Harman Patil (Editor)

1998 Oakland Athletics season

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Record
  
74–88 (.457)

Manager(s)
  
Art Howe

General manager(s)
  
Billy Beane

Owner(s)
  
Stephen Schott Ken Hofmann

Local television
  
KRON-TV Fox Sports Bay Area (Ray Fosse, Greg Papa, Ken Wilson)

Local radio
  
KNEW (Bill King, Ken Korach, Ray Fosse)

The Oakland Athletics' 1998 season saw the A's finish with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses. The campaign was the first of the Billy Beane era. While the Athletics finished a distant fourth in the AL West, they improved upon the prior year's dismal output of 65-97.

Contents

The strong play of Jason Giambi, Matt Stairs and Kenny Rogers highlighted an otherwise forgettable campaign. Rogers' performance was particularly impressive; in arguably the finest season of his career, he won 16 games and posted a 3.17 Earned Run Average (both were the best full-season marks by an Athletics starter since 1992). Additionally, the 1998 season marked Rickey Henderson's fourth (and final) stint with the Athletics. Henderson, at the age of 39, stole a total 66 bases; this total lead the league in that category. Lastly, rookie Ben Grieve collected a Rookie of the Year (ROY) award for his solid debut season. The award was the Athletics' first since Walt Weiss received one in 1988.

The Athletics posted a winning record in 1999. The organization, under Beane, would not post another losing season until 2007.

Offseason

  • October 29, 1997: Dane Johnson was selected off waivers from the Athletics by the Toronto Blue Jays.
  • November 7, 1997: The Athletics traded a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for Kenny Rogers and cash. The Athletics completed the deal by sending Scott Brosius to the Yankees on November 18.
  • November 18, 1997: Tony Batista was drafted from the Athletics by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 27th pick in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft.
  • November 26, 1997: David Newhan and Don Wengert were traded by the Athletics to the San Diego Padres for Jorge Velandia and Doug Bochtler.
  • November 22, 1997: Damon Berryhill was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.
  • December 4, 1997: Mark Acre was purchased from the Athletics by the Yakult Swallows.
  • December 5, 1997: Jack Voigt was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.
  • December 16, 1997: Mike Blowers was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.
  • December 22, 1997: Izzy Molina was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.
  • January 22, 1998: Rickey Henderson 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 Young was purchased from the Athletics by the Kansas City Royals.
  • March 25, 1998: Doug Bochtler was purchased from the Athletics by the Detroit Tigers.

    • Opening Day starters

  • Rafael Bournigal
  • Tom Candiotti
  • Jason Giambi
  • Ben Grieve
  • Rickey Henderson
  • A. J. Hinch
  • Dave Magadan
  • Jason McDonald
  • Scott Spiezio
  • Matt Stairs

    • Notable transactions

  • June 2, 1998: 1998 Major League Baseball draft
  • Mark Mulder was drafted by the Athletics in the 1st round (2nd pick). Player signed October 9, 1998.
  • Eric Byrnes was drafted by the Athletics in the 8th round. Player signed June 12, 1998.
  • June 26, 1998: Aaron Small 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 Voigt was acquired from the Athletics by the Texas Rangers in a conditional deal.

    • Starters by position

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; R = Runs; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In; Avg. = Batting average; Slg. = Slugging average; SB = Stolen Bases

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    References

    1998 Oakland Athletics season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA