WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. grew up in Mabton, Washington, pitched in American Legion Baseball, and attended Mabton High School and Yakima Valley Community College; and

WHEREAS, A scout for the New York Yankees discovered Stottlemyre pitching for Yakima's baseball team and signed him to a contract on June 10, 1961; and

WHEREAS, After playing in several minor leagues, Stottlemyre was called up in midseason 1964 to help the Yankees win their fifth consecutive pennant; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. won 164 games in 11 seasons with the Yankees and made five All-Star teams, and had three 20-win seasons for the Yankees and led the majors in complete games and innings in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. was also the pitching coach for the New York Mets team that won the World Series in 1986, coached for the Houston Astros, and later added four more World Series rings as Joe Torre's pitching coach with the Yankees; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. met his wife, Jean, while growing up in Mabton, and they had three sons, Todd, Mel Jr., and Jason; and

WHEREAS, Stottlemyre's two sons, Todd and Mel Jr., followed their father by becoming major league pitchers, but tragically, Jason was stricken with leukemia in 1981 and died at the age of 11; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (bone-marrow cancer) in 1999, and bravely, but quietly, fought the disease for decades and never discussed it or complained, and smiled, even when he wasn't feeling well; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. co-authored an autobiography entitled "Pride and Pinstripes" in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. served as Mariners pitching coach in 2008 and was called "one of the great gentlemen of our game" by Mariners President/CEO Kevin Mather; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. was inducted into the Washington State American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012; and

WHEREAS, In June 2015, Stottlemyre was enshrined in Monument Park, an open-air museum at Yankee Stadium that is the Who's Who of America's most famed professional sports franchise; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. lived his final years in Sammamish with his beloved wife of 55 years, but left this earth and his many thousands of fans on January 13, 2019;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington posthumously recognize Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of baseball, and expresses its appreciation and gratitude to our native Washington baseball pitching coach and legend; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the family of Melvin Stottlemyre Sr. in his memory and honor.