Congressional Record—Senate S8622
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S8622 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 13, 2002 as the signature voice of the Detroit Tigers $12,000,000 shall be made available, and shall the last 42 years, Ernie has served as for 42 of those years; remain available until expended, for recon- the voice of the Tigers, and I know Whereas Ernie Harwell’s voice brought the struction of the portion of Interstate Route that Detroit fans, as well as baseball game of baseball to life for Tiger fans, and he 40 spanning the Arkansas River in the State fans everywhere, will miss Ernie’s dis- was voted Michigan Sportscaster of the year of Oklahoma that was destroyed as a result 17 times; of a barge collision that occurred on May 26, tinctive voice and irreplaceable base- Whereas Ernie Harwell had such a love of 2002. ball wit. In a city rich with baseball baseball that, upon meeting Babe Ruth as a (b) CONDITION.—The condition described in tradition, Ernie is as much of a part of child, he had ‘‘The Babe’’ autograph his shoe this subsection is that the State of Okla- Tiger baseball as the Olde English D because he did not have paper; homa agree that the Federal Government and Tiger Stadium. Whereas Ernie Harwell called the 1968 and shall— For four decades, Ernie Harwell’s 1984 World Series that crowned the Tigers (1) be subrogated to all claims of the State unwaveringly calm voice has provided world champions; of Oklahoma for amounts necessary to re- Tigers fans with an incomparable mix- Whereas in 1948, Ernie Harwell became the construct the destroyed portion of Interstate ture of play-by-play description, base- only broadcaster to be traded for a player Route 40 against each entity determined to when Branch Rickey, general manager of the be responsible for the collision, not to exceed ball history, and sensible statistics. Brooklyn Dodgers, traded Cliff Dapper to the $12,000,000 in the aggregate; and Much of Ernie’s appeal grew out of the Atlanta Crackers for Harwell; (2) have authority to pursue such claims as fact that he almost never lets emotion Whereas Ernie Harwell’s memorable mo- are necessary to recover any amounts up to overtake him. He lets his words, his de- ments include broadcasting the debut of $12,000,000 that are not paid to the State by scription of the game, paint a vivid pic- Willie Mays in 1951, Bobby Thomson’s ‘‘shot those entities. ture of the events for the listeners at heard ’round the world’’ that same year, and (c) REIMBURSEMENT AND REOBLIGATION OF home. Hoyt Wilhelm’s no-hitter against the New FUNDS.—Federal funds obligated before the Ernie Harwell was born on January York Yankees in 1958; date of enactment of this Act for the recon- Whereas on August 2, 1981, Ernie Harwell struction described in subsection (a)— 25, 1918, in Washington, GA. As a boy, became the fifth broadcaster to be inducted (1) may be reimbursed from funds available he delivered newspapers on a route into the Baseball Hall of Fame; under this section; and that included the famed author Mar- Whereas Ernie Harwell brought to life, (2) if reimbursed under paragraph (1), shall garet Mitchell’s home. Before launch- through the medium of radio, the perform- be immediately available to the State of ing his sports career, Ernie served as a ances of some of baseball’s greats, such as Oklahoma for reobligation. Marine in World War II. He also acted Sparky Anderson, Kirk Gibson, Al Kaline, (d) EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT.—The entire in several movies including ‘‘One Flew Denny McLain, Alan Trammell, and many amount made available under this section is Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.’’ He began his others; designated by Congress as an emergency re- Whereas the Cleveland Indians renamed quirement under sections 251(b)(2)(A) and baseball career as a sportswriter and the visiting radio booth in the Jacobs Field 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency copy editor for the Atlanta Constitu- press box the ‘‘Ernie Harwell Visiting Radio Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. tion. Luckily for us, he did not stay in Booth’’ in commemoration of his career; 901(b)(2)(A), 902(e)). that position long; in 1943 he left to be- Whereas Sunday, September 15, 2002, is f come an announcer for the Southern ‘‘Ernie Harwell Day’’ at Comerica Park in Association’s Atlanta Crackers. Detroit, Michigan; and AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO Ernie’s skills were quickly recog- Whereas Detroit