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1999 Arizona Diamondbacks Season
The 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks season was the franchise's 2nd season in Major League Baseball and their 2nd season at Bank One Ballpark and in Phoenix, Arizona. They began the season on April 5 at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and looked to improve on their 1998 expansion season. They looked to contend in what was a strong National League West Division. They finished the season with a highly surprising record of 100-62, good enough for the NL West division title, becoming the fastest expansion team in MLB history to reach the playoffs. They also set all-time franchise highs in hits (1,566), runs (908), batting average (.277), on-base percentage (.347), and slugging percentage (.459). In the NLDS, however, they fell in four games to the New York Mets on Todd Pratt's infamous home run. Randy Johnson would win the NL Cy Young Award and become the third pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues. Offseason *October 26, 1998: Izzy Molina was signed as a free agent with t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League West
The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed for the 1969 season when the National League expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a regular-season of 162 games, half of the teams were put into the new National League East, East Division and half into the new West Division. Within each division, the teams played 18 games each against their five division mates (90 games), and also 12 games against the teams in the opposite division (72 games), totaling 162 games. Geography Despite the geography, the owners of the Chicago Cubs insisted that their team be placed into the East Division along with the teams in New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Also, the owners of the St. Louis Cardinals wanted that team to be in the same division with their natural rivals of the Cubs. The league could have insisted on a purely geographical alignment like the American League did. But ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1999 Los Angeles Dodgers Season
The 1999 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 110th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 42nd season in Los Angeles, California. The season started with a new management team; Kevin Malone became the team's General Manager and Davey Johnson was selected to be the new Dodgers Manager. Looking to make a splash, Malone exclaimed "There is a new Sheriff in town" as he took over the reins and made a splash by signing starting pitcher Kevin Brown to a huge long contract. However, the team struggled to a third-place finish in the Western Division of the National League. Offseason * October 12, 1998: AcquireScott Proutyfrom the Seattle Mariners for Eric Weaver. * November 11, 1998: Acquired Mel Rojas from the New York Mets for Bobby Bonilla. * December 1, 1998: Acquired Todd Hundley anArnold Goochfrom the New York Mets for Charles Johnson and Roger Cedeño. * January 11, 1999: Doug Bochtler was released by the Dodgers. * January 12, 1999: AcquireJoe Suttonfrom the Chica ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dale Sveum
Dale Curtis Sveum ( ; born November 23, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager. He most recently served as the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals. As a player, Sveum saw action in 12 major league seasons between 1986 and 1999. He was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees. Following his playing career, Sveum managed in minor league baseball for several seasons before becoming an MLB coach. Sveum briefly served as manager of the Brewers in 2008 during his tenure as hitting coach for the team. He was later named manager of the Cubs after the 2011 season and served for two seasons. His cousin is former Blue Jays All-Star John Olerud. Playing career During his time at Pinole Valley High School, Sveum was recognized as an All-State and All-American quarterback, in addition to playing baseball and basketball. Drafted by the Milwauke ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Huckaby
Kenneth Paul Huckaby (born January 27, 1971) is an American former professional baseball catcher, and minor league coach. Huckaby attended Manteca High School, and played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox over his 6-year career. Playing career 2002–2005 A competent defensive replacement with a strong throwing arm, his most productive season came in 2002 with Toronto, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.245), home runs (3), RBI (22) and games (88). Huckaby became the first catcher in Blue Jays history to hit an inside-the-park home run on July 17, 200 Huckaby was involved in a collision with shortstop Derek Jeter in the 2003 season opener against the New York Yankees. With Jeter on first base and Jason Giambi at bat, Toronto used an extreme shift that left third base uncovered. Giambi hit a soft grounder to the pitcher, Roy Halladay, who threw to first baseman Ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American photographer and former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. At , Johnson was the tallest player in MLB history when he entered the league: a factor that contributed to his extremely intimidating persona and pitching style. He is particularly known for his overpowering fastball and devastating slider, a combination which remained effective throughout his lengthy career. While he initially struggled with control in his early seasons, Johnson subsequently established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, leading his league in strikeouts nine times, and in earned run average, winning percentage, and complete games four times each. Along with teammate Curt Schilling, Johnson was one of two World Series Most Valuable Players in 2001; in the Series, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greg Swindell
