1998 Mock Draft Results!

First round pick Big Mac (with a Big Mac)

Get an earlier look at potential first rounders and the great depth available for this season!  Check out the automated mock draft.  

Click here to see draft results

Greg Maddux, the antidote to steroid-abusing hitters?

How can a starting pitcher maintain an ERA of 2.22 while facing an endless array of 'roided-up monsters that average almost 5 runs a game?  Helps to have a card like this...

1998 Gold Glove Award Winners

It wasn't all towering home runs in 1998, here's your official Gold Glove Award winners....

John Rocker's view of 1998

Not the greatest pitching form, but John Rocker
did have some really good seasons in 1998 and 1999

Former Atlanta Brave closer (and 'Survivor' contestant) John Rocker was a rookie in 1998, and recently defended the Steroid Era in an interview...

"I think it was the better game. At the end of the day when people are paying their $80, $120 whatever it may be, to buy their ticket and come watch that game, it’s almost like the circus is in town. They are paid to be entertained. They wanna see some clown throw a fastball 101 mph and some other guy hit it 500 feet. That’s entertainment. You’re paying to be entertained.

“And was there anything more entertaining than 1998—I don’t care how each man got there—was there anything more entertaining than 1998?…Watching Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire chase 61 home runs?”

 

 

Welcome to the 1998 Retro Season!

1998 was an amazing season, truly one for the ages.  The Home Run Chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa captivated the nation and brought much attention and popularity to MLB, sorely needed after a series of labor disputes (including the cancellation of the World Series in 1994). 

However, the dark side of that fun season of endless home runs and legendary batting practice sessions was the widespread use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.  Plenty has been documented about the negative effects of this, ranging from a huge growth in hat size (looking at you, Barry Bonds) to early death (Ken Caminiti).  Many players that put up huge numbers are basically banned from the Hall of Fame due to their use of 'roids. 

Let's forget about the debates of who did and who didn't use, of who belongs in the Hall and who doesn't, and just focus on the truly incredible performances from that year -

Mark McGwire - new record of 70 HR's, 162 BB's, .299 average, 1.222 OPS
Sammy Sosa - NL MVP, 66 HRs, .308, 158 RBIs
Ken Griffey -  56 HRs, .284, 146 RBIs, Gold Glove in CF
Juan Gonzalez - AL MVP, 45 HR's, 157 RBIs
Roger Clemens - 20-6, 2.65 ERA, 271 K's, AL Cy Young
Alex Rodriguez - .310, 42 HRs, 46 stolen bases
Albert Belle - .328, 49 HRs, 152 RBIs
Tom Glavine - 20-6, 2.47 ERA, NY Cy Young
Greg Maddux - 18-9, MLB leading 2.22 ERA
Trevor Hoffman - 53 saves, 1.48 ERA


Some interesting tidbits from this very historic season...

 The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays both debuted this season

Cal Ripken took himself out of a game, thus ending his streak of 2,632 straight games

For the first time ever, FOUR players hit over 50 homers (McGwire, Sosa, Ken Griffey, and Greg Vaughn)

Kerry Wood struck out 20 batters in a game, David Wells threw the 15th perfect game in MLB history, and A-Rod became the third ever 40-40 man.

Albert Belle almost made it 5 sluggers with 50 home runs, as he narrowly missed his feat in the 1995 season of 50+ homers and doubles.  He hit 49 homers and 48 doubles.

McGwire also set the NL record for walks with 162.  His .752 slugging was the highest in the majors in 61 years, and his OPS of 1.222 was the most by any player to that time other than Ruth, Williams, Gehrig, or Hornsby.

On July 5th, Clemens struck out Tampa Bay’s Randy Winn to become the 11th pitcher with over 3,000 K’s.

At the age of 39, Rickey Henderson stole 66 bases to lead the American League.  He broke Eddie Collins record as the oldest player to lead his league.  He also became the second-oldest player to lead his league in walks, with 118 – Willie Mays had led the NL at the age of 40 in 1972.

Henderson scored his 2,000th career run, the 6th player to do so.

Paul Molitor retired at the end of the season, after passing Nap Lajoie, Eddie Murray, Mays and Eddie Collins to move from 12th to 8th on the all-time hit list.

Craig Biggio became the second player in history, and the first National Leaguer, to hit 50 doubles and steal 50 bases.  Tris Speaker is the other.

Rick Reed made the All-Star game for the Mets in 1998 – the first replacement player from the 1995 strike to do so. Damian Miller is the only other former replacement player to make an All-Star game.

On May 20th, the Indianapolis Indians (Triple A) hit for the cycle of home runs.  This is believed to be the only time this has happened in professional baseball’s history.  Pete Rose, Jr. hit a solo home run, Jason Williams smacked a 3-run shot, Glenn Murray slugged a grand slam and Guillermo Garcia finished off the inning with a 2-run homer.

On May 25th, David Bell of Cleveland became the third player to play against a team managed by his father, notching the game-winning RBI against Dad Buddy’s Tigers.  Bump/Maury Wills and Moises/Felipe Alou are the others.

On May 28th, Barry Bonds was intentionally walked by Gregg Olson with the bases loaded – only the 4th time in history this had happened.

Denny Martinez won his 244th game, breaking Juan Marichal’s record for a Latin American-born pitcher.

The Reds starting lineup on September 27th featured something unique in the history of the game – an all brother infield featuring Barry and Stephen Larkin (shortstop, first base) and Bret and Aaron Boone (second and third base).  They each came to the plate in the sixth inning.

On September 26th, Dennis Eckersley breaks Hoyt Wilhelm’s record by pitching in the 1,071st game of his career.

Trevor Hoffman tied the record for consecutive saves held by Rod Beck (42) half way through the season, only to see Tom Gordon of the Red Sox break the record at the end of that year.