WHEREAS, Davey Lopes was born in East Providence, Rhode Island and was All-State in baseball and basketball at LaSalle Academy; and

WHEREAS, Davey graduated from Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas), in 1969 after earning NAIA All American honors in both baseball and basketball; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes played 16 years in Major League Baseball with the Dodgers, A's, Cubs and Astros. He spent 9 years with the Dodgers and was a second baseman in the fabled Dodger infield that included First Baseman Steve Garvey, Shortstop Bill Russell and Third Baseman Ron Cey, and he was the Captain of these teams; and

WHEREAS, Davey played on six National League Championship Teams in his career and played on four Pennant winning Dodgers teams, including the 1981 team that defeated the New York Yankees to win the World Series; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes was a four time All-Star from 1978-1981 and was the top vote getter in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes' Major League career was full of astonishing accomplishments: he stole 567 career stolen bases and led the National League in stolen bases in 1975 with 77 and in 1976 with 63. In 1975, he established what was then a Major League record by stealing 38 bases in a row without getting caught. He ranks fifth all time in baseball history with a stolen base success rate of 83 percent and ranks second in Dodgers history in career stolen bases with 413; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes was a complete ballplayer. He was a great base runner, good defensively at second base - a very important position - he was a leader in the clubhouse and the Captain of the famous Dodgers teams of the late 70's and early 80's. Davey Lopes was a good power hitter which is rare to f   i   nd in a second baseman. He hit 28 homeruns in 1979, only 5 second basemen in baseball history have hit that many in a year; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes finished his Major League playing career with 155 homeruns, a 263 batting average, 557 stolen bases, 1671 hits and 1023 runs scored. He accomplished these feats playing most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Dodger Stadium which was and is one of the toughest parks for a hitter in baseball; and

WHEREAS, More importantly, Davey Lopes was a winner and a leader. He played on a World Series Championship team, six National League Championship teams, four All-Star Teams and was the Captain of those great Dodger teams. It is these leadership skills that will make Davey Lopes a successful Major League manager; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes retired from Major League Baseball as a player in 1987 and began his coaching career with the Texas Rangers in 1988, where he served as both Dugout and First Base Coach through 1991. He served as the Baltimore Orioles First Base Coach from 1992 - 1994 and has been a coach with the San Diego Padres for the past five years; and

WHEREAS, On November 4, 1999, Davey Lopes was named the Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. Davey Lopes has been a winner and a leader throughout his baseball career and there is no doubt that he will be very successful as the Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers; and

WHEREAS, Davey Lopes has never forgotten his Rhode Island roots and still gives back to his community. More than 50 children attend the Davey Lopes after-school program at the Davey Lopes recreation complex on Dudley Street in Providence, which provides a safe, productive environment for the children of the community to learn and grow through after-school programs and other activities. The Davey Lopes movie screenings provide an economic alternative to a night at the theater for the 100 or more children and their families who usually attend the weekly shows; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Davey Lopes on being named the Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, thanks him for his many contributions to the state and citizens of Rhode Island and wishes him and his daughter, Vanessa Lin, the best of luck and good fortune in all future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Davey Lopes.