Tiger fans all over the MEET nized in Atlanta, and in 1948 he became country have fond memories of Ernie the only announcer ever traded for a Harwell, summer, and Tiger victories: Now, COMMITEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS therefore, be it Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I player! Branch Rickey, the General Resolved, That the Senate— ask unanimous consent that the Com- Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, (1) honors and celebrates the achievements mittee on Environment and Public traded catcher Cliff Dapper to the of Ernie Harwell; Works be authorized to meet on Fri- Crackers to allow Ernie to break his (2) wishes Ernie Harwell good health and day, September 13, 2002, at 9:30 a.m., to contract. His tenure in Brooklyn was happiness in his retirement; and highlighted by calling Jackie Robin- (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to conduct an oversight hearing to receive testimony on the implementation of son’s best season, 1949, when Robinson transmit a copy of this resolution to Ernie was awarded the Most Valuable Player Harwell. the Comprehensive Everglades Res- award for the National League while f toration Plan. The hearing will be held in SD–406. leading the Dodgers to the pennant. The next year, Ernie left Brooklyn to AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without go across town and call New York Gi- PROPOSED objection, it is so ordered. ants games on the burgeoning medium SA 4536. Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. f NICKLES) submitted an amendment intended of television. While there, he called to be proposed to amendment SA 4472 pro- HONORING ERNIE HARWELL Willie Mays’s debut game in 1951 and posed by Mr. BYRD to the bill H.R. 5093, mak- Bobby Thomson’s ‘‘Shot Heard ’Round ing appropriations for the Department of the Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, on behalf the World’’ at the end of that season Interior and related agencies for the fiscal of the majority leader, I ask unani- when the Giants won the pennant. Un- year ending September 30, 2003, and for other mous consent that the Senate proceed like Russ Hodges’ who shouted ‘‘The purposes; which was ordered to lie on the to the immediate consideration of S. Giants win the pennant!’’, Ernie stuck table. Res. 327, submitted earlier today by to his style and simply said ‘‘it’s gone’’ f Senators STABENOW and LEVIN. when the ball shot off Thomson’s bat. TEXT OF AMENDMENTS The PRESIDING OFFICER. The That was all baseball fans needed. clerk will report the resolution by After a short stint as the first broad- SA 4536. Mr. INHOFE (for himself title. caster of the Baltimore Orioles, he was and Mr. NICKLES) submitted an amend- The legislative clerk read as follows: hired as the voice of the Detroit Tigers, ment intended to be proposed to A resolution (S. Res. 327) honoring Ernie where he has stayed for 42 of the last 43 amendment SA 4472 proposed by Mr. Harwell. years. Ernie quickly became a part of BYRD to the bill H.R. 5093, making ap- There being no objection, the Senate the Tigers family. ‘‘If you do this job propriations for the Department of the proceeded to consider the resolution. for a while in one city and you’re pret- Interior and related agencies for the Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am ty good, you become part of the fam- fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, pleased and honored to join my col- ily,’’ he once said. ‘‘They take you to and for other purposes; which was or- league from Michigan, Senator the beaches and the mountains and the dered to lie on the table; as follows: STABENOW, in offering a resolution On page 127, between lines 2 and 3, insert cottages, the workplace and the kitch- the following: commemorating the achievements and en. That’s gratifying, but it’s sort of retirement of Ernie Harwell. Ernie, a SEC. 1ll. RECONSTRUCTION OF INTERSTATE 40. humbling, too, that people are that in- (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the condition Hall of Fame broadcaster, will con- terested and they listen.’’ described in subsection (b), notwithstanding clude his remarkable 55-year career Ernie called the 1968 and 1984 World any other provision of this Act, in addition upon calling his last game for the De- Series that crowned the Tigers world to amounts that are otherwise available, troit Tigers this season. For most of champions. He was in Detroit for the VerDate Sep 04 2002 00:33 Sep 14, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13SE6.029 S13PT1.