1998 Oakland Athletics season
Encyclopedia
The Oakland Athletics
' 1998 season
involved the A's finishing 4th in the American League
West with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
' 1998 season
1998 Major League Baseball season
*American League Championship Series MVP: David Wells**American League Division Series:*National League Championship Series MVP: Sterling Hitchcock**National League Division Series*All-Star Game, July 7 at Coors Field: American League, 13-8; Roberto Alomar, MVP...
involved the A's finishing 4th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
West with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses.
Offseason
- October 29, 1997: Dane JohnsonDane JohnsonDane Edward Johnson is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Oakland Athletics. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2nd round of the 1984 amateur draft...
was selected off waivers from the Athletics by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. - November 7, 1997: The Athletics traded a player to be named later to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Kenny Rogers and cash. The Athletics completed the deal by sending Scott BrosiusScott BrosiusScott David Brosius is a former Major League Baseball third baseman for the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees . Brosius is currently the head baseball coach at Linfield College, his alma mater....
to the Yankees on November 18. - November 18, 1997: Tony BatistaTony BatistaLeocadio Francisco "Tony" Batista is a former Major League Baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He played in the major leagues from to and to , and with the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League in .-Career:...
was drafted from the Athletics by the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
as the 27th pick in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft1997 MLB Expansion DraftThe 1997 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball on November 18, 1997 in the Phoenix Civic Center to stock the major league rosters of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks, new major league expansion franchises that were set to start play in the...
. - November 26, 1997: David NewhanDavid NewhanDavid Matthew Newhan is a former Major League Baseball player. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed...
and Don WengertDon WengertDonald Paul Wengert is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates.-External links:...
were traded by the Athletics to the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Jorge VelandiaJorge VelandiaJorge Luis Velandia Macias [ve-LAHN-deah] is a former Major League Baseball shortstop.Velandia played with the San Diego Padres , Oakland Athletics , New York Mets , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Toronto Blue Jays , and Cleveland Indians...
and Doug BochtlerDoug BochtlerDouglas Eugene Bochtler is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball from -.-External links:...
. - November 22, 1997: Damon BerryhillDamon BerryhillDamon Scott Berryhill is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played ten seasons for the Chicago Cubs, the Atlanta Braves, the Boston Red Sox, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants from to . He threw right and was a switch hitter...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - December 4, 1997: Mark AcreMark AcreMark Robert Acre is a retired professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of four seasons for the Oakland Athletics from -. He also played one season in Japan for the Yakult Swallows in .-External links:...
was purchased from the Athletics by the Yakult SwallowsTokyo Yakult Swallowsis a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
. - December 5, 1997: Jack VoigtJack VoigtJohn David Voigt is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, from until , for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - December 16, 1997: Mike BlowersMike BlowersMichael Roy Blowers is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - December 22, 1997: Izzy MolinaIzzy MolinaIslay "Izzy" Molina is a former Major League Baseball catcher for the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - January 22, 1998: Rickey HendersonRickey HendersonRickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - March 9, 1998: Kevin Mitchell was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.
- March 17, 1998: Ernie YoungErnie YoungErnest Wesley Young is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for Oakland Athletics , Kansas City Royals , Arizona Diamondbacks , Detroit Tigers , and Cleveland Indians . He also played one season in Japan for the Yokohama BayStars In 8 seasons, he played in 288 games, had 179 hits,...
was purchased from the Athletics by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. - March 25, 1998: Doug Bochtler was purchased from the Athletics by the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Opening Day starters
- Rafael Bournigal
- Tom Candiotti
- Jason Giambi
- Ben Grieve
- Rickey Henderson
- A. J. HinchA. J. HinchAndrew Jay Hinch is the current vice president of professional scouting for the San Diego Padres. He is a former Major League Baseball catcher and a former manager. Hinch played for the Oakland Athletics , Kansas City Royals , Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies , and managed the Arizona...
- Dave Magadan
- Jason McDonald
- Scott Spiezio
- Matt Stairs
Notable transactions
- June 2, 1998: 1998 Major League Baseball Draft1998 Major League Baseball DraftThe 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
- Mark MulderMark MulderMark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
was drafted by the Athletics in the 1st round (2nd pick). Player signed October 9, 1998. - Eric ByrnesEric ByrnesEric James Byrnes , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the Oakland Athletics, the Colorado Rockies, the Baltimore Orioles, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Seattle Mariners...
was drafted by the Athletics in the 8th round. Player signed June 12, 1998.
- Mark Mulder
- June 26, 1998: Aaron SmallAaron SmallAaron James Small is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is probably best remembered for his short successful stint as a starter for the New York Yankees in ....
was selected off waivers from the Athletics by the Arizona Diamondbacks. - August 7, 1998: Kevin Mitchell was released by the Athletics.
- August 9, 1998: Jack VoigtJack VoigtJohn David Voigt is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, from until , for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics...
was acquired from the Athletics by the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in a conditional deal.
Roster
| 1998 Oakland Athletics | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
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Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 87 | 13 | .149 | 3 | 7 | |
| 57 | 72 | 10 | .139 | 1 | 10 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 238.2 | 16 | 8 | 3.17 | 138 | |
| 33 | 201 | 11 | 16 | 4.84 | 98 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|