YEAR IN REVIEW : 1999 National League

Off the field...

President Bill Clinton was acquitted of impeachment charges and remained in office despite originally denying that he had improper relations with a White House intern. After a thorough investigation it was later discovered that the President had lied under oath and he eventually confessed and apologized to the American people.

The disturbing trend of violence in American schools reached an all-time high as two students entered Columbine High School with an arsenal of weapons and explosives killing thirteen of their classmates before taking their own lives.

John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister in-law were killed as their plane, piloted by JFK Jr., crashed en route to a Kennedy cousin's wedding ceremony.

In the American League...

In a surprise move, the New York Yankees traded pitcher David Wells to the Toronto Blue Jays for five-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. Both are later reunited in pinstripes on the same Yankee rotation.

Texas Ranger Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez tied the highest batting average for a catcher since Bill Dickey batted .332 in 1937. He also added thirty-five home runs, twenty-five stolen bases and one-hundred thirteen runs batted in to his cumulative stats.

The Baltimore Orioles traveled to Havana Cuba to play the national team in an exhibition game witnessed by the attending Fidel Castro. The Blackbirds defeated the Cubans 3-2 in an eleven inning affair. Two months later, the tables were turned though as the national team traveled to Camden Yards and crushed the home team 12-6 in the first game ever played between the two countries on American soil.

In the National League...

"The Big Unit", Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks, continued to dominate on the hill winning the National League Cy Young with a 17-9 record, 2.48 ERA, twelve complete games and an astonishing three-hundred sixty-four strike outs.

On April 23rd, St. Louis Cardinal Fernando Tatis set a Major League record as the only player ever to hit two grand slams in a single inning as well as the only player ever to drive-in eight runs during a single frame. Both slams are off of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chan Ho Park who had certainly seen better days on the mound.

Another Cardinal, Mark McGwire continued to set a new standard at the plate by following up his record-breaking seventy-home run season with sixty-five more. The St. Louis slugger now held the #1 and #2 spots for single-season performances and belted his 500th career homer only a year after slamming number four-hundred.

Around the League...

Commissioner Bud Selig announced baseball's newest annual award created for the leading hitter in each respective league. Named after Hank Aaron, the citation recognizes the leader in hits, home runs and runs batted in.

The Associated Press reported that the average salary for a Major League ball player had grown to an astonishing $1.7 million dollars a year. The New York Times later printed that the average salary for a New York Yankee was $3 million much to the dismay of the rest of the league.

Baseball announced its twenty-five man All-Century Team as selected by fan balloting. The line-up included: Lou Gehrig (1B), Jackie Robinson (2B), Cal Ripken Jr. (SS), Mike Schmidt (3B), Babe Ruth (OF), Hank Aaron (OF), Ted Williams (OF), Johnny Bench (C), Nolan Ryan (RHP) and Sandy Koufax (LHP).

Baseball and the world bid farewell to Joe DiMaggio who passed away on May 8th. During his fabled thirteen-year career, "The Yankee Clipper" captured three Most Valuable Player trophies and became one of the most revered players ever to lace up a pair of cleats.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"You're as famous as Mark McGwire" said a fan at the game, "I don't want to go there!" - Pitcher Jose Jimenez after tossing his no-hitter

1999 National League Player Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls Jeff Bagwell Houston 149 Top 25
Batting Average Larry Walker Colorado .379 Top 25
Doubles Craig Biggio Houston 56 Top 25
Hits Luis Gonzalez Arizona 206 Top 25
Home Runs Mark McGwire St. Louis 65 Top 25
On Base Percentage Larry Walker Colorado .458 Top 25
RBI Mark McGwire St. Louis 147 Top 25
Runs Jeff Bagwell Houston 143 Top 25
Slugging Average Larry Walker Colorado .710 Top 25
Stolen Bases Tony Womack Arizona 72 Top 25
Total Bases Sammy Sosa Chicago 397 Top 25
Triples Bobby Abreu Philadelphia 11 Top 25
Neifi Perez Colorado

1999 National League Pitcher Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games Randy Johnson Arizona 12 Top 25
ERA Randy Johnson Arizona 2.48 Top 25
Games Steve Kline Montreal 82 Top 25
Saves Ugueth Urbina Montreal 41 Top 25
Shutouts Andy Ashby San Diego 3 Top 25
Strikeouts Randy Johnson Arizona 364 Top 25
Winning Percentage Mike Hampton Houston .846 Top 25
Wins Mike Hampton Houston 22 Top 25

1999 National League

Team Standings

Atlanta Braves 103 59 .636 0 $79,256,599
New York Mets 97 66 .595 $71,510,523
Philadelphia Phillies 77 85 .475 26 $30,441,500
Montreal Expos 68 94 .420 35 $15,015,250
Florida Marlins 64 98 .395 39 $14,650,000
Houston Astros 97 65 .599 0 $56,389,000
Cincinnati Reds 96 67 .589 $38,031,285
Pittsburgh Pirates 78 83 .484 18½ $23,682,420
St. Louis Cardinals 75 86 .466 21½ $46,337,129
Milwaukee Brewers 74 87 .460 22½ $42,976,575
Chicago Cubs 67 95 .414 30 $55,419,648
Arizona Diamondbacks 100 62 .617 0 $70,046,818
San Francisco Giants 86 76 .531 14 $45,991,934
Los Angeles Dodgers 77 85 .475 23 $76,607,247
San Diego Padres 74 88 .457 26 $46,507,179
Colorado Rockies 72 90 .444 28 $54,367,504
National League Team Standings

1999 National League Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls Houston 728
Batting Average Colorado .288
Doubles Montreal 320
Hits Colorado 1,644
Home Runs Colorado 223
On Base Percentage New York .363
Runs Arizona 908
Slugging Average Colorado .472
Stolen Bases San Diego 174
Triples Montreal 47

1999 National League Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games Arizona 16
ERA Atlanta 3.65
Fewest Hits Allowed Cincinnati 1,309
Fewest Home Runs Allowed Houston 128
Fewest Walks Allowed Houston 478
Saves Cincinnati 55
Shutouts Houston 5
Strikeouts Houston 1,204
Seasonal Events: All-Star Game | Draft | Home Run Derby | World Series
Navigation: Year in Review Menu | Previous Season | Next Season
Miscellaneous: A.L. Leaderboard | Retirements | Rookies List
Average Salary: $1,720,050.00
Minimum Salary: $200,000.00
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baseball almanac fast facts

On August 17, 1999, Steve Kline of Montreal joined an elite group of pitchers who have each struck out four batters during a single inning.

Two National League players hit for the cycle: Todd Helton of the Rockies on June 19, 1999, and Jeff Kent of the Giants on May 3, 1999.

On June 25, 1999, Jose Jimenez of St. Louis pitched against the powerful Randy Johnson of Arizona. Jimenez shocked the fans by pitching the only no-hitter of the entire season.