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.
The Brewers play the last game at Milwaukee County Stadium, bowing to the Reds, 8-1, as Warren Spahn throws the ceremonial first pitch to Del Crandall, his batterymate on Opening Day 47 years ago in 1953 when Spahn and the Braves beat the Cardinals in 10 innings, 3-2.
The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs, 14 – 8, in the longest nine-inning game in National League history: 4 hours, 22 minutes. The teams tie the major league record set in the American League by Baltimore and the Yankees on September 5, 1997.
The Hall of Fame adds an unprecedented number of first-time eligible candidates when George Brett, Nolan Ryan, and Robin Yount enter Cooperstown. In addition, the Veterans Committee’s selections Orlando Cepeda, Nestor Chylak, Frank Selee, and ‘Smokey’ Joe Williams are also inducted, joining the trio of first-timers elected by the BBWAA.
1999 – Craig Biggio scores his 1000th career run against Milwaukee in a 5-2 victory. Biggio has two hits on the day, including a double. Shane Reynolds captures the victory.
Bob Betts, the public address announcer whose distinctive baritone made him synonymous with Milwaukee Brewers baseball at Milwaukee County Stadium, dies at the age of 70. Betts announced the home games for 23 seasons.
With his team ahead 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases full of Brewers and two outs, Cubs’ outfielder Brant Brown drops Geoff Jenkins’s routine long fly ball to left field, allowing three runs to score, giving Milwaukee an 8-7 walk-off win at County Stadium. The infamous error became will be immortalized by Ron Santo’s radio call when the broadcaster mournfully exclaims, “Nooooooooo!!!!!” as the ball rolls toward the ivy-covered wall.
Sammy Sosa breaks an 0 for 21 slump, hitting his 64th and 65th home runs as the Cubs build a 7 – 0 lead over the Brewers. Milwaukee fights back, however, and scores three in the last of the 9th when Chicago OF Brant Brown drops a routine fly ball with the bases loaded and two out to allow three Brewers to score. Rod Beck is on the mound when the Merkle-like error occurs (Fred Merkle’s boner occurred exactly 90 years ago). Milwaukee wins, 8 – 7, and the Cubs remain tied for the wild card spot with the Mets, who lose to Montreal, 3 – 0. With his eight total bases, Sammy has now topped the 400 mark.
Sammy Sosa hits his 61st and 62nd home runs of the season against the Milwaukee Brewers to tie the National League record of 10 multi-homer games in a single season set by Ralph Kiner in 1947. The two home runs pace the Cubs to an 11 – 10 win, and tie Sosa with Mark McGwire for the home run lead.
Cubs OF Sammy Sosa becomes the 4th player in history to reach the 60-home run mark for a season when he slugs number 60 off Valerio de los Santos of the Brewers in the 7th inning of the 15 – 12 Chicago win.
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