1995 Major League Baseball season

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The 1995 Major League Baseball season was the first season to be played under the expanded postseason format, as the League Division Series (LDS) was played in both the American and National leagues for the first time, since the 1981 strike-split season. However, due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike which carried into the 1995 season, a shortened 144-game schedule commenced on April 25, when the Florida Marlins played host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1995 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationApril 25 – October 28, 1995
Number of games144
Number of teams28
TV partner(s)
Draft
Top draft pickDarin Erstad
Picked byCalifornia Angels
Regular Season
Season MVPAL: Mo Vaughn (BOS)
NL: Barry Larkin (CIN)
Postseason
AL championsCleveland Indians
  AL runners-upSeattle Mariners
NL championsAtlanta Braves
  NL runners-upCincinnati Reds
World Series
ChampionsAtlanta Braves
  Runners-upCleveland Indians
World Series MVPTom Glavine (ATL)
MLB seasons

The Atlanta Braves became the first franchise to win World Series championships for three cities. Along with their 1995 title, the Braves won in 1914 as the Boston Braves, and in 1957 as the Milwaukee Braves.

Regular season edit

After the 1994 season was ended due to the players' strike, there was still a deal that had to be worked out. However, it wasn't until major league owners parlayed plans to have replacement players play in 1995 that the players got into serious negotiations. Due to the strike, there was no official defending champion for the year. However, the negotiations pushed the start of the season back to late April, already 18 games into a regular season.

Despite the strike, which alienated many fans, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak when he played in his 2,131st straight game on September 6. Games during the playoffs were also broadcast simultaneously, meaning that games were broadcast only regionally. Despite the oddities, the 1995 season is now considered a financial success where the two best teams in baseball (in their leagues) met up in the World Series, the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. For the first time since 1954, the Indians were the AL representatives in the World Series. This came on the heels of dominating the AL Central (beating second place Kansas City by 30 games).

They met the Boston Red Sox, who had AL MVP Mo Vaughn (39 home runs, 126 RBI) and got to start the series at home. Regardless, Cleveland swept the Red Sox. Meanwhile, in the other ALDS series between Seattle and Yankees, the Yankees stormed out to a quick 2–0 series lead at Yankee Stadium, winning game 2 on a 15th inning walk-off home run by Jim Leyritz. However, as the series shifted to The Kingdome in Seattle, the Mariners, who had made a 13-game comeback on the California Angels to force a one-game playoff (which Randy Johnson got the win), the Mariners won games 3 and 4 to cause a classic game 5, in which the Mariners came back three times to win on Edgar Martínez's famous double that scored Joey Cora and Ken Griffey Jr. In the ALCS, the Mariners surprised the Indians by taking game 1, however, on the power of pitchers Dennis Martínez and Orel Hershiser, the Indians managed to knock off Seattle in 6.

In the NLDS, it was the near-opposite to the New York/Seattle series. The Cincinnati Reds, who'd run away with the NL Central, swept the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves took both games vs. Colorado at Coors Field before the Rockies finally won a game in game 3. However, the Braves finished off the Rockies at home in game 4. Then, in the NLCS, after taking both games at Riverfront Stadium, the Braves finished the sweep of the Reds at home.

In the 1995 World Series, the Braves took the first two at home vs. Cleveland. Then, during the three games at Jacobs Field, the Indians won games 3 and 5 but those games sandwiched around the Braves 5–2 game 4 victory. In game 6, the Braves, on the power of an 8-inning, one-hitter thrown by Tom Glavine and David Justice hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning, won 1–0 and won the World Series. The victory made the Braves the first team to win World Series in three home cities (Boston (1914), Milwaukee (1957), and Atlanta (1995)).

