1999 – Boston Red Sox outfielder Midre Cummings has his arbitration case heard by Elizabeth Neumeier. It is the first arbitration case in MLB history to be decided by a female arbitrator. Since the arbitration rule went into effect in 1974, all 409 cases have been decided by men.
Dennis Martinez announces his retirement
1999 – Major League Baseball will honor each league’s best hitter with an award named after Hank Aaron. The all-time home run king learns about the honor on his 65th birthday at an event which includes US President Bill Clinton and Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Reggie Jackson.
1999 – Billy Wagner signs a three-year $10-million dollar deal, avoiding arbitration. Wagner is coming off a season where he fans 14.55 batters per nine innings, setting a major league mark for pitchers tossing 50 or more innings.
1999 – After 16 years of doing local telecasts, the New York Mets do not ask Tim McCarver to return to the broadcast booth. Tom Seaver will replace the highly-regarded broadcaster and will assume other duties within the organization.
On February 2, 1999 San Diego Padres’ outfielder Greg Vaughn becomes the first player traded in major league history after hitting 50 home runs during the season. The slugger is dealt to the Cincinnati Reds, along with Mark Sweeney for Reggie Sanders, Damian Jackson, and Josh Harris. Vaughn spent one season in Cincinnati hitting .245…
1999 – The New York Yankees trade highly-touted third base prospect Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins for three minor league pitchers – Mark Johnson, Ed Yarnall and Todd Noel. Lowell, named minor league player of the year last season, is expendable after Scott Brosius’ outstanding 1998 performance.
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