HR0528 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0528 LRB104 15981 MST 29226 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Ross Garrett Wolf, a native of Newton and former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, on being selected to the National Athletic Hall of Fame for 2025; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf was born in Effingham to Gary and Terri (Oliver) Wolf of Wheeler on October 18, 1982 and is a member of a four-generation farm family, John Wolf Farm; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf, his wife, Lynn (Beavers) Wolf, and his three children, Eli, Emery, and Mathis, live in rural Wheeler in Jasper County; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf is a proud graduate of Newton High School and a member of the 2001 Class A IHSA (Illinois High School Association) State Championship team, for which he was named most valuable player, pitching extra innings against Benton High School and going on to have a remarkable professional baseball career; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf was initially drafted out of Newton Community High School by the Montreal Expos in the 47th round (1390th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign and instead played for Wabash Valley College; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf, after playing at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, was drafted in the 18th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by the Florida Marlins (533rd overall) and went on to pitch for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, as well as internationally in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) with the SK Wyverns; he rejoined the Rangers organization in 2014 before officially retiring from professional baseball in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf inherited his love of baseball from his dad, Gary, and his grandfather, Howard Wolf, who played semi-professional baseball in the 1930s and 1940s and, in a game in 1940, pitched a change-up that the batter hit for a home run; the batter was the home run king of the Negro Leagues, Jackie Robinson; his grandfather was drafted into the Army but did not get to serve because of a spot on his left eye and was recruited by the Chicago Cubs in 1941, but he fell off the shed roof and hurt his arm working on the farm; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf set the Triple A record for appearances as a reliever with over 100 for the Albuquerque Isotopes; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf played for the Round Rock Express, a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, where he accomplished the designation of most wins as a pitcher in a season with 12; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf retired from professional baseball on February 21, 2016; he continues to work, raise his family, coach, and volunteer; he has attended Newton First Baptist Church for 20 years and teaches the children's church; he has done charity work for military causes such as helping raise money for PTSD veterans; and

WHEREAS, Ross Wolf's journey from Newton to the big leagues is a testament to hard work, talent, and perseverance; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ross Garrett Wolf on being selected to the National Athletic Hall of Fame for 2025; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ross Wolf at his induction ceremony on November 21, 2025 at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall in Teutopolis as a symbol of our respect and esteem.