In what appears to be a lopsided trade, the A’s trade a stunned Jeremy Giambi (.274, 8, 17) to Philadelphia in exchange for pinch-hitter John Mabry (.286, 0, 3). The Oakland outfielder is also four years younger than the Phillies’ utility man, but he doesn’t meet the ‘Moneyball’ approach preached by GM Billy Beane.
Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura approves a financing framework for a $330 million open-air stadium. The bill is the result a seven-year effort by the Twins to secure help from the state, but the plan has only tepid support from the club because team officials are unsure if they’ll be able to find $120 million for a required downpayment and get a guarantee from Major League Baseball that a team will play in Minnesota for at least 30 years.
The Wichita Wranglers (Texas League) score 14 runs in the 3rd in beating the Tulsa Drillers, 19 – 2. They set league records for singles (10) in an inning, and by having 16 straight players reach base. Five players make two hits in the inning.
The Athletics send OF Jeremy Giambi to the Phillies in exchange for IF/OF John Mabry. The trade, viewed as one-sided for the Phils, especially by the statistically-oriented community, will be a good one for Oakland. Giambi will homer in his first two Phillie at bats on the 25th, and be the first player in major league history to hit eight homers in each league before the All-Star break. He’ll finish the year with 20. That, plus Jason Giambi’s 41, will give the Giambi boys the record for homers by brothers in the same season, topping the 59 hit in 1937 by Joe DiMaggio (46) and Vince DiMaggio (13). However, Mabry will slug .523 in 89 games and help Oakland to a division title.
The Tigers defeat the Indians, 2 – 0, on Jeff Weaver’s one-hitter. OF Chris Magruder’s double with two outs in the 8th inning in his Cleveland debut is the Tribe’s only safety.
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