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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize Chicago Cubs legend and Major
4League Baseball Hall of Famer Lee Smith on the occasion of Lee
5Smith Day at Wrigley Field; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Lee Smith was inducted into the National Baseball
7Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York on July 21, 2019,
8becoming the 52nd Chicago Cub to earn baseball's ultimate
9honor; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Lee Smith was born on December 4, 1957 in
11Jamestown, Louisiana and was a standout athlete at Castor High
12School, lettering in baseball, basketball, and track; he was
13drafted and signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1975 and made his
14Major League debut on September 1, 1980; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Lee Smith played eight seasons with the Chicago
16Cubs (1980-1987) during his 18-year Major League career;
17originally a middle reliever and then a starting pitcher, he
18was given the closer role in July of 1982; known for his slow,
19intimidating walk to the pitcher's mound, his steely glare at
20the batter, and a blazing fastball, he developed into one of
21the most dominating closers in baseball history; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Lee Smith led the Chicago Cubs in saves a
2franchise-best six consecutive seasons, including the 1984
3season, helping secure the National League Eastern Division
4title and the club's first postseason appearance in 39 years;
5he was named Chicago Player of the Year in 1986 by the Chicago
6Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America and
7remains to this day the club's all-time saves leader with 180,
8with 60% of his saves consisting of more than three outs;
9additionally, he is second in relief appearances (452) and
10third in games pitched (458) for the Chicago Cubs; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Lee Smith ended his career in 1997 as Major League
12Baseball's all-time saves leader with 478 (currently third on
13the all-time saves list) and is 12th in games pitched; he was a
14seven-time all-star and led his league in saves four times,
15earning at least 30 saves in 10 big league seasons; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Lee Smith was honored in 1999 as a member of the
17Chicago Cubs All-Century Team; a fierce and dominant competitor
18on the field, he is affectionately known as "Big Lee" and
19remains loved by fans, an immensely popular Wrigley Field
20legend and fan-friendly member of the Chicago Cubs family;
21therefore, be it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
23HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1we congratulate Lee Smith on his Hall of Fame career and his
2eight seasons as a Chicago Cub; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That we declare September 1, 2019 as "Lee Smith
4Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
6presented to Lee Smith and the Chicago Cubs as a symbol of our
7respect.