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The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world.  

This year in baseball

2020s

2029 • 2028 • 2027 • 2026 • 2025
2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020

2010s

2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015
2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010

2000s

2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005
2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000

1990s

1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995
1994 • 1993 • 1992 • 1991 • 1990

1980s

1989 • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985
1984 • 1983 • 1982 • 1981 • 1980

1970s

1979 • 1978 • 1977 • 1976 • 1975
1974 • 1973 • 1972 • 1971 • 1970

1960s

1969 • 1968 • 1967 • 1966 • 1965
1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960

1950s

1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955
1954 • 1953 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950

1940s

1949 • 1948 • 1947 • 1946 • 1945
1944 • 1943 • 1942 • 1941 • 1940

1930s

1939 • 1938 • 1937 • 1936 • 1935
1934 • 1933 • 1932 • 1931 • 1930

1920s

1929 • 1928 • 1927 • 1926 • 1925
1924 • 1923 • 1922 • 1921 • 1920

1910s

1919 • 1918 • 1917 • 1916 • 1915
1914 • 1913 • 1912 • 1911 • 1910

1900s

1909 • 1908 • 1907 • 1906 • 1905
1904 • 1903 • 1902 • 1901 • 1900

1890s

1899 • 1898 • 1897 • 1896 • 1895
1894 • 1893 • 1892 • 1891 • 1890

1880s

1889 • 1888 • 1887 • 1886 • 1885
1884 • 1883 • 1882 • 1881 • 1880

1870s

1879 • 1878 • 1877 • 1876 • 1875
1874 • 1873 • 1872 • 1871 • 1870

1860s

1869 • 1868 • 1867 • 1866 • 1865
1864 • 1863 • 1862 • 1861 • 1860

See also
Sources

This article is currently under construction.

Champions[]

Major League Baseball[]

  Division Series League Championship Series World Series
                           
  East  New York Yankees 3  
West  Texas Rangers 0  
  East  New York Yankees 4  
American League
  WC  Boston Red Sox 1  
WC  Boston Red Sox 3
  Cent.  Cleveland Indians 2  
    AL  New York Yankees 4
  NL  Atlanta Braves 0
  East  Atlanta Braves 3  
Cent.  Houston Astros 1  
  East  Atlanta Braves 4
National League
  WC  New York Mets 2  
WC  New York Mets 3
  West  Arizona D-backs 1  
  • American League Championship SeriesMVP: Orlando Hernández
    • American League Division Series:
  • National League Championship Series MVP: Eddie Pérez
    • National League Division Series
  • All-Star Game, July 13 at Fenway Park: American League, 4-1; Pedro Martínez, MVP

Other champions[]

Awards and honors[]

MLB Statistical Leaders[]

  American League National League
Type Name Stat Name Stat
AVG Nomar Garciaparra BOS .357 Larry Walker COL .379
HR Ken Griffey, Jr. SEA 48 Mark McGwire STL 65
RBI Manny Ramirez CLE 165 Mark McGwire STL 147
Wins Pedro Martinez1 BOS 23 Mike Hampton HOU 22
ERA Pedro Martinez1 BOS 2.07 Randy Johnson ARI 2.48
Ks Pedro Martinez1 BOS 313 Randy Johnson ARI 364

1American League Triple Crown Pitching Winner

Major League Baseball final standings[]

American League
Rank Club Wins Losses Win %   GB
East Division
1st New York Yankees   98   64 .605    --
2nd Boston Red Sox *   94   68 .580   4.0
3rd Toronto Blue Jays   84   78 .519 14.0
4th Baltimore Orioles   78   84 .481 20.0
5th Tampa Bay Devil Rays   69   93 .426 29.0
Central Division
1st Cleveland Indians   97   65 .599    --
2nd Chicago White Sox   75   86 .466 21.5
3rd Detroit Tigers   69   92 .429 27.5
4th Kansas City Royals   64   97 .398 32.5
5th Minnesota Twins   63   97 .394 33.0
West Division
1st Texas Rangers   95   67 .586    --
2nd Oakland Athletics   87   75 .537   8.0
3rd Seattle Mariners   79   83 .488 16.0
4th Anaheim Angels   70   92 .432 25.0
National League
Rank Club Wins Losses Win %   GB
East Division
1st Atlanta Braves 103   59 .636    --
2nd New York Mets *   97   66 .595   6.5
3rd Philadelphia Phillies   77   85 .475 26.0
4th Montréal Expos   68   94 .420 35.0
5th Florida Marlins   64   98 .395 39.0
Central Division
1st Houston Astros   97   65 .599    --
2nd Cincinnati Reds   96   67   .589   1.5
3rd Pittsburgh Pirates   78   83 .484 18.5
4th St. Louis Cardinals   75   86 .466 21.5
5th Milwaukee Brewers   74   87 .460 22.5
6th Chicago Cubs   67   95 .414 30.0
West Division
1st Arizona Diamondbacks 100   62 .617    --
2nd San Francisco Giants   86   76 .531 14.0
3rd Los Angeles Dodgers   77   85 .475 23.0
4th San Diego Padres   74   88 .457 26.0
5th Colorado Rockies   72   90 .444 28.0

 

  • The asterisk denotes the club that won the wild card for its respective league.

