts of the Astros faithful is too long to mention, but such indelible moments as Alex Bregman's game-winning hit in the 10th inning of Game 5 and Charlie Morton's lights-out pitching performance to finish off Los Angeles in Game 7 will be cherished in the Lone Star State for decades to come; and

WHEREAS, In its finest moments, sports provides a means to bring people together; the Houston Astros' World Series triumph, coming in the wake of a devastating natural disaster, helped unite Texans while also furthering the state's proud legacy of athletic excellence, and all those associated with this achievement may reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Houston Astros on winning the 2017 Major League Baseball World Series and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for the Astros organization as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate.

Alvarado, Bettencourt, Creighton, Huffman, Kolkhorst, Miles, Taylor, Whitmire

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 25, 2019.

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Secretary of the Senate