The 1998 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees sweeping the San Diego Padres in the World Series, after they had won a then AL record 114 regular season games. The Yankees finished with 125 wins for the season (regular season and playoffs combined), which remains the MLB record.
The 1998 season was marked by MLB's expansion to 30 teams (16 in the NL, 14 in the AL), with two new teams–the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the American League–added. To keep the leagues with even numbers of teamsWith an odd number of teams (15), only seven games would be able to be scheduled in each league on any given day during the intra-league portion of the regular season. Thus, one team in each league would have had to be idle on any given day. This would have made it difficult for scheduling, in terms of travel days and the need to end the regular season before October. See Major League Baseball#League organization. If each league had wished to remain at fifteen teams, the schedule would have had to include one inter-league game during each day of intra-league play. Instead, with each league now having an even number of teams, interleague games occur only in certain parts of the regular season. while allowing both leagues to have a new team, the Milwaukee Brewers were moved from the American League Central Division to the National League Central Division. The Detroit Tigers were shifted from the American League East to the American League Central, while the Devil Rays were added to the American League East. The Diamondbacks were added to the National League West, making the NL have more teams than the AL for the first time (this arrangement would last until the end of the 2012 season, when the Houston Astros moved from the National to the American League for 2013, giving each league 15 teams).
The biggest story of the season was the historic chase of the single-season home run record held at the time by Roger Maris. Initially, the St. Louis Cardinals' Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners started the season on a pace to both break Maris' record. In June, the chase was joined by the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa, who broke the decades-old record of Rudy York for most home runs in a calendar month with 20 that month. Eventually, Griffey fell off the record pace, but still ended with 56 homers. Both McGwire and Sosa broke the record in September, with McGwire ultimately finishing with 70 homers to Sosa's 66. McGwire's record would last only three years, with Barry Bonds hitting 73 in 2001. The 1998 season was also the first in MLB history with four players hitting 50 or more homers, with Greg Vaughn of the San Diego Padres hitting 50. In a postscript to the record chase, both McGwire and Sosa have since been widely accused of having used performance-enhancing drugs during that period, and McGwire would admit in 2010 that he had used steroids during the record-setting season.
The defending World Series champions Florida Marlins finished last in the NL East Division at 54–108, making it the first, and only, time that a team went from winning the World Series one year to finishing with 100 or more losses and last in their division the following year.
New commissioner On July 9, 1998, Major League Baseball Executive Council chairman Bud Selig officially became the 9th commissioner of baseball, though he had been the de facto commissioner for nearly 6 years. During that time, the owners had tried to find a replacement for previous commissioner Fay Vincent who was forced to step down by the owners towards the end of 1992 season mainly due to the lockout he intervened in during the 1990 season.
Standings
American League
National League
The Chicago Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants in a one-game playoff to earn the NL Wild Card.
Postseason
This was the first season in which teams were seeded by their respective win–loss record within their respective leagues. Division Champions were seeded 1–3. Wild Cards were automatically seeded 4 (regardless of having a better record than a Division Champion). The team with the better regular season record in the first two rounds had home-field advantage, with the wild card never having home-field until the World Series. The Division Series pitted the No. 1 seeded Division Champion against the No. 4 seeded Wild Card, while the No. 2 seeded faced the No. 3 seeded Division Champion. If the No. 1 seeded Division Champion and the Wild Card were in the same division, the No. 1 seeded Division Champion would instead face the No. 3 seeded Division Champion while the No. 2 seeded Division Champion would face the No. 4 seeded Wild Card. Home-field advantage in the World Series was still based on yearly rotation at this time (until that changed in 2003). This was also the first season in which the Division Series was conducted under a 2–2–1 format. The higher seed hosted Games 1–2 and 5 (if necessary). The lower seeded team would host Games 3 and 4 (Game 4, if necessary). Previously, the team with home-field advantage in all best-of-5 postseason series (LCS from 1969 to 1984, LDS from 1981, 1995–1997) were conducted in a 2–3 format where the team with home-field advantage would have to open on the road for the first two games, while hosting the final three games (if Games 4 & 5 are necessary).