Events[]

January-March[]

  • February 18 - The U.S. Postal Service issues a Jackie Robinson stamp as part of their "Celebrate the Century" program. Robinson was selected to represent the 1940s, and is the second baseball player chosen. Babe Ruth, in May 1998, represented the 1920s.
  • March 7 - In a historic agreement, it is announced that the Baltimore Orioles will travel to Cuba for a March 28 exhibition game against the Cuban national team in Havana. The Cuban team will travel to the US for a return contest at a future date. It is the first time in 40 years that Americans will play a professional game in Cuba.
  • March 10 - Yankees manager Joe Torre is diagnosed with prostate cancer. While he is undergoing treatment, the team will be run by coach Don Zimmer.
  • March 28 - The Orioles make the first visit to Cuba by major leaguers since 1959, and defeat a team of Cuban amateurs by a score of 3–2 in 11 innings. Pitcher José Contreras hurls eight innings of 2–hit, 10–K ball in relief for the Cubans, while catcher Charles Johnson hits a two–run home run, and DH Harold Baines drives in the winning run for the Orioles. The two teams will play a rematch at Camden Yards in Baltimore on May 3.

April-June[]

  • April 4 - In the first season opener ever played outside of the United States or Canada, the Colorado Rockies defeat the San Diego Padres 8–2, before an overflow crowd of 27,104 in Monterrey, Mexico. Outfielder Dante Bichette has four hits, including a home run, and four RBI for the winners. Local hero Vinny Castilla also has four hits for the Rockies, while Darryl Kile picks up the victory.
  • April 19 - The Baltimore Orioles' Cal Ripken, Jr. is placed on the disabled list for the first time in his 19–year career because of irritation in his lower back. Ripken's record consecutive game streak ended in September 1998 at 2,632.
  • April 20 - Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott agrees to sell her controlling interest in the Reds to a group headed by Carl H. Lindner, ending her 14–year tenure. The group will pay a total of $67 million.
  • April 23 - The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 12–5, as third baseman Fernando Tatis sets a major league record by hitting two grand slams in a single inning. His two homers come in St. Louis' 11–run 3rd inning. He also sets a record with eight RBI in the inning, while Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park becomes the first 20th century pitcher - and only the second ever - to surrender two grand slams in a single frame (Bill Phillips of the Pittsburgh Pirates did so in 1890). Park became the 36th major-leaguer to serve up two slams to the same player in his career.
  • April 23 - The Brewers sink the Pirates 9–1, as pitcher Steve Woodard hurls the complete game victory. The win ends Milwaukee's NL record streak of 113 games without a complete game.
  • May 9 - The Yankees defeat the Mariners 6-1. Relief pitcher Mike Stanton makes his first major league start for the Yankees, ending his major league record streak of 552 consecutive relief appearances prior to his first start. The previous record of 443 was set by Giants pitcher Gary Lavelle.
  • May 9 - Florida St. junior second baseman Marshall McDougall goes 7-for-7, with an NCAA-record six consecutive home runs and 16 RBI, as the Seminoles defeat Maryland 26-2. McDougall opens the game with a single. His mark breaks the home run record set by Henry Rochelle of Campbell, who hit five homers in a game in 1985. The RBI mark was held by Jim LaFountain of Louisville, who drove in 14 against Western Kentucky in 1976.
  • May 10 - The Red Sox defeat the Mariners 12-4, as shortstop Nomar Garciaparra leads the way with three home runs, including two grand slams. Garciaparra drives home 10 of Boston's runs as he clouts a bases-loaded homer in the 1st inning, a 2-run shot in the 3rd, and another grand slam in the 8th. He is the first Bosox since Jim Tabor in 1939 to hit two slams in a game, and just the 9th in major league history. Robin Ventura last did it, in 1995.
  • May 17 - Tampa Bay outguns the Rangers 13-3, as first baseman Fred McGriff extends his major league record by hitting a home run in his 35th big league stadium - The Ballpark in Arlington.
  • May 19 - In a record-setting outing, the Reds beat the Rockies 24-12, stroking 28 hits in the process. The 36 runs sets a Coors Field record. Jeffrey Hammonds hits three home runs for Cincinnati, as seven players in the Reds lineup get three or more hits apiece. Teammate Sean Casey hits a pair of 3-run homers to drive in six runs and reaches base in all seven plate appearances, tying a 20th-century record. The 36 runs scored in the contest is the 3rd-highest total in the major leagues since the turn of the 20th century, while the 81 total bases set a new major league standard. Mike Cameron ties a major league mark with eight plate appearances in a nine-inning game. With 28 hits, the Reds tie a mark originally set on May 13, 1902 and tie the National League record with seven players with 3 or more hits (Pirates, June 12, 1928, and Reds, August 3, 1989). The Rockies also became the first team to score 12 or more runs in a game and lose by 12 or more runs in the same game since the Giants beat the Reds, 25-13 in 1901. Larry Walker extends his hitting streak to 20 games and raises his average to .431.
  • May 20 - The Mets sweep the Brewers in a double header, winning the first game 11-10, and the second 10-1. Robin Ventura hits a grand slam in each contest, becoming the first player in major league history to do so in both ends of a doubleheader. Ventura also becomes the first player to hit a pair of grand slams on the same day on two separate occasions.
  • June 25 - St. Louis defeats Arizona 1-0, as rookie pitcher José Jiménez hurls the first no-hitter of the season. The Cardinals score the lone run on a broken bat single with two outs in the ninth inning. Jiménez posted eight strikeouts in the contest, while losing pitcher Randy Johnson strike outs 14, including the 2500th of his career. Jiménez walks two and hits a batter in becoming the first rookie to toss a no-hitter since Wilson Alvarez in 1991.
  • June 25 - In Baltimore's 9–8 loss to the Yankees, the Orioles' Jesse Orosco makes his 1,051st relief appearance to break Kent Tekulve's major league record.
  • June 28 - Hack Wilson ups his runs batted in total for the 1930 season to 191. 69 years after the event, an RBI is added by the commissioner's office, which also gives Babe Ruth six additional walks, raising his career-record total to 2,062. "There is no doubt that Hack Wilson's RBI total should be 191," commissioner Bud Selig says. "I am sensitive to the historical significance that accompanies the correction of such a prestigious record, especially after so many years have passed, but it is important to get it right." The missing RBI came from the second game of a doubleheader between Wilson's Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds on July 28, 1930 where Charlie Grimm was credited with two RBI in the game and Wilson with none. Ruth's walks total is now 2,062. Ted Williams is second, trailing by 43, and Rickey Henderson is third, 134 behind Ruth.

