Archive: Sports

Washington, D.C. – The United States House of Representatives this afternoon authorized the United States Mint to produce a coin honoring the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Importantly, there is no cost to taxpayers associated with this bill. The coin will honor the 75th anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

The bill passed by a vote of 416–3.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, the “Congressman from Cooperstown,” sponsored H.R. 2527, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act, to honor our national pastime. U.S. Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) are original co-sponsors of the bill.

“I am privileged to represent Cooperstown,” Hanna said. “As a past 10-year resident of Cooperstown, sponsoring this bill is especially meaningful for me. I urge all citizens of the world – baseball fans or not – to visit Cooperstown at least once. They won’t regret it.”

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has spent the last seven decades honoring and commemorating the history of baseball.

“The National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act unites every fan of the game in celebrating the timelessness of America's pastime," said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. "As the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2014, the Coin Act will connect every generation in commemorating the impact Cooperstown has had on the national landscape, honoring our baseball heroes while educating future generations on the historical significance of the game and its lore.

"We are thankful to the House for acknowledging the impact of our institutional mission across generations,” Doyle said. The Coin Act will allow every fan to join the milestone anniversary and help support future educational outreach for an American shrine."

The next step for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act is in the U.S. Senate.

Hanna on Tuesday delivered remarks on the floor and paid tribute to his sister’s favorite baseball team with a New York Yankees baseball cap on the podium. House rules prevent hats from being worn in the Chamber. To watch Hanna’s comments, click here.

Hanna did take a moment to wish good luck to the teams currently competing in the World Series.

“While every student of baseball knows, including my sister, Robin, who’s told me many times that the New York Yankees are the finest team in the history of baseball, I’d like to take this time to wish good luck in the World Series to the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals,” Hanna said Tuesday before urging his colleagues to support the bill.

To watch this portion of Hanna’s remarks, click here.

This is the second bill to be both introduced and passed by Hanna in the 112th Congress.

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