FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Stark Contact: Brian Cook, (202) 225-3202
McNerney Contact: Sarah Hersh, (202) 225-1947
Lee Contact: Nicole Y. Williams, (202) 226-0323

WASHINGTON – Northern California Representatives Pete Stark (D-Fremont), Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton), and Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) have introduced H.Res. 1351, a resolution recognizing Oakland A's Pitcher Dallas Braden's perfect game on Sunday, May 9, and praising the Oakland Athletics organization and their fans.

Reps. Stark, McNerney and Lee now are working with other members of the California Delegation to build support for the resolution in the hope that it will be considered on the House floor soon.

The text of the resolution is below.  For a PDF of the resolution, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/iz3

H.Res. 1351
RESOLUTION
Congratulating Dallas Braden and the Oakland Athletics baseball team for pitching a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010.

Whereas, on May 9, 2010, Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden pitched a no-hitter without allowing any base runners;

Whereas the Oakland Athletics defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California by a score of 4-0;

Whereas Dallas Braden threw 109 pitches with no walks and six strikeouts;

Whereas players Cliff Pennington and Kevin Kouzmanoff scored one run each, and Daric Barton scored two;

Whereas Dallas Braden was raised in Stockton, California and played high school baseball at Stagg High School in Stockton, California, and played collegiate baseball for American River College and the Texas Tech Red Raiders before being drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2004 and making his major league debut with the team in 2007;

Whereas Dallas Braden’s mother, Jodie Atwood, tragically died of cancer when he was in high school, Braden celebrated Mother’s Day with his grandmother, Peggy Lindsey, with a hug on the field after his perfect game when he presented her with the game ball;

Whereas the accomplishment was the result of the hard work of every player and coach on the Oakland Athletics baseball team, including Dallas Braden, Cliff Pennington, Daric Barton, Ryan Sweeney, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Eric Chavez, Adam Rosales, Eric Patterson, Landon Powell, Rajai Davis, and Manager Bob Geren;

Whereas this marks the nineteenth perfect game in Major League Baseball history;

Whereas Hall of Famer James “Catfish” Hunter pitched the only other perfect game in Oakland Athletics history against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 1968;

Whereas the team has played at their current home in Oakland since 1968, winning 4 World Series, 6 American League pennants, and 14 West Division titles: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) congratulates Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics for pitching a perfect game on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010;
(2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches and staff of the Oakland Athletics whose hard work helped Dallas Braden to complete the perfect game; and
(3) recognizes the loyalty of Athletics baseball fans in the East Bay and around the United States.

# # #