July-September[]

  • July 5 - The Cardinals defeat the Diamondbacks 1-0, as José Jiménez hurls a 2-hitter to defeat Randy Johnson. Jiménez no-hit the Diamondbacks in his last appearance against them (June 25). Johnson loses his 3rd game in a row, during which Arizona has not scored a run and only made three hits. He strikes out 12 Cardinals to tie Dwight Gooden's NL mark of 43 strikeouts over three starts. He also reaches 200 strikeouts for the year and ends St. Louis rookie Joe McEwing's 25-game hitting streak, the 5th-longest ever for a rookie.
  • July 6 - The White Sox lose to the Royals 8-7. Chicago outfielder Chris Singleton hits for the cycle, becoming the first rookie to do so since Oddibe McDowell in 1985 and just the 16th since 1900.
  • July 9 - The uniform Lou Gehrig wore when he made his famous "luckiest man on earth" speech on July 4, 1939 is sold for $451,541 at auction. Leland's spokesman Marty Appel says the flannel pinstripe uniform worn by the Hall of Fame first baseman was purchased by a South Florida man who did not want his name made public. The winning bid was made over the phone. Yesterday, Carlton Fisk's home run ball that won Game Six of the 1975 World Series for the Boston Red Sox was sold for $113,273.
  • July 13 - The Major League Baseball All-Century Team is announced prior to the All-Star game. Many members of the team, including Bob Gibson, Mike Schmidt, Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, and Ted Williams, are on the field for the festivities.
  • July 13 - The American League defeats the National League 4-1, to win the All-Star Game at Fenway Park in Boston. Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martínez is named the game's MVP as he strikes out the first four hitters to bat against him, and five of the six he faces in his two innings of work. The game begins 15 minutes late as Hall of Fame outfielder Ted Williams rides out in a cart for the first-pitch ceremony. Players from both teams surround the former Red Sox star in a spontaneous display of homage.
  • August 5 - San Diego defeat the Cardinals 10-3, despite a pair of home runs by Mark McGwire, including the 500th of his career. McGwire becomes the first player in history to hit his 400th and 500th homers in successive seasons.
  • August 7 - Just one day after Tony Gwynn reaches the historic milestone, Devil Rays' Wade Boggs also gets the 3000th hit of his career (a home run) in Tampa Bay's 15-10 loss to Cleveland.
  • August 9 - A total of five grand slams are hit on the day, marking the first time it has happened in 129 years of major league baseball. The bases loaded pokes are hit by Fernando Tatis (St. Louis, against Philadelphia), José Vidro (Montreal, against San Diego), Mike Lowell (Florida, against San Francisco), Bernie Williams (Yankees, against Oakland) and Jay Buhner (Seattle, against the White Sox).
  • August 17 - Sic transit gloria. St. Louis sends José Jiménez to AAA Memphis less than two months after his no-hitter against Arizona. He joins Bobo Holloman as the only pitcher to go to the minors in the same year he pitched a no-hitter.
  • August 30 - The Mets roll over the Astros 17-1, as Edgardo Alfonzo goes 6-for-6, a club record, with a double, three home runs, five RBI and six runs scored. The six runs scored ties the modern major league mark. Alfonzo is the only the 5th player ever to hit three home runs while going 6-for-6.
  • August 30 - Former player Billy Bean comes out of the closet and announces his homosexuality. He is the first living player to publicly acknowledge that he is gay.
  • September 7 - Two native Canadian pitchers oppose each other as starters for the first time in 26 years. Florida Marlin pitcher Ryan Dempster, from British Columbia, faces off against Los Angeles Dodgers Eric Gagné, who hails from Quebec. The two roomed together while competing on Canada's national baseball team. The battle is a draw with neither pitcher getting the decision, but the Marlins win 2–1.