Bracket
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame George Davis Larry Doby Lee MacPhail Bullet Rogan Don Sutton
Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the YearKerry Wood (CHC)Ben Grieve (OAK)Cy Young AwardTom Glavine (ATL)Roger Clemens (TOR)Manager of the YearLarry Dierker (HOU)Joe Torre (NYY)Most Valuable PlayerSammy Sosa (CHC)Juan González (TEX)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcherGreg Maddux (ATL)Mike Mussina (BAL)CatcherCharles Johnson (FLA)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)First BasemanJ. T. Snow (SF)Rafael Palmeiro (BAL)Second BasemanBret Boone (CIN)Roberto Alomar (CLE)Third BasemanScott Rolen (PHI)Robin Ventura (CWS)ShortstopRey Ordonez (NYM)Omar Vizquel (CLE)OutfieldersBarry Bonds (SF)Bernie Williams (NYY)Larry Walker (COL)Jim Edmonds (ANA)Andruw Jones (ATL)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)Silver Slugger AwardsPitcher/Designated HitterTom Glavine (ATL)Jose Canseco (TOR)CatcherMike Piazza (NYM)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)First BasemanMark McGwire (STL)Rafael Palmeiro (BAL)Second BasemanCraig Biggio (HOU)Damion Easley (DET)Third BasemanVinny Castilla (COL)Dean Palmer (KC)ShortstopBarry Larkin (CIN)Alex Rodriguez (SEA)OutfieldersMoisés Alou (HOU)Albert Belle (CWS)Sammy Sosa (CHC)Juan González (TEX)Greg Vaughn (SD)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Other awards Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Edgar Martínez (SEA) Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Sammy Sosa (CHC). Rolaids Relief Man Award: Tom Gordon (BOS, American); Trevor Hoffman (SD, National).
Player of the Month Month American League National League April Iván Rodríguez Mark McGwire May Bernie Williams Mark McGwire June Rafael Palmeiro Sammy Sosa July Albert Belle Vladimir Guerrero August Derek Jeter Jeff Kent September Albert Belle Mark McGwire
Pitcher of the Month Month American League National League April Chuck Finley Tom Glavine May Hideki Irabu Orel Hershiser June Bartolo Colón Greg Maddux July David Cone Chan Ho Park August Roger Clemens Randy Johnson September Rick Helling Randy Johnson
MLB statistical leaders Statistic American League National League AVG Bernie Williams NYY .339 Larry Walker COL .363 HR Ken Griffey Jr. SEA 56 Mark McGwire STL 70 RBI Juan González TEX 157 Sammy Sosa CHC 158 Wins Roger Clemens1 TORDavid Cone NYYRick Helling TEX 20 Tom Glavine ATL 20 ERA Roger Clemens1 TOR 2.65 Greg Maddux ATL 2.22 SO Roger Clemens1 TOR 271 Curt Schilling PHI 300 SV Tom Gordon BOS 46 Trevor Hoffman SD 53 SB Rickey Henderson OAK 66 Tony Womack PIT 58 1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner
Managers American League Team Manager Notes Anaheim Angels Terry Collins Baltimore Orioles Ray Miller Boston Red Sox Jimy Williams Chicago White Sox Jerry Manuel Cleveland Indians Mike Hargrove Detroit Tigers Buddy Bell, Larry Parrish Bell (52–85, .380), Parrish (13–12, .520) Kansas City Royals Tony Muser Minnesota Twins Tom Kelly New York Yankees Joe Torre Won the World Series Oakland Athletics Art Howe Seattle Mariners Lou Piniella Tampa Bay Devil Rays Larry Rothschild Expansion team Texas Rangers Johnny Oates Toronto Blue Jays Tim Johnson
