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SR 3218

SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BASEBALL ICON DAVEY LOPES AND EXPRESSING SYMPATHY ON HIS PASSING

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Val Lawson

Rhode Island formally honors Davey Lopes’s life and legacy, recognizing his contributions to baseball and Rhode Island pride through statewide ceremonial acknowledgment.

04/16/2026 Senate read and passed
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Bill Summary · SR 3218

Summary of SR 3218 (2026) – Rhode Island Senate

Purpose

SR 3218 is a Senate Resolution honoring the life and legacy of baseball icon Davey Lopes and expressing sympathy on his passing. The resolution serves to publicly recognize Lopes’s contributions to Major League Baseball (MLB) and his significance as a Rhode Island native.

Key Provisions

  • Acknowledges the passing of Davey Lopes and commemorates his achievements and impact on the sport.
  • Highlights Lopes’s biography and career milestones, including:
    • Born May 3, 1945, in East Providence, Rhode Island; raised in South Providence.
    • Attended La Salle Academy (all-state athlete in baseball and basketball); college play at Iowa Wesleyan University and Washburn University.
    • MLB debut in 1972; a 16-year career with the Dodgers, Athletics, Cubs, and Astros.
    • Notable achievements: led MLB with 77 stolen bases in 1975; 38 consecutive successful steals; 557 career stolen bases with an 83% success rate.
    • Defensive prowess with a Gold Glove (1978); Dodgers team captain (1977); four-time All-Star (1978–1981).
    • Contributed to four World Series appearances and a Dodgers championship in 1981.
    • Post-playing career as a coach and manager, including managing the Milwaukee Brewers and coaching for a Phillies’ 2008 World Series title.
  • Notes the existence of the Davey Lopes Recreation Center in Providence, named in his honor, which provides community recreational opportunities and youth programming.
  • States that Lopes passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, in his hometown.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Recognition and public record: The Rhode Island Senate formally acknowledges Lopes’s life and contributions.
  • Community impact: References to the Davey Lopes Recreation Center imply broader community pride and impact stemming from Lopes’s legacy.
  • Family and stakeholders: Mentions Lopes’s immediate family and surviving relatives (siblings, children, grandchildren).

Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction: April 14, 2026, by Senator Valarie J. Lawson; co-sponsored by Senator Lawson.
  • Referral: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar.
  • Consideration/Action: The Senate read and passed the resolution on April 16, 2026.
  • Formal transmission: Directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to Davey Lopes’s family.

Impact and Significance

  • This is a ceremonial and commemorative measure rather than substantive policy legislation.
  • It formalizes statewide recognition of Lopes’s legacy in sports, honors his achievements, and preserves the memory of his ties to Rhode Island.
  • The resolution reinforces community ties by highlighting the local recreation center named after Lopes and his role as a mentor and leader in baseball.

Note: The document primarily serves to honor an individual’s life and contributions and does not enact changes to laws or programs beyond ceremonial commendation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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