  • September 9 - In a game between the Expos and the Padres, umpires nearly allowed 4 outs to be recorded in the 7th inning. Reggie Sanders of the Expos struck out for the third out, but the umpires, the fans, and the Padres allowed the Expos' Phil Nevin to come up to the plate and pitcher Ted Lilly to reach a 2-1 count before someone alerted home plate umpire Jerry Layne to the mistake. (Padres win 10-3)
  • September 10 - The Red Sox trip the Yankees 3-1, as Pedro Martínez hurls an impressive one-hitter for his 21st victory of the year. Martinez strikes out 17 batters, the most Yankees ever fanned in a single game. Chili Davis' 2nd-inning home run is NY's only safety. Chuck Knoblauch, leading off the game, gives the Yankees their only other baserunner; he was caught stealing, so Martínez faces just one over the minimum.
  • September 11 - The Twins defeat the Angels 7-0, as left-handed Eric Milton hurls the third no-hitter of the season.
  • September 14 - Kansas City lose a doubleheader to the Angels, 8-6 in the opener and 6-5 in the nightcap. In the second game, KC outfielder Mark Quinn makes a memorable major league debut. After making out in his first at bat, Quinn doubles in his next trip to the plate, then hits home runs in his last two times up. He becomes just the third player in history to hit two home runs in his first big league game. Bob Nieman (1951) and Bert Campaneris (1964) are the only others to accomplish the feat.
  • September 18 - The Brewers beat the Cubs, 7-4, as Sammy Sosa hits his 60th home run of the year. He becomes the first major leaguer to hit 60 homers twice.
  • September 26 - The Cardinals lose to the Reds 7-5, despite Mark McGwire's 60th home run of the season. McGwire joins Sammy Sosa as the only players in history to reach the 60 homer mark twice. He will end the season with 147 runs batted in on 145 hits, the only player in major league history (with 100 hits in a season) to have more RBI than hits. Jay Buhner, in 1995, came closest with 121 RBI and 123 hits.

October-December[]

  • October 2 - In a 3–2 Yankees victory over Tampa Bay, Bernie Williams draws his 100th walk of the season. He is the first player since Stan Musial (1948 and 1953) to reach 200 hits, 100 runs, 100 RBI and 100 walks in a season. Williams finishes with 202, 116, 115 and 100, respectively.
  • October 3 - The Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 9-5, as both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa homer in their last game of the season. McGwire takes Steve Trachsel deep in the first inning and finishes with 65 home runs, with Sosa next in line with 63, homering in the third. McGwire's home run is his 522nd, moving him past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 10th place on the all-time list. He finishes with 147 RBI on 145 hits, the first major league player ever to have more RBI than hits. Jay Buhner, in 1995, came closest with 121 RBI on 123 hits.
  • October 27 - The New York Yankees defeat the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, to win their 25th World Series. Roger Clemens gets the win, hurling 4-hit ball before leaving the game in the 8th inning. Mariano Rivera gets the save, his second of the Series. Jim Leyritz hits a solo home run in the 8th inning to finish the NY scoring. Rivera wins the Series MVP award.
  • November 1 - The Indians hire hitting coach Charlie Manuel as their new manager.
  • November 17 - The Angels hire Mike Scioscia as their new manager.
  • December 5 - Major League Baseball and ESPN agree to settle their lawsuit by signing a new 6-year, $800 million deal. The suit involved ESPN's decision to give National Football League games priority over late-season Sunday night baseball games on its main channel.

