1992 in baseball

The following are the baseball events of the year 1992 throughout the world.  

Champions

Major League Baseball

• World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves (4-2); Pat Borders, MVP

• American League Championship Series MVP: Roberto Alomar
• National League Championship Series MVP: John Smoltz
• All-Star Game, July 14 at Jack Murphy Stadium: American League, 13-6; Ken Griffey, Jr., MVP

Other champions

• Caribbean World Series: Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico)
• College World Series: Pepperdine
• Japan Series: Seibu Lions over Yakult Swallows (4-3)
• Little League World Series: Long Beach, California; title awarded following loss to team from Zamboanga City, Mindanao, Philippines, which was later disqualified
• Summer Olympic Games at Barcelona, Spain: Cuba (Gold), Chinese Taipei (Silver), Japan (Bronze)

Awards and honors

• Most Valuable Player
  • Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics (AL)
  • Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL)
• Cy Young Award
  • Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics (AL)
  • Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs (NL)
• Rookie of the Year
  • Pat Listach, Milwaukee Brewers (AL)
  • Eric Karros, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL)
• Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award
  • Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics (AL)
  • Lee Smith, St. Louis Cardinals (NL)
• Manager of the Year
  • Tony La Russa, Oakland Athletics (AL)
  • Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL)

MLB statistical leaders

Major league baseball final standings

Managers

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American League

National League

Events

January-April

• January 2 - The Boston Red Sox sign free agent pitcher Frank Viola.

• January 7 - Pitchers Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Seaver finishes with a record 98.8% of the votes cast. Pete Rose, ineligible because of his ban from baseball (otherwise this year would have been his first year of eligibility), receives 41 write–in votes.

• January 31 - The Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Barry Bonds to a one-year contract worth $4.7 million, the largest-ever one-year deal.

• February 19 - The Boyfriend episode of Seinfeld debuts on NBC, featuring very special guest star Keith Hernandez.

• February 20 - The Simpsons episode, Homer at the Bat airs featuring guest appearances by Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey, Jr., Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, José Canseco, Don Mattingly, Darryl Strawberry and Mike Scioscia.

• March 2 - Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg becomes the highest-paid player in major league history when he agrees to a four-year contract extension worth $28.4 million.

• March 17 - Pitcher Hal Newhouser and umpire Bill McGowan are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

• March 30 - In one of the biggest cross-town trades in Chicago baseball history, the Chicago Cubs trade George Bell to the Chicago White Sox, while the Sox send Sammy Sosa to the Cubs.

• April 6 - A crowd of 44,568 sees the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Cleveland Indians 2-0 in the first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Rick Sutcliffe hurls the shutout for Baltimore.

May-August

• May 9 - At Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals come back from deficits of 9-0 and 11-3 to win 12-11 over the Atlanta Braves.^[1]

• May 17 - The Minnesota Twins trade highly regarded prospect pitcher Denny Neagle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher John Smiley.

• July 6–8 - The Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers play a series of three doubleheaders at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers sweep the first doubleheader, the Expos sweep the second, and the two teams split the third. The doubleheaders are part of a series that had been postponed because of the Los Angeles Riots.

• July 7 - Andy Van Slyke of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the first outfielder in nearly 18 years to record an unassisted double play, in the Pirates' 5–3 win over the Houston Astros. Van Slyke races in from center field to catch a fly ball, then continues in to double up Ken Caminiti, who was running from second base on the play.

• July 14 - The American League pounds out a record 19 hits in defeating the National League by a score of 13–6 in the All-Star Game. It is the AL's fifth straight win. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., who hit a single, a double and a home run, is named the MVP, 12 years after his father Ken Sr. won the same honor.

• August 17 - At Dodger Stadium, Kevin Gross of the Los Angeles Dodgers no-hits the San Francisco Giants 2-0.

• August 28 - The Milwaukee Brewers lash 31 hits in a 22-2 drubbing of the Toronto Blue Jays, setting a record for the most hits by a team in a single nine-inning game. Darryl Hamilton leads the way for the Brewers, going 4-for-7 with 5 RBI.

• August 31 - the Oakland A's trade Jose Canseco to the Texas Rangers in the middle of a game and while Canseco was in the on-deck circle for Rubén Sierra, Jeff Russell and Bobby Witt.