Statistical leaders edit

Statistic American League National League
AVG Edgar Martínez SEA .356 Tony Gwynn SD .368
HR Albert Belle CLE 50 Dante Bichette COL 40
RBI Albert Belle CLE
Mo Vaughn BOS
126 Dante Bichette COL 128
Wins Mike Mussina BAL 19 Greg Maddux ATL 19
ERA Randy Johnson SEA 2.48 Greg Maddux ATL 1.63
SO Randy Johnson SEA 294 Hideo Nomo LA 236
SV José Mesa CLE 46 Randy Myers CHC 38
SB Kenny Lofton CLE 54 Quilvio Veras FLA 56

Standings edit

Postseason edit

Bracket edit

Division Series
(ALDS, NLDS)
League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)
World Series
         
West Seattle 3
WC NY Yankees 2
West Seattle 2
American League
Central Cleveland 4
Central Cleveland 3
East Boston 0
AL Cleveland 2
NL Atlanta 4
East Atlanta 3
WC Colorado 1
East Atlanta 4
National League
Central Cincinnati 0
Central Cincinnati 3
West Los Angeles 0

Awards and honors edit

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award National League American League
Rookie of the Year Hideo Nomo (LA) Marty Cordova (MIN)
Cy Young Award Greg Maddux (ATL) Randy Johnson (SEA)
Manager of the Year Don Baylor (COL) Lou Piniella (SEA)
Most Valuable Player Barry Larkin (CIN) Mo Vaughn (BOS)
Gold Glove Awards
Position National League American League
Pitcher Greg Maddux (ATL) Mark Langston (CAL)
Catcher Charles Johnson (FLA) Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman Mark Grace (CHC) J. T. Snow (CAL)
Second Baseman Craig Biggio (HOU) Roberto Alomar (TOR)
Third Baseman Ken Caminiti (SD) Robin Ventura (CWS)
Shortstop Barry Larkin (CIN) Omar Vizquel (CLE)
Outfielders Marquis Grissom (ATL) Kenny Lofton (CLE)
Raúl Mondesí (LA) Devon White (TOR)
Steve Finley (SD) Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter Tom Glavine (ATL) Edgar Martínez (SEA)
Catcher Mike Piazza (LA) Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman Eric Karros (LA) Mo Vaughn (BOS)
Second Baseman Craig Biggio (HOU) Chuck Knoblauch (MIN)
Third Baseman Vinny Castilla (COL) Gary Gaetti (KC)
Shortstop Barry Larkin (CIN) John Valentin (BOS)
Outfielders Sammy Sosa (CHC) Albert Belle (CLE)
Dante Bichette (COL) Tim Salmon (CAL)
Tony Gwynn (SD) Manny Ramirez (CLE)

Other awards edit

Player of the Month edit

Month American League National League
May Manny Ramirez Matt Williams
June Edgar Martínez Jeff Conine
July Garret Anderson Dante Bichette
August Albert Belle Mike Piazza
September Albert Belle Dante Bichette

Pitcher of the Month edit

Month American League National League
May Kenny Rogers Heathcliff Slocumb
June Kevin Appier Hideo Nomo
July Tim Wakefield Greg Maddux
August Erik Hanson Sid Fernandez
September Norm Charlton Greg Maddux

Managers edit

American League edit

Team Manager Notes
Baltimore Orioles Phil Regan
Boston Red Sox Kevin Kennedy
California Angels Marcel Lachemann
Chicago White Sox Gene Lamont, Terry Bevington
Cleveland Indians Mike Hargrove Won American League Pennant
Detroit Tigers Sparky Anderson
Kansas City Royals Bob Boone
Milwaukee Brewers Phil Garner
Minnesota Twins Tom Kelly
New York Yankees Buck Showalter
Oakland Athletics Tony La Russa
Seattle Mariners Lou Piniella AL Manager of the Year
Texas Rangers Johnny Oates
Toronto Blue Jays Cito Gaston