Movies[]

  • For Love of the Game

Deaths[]

January-April[]

  • January 31 - Norm Zauchin, 69, first baseman for the Red Sox and Senators who had 93 RBI as a 1955 rookie
  • February 12 - Jimmy Dudley, 89, broadcaster for the Indians from 1948 to 1967
  • February 21 - Vinegar Bend Mizell, 68, All-Star pitcher who won 90 games for the Cardinals and Pirates; later a Congressman
  • March 8 - Joe DiMaggio, 84, Hall of Fame center fielder for the New York Yankees who batted .325 lifetime, won three MVP awards (1939, 1941, 1947) and had record 56-game hitting streak in 1941; 13-time All-Star, on nine World Series champions, had seven years of 30 home runs and nine with 100 RBI, led AL in batting, slugging, home runs and RBI twice each, runs and triples once each; 361 HRs were 5th-most upon retirement, .579 slugging average ranked 6th all-time
  • March 8 - William Wrigley, 66, owner of the Cubs from 1977 to 1981 who sold the team to the Tribune Company, ending 60 years of family operation
  • March 24 - Birdie Tebbetts, 86, All-Star catcher for the Tigers and Red Sox noted for his outspokenness; managed three teams and was AP Manager of the Year with 1956 Reds; scout for 28 years
  • March 25 - Cal Ripken, Sr., 63, longtime coach and manager in the Orioles' system, and father of star shortstop/third baseman Cal Jr.
  • April 4 - Early Wynn, 79, Hall of Fame pitcher for Senators, Indians and White Sox who won 300 games, top mark for AL in his generation; 1959 Cy Young season was among five 20-win campaigns; led AL in innings three times, strikeouts twice and ERA once
  • April 26 - Faye Throneberry, 67, outfielder for the Red Sox and Senators who was 5th in the AL in steals as a rookie

May-August[]

  • May 3 - Joe Adcock, 71, All-Star first baseman, mainly for the Milwaukee Braves, who twice hit 35 home runs; had four home runs and a double in a 1954 game, and ruined Harvey Haddix' epic 1959 no-hit bid with a 13th-inning homer
  • June 6 - Eddie Stanky, 83, All-Star second baseman for five NL teams who led league in walks three times and runs once; managed Cardinals and White Sox. Played alongside Jackie Robinson (who played 1st base) in 1947 debut year.
  • June 26 - Tim Layana, 35, former Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants pitcher and member of 1990 World Series Champion Reds team
  • August 8 - Harry Walker, 80, "Harry the Hat", All-Star center fielder for the Cardinals and Phillies who won the 1947 batting title; manager for 20 years, mostly in the minor leagues, also a coach and scout. He was part of only brother act to win batting titles (Dixie Walker of 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers).
  • August 14 - Pee Wee Reese, 81, Hall of Fame shortstop, leadoff hitter and captain of the Dodgers who led NL in runs, walks and steals once each and in putouts four times; retired with career record for double plays (1246) and 5th-most games at shortstop (2014) despite missing three years in World War II; played on seven pennant winners, three times hitting over .300 in World Series
  • August 28 - Dave Pope, 78, outfielder in the Negro Leagues, later with the Indians and Orioles

September-December[]

  • September 9 - Jim "Catfish" Hunter, 53, Hall of Fame pitcher who had five straight 20-win seasons for the A's and Yankees and won 1974 Cy Young; among the first free agents, he had over 200 wins at age 30; pitched perfect game in 1968, was 4-0 with 2.19 ERA in three World Series with Oakland
  • October 20 - Calvin Griffith, 87, owner of the Twins franchise from 1955 to 1984 who moved the team from Washington, D.C. in 1961
  • October 19 - Ray Katt, 72, catcher for the Giants and Cardinals, later a coach at Texas Lutheran for 22 years
  • October 30 - Max Patkin, 79, "Clown Prince of Baseball" who entertained fans for over 50 years
  • December 9 - Whitey Kurowski, 81, a five-time All-Star third baseman who played for the Cardinals from 1941-49
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