September-December

• September 7 - After receiving an 18-9 no-confidence vote from the owners, Commissioner Fay Vincent is forced to resign. Vincent is soon replaced by Milwaukee Brewers president Bud Selig on what is meant to be an interim basis.

• September 9 - Robin Yount becomes the 17th player to reach 3,000 hits in the Milwaukee Brewers' 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Yount singles to right center off Cleveland's José Mesa in the seventh inning.

• September 20 - Mickey Morandini of the Philadelphia Phillies completes the first National League unassisted triple play in 65 years. It is the ninth in Major League history, but only the second to be pulled off by a second baseman. The Pittsburgh Pirates win the game, however, 3-2..

• September 23 - Bip Roberts of the Cincinnati Reds hits safely in his tenth consecutive at-bat. He ends his streak later in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• September 27 - The Pittsburgh Pirates seal their third consecutive National League East championship with a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets. It is the Pirates' final postseason berth to this date.

• September 28 - The idle Oakland Athletics clinch their fourth American League West crown in five years when the second-place Minnesota Twins fall to the Chicago White Sox 9-4.

• September 29 - The Atlanta Braves wrap up the National League West with a 6-0 shutout of the San Francisco Giants.

• September 30 - George Brett of the Kansas City Royals collects his 3,000th hit, an infield single off Tim Fortugno in the seventh inning of a 4-0 Royals victory over the California Angels.

• October 3 - The Toronto Blue Jays clinch their second straight American League East title with a narrow 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.

• October 23 - The expansion Florida Marlins hire Rene Lachemann as the team's first manager.

• October 24 - The Toronto Blue Jays clinch their first World Series championship with a 4–3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 6. Dave Winfield's 2–out, 2–run double in the top of the 11th gives Toronto a 4–2 lead. The Braves score one run in the bottom half of the inning and have the tying run on 3rd when the final out is made. Jimmy Key wins the game in relief, and Candy Maldonado homers for Toronto. Blue Jays catcher Pat Borders, with a .450 batting average, is named the Series MVP. The Toronto Blue Jays finish the season without being swept in any series. It is the first team from outside the United States to win the World Series.

• October 27 - The expansion Colorado Rockies hire Don Baylor as the team's first manager.

• November 10 - The National League fails to approve the sale of the San Francisco Giants to Vince Naimoli, blocking a move to St. Petersburg, Florida. The 9-4 vote falls short of the 10 required for approval.^[2]

• November 12 - Arbitrator George Nicolau overturns the suspension of New York Yankees pitcher Steve Howe for considering it too severe. After that, Howe is resigned by the team.

• November 16 - The Colorado Rockies sign free agent first baseman Andrés Galarraga, who rejoins Don Baylor, his hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. Galarraga is coming off his second injury-plagued year, having missed 44 days of the season after being hit on the wrist by a Wally Whitehurst pitch in the third game of the season.

• November 17 - Major League Baseball holds an expansion draft to stock the rosters of the National League's two new teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. A total of 72 players are chosen. The best picks for Florida are Trevor Hoffman, eventually packaged for Gary Sheffield; Jeff Conine, and Cris Carpenter, later dealt to the Texas Rangers for Robb Nen. For Colorado, their best picks are Eric Young, Joe Girardi, Vinny Castilla, Armando Reynoso, Andy Ashby, Brad Ausmus, Charlie Hayes and Doug Bochtler. The next season, Ashby, Ausmus and Bochtler will go to the San Diego Padres in an ill-fated deal for pricey veteran pitchers Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris.

• November 22 - Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Pat Listach is named American League Rookie of the Year. Listach, who was recalled on April 7 to replace the injured Bill Spiers, hit a .290 average and also became the first Brewers player to steal 50 bases in a season.

• November 29 - Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott is quoted in the New York Times as saying that Adolf Hitler was initially good for Germany, that her references to "niggers" was in jest, and she couldn't understand why the word "Jap" was offensive. MLB appoints a four-man committee to investigate the controversial Schott.

