HLS 15RS-3418 ORIGINAL 2015 Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 119 BY REPRESENTATIVE HALL COMMENDATIONS: Commends Juan D'Vaughn Pierre upon his retirement from Major League Baseball after fourteen years 1 A RESOLUTION 2To commend Juan D'Vaughn Pierre upon his retirement from Major League Baseball after 3 fourteen years of an outstanding career. 4 WHEREAS, upon the occasion of his retirement, it is appropriate that heartfelt 5commendations be extended to Juan D'Vaughn Pierre for his remarkable achievements in 6baseball; and 7 WHEREAS, born on August 14, 1977, in Mobile, Alabama, Juan D'Vaughn Pierre, 8who is named after the legendary Dominican Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal, 9distinguished himself as an extraordinary athlete at an early age; and 10 WHEREAS, he is a graduate of Alexandria Senior High School in Alexandria, 11Louisiana; he earned an associate degree from Galveston Junior College in Galveston, 12Texas, and later attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama; and 13 WHEREAS, prior to the start of his professional career, Mr. Pierre played baseball 14at Galveston College and the University of South Alabama, where he was named the 1998 15Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year; and 16 WHEREAS, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the Major League Baseball 17draft, and he made his first Major League Baseball debut on August 7, 2000, as a pinch 18runner for the Rockies against the Pittsburgh Pirates; soon after, Mr. Pierre became well- 19known in Major League Baseball; and 20 WHEREAS, on November 16, 2002, he was traded to play for the Florida Marlins; 21in the 2003 regular season, he posted a .305 batting average, led the National League in Page 1 of 3 HLS 15RS-3418 ORIGINAL HR NO. 119 1games played, at bats, stolen bases, and sacrifice hits; he also led the Major League with the 2lowest strikeout percentage; and 3 WHEREAS, in 2003, when the Florida Marlins captured the title of World Series 4Champions, Mr. Pierre batted .333 in the World Series Championship game and batted .301 5overall in his first playoff experience; and 6 WHEREAS, in 2004, for the second consecutive year, he led the National League 7in at bats, while also leading in hits, triples, games played, bunt hits, and infield hits; he was 8also the only Major League Baseball player to play in every inning of his team's games; and 9 WHEREAS, on December 7, 2005, Mr. Pierre was traded to play for the Chicago 10Cubs, where he would continue on his path of leading the National League in hits, at bats, 11games played, bunt hits, infield hits, and lowest strikeout percentage; and 12 WHEREAS, he also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox, 13and the Philadelphia Phillies before signing a contract with the Miami Marlins on November 1417, 2012; and 15 WHEREAS, as a result of his outstanding talent, Mr. Pierre won several awards, 16including being named the Marlins' most valuable player by the South Chapter of the 17Baseball Writers Association of America in 2003, the James "Cool Papa" Bell Legacy 18Award from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 2003, and the Roy Campanella Award; 19and 20 WHEREAS, throughout his admirable and distinguished Major League Baseball 21career, Mr. Pierre was widely respected and admired for his extraordinary gifts on and off 22the field and for his incredible work ethic and determination; and 23 WHEREAS, Juan D'Vaughn Pierre's phenomenal and successful career as a Major 24League Baseball player brings great pride to the people of Louisiana and the United States 25of America. 26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the 27Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Juan D'Vaughn Pierre upon his retirement 28from Major League Baseball after fourteen extraordinary years and does hereby extend to 29him best wishes for success and happiness as he begins the next exciting chapter of his life. Page 2 of 3 HLS 15RS-3418 ORIGINAL HR NO. 119 1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted 2to Juan D'Vaughn Pierre. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HR 119 Original 2015 Regular Session Hall Commends Juan D'Vaughn Pierre upon his retirement from Major League Baseball after 14 years. Page 3 of 3