HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 629 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 8, 2007 Commending Justin Brook Verlander. ---------- Patron-- Janis ----------

WHEREAS, Detroit Tigers' pitcher and Goochland County native Justin Brook Verlander was named American League Baseball Rookie of the Year on November 13, 2006; and

WHEREAS, born on February 20, 1983, Justin Verlander, the son of Kathy and Richard Verlander of Manakin-Sabot, was a standout high school athlete and a graduate of Goochland High School, Class of 2002; and

WHEREAS, during his college career, Justin Verlander pitched for the Old Dominion University (ODU) baseball team, received All-American honors three years in a row, and established a notable strikeout record of 427 in 335 2/3 innings; and

WHEREAS, Justin Verlander set an ODU single season record by recording 139 strikeouts in 2003, and the talented right-hander broke his own record, establishing a new Colonial Athletic Association record for ODU with 151 strikeouts in 2004; and

WHEREAS, rocketing towards star status, Justin Verlander became the Detroit Tigers' first-round draft pick and the second overall selection in the 2004 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, was signed in October 2004, and made his major league debut on July 4, 2005; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, Jason Verlander stymied American League hitters with his 100 mph fastball, a 88-92 mph curve ball, and a changeup that clocks 75-83 mph; and

WHEREAS, Jason Verlander's record, 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA in 30 starts, was invaluable in the Detroit Tigers' advance to the World Series for the first time since 1984, and he was voted the American League’s Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writer's Association of America; and

WHEREAS, a hometown hero to his fellow citizens and admiring fans in Goochland County and the Commonwealth, Justin Verlander is recognized for his outstanding achievements in his impressive first major league season with the Detroit Tigers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Justin Brook Verlander as the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Justin Brook Verlander as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his extraordinary talents and his dedication to the sport of baseball.