National League edit

Team Manager Notes
Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox Won World Series
Chicago Cubs Jim Riggleman
Cincinnati Reds Davey Johnson
Colorado Rockies Don Baylor NL Manager of the Year
Florida Marlins Rene Lachemann
Houston Astros Terry Collins
Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Lasorda
Montreal Expos Felipe Alou
New York Mets Dallas Green
Philadelphia Phillies Jim Fregosi
Pittsburgh Pirates Jim Leyland
St. Louis Cardinals Joe Torre, Mike Jorgensen
San Diego Padres Bruce Bochy
San Francisco Giants Dusty Baker

Home field attendance and payroll edit

Team name Wins Home attendance Per game Est. payroll
Colorado Rockies[1] 77 45.3% 3,390,037 3.3% 47,084 $34,154,717 43.0%
Baltimore Orioles[2] 71 12.7% 3,098,475 22.2% 43,034 $43,942,521 13.1%
Cleveland Indians[3] 100 51.5% 2,842,745 42.5% 39,483 $38,057,835 24.8%
Toronto Blue Jays[4] 56 1.8% 2,826,483 -2.8% 39,257 $50,590,000 16.5%
Los Angeles Dodgers[5] 78 34.5% 2,766,251 21.4% 38,420 $39,273,201 3.4%
Atlanta Braves[6] 90 32.4% 2,561,831 0.9% 35,581 $47,235,445 -4.3%
Boston Red Sox[7] 86 59.3% 2,164,410 21.9% 30,061 $32,455,518 -14.3%
Philadelphia Phillies[8] 69 27.8% 2,043,598 -10.8% 28,383 $30,555,945 -3.3%
Texas Rangers[9] 74 42.3% 1,985,910 -20.7% 27,582 $34,581,451 4.9%
Chicago Cubs[10] 73 49.0% 1,918,265 4.0% 26,643 $29,505,834 -18.7%
Cincinnati Reds[11] 85 28.8% 1,837,649 -3.2% 25,523 $43,144,670 5.0%
St. Louis Cardinals[12] 62 17.0% 1,756,727 -5.9% 24,399 $37,101,000 26.7%
California Angels[13] 78 66.0% 1,748,680 15.6% 24,287 $31,223,171 24.1%
New York Yankees[14] 79 12.9% 1,705,263 1.8% 23,360 $48,874,851 6.2%
Florida Marlins[15] 67 31.4% 1,700,466 -12.2% 23,950 $24,515,781 13.3%
Seattle Mariners[16] 79 61.2% 1,643,203 48.8% 22,510 $36,481,311 24.8%
Chicago White Sox[17] 68 1.5% 1,609,773 -5.2% 22,358 $46,961,282 19.8%
Houston Astros[18] 76 15.2% 1,363,801 -12.6% 18,942 $34,169,834 3.2%
Montreal Expos[19] 66 -10.8% 1,309,618 2.6% 18,189 $12,473,000 -34.7%
New York Mets[20] 69 25.5% 1,273,183 10.6% 17,683 $27,674,992 -10.6%
San Francisco Giants[21] 67 21.8% 1,241,500 -27.2% 17,243 $36,462,777 -14.5%
Kansas City Royals[22] 70 9.4% 1,233,530 -11.9% 17,132 $29,532,834 -27.2%
Detroit Tigers[23] 60 13.2% 1,180,979 -0.3% 16,402 $37,044,168 -10.6%
Oakland Athletics[24] 67 31.4% 1,174,310 -5.5% 16,310 $37,739,225 10.4%
Milwaukee Brewers[25] 65 22.6% 1,087,560 -14.3% 15,105 $17,798,825 -26.9%
Minnesota Twins[26] 56 5.7% 1,057,667 -24.4% 14,690 $25,410,500 -10.6%
San Diego Padres[27] 70 48.9% 1,041,805 9.2% 14,470 $26,382,334 76.9%
Pittsburgh Pirates[28] 58 9.4% 905,517 -25.9% 12,577 $18,355,345 -24.2%

Television coverage edit

This was the second and final season of The Baseball Network, the joint venture between MLB, ABC, and NBC. Meanwhile, ESPN continued to air Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball.

