THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY EVERETT, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOYD, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DELOZIER, DENLINGER, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, KULA, MAJOR, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McCALL, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PEIFER, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STEVENSON, STURLA, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND WATERS, JUNE 3, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 3, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring Michael C. Mussina for his outstanding career in

athletics on the occasion of his retirement.

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives honors Michael C.

Mussina upon his retirement and for his many achievements during

his athletic career; and

WHEREAS, Born on December 8, 1968, Mr. Mussina was raised in

Montoursville; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mussina not only was a three-sport athlete

during high school, but also had an excellent scholastic record

resulting in his selection as Salutatorian of his graduating

class in 1987; and

WHEREAS, As an athlete at Montoursville High School, Mr.

Mussina was a ten-time varsity letter winner garnering four

letters in baseball, three in basketball and three in football;

and

WHEREAS, In high school football, Mr. Mussina was named an

All-Conference performer eight times at four different

positions, three times as a place kicker, two times as a

receiver, two times as a defensive back and once as a punter;

and

WHEREAS, In high school basketball, Mr. Mussina scored a

total of 1,382 points, making him number two in Montoursville

High School history, and he was named the 1987 West Branch

Conference Player of the Year; and

WHEREAS, In high school baseball, Mr. Mussina pitched and

played on the 1985 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic

Association (PIAA) AAA State Championship team and the 1986 PIAA

AAA State Championship runner-up team; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, Mr. Mussina was named Pennsylvania Player

of the Year and selected as a Gatorade All American and he

compiled an overall high school pitching record of 24 wins and

only 4 losses; and

WHEREAS, Though he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles

following his graduation from Montoursville High School in 1987,

Mr. Mussina chose to attend Stanford University, where he

graduated in 1991 with a degree in economics; and

WHEREAS, While at Stanford, Mr. Mussina pitched on the 1988

NCAA National Championship team, compiling a career record of 25

wins and 12 losses, including 14 wins in the 1990 season; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mussina was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles

again in 1990, this time in the first round; and

WHEREAS, During his Major League Baseball career, Mr. Mussina

played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1991 to 2000 and the New

York Yankees from 2001 to 2008; and

WHEREAS, While spending his entire career in the American

League East, Mr. Mussina won at least 11 games in 17 straight

seasons from 1992 to 2008 and recorded a career .638 win-loss

percentage; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mussina posted a 14-4 record with a 2.38 ERA

while playing in the minor leagues before his first full season

with the Orioles in 1992, where he finished with an 18-5 record

and a 2.54 ERA with four shutouts; and

WHEREAS, Following the 2000 season, Mr. Mussina decided to

leave the Orioles via free agency and signed a six-year, $88.5

million contract with the New York Yankees on November 30, 2000;

and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Mussina become the ninth player to win

100 games with two different teams, having won 147 games with

Baltimore and ultimately winning 123 with the the Yankees; and

WHEREAS, On September 28, 2008, at 39 years of age, Mr.

Mussina won 20 games with a 6-2 win over the Boston Red Sox at

Fenway Park, becoming the oldest first-time 20-game winner in

Major League Baseball history; and

WHEREAS, Among other outstanding achievements during his

Major League Baseball career, Mr. Mussina was named to the All-

Star team five times, was a seven time Gold Glove winner, was

nominated for the Cy Young Award seven times and the Most

Valuable Player three times, won fifteen games in a season

eleven times and pitched in two World Series with the Yankees;

and

WHEREAS, On November 28, 2008, Mr. Mussina officially

announced his retirement from baseball; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mussina is married to Jana McKissick and has two

sons, Brycen and Peyton, and is also the stepfather of Jana's

daughter, Kyra; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mussina, as he has throughout his professional

career, resides in Montoursville, coaches Little League Baseball

and serves on the Little League International Board of

Directors, based in nearby South Williamsport; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Michael C.

Mussina upon his retirement for his outstanding athletic career

and extend best wishes for continued success and happiness in

all his future endeavors.