Byron Dorgan: “I, like Senator McCain, am a great baseball fan. I grew up in a small town 60 miles from the nearest daily newspaper.…”

“I, like Senator McCain, am a great baseball fan. I grew up in a small town 60 miles from the nearest daily newspaper. When I was a kid, I used to get that newspaper and I would look at this tiny little section, ``Major League Leaders.'' I wanted to see if Willie Mays hit another home run. I loved baseball. Later, I followed the saga of someone from my own State, Roger Maris, who in 1961 was engaged in this home-run derby with Mickey Mantle. We were so proud in North Dakota of having this home State slugger, Roger Maris, setting a new record for Major League Baseball in 1961. Baseball was called our national pastime. In fact, last week the President of the United States traveled halfway across the country to throw out the opening pitch. Why? It is a national pastime. People care about baseball in this country. It is a great sport. But something is happening in this sport that ought to give all of us great concern. Sports Illustrated has a cover story. In the old days when Sports Illustrated had a cover story about baseball, it was about a pitcher, a catcher, a player, or a baseball exploit. Now it is about drugs--Ken Caminiti, Jose Conseco, and others talking about drug use in baseball.”