Major League Baseball approves a resolution creating a 16-team National League and a 14-team American League for the upcoming season. The plan puts the expansion Devil Ray in the AL Eastern Division, and the NL’s newest team, the Rockies, will play in the circuit’s Western Division.

1997 – In the ALCS, Mike Mussina pitches two-hit baseball for eight innings, but the Baltimore Orioles can’t score. Starter Charles Nagy and three relievers of the Cleveland Indians strand 14 Baltimore baserunners. Tony Fernandez hits a home run in the 11th inning off Armando Benitez for the only run of the game as the Indians win the American League pennant for the second time in three years. Anderson is the winning pitcher in relief and Jose Mesa has the save.

At Turner Field, Kevin Brown tosses an 11-hit complete game to capture the Marlins’ first National League pennant. The flag, captured in only the fifth year of the team’s existence, is clinched in Game 6 of the NLCS when Florida beats Tom Glavine and the Braves, 7-4.

The Cleveland Indians again score the winning run in their last at bat, coming back from a 4 – 2 deficit to defeat the Orioles, 8 – 7, for their third straight victory in the ALCS. Sandy Alomar, Jr. drives home the winning run with a single after hitting a two-run home run earlier in the contest. He also scores from second base on a wild pitch in the 5th inning. Brady Anderson, Harold Baines and Rafael Palmeiro hit home runs off Jaret Wright in the 5th while Manny Ramirez homers for the Tribe. Jose Mesa blows his second save in two days, but receives credit for the win.

Florida Marlins rookie Livan Hernandez matches Mike Mussina’s one-day old League Championship Series pitching record, with 15 strikeouts in a three-hit, 2 – 1 win in Game 5 of the NLCS. Hernandez, who would not have started if not for an injury to Alex Fernandez, wins his second game of the Series and will earn MVP honors.

1997 – The Florida Marlins take Game 3 of the NLCS by defeating the Atlanta Braves by a score of 5 – 2. Charles Johnson drives home three of Florida’s runs, and Livan Hernandez gets the victory in relief.

1997 – Mike Mussina beats the Mariners and Randy Johnson for the second time and gives Baltimore their second straight trip to the American League Championship Series. Mussina pitches a two-hitter for seven innings to win the game, and the Series, by a 3-1 margin.

The Yankees go a game up on Cleveland with a 6 – 1 victory behind a five-hitter by David Wells. Paul O’Neill hits a 4th-inning grand slam, driving in five of the Yankees runs.

A solid pitching performance by Jeff Fassero keeps the Seattle Mariners alive in their ALDS with Baltimore, as Seattle wins by a score of 4 – 2.