Recognizing the Atlanta Braves Organization for Winning the 2021 Major League Baseball World Series

Floor Speech

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Mr. LOUDERMILK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Atlanta Braves organization for winning the 2021 Major League Baseball World Series. On November 2, 2021, with a 7-0 victory in game 6 over the Houston Astros, the Atlanta Braves became World Series Champions for the first time since 1995.

This team is an inspiration to every single Braves fan. A team of destiny. The team was 88-73 and was under .500 as recently as August. At one point in the season, the team had single digit odds to make the playoffs. As they seemed to hit every speed bump and roadblock along the way, very few believed they stood a chance; but every member of the team believed. Some players, such as Dansby Swanson, are locals; others, such as Ronald Acuna Jr., come from across the globe. Freddie Freeman has spent his entire career with the organization, while others are new to the team. Each of their families sacrificed special moments while the team trained and played across the Major League.

The Braves defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 3 games to 1, in the National League Division Series. The Braves then faced their foe from the 2020 National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers. After having back to back walk-off victories in that series, the Braves beat the Dodgers, 4 games to 2, and won the National League Championship Series. Eddie Rosario, one of the newest additions to the Braves family, was selected as the 2021 NLCS Most Valuable Player.

The Braves began the World Series taking a game 1 victory over the Houston Astros, and went on to win the series, 4 games to 2. New Braves legend, Jorge Soler, was selected as the 2021 World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting 3 home runs in the series and being the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit a home run in the first plate appearance of a World Series.

Alex Anthopoulos joined the Braves organization in 2017 as the Executive Vice President and General Manager, later being elevated to the President of Baseball Operations. He was previously part of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Montreal Expos. Alex Anthopoulos masterfully navigated the off season by adding Pablo Sandoval, Ehire Adrianza, Guillermo Heredia, and Charlie Morton. After the devasting loss of Ronald Acuna Jr. to injury, Alex Anthopoulos made critical additions to the roster, acquiring Joc Peterson, Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, and Richard Rodriguez.

Manager Brian Snitker has been with the Atlanta Braves organization since 1977, and has been a player, Minor League manager, and manager of the Atlanta Braves. Brian Snitker is a devoted family man and has spent many days away from his family mentoring players, many of whom he has watched grow into young men. Through his guidance, this team has become an inspiration to Braves fans, and to every young athlete watching them play.

The Braves won the World Series with the dedication of team members: Freddie Freeman, Ian Anderson, Jesse Chavez, Max Fried, Luke Jackson, Dylan Lee, Chris Martin, Tyler Matzek, A.J. Minter, Charlie Morton, Will Smith, Drew Smyly, Kyle Wright, Travis d' Arnaud, William Contreras, Ehire Adrianza, Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, Johan Camargo, Adam Duvall, Terrance Gore, Guillermo Heredia, Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, and Tucker Davidson.

The Braves would not have made it to the World Series without the efforts of those team members playing in the regular season, such as: Ronald Acuna Jr., Abraham Almonte, Grant Dayton, Shane Greene, Jasseel De La Cruz, Yoan Lopez, Kyle Muller, Sean Newcomb, Richard Rodriguez, Mike Soroka, Spencer Strider, Josh Tomlin, Touki Toussaint, Jacob Webb, Huascar Ynoa, Chadwick Tromp, and Cristian Pache.

I thank Braves fans everywhere, for their passion and devotion to this team. They showed up to cheer from the stands, and stayed to celebrate in the Battery at Truist Park. Without each and every fan across this country, this would not have been possible. I thank each and every team member of Truist Park, the clubhouse, Minor League coaching staff, and support staff. Once again, the Atlanta Braves are America's team.

This is the moment that the city of Atlanta and Braves fans everywhere have been dreaming of for quite some time. The Atlanta Braves are, once again, World Series Champions! Go Braves.

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