WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry introduced a resolution in the United States Senate to commemorate the Boston Red Sox winning the 2007 World Series. The senators also released the following quotes celebrating their team’s win.

Senator Kennedy said, “Last night, the Red Sox faithful watched as our team won their second World Series title in the last three years after 86 years of heartbreak. It is truly and amazing feat the Boston Red Sox accomplished again this year, and I would like to express my gratitude, and that of the fans in Boston and across the country, for this extraordinary achievement. It wasn’t an easy road to victory, but the Sox came back from a three game deficit against the Cleveland Indians to win the American League pennant. Then, it was on to the World Series, first in our beloved Fenway Park and then to the mile-high Coors Field in Colorado. There, the Red Sox faithful watched as our team won another four straight games to sweep the Rockies and win the World Championship.  From the management to the owners to the players, every member of the Red Sox deserves praise for their efforts.

“My father was three years old when the Red Sox won the World Series in 1918 and never saw the Sox win another one in his lifetime. For me, I thought the comeback against the Yankees and the sweep of the Cardinals in 2004 was as good as it could get.  I never thought I’d live long enough to see another world championship,” said Senator John Kerry. “I think we could all get used to this! From stellar performances by Beckett, Dice-K, and Papelbon, to Jon Lester’s gutsy comeback from cancer, to watching Jacoby Ellsbury’s fly around the basepaths, this was Boston baseball at its best. The good news is this nucleus of players will be around for a long, long time. Congratulations Red Sox on a job well done, and this time when we say we really can’t wait till next year, we mean it in a good way.”

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The text of the resolution follows.

Congratulating the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2007 World Series.

Whereas on October 28, 2007, the Boston Red Sox won the 2007 World Series by a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies;

Whereas the Colorado Rockies deserve great credit for their own historic performance during the 2007 season and post-season, in which they won a remarkable 21 out of their final 22 games heading into the World Series;

Whereas the Red Sox victory was their second world title in four years and their seventh in the 107-year history of the revered New England team;

Whereas the 2007 Red Sox World Championship team, like the 2004 Red Sox World Championship team, epitomized the very best in sportsmanship, team spirit, and heart in the course of winning the American League Championship and the World Series;

Whereas the 2007 Red Sox World Championship team honored the careers of all former Red Sox legends, including Bobby Doerr, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Jimmie Foxx, Cy Young, Johnny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio, Joe Cronin, Jim Rice, and Ted Williams;

Whereas the Red Sox were led back to the World Series this season by the determination of 2004 World Championship team veterans, including Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield, Curt Schilling, Jason Varitek, Mike Timlin, Kevin Youkilis, and Doug Mirabelli;

Whereas the 2007 season produced new Red Sox stars, including Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo, Mike Lowell, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Daisuke Matsuzaka, J.D. Drew, Jon Lester, and rookie right-hander Clay Buchholz, who in just his second major league start tossed the 17th no-hitter in Red Sox history;

Whereas Red Sox Manager Terry Francona has won a remarkable two World Series in the past four years at the helm of the Red Sox and assembled one of the greatest Red Sox teams of all time;

Whereas Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner and Red Sox President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein ended an 86-year World Series drought in 2004 and ushered in a new era in Boston baseball that has been confirmed in 2007;

Whereas the Red Sox outscored their opponents 59-15 during a seven-game winning streak ending in the Game 4 World Series victory in Colorado;

Whereas the Red Sox have won their last eight consecutive World Series games;

Whereas Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, and Daisuke Matsuzaka delivered masterful post-season pitching performances, and Curt Schilling demonstrated yet again why he’s considered one of the most dominant post-season pitchers in baseball history;

Whereas Jon Lester exhibited incredible courage and determination and provided inspiration to so many, by pitching a World Series shutout over 5 and 2/3rds innings, just one year after undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma;

Whereas Mike Lowell, who led the Red Sox with 120 RBIs this year, batted .400 during the World Series with six runs scored and four RBIs to earn the Most Valuable Player award; 

Whereas pitching phenomena Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima have helped produce close ties between the people of New England and Japan with their extraordinary play this year;

Whereas the entire Red Sox organization has a strong commitment to charitable causes in New England, demonstrated by the team's 54-year support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund in the ongoing battle against childhood cancers;

Whereas fans of the Red Sox are found in every corner of the country and all across the globe, far beyond Boston and New England;

Whereas the members of “Red Sox” Nation express their immense gratitude to the entire team for an inspiring 2007 season and for bringing another World Championship home to Boston;

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) congratulates-

(A) the Boston Red Sox for winning the 2007 Major League Baseball World Series and the players, manager, coaches, support staff, and team owners and executives whose ability, hard work, dedication, and spirit made this season possible;

(B) the Colorado Rockies for their won extraordinary success in 2007 in winning the National League Champtionship;

 (2) directs the Enrolling Clerk of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--

(A) the 2007 Boston Red Sox team;

(B) Red Sox Manager Terry Francona;

(C) Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein;

(D) Red Sox President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino;

(E) Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry; and

(F) Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner.