In a trade of pitchers, the Seattle Mariners send Paul Spoljaric to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Mark Leiter.
In a trade of pitchers, the Seattle Mariners send Paul Spoljaric to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Mark Leiter.
The New York Mets announce general manager Steve Phillips will take a paid leave of absence
The New York Mets announce general manager Steve Phillips will take a paid leave of absence while a threatened sexual harassment lawsuit against him is resolved. Phillips acknowledges having had an extramarital affair with a woman, but denies having harassed her. Frank Cashen will replace Phillips on an interim basis.
Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa is named the National League MVP
Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa is named the National League MVP. Sosa hit 66 home runs and led the National League in RBI with 158 while carrying his team to the playoffs.
Kerry Wood wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award
1998 – Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kerry Wood, who posted a 13-6 record, wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Wood held batters to a NL best .196 average and finished third in the league in strikeouts with 233 in just 166 2/3 innings pitched.
1998 – Ben Grieve, Oakland outfielder, is named the American League Rookie of the Year. Grieve, in the lineup since Opening Day, hit .288.
1998 – Ben Grieve, Oakland outfielder, is named the American League Rookie of the Year. Grieve, in the lineup since Opening Day, hit .288.
The Curt Flood Act
“It is especially fitting that this legislation honors a courageous baseball player and individual, the late Curt Flood, whose enormous talents on the baseball diamond were matched by his courage off the field. It was 29 years ago this month that Curt Flood refused a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies. His bold stand set in motion the events that culminate in the bill I have signed into law.” – BILL CLINTON, U.S. president, commenting on the Curt Flood Act. President Clinton signs Curt Flood Act of 1998, revoking baseball’s antitrust exemption for labor matters, but not for issues involving relocation, expansion or the minor leagues. The passage of the legislation by the 105th Congress comes over seventy-five years after the Supreme Court ruled that the sport was not involved in interstate commerce or trade as customarily defined within the context of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
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.
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.
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.
Davey Johnson is hired as the manager of the Dodgers
1998 – Davey Johnson is hired as the manager of the Dodgers. The former Mets, Reds and Orioles skipper has finished first with evey team he has managed, but will fail to do so in Los Angeles.
The New York Yankees close out their historic season with 3 – 0 victory against the San Diego Padres, sweeping San Diego in four games to win their record 24th World Series championship
1998 – The New York Yankees close out their historic season with 3 – 0 victory against the San Diego Padres, sweeping San Diego in four games to win their record 24th World Series championship. Andy Pettitte gets the victory, and Scott Brosius is named Series MVP. The Game 4 victory gives the Yankees 125 wins against 50 losses for a .714 winning percentage, the best in the majors since their Murderers’ Row club of 1927, as their American League record of 114 regular-season victories were the most ever for a major league champion team.
