2001 – Brad Ausmus wins the Gold Glove for National League catchers, given annually in recognition of defensive skills. He becomes the first Houston catcher so honored and the first Astro to be selected since Craig Biggio in 1997. Ausmus would win the award again in 2002.
“We had hoped that we were in a new era, one that would see a much better relationship between players and owners. Today’s announcement is a severe blow to such hopes.” – DONALD FEHR, the Players Association executive director commenting on MLB’s plan to contract two teams. Denying it’s a negotiating ploy, major league owners give commissioner Bud Selig the authority to “begin the process” of eliminating two ‘to be announced’ teams by a 28-2 vote. Donald Fehr, the Players Association executive director, calls the action of possibly eliminating the Expos, Twins, or Marlins most imprudent and unfortunate, and the worst manner in which to begin the process of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement.
Gold Glove Award winners are announced. Ivan Rodriguez wins his 10th straight to tie Johnny Bench for the most by a catcher, Greg Maddux wins his 12th straight to extend his National League record for pitchers, and Roberto Alomar wins for the 10th time, the most ever for a second baseman.
2000 – Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki, who posted a 2-5 record with a 3.16 ERA and 37 saves, becomes the second-oldest major leaguer to win the Rookie of the Year Award as the 32-year old captures the American League honor. Sam Jethroe, who played in the Negro Leagues before joining the Boston Braves, was 33 days older than Sasaki when he won the National League award in 1950.
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.
The Boston Red Sox trade pitchers Aaron Sele and Mark Brandenburg and catcher Bill Haselman to the Texas Rangers in exchange for C Jim Leyritz and outfielder Damon Buford.
For a second time, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America names Dusty Baker as the National League’s Manager of the Year. The Giants skipper, who led his team to a surprising 90-72 record, was first honored in 1993 and will win the honor again in 2000.
In Chicago, the MLB owners decisively reject a proposed labor agreement that would have ended a three-year stalemate. The 18-12 vote threatens to plunge baseball back into full-fledged hostilities between the owners and players’ union.
Todd Hollandsworth of the Los Angeles Dodgers is voted the National League Rookie of the Year, for the fifth year in a row that the award has gone to a Dodgers player. The previous four were Eric Karros (1992), Mike Piazza (1993), Raúl Mondesi (1994) and Hideo Nomo (1995). A year ago, Hollandsworth had 103 at-bats in 41 games played, but a broken right hand in May and a broken right thumb in August limited his playing time and kept him eligible for the rookie award.
1991 – Jeff Bagwell is named N.L. Rookie of the Year, capturing 23 of 24 first place votes. His .294 average, 15 homers and 82 RBIs are just the first sign of things to come. The other vote goes to Pittsburgh’s Orlando Merced.
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