ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 119
BY REPRESENTATIVE HALL
A RESOLUTION
To commend Juan D'Vaughn Pierre upon his retirement from Major League Baseball after
fourteen years of an outstanding career.
WHEREAS, upon the occasion of his retirement, it is appropriate that heartfelt
commendations be extended to Juan D'Vaughn Pierre for his remarkable achievements in
baseball; and
WHEREAS, born on August 14, 1977, in Mobile, Alabama, Juan D'Vaughn Pierre,
who is named after the legendary Dominican Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal,
distinguished himself as an extraordinary athlete at an early age; and
WHEREAS, he is a graduate of Alexandria Senior High School in Alexandria,
Louisiana; he earned an associate degree from Galveston Junior College in Galveston,
Texas, and later attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama; and
WHEREAS, prior to the start of his professional career, Mr. Pierre played baseball
at Galveston College and the University of South Alabama, where he was named the 1998
Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year; and
WHEREAS, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the Major League Baseball
draft, and he made his first Major League Baseball debut on August 7, 2000, as a pinch
runner for the Rockies against the Pittsburgh Pirates; soon after, Mr. Pierre became well-
known in Major League Baseball; and
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WHEREAS, on November 16, 2002, he was traded to play for the Florida Marlins;
in the 2003 regular season, he posted a .305 batting average, led the National League in
games played, at bats, stolen bases, and sacrifice hits; he also led the Major League with the
lowest strikeout percentage; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, when the Florida Marlins captured the title of World Series
Champions, Mr. Pierre batted .333 in the World Series Championship game and batted .301
overall in his first playoff experience; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, for the second consecutive year, he led the National League
in at bats, while also leading in hits, triples, games played, bunt hits, and infield hits; he was
also the only Major League Baseball player to play in every inning of his team's games; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2005, Mr. Pierre was traded to play for the Chicago
Cubs, where he would continue on his path of leading the National League in hits, at bats,
games played, bunt hits, infield hits, and lowest strikeout percentage; and
WHEREAS, he also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox,
and the Philadelphia Phillies before signing a contract with the Miami Marlins on November
17, 2012; and
WHEREAS, as a result of his outstanding talent, Mr. Pierre won several awards,
including being named the Marlins' most valuable player by the South Chapter of the
Baseball Writers Association of America in 2003, the James "Cool Papa" Bell Legacy
Award from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 2003, and the Roy Campanella Award;
and
WHEREAS, throughout his admirable and distinguished Major League Baseball
career, Mr. Pierre was widely respected and admired for his extraordinary gifts on and off
the field and for his incredible work ethic and determination; and
WHEREAS, Juan D'Vaughn Pierre's phenomenal and successful career as a Major
League Baseball player brings great pride to the people of Louisiana and the United States
of America.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Juan D'Vaughn Pierre upon his retirement
from Major League Baseball after fourteen extraordinary years and does hereby extend to
him best wishes for success and happiness as he begins the next exciting chapter of his life.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Juan D'Vaughn Pierre.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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