Richard Pombo: “growing up in Tracy, California, I have been a fan of the Oakland Athletics ever since they first came to Oakland in…”

“growing up in Tracy, California, I have been a fan of the Oakland Athletics ever since they first came to Oakland in 1968. I was 7 years old at the time. I remember their World Series Championship three-peat teams from 1972, 1973 and 1974, which featured players like Vida Blue, Bert Campaneris, Rollie Fingers, Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter, Joe Rudi and a young ``Mr. October,'' Reggie Jackson. Being from the northern part of California's Central Valley, just over the Altamont Pass, the fact that their 1974 World Series Championship came by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers made the victory even sweeter. And what baseball fan can forget the 1989 World Series, the ``Bay Bridge Series'' between Oakland and the San Francisco Giants? A great Oakland team, led by Jose Canseco, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire, and Dave Stewart prevailed in that series, but it was an earthquake that registered 7.1 on the Richter Scale, and the area uniting in response to the emergency situation, that we remember best. Today, Mr. Chairman, as the Major League Baseball postseason begins, I am proud that the House of Representatives is taking a moment to recognize the latest accomplishment by the Oakland A's, their amazing 20 game-winning streak. And I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution honoring this great team. Mr. Chairman, winning 20 games in a row is no fluke. It takes a sustained effort both by the pitching staff and batting line up to win 20 in a row.”