Forest Gregory Swindell (born January 2, 1965) is an American former professional baseball player. He had a 17-year career in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from to . He played for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox of the American League and the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League. He was a member of the Diamondbacks team that defeated the New York Yankees to win the 2001 World Series. Early life Swindell was born on January 2, 1965, to Tonii and Harold Swindell in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the youngest of four children, two sisters Treva and Chrystie and a brother Corky He graduated from Sharpstown High School in 1983. The previous year, led his high school team to a Texas Class 5A state championship going 14-0 on the mound with a 0.65 ERA. Collegiate career Swindell attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. According to the Texas Longhorns me ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alan Embree
Alan Duane Embree (born January 23, 1970) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Embree played for the Cleveland Indians (1992–1996), Atlanta Braves (1997–1998), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998), San Francisco Giants (1999–2001), Chicago White Sox (2001), San Diego Padres (2002 & 2006), Boston Red Sox (2002–2005), New York Yankees (2005), Oakland Athletics (2007–2008), and the Colorado Rockies (2009). He batted and threw left-handed, and was used as a left-handed specialist. High school Embree attended Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washington and was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball. In baseball, he won All-Conference honors. Embree won a state championship in baseball at Prairie High School. Due to a shoulder injury, he did not pitch during his senior season. Over the final three seasons of his high school career, he hit .400. Professional career From 1992 through 2004, Embree had posted a 28-28 record with a 4.38 ERA and seven saves in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Izzy Molina
Islay "Izzy" Molina (born June 3, 1971 in New York City, New York) is an American former professional baseball catcher for the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Molina is not related to the brothers Bengie, Jose, and Yadier Molina, although like Izzy, all three are catchers. Career Molina was drafted out of high school by the Oakland Athletics in the 22nd round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft and made his professional debut that same year for the Arizona League Athletics where he batted .339 in 39 games. He made his major league debut for Oakland on August 15, . Molina left the Athletics via free agency after the season. On October 26, 1998, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was traded to the New York Yankees with Ben Ford for Darren Holmes in spring training . Over the next three years, Molina did not play in the majors while spending time in the minors with the Yankees, Royals, and Blue Jays organization. He si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Todd Pratt
Todd Alan Pratt (born February 9, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher, playing from 1992 to 2006 and is the current manager for the Jupiter Hammerheads. He primarily served as a back-up catcher for most of his career. Pratt was the head baseball coach and athletic director at West Georgia Technical College (West Georgia Tech), a member of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association from 2011 to 2016 and the owner/head coach of the Carrollton Clippers (formerly known as Douglasville Bulls), a summer wooden-bat collegiate team playing in the Sunbelt Baseball League from 2009 to 2016. While the Board of Directors of the Sunbelt Baseball League appointed Todd Pratt to serve as the Commissioner of the Sunbelt League from 2014 to 2016 before going to coach in the minors. As of at least 2022 he has been an advisor and special consultant to the GM of a MLB partnered independent professional baseball league Glacier Range Riders. He was a manager in the Miami Marli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City, the other being the American League's (AL) New York Yankees. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed NL teams, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. The team's colors evoke the blue of the Dodgers and the orange of the Giants. For the 1962 and 1963 seasons, the Mets played home games at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan before moving to Queens. From 1964 to 2008, the Mets played their home games at Shea Stadium, named after William Shea, the founder of the Continental League, a proposed third major league, the announcement of which prompted their admission as an NL expansion team. Since 2009, the Mets have played their home games at Citi Fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1999 National League Division Series
The 1999 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1999 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 5, and ended on Saturday, October 9, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. They were: *(1) Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champion, 103–59) vs. (3) Houston Astros (Central Division champion, 97–65): Braves win series, 3–1. *(2) Arizona Diamondbacks (Western Division champion, 100–62) vs. (4) New York Mets ( Wild Card, 97–66): Mets win series, 3–1.The higher seed (in parentheses) possessed home field advantage (Games 1, 2 and 5 at home), which was determined by playing record. Although the team with the best record was normally scheduled to host the wild card team, teams in the same division cannot play against each other until the championship series round. The Braves played the Astros, rather than the wild card Mets. The Mets clinched the wild card spot th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Slugging Percentage
In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (SLG) is a measure of the batting productivity of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats, through the following formula, where ''AB'' is the number of at bats for a given player, and ''1B'', ''2B'', ''3B'', and ''HR'' are the number of singles, doubles, triples, and home runs, respectively: : \mathrm = \frac Unlike batting average, slugging percentage gives more weight to extra-base hits such as doubles and home runs, relative to singles. Plate appearances resulting in walks, hit-by-pitches, catcher's interference, and sacrifice bunts or flies are specifically excluded from this calculation, as such an appearance is not counted as an at bat (these are not factored into batting average either). The name is a misnomer, as the statistic is not a percentage but an average of how many bases a player achieves per at bat. It is a scale of measure whose computed value is a number from 0 to 4. This might not be r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