National League Team Manager Notes Arizona Diamondbacks Buck Showalter Expansion team Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox Chicago Cubs Jim Riggleman Cincinnati Reds Jack McKeon Colorado Rockies Don Baylor Florida Marlins Jim Leyland Houston Astros Larry Dierker Los Angeles Dodgers Bill Russell, Glenn Hoffman Russell (36–38, .486), Hoffman (47–41, .534) Milwaukee Brewers Phil Garner Montreal Expos Felipe Alou New York Mets Bobby Valentine Philadelphia Phillies Terry Francona Pittsburgh Pirates Gene Lamont St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa San Diego Padres Bruce Bochy Won National League pennant San Francisco Giants Dusty Baker
Home field attendance and payroll Team nameWinsHome attendanceEst. payrollColorado Rockies77 −7.2%3,792,683 −2.5%46,823$50,484,64815.9%Baltimore Orioles79 −19.4%3,684,650 −0.7%45,490$72,525,63423.9%Arizona Diamondbacks653,610,29044,571$32,347,000Cleveland Indians893.5%3,467,2991.8%42,806$61,718,1668.7%Atlanta Braves1065.0%3,360,860 −3.0%41,492$61,186,00017.0%St. Louis Cardinals8313.7%3,195,69121.3%38,972$54,672,52120.3%Los Angeles Dodgers83 −5.7%3,089,222 −6.9%38,139$48,820,0007.6%New York Yankees11418.8%2,955,19314.5%36,484$66,806,8677.3%Texas Rangers8814.3%2,927,399 −0.6%36,141$56,752,0956.2%Seattle Mariners76 −15.6%2,651,511 −16.9%32,735$54,802,03631.9%Chicago Cubs9032.4%2,623,19419.8%31,990$50,838,00020.6%San Diego Padres9828.9%2,555,87422.3%31,554$46,861,50025.4%Anaheim Angels851.2%2,519,28042.5%31,102$41,791,00034.2%Tampa Bay Devil Rays632,506,29330,942$27,280,000Houston Astros10221.4%2,458,45120.1%30,351$42,374,00021.8%Toronto Blue Jays8815.8%2,454,303 −5.2%30,300$51,376,0009.1%Boston Red Sox9217.9%2,314,7044.0%28,577$56,927,00030.7%New York Mets880.0%2,287,94829.5%28,246$52,247,99931.3%San Francisco Giants89 −1.1%1,925,36413.9%23,770$42,738,33420.1%Milwaukee Brewers74 −5.1%1,811,59325.5%22,365$34,139,90444.3%Cincinnati Reds771.3%1,793,6490.4%22,144$23,005,000 −53.8%Florida Marlins54 −41.3%1,730,384 −26.8%21,363$41,864,667 −14.0%Philadelphia Phillies7510.3%1,715,72215.1%21,182$36,297,500 −1.0%Pittsburgh Pirates69 −12.7%1,560,950 −5.8%19,271$15,065,00039.9%Kansas City Royals727.5%1,494,875 −1.5%18,686$38,097,5009.4%Detroit Tigers65 −17.7%1,409,3913.2%17,400$24,265,00040.5%Chicago White Sox800.0%1,391,146 −25.4%16,965$39,850,000 −31.0%Oakland Athletics7413.8%1,232,343 −2.5%15,214$21,473,000 −10.6%Minnesota Twins702.9%1,165,976 −17.4%14,395$28,097,500 −17.5%Montreal Expos65 −16.7%914,909 −38.9%11,295$10,641,500 −44.8%
Television coverage This was the third season under the five-year rights agreements with ESPN, Fox and NBC. ESPN continued to air Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball. Fox's coverage included Fox Saturday Baseball broadcasts, Thursday night games on Fox Sports Net and Saturday primetime games on FX. NBC aired the All-Star Game. During the postseason, ESPN, Fox and NBC split the four Division Series. NBC then televised the American League Championship Series while Fox aired both the National League Championship Series and the World Series.
Events January–March January 5 – Don Sutton, a 324-game winner, is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his fifth try. Sutton, who missed election by nine votes in 1990, is named on 81.6% of the ballots. February 2 – New York Yankees general manager Bob Watson announces his resignation. He is replaced by 30-year-old Brian Cashman. February 18 – Long-time Chicago Cubs TV and radio announcer Harry Caray dies at the age of 83.