Movies

• The Babe
• Comrades of Summer, The (TV)
• Diamonds on the Silver Screen (TV)
• It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown (TV)
• League of Their Own, A
• Mr. Baseball

Births

• October 16 - Bryce Harper

Deaths

January-April

• January 1 - Jean Lovell, 65, who set home runs all-time records for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League catchers both in career and regular season
• January 17 - Red Durrett, 70, outfielder for the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers
• January 18 - Philomena Gianfrancisco, 68, outfielder who played from 1945 through 1948 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• February 8 - Fabian Gaffke, 78, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians between 1936 and 1942
• February 13 - Bill Humphrey, 80, pitcher for the 1938 Boston Red Sox
• February 24 - Betty McKenna, 60, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League infielder in three seasons from 1951 to 1953
• February 26 - Jean R. Yawkey, 83, majority owner of the Boston Red Sox since 1976
• January 30 - Coaker Triplett, 80, left fielder for the Cubs, Cardinals and Phillies from 1938–1945, who later posted four .300 seasons with the Buffalo Bisons, including the 1950 International League batting title
• April 20 - Pat Creeden, 85, second baseman for the Boston Red Sox in the 1930s
• April 23 - Deron Johnson, 53, first and third baseman who led the NL in RBI in 1965; later a coach
• April 24 - Elio Chacón, 55, Venezuelan middle infielder who led the New York Mets in stolen bases in their 1962 inaugural season
• April 27 - Harlond Clift, 79, All-Star third baseman for the St. Louis Browns who was the first man at his position to hit 30 home runs; scored 100 runs seven times, and set records with 405 assists in 1937 and career mark of 309 double plays

May-August

• May 1 - Celerino Sánchez, 48, Mexican third baseman for the Yankees from 1972 to 1973, who won the 1966 Triple Crown in the Mexican League
• May 8 - Joyce Ricketts, 59, two-time All-Star outfielder in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• June 4 - Carl Stotz, 82, founder of Little League Baseball in 1939 who left the organization in 1955 in a litigious leadership dispute, shortly after serving as a pallbearer at Cy Young's funeral
• June 15 - Eddie Lopat, 73, All-Star pitcher who combined with Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi to form the heart of the Yankees' rotation through five World Series championships from 1949–53; led AL in ERA and winning percentage in 1953
• June 16 - Rita Meyer, 65, shortstop and pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• June 27 - Sandy Amorós, 62, Cuban left fielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, best remembered for a spectacular catch in Game 7 of the 1955 World Series
• August 29 - Andy Gilbert, 78, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox in the 1940s, who later became a successfully minor league manager, winning 2009 games during 29 seasons

September -December

• September 5 - Billy Herman, 83, Hall of Fame second baseman for the Cubs and Dodgers who batted .304 lifetime, scored 100 runs five times and led the NL in hits, doubles and triples once each and in putouts seven times; later a coach, minor league manager and scout
• September 22 - Aurelio López, 44, All-Star relief pitcher who had two seasons of 20 saves for the Detroit Tigers
• September 23 - Bernice Gera, 61, the first female umpire of a professional baseball game (June 24, 1972, New York-Penn League)
• October 19 - Atley Donald, 82, New York Yankees pitcher who had a lifetime record of 65-33, a winning percentage of .663
• October 22 - Red Barber, 84, broadcaster for the Reds, Dodgers and Yankees from 1934 to 1966 who, along with Mel Allen, won the first Ford Frick Award from the Hall of Fame
• October 26 - Dottie Green, 71, catcher and chaperone, who participate in all 12 seasons for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• November 5 - Rod Scurry, 36, relief pitcher for the Pirates who had 14 saves in 1982
• November 10 - Chuck Connors, 71, first baseman for the 1951 Cubs who gained stardom as an actor on the television series The Rifleman
• November 13 - Johnny Ostrowski, 75, utility outfielder/third baseman who played for the Cubs, Red Sox, White Sox and Senators from 1943 to 1950
• November 13 - Wally Shaner, 92, left fielder who played from 1923 to 1929 for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds
• November 29 - Tuck Stainback, 81, backup outfielder for seven different major league teams from 1934 to 1946, whom single-handedly prevented Carl Hubbell from pitching a perfect game in 1938
• December 1 - Chile Gómez, 91, Mexican infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1935 and 1942
• December 12 - Rube Walker, 66, backup catcher for the Cubs and the Dodgers, later a pitching coach for the Senators, Mets and Braves
• December 28 - Sal Maglie, 75, All-Star pitcher for all three New York teams during the 1950s whose hardnosed style personified the rivalry between the franchises; led NL in wins and ERA once each

References