The Milwaukee Brewers, after a disappointing 0-4 start on the road, get into the winner’s circle in front of US President George W. Bush, as they beat the Cincinnati Reds 5 – 4, in the first game played at Miller Park. Cincinnati’s Sean Casey hits the park’s first home run, but Richie Sexson’s home run in the 8th inning breaks a 4 – 4 deadlock, giving Milwaukee the victory.
In the Reds’ 7 – 3 loss to the Giants, Ken Griffey Jr. pinch-hits his 400th home run. He is the first to reach the mark with a pinch hit. Livan Hernandez is the winner as Barry Bonds knocks in a run and Jeff Kent adds three hits.
The Phillies defeat the Reds, 5 – 4, despite a grand slam by Cincinnati OF Alex Ochoa. Ochoa’s blast is the 142nd slam of the season, setting a new major league record. The Oakland A’s have hit 11, one shy of the record shared by the Braves (1997) and Indians (1999).
After rejecting a trade to the Mets, 36 year-old Barry Larkin agrees to a three-year, $27 million contract extension to continue to play for the Reds. The deal will keep the former Rookie of the Year (1986), NL’s MVP (1995), and 11-time All-Star shortstop in Cincinnati until 2003.
June 3, 2000, Sparky Anderson & Dave Concepcion were inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. “Twenty-five years ago, I knew how great they were,” said Anderson, who also won a World Series in Detroit. “But I realize now the greatest bunch of people I have ever seen in any professional sport was the 1975-76…
2000 – On his father’s 50th birthday, Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the youngest player, at 30 years and 141 days, to hit 400 career home runs, beating the previous mark set by Jimmie Foxx, who was 30 years and 248 days old.
2000 – The Reds send four players – pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Mike Cameron and two minor leaguers to the Mariners and agree to a contract extension to obtain Seattle’s superstar Ken Griffey Jr. Junior’s nine-year $116.5 million contract is the richest package in history, but in the current market is considered quite a bargain.
November 2, 1999 Ken Griffey Jr., who wants to be nearer his family in Orlando, asks the Mariners to move him to a team that is closer to Florida. The superstar outfielder will get his wish in February when Seattle trades him to the Reds for Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, and Brett Tomko,…
1999 – The New York Mets shut out Cincinnati, 5 – 0, to become the National League’s wild card team. Al Leiter throws a complete game two-hitter for the win, as Mets shortstop Rey Ordóñez plays his 100th consecutive game without committing an error, setting a new major league mark.
Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott agrees to sell her controlling interest in the Reds to a group headed by Carl H. Lindner, ending her 14-year tenure. The group will pay a total of $67 million.