City of Phoenix
Office of the Mayor
A Proclamation
Craig Counsell Day - Oct. 26, 2001
Listen to comments from:
WHEREAS,
Craig Counsell was born on August 21, 1970, throws right-handed, bats lefthanded,
stands six feet tall, and plays First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Shortstop
for the 2001 National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks; and
WHEREAS, he doesn't contribute much to the team - other than singles, doubles,
triples, clutch RBIs, game-deciding home runs and, at exactly the right moment,
lays down the perfect sacrifice bunt or, when called upon, puts every one
of his 175 pounds into a long-enough sacrifice-fly; and
WHEREAS, Craig's ability to make the opposing pitcher work hard by taking
nearly every count to 3-2 has led Joe Garagiola to give him the nickname "Near
Beer"; and
WHEREAS, he also makes critical and amazing defensive plays, can turn the
double play, and in Atlanta, can make a key out by catching a fly ball in
Right Field - even though he was playing Second Base at the time; and
WHEREAS, he began this year in Triple-A baseball in Tucson, and will end
it in the 2001 World Series. Oh, and by the way, he was named the NLCS Most
Valuable Player following a "Four games to One" win over the Braves; and
WHEREAS, all of these things, taken together, led Matt Williams to pay him
the ultimate compliment by saying simply, "Craig Counsell is a Ballplayer."
And that he is.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, SKIP RIMSZA, MAYOR of the City of Phoenix, Arizona, do
proudly proclaim Friday, October 26, 2001, as CRAIG COUNSELL DAY in Phoenix.
