1998 – President Bill Clinton signs a bill overturning part of baseball’s 70-year-old antitrust exemption, putting baseball on par with other professional sports on labor matters. The new law overrides part of a 1922 United States Supreme Court ruling that exempted baseball from antitrust laws on grounds that it was not interstate commerce. That exemption deprived baseball players of protections enjoyed by other professional athletes and that the players’ association blamed for contributing to baseball’s eight work stoppages since 1972, including the disastrous 232-day strike in 1994-1995.

Potential free-agent All-Star catcher Mike Piazza signs the most lucrative contract in major league history when he agrees to terms with the Mets. The seven-year deal is worth over $91 million and includes having a suite on road trips and a luxury box for home games at Shea.

1998 – The San Diego Padres reach the World Series for the first time since 1984, shutting down the Atlanta Braves’ comeback bid behind MVP Sterling Hitchcock, for a 5 – 0 victory in Game 6 of the NLCS.

1998 – The New York Yankees advance to the World Series for a record 35th time after beating the Cleveland Indians, 9 – 5, to win the ALCS in six games.

1998 – The Atlanta Braves do it again, this time scoring five runs in the 8th inning to defeat San Diego, 7 – 6. Michael Tucker hits a three-run home run in the inning, and drives home five runs altogether.

The New York Yankees even the ALCS at two games apiece on a four-hit, 4 – 0 shutout. Orlando Hernandez hurls the first seven innings, while Mike Stanton and Mariano Rivera finish up.

The San Diego Padres win their third in a row over the Atlanta Braves, 4 – 1, in the NLCS, as Sterling Hitchcock and four relief pitchers hold the Braves in check.