HR0715 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0715 LRB103 40321 MST 72467 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog was born in 1931 and was a native of New Athens; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog began his life in baseball as a minor leaguer with the McAlester (Okla.) Rockets in 1949, where he was nicknamed "Whitey" for his light-colored hair; he spent eight seasons in Major League Baseball, playing primarily outfield for the Washington Senators (1956-58), the Kansas City Athletics (1958-60), the Baltimore Orioles (1961-62), and the Detroit Tigers (1963); and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog managed the Texas Rangers (1973), the California Angels (1974), and the Kansas City Royals (1975-79) before joining the St. Louis Cardinals; he also spent time as general manager of the Los Angeles Angels in 1993 and 1994 after his time with the Cardinals; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog became manager of the Cardinals on June 9, 1980; he eventually assumed the dual role of field manager and general manager; his teams played a big part in changing the direction of the franchise in the early 1980s with an exciting style of play that would become known as "Whitey Ball"; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog managed the Cardinals from 1980 to 1990 and ranks third in franchise history with 822 victories; his teams won three National League pennants and the 1982 World Series; he was voted the 1982 Major League Manager of the Year and the 1985 N.L. Manager of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog's lifetime managerial record is 1,281-1,125; his win total ranks 39th on baseball's all-time list; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 by the Veterans Committee; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog's number 24 was retired by the Cardinals, and he was voted the manager on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005; he was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Whitey Herzog is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou Herzog; his children, Debra, David, and Jim and their spouses; nine grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Whitey Herzog as an expression of our deepest sympathy.