The long-term plans for The Baseball Network began to crumble after the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike[29] began on August 12, 1994,[30][31] forcing the cancellation of the rest of the 1994 regular season, the postseason, and that year's World Series,[32][33] Both networks elected to dissolve the partnership with Major League Baseball on June 22, 1995.[34][35][36][37] Both networks figured that as the delayed 1995 baseball season opened without a labor agreement,[38] there was no guarantee against another strike. Under the terms of the agreement, it could be voided by any party if the venture did not produce a minimum of $330 million in revenue over the first two years.[39]

ABC and NBC were able to air their full respective slates of 1995 Baseball Night in America regular season games. To salvage the remains of the partnership, ABC and NBC elected to share coverage[40] of the 1995 postseason[41] including the World Series.[42] MLB would then replace The Baseball Network with new deals with NBC and Fox beginning in 1996.[43]

Network Day of week Announcers
ABC Saturday nights
Monday nights
Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Brent Musburger, Jim Kaat
NBC Friday nights Bob Costas, Joe Morgan, Bob Uecker, Greg Gumbel
ESPN Sunday nights
Wednesday nights
Jon Miller, Joe Morgan

Events edit

January–June edit

July–September edit

October–December edit

Undated events edit

  • Greg Maddux won his 4th consecutive Cy Young Award, a record at the time (has since been equaled by Randy Johnson)
  • The Cleveland Indians' Albert Belle became the first player with 50 home runs and 50 doubles in the same season.
  • The Cleveland Indians clinch the AL Central on the 123rd game of the season, the quickest a team ever clinched a division.

Deaths edit

  • January 2 – Don Elston, 65, All-Star relief pitcher for the Cubs who led NL in appearances in 1958 and 1959.
  • January 12 – John "Hi" Simmons, 89, coach at Missouri from 1937 to 1973 who won the 1954 College World Series.
  • January 18 – Ron Luciano, 57, American League umpire from 1968 to 1980 known for his flamboyance and several books.
  • February 7 – Cecil Upshaw, 52, relief pitcher, mainly for the Atlanta Braves, who saved 27 games in 1969 but missed the next season after nearly severing a finger.
  • March 5 – Roy Hughes, 84, infielder for four teams who scored 112 runs for 1936 Indians.
  • March 13 – Leon Day, 78, All-Star pitcher for the Newark Eagles of the Negro leagues who was elected to the Hall of Fame just six days earlier; set several league strikeout marks, including 18 strikeouts in one game.
  • March 29 – Terry Moore, 82, All-Star center fielder for the Cardinals who batted .304 in 1940, captained 1942 and 1946 champions.
  • April 9 – Bob Allison, 60, All-Star outfielder for the Senators/Twins who was the 1959 Rookie of the Year, had three 30-HR seasons and led the AL in triples and runs once each.
  • May 7 – Gus Bell, 66, All-Star outfielder, mainly with the Reds, who had four 100-RBI seasons and led the NL in triples in 1951; oldest in a major league family that includes son Buddy and grandson David.
  • May 30 – Glenn Burke, 42, center fielder for the Dodgers and Athletics who was the first former major leaguer to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality.
  • June 9 – Zoilo Versalles, 55, Cuban All-Star shortstop who led Twins to the 1965 AL pennant; first Latin American player to be named MVP, led AL in triples three times and in doubles and runs once each.
  • June 10 – Lindsey Nelson, 76, broadcaster for the Mets from 1962 to 1979, and also for the San Francisco Giants and NBC.
  • July 27 – Rick Ferrell, 89, Hall of Fame catcher for the Browns, Red Sox and Senators whose 1806 games caught were an AL record until 1988; from 1934 to 1938, half of a battery with brother Wes.
  • August 3 – Harry Craft, 80, manager of the Houston Colt .45s in their 1962 debut; former Reds center fielder also managed the Kansas City Athletics and Chicago Cubs.
  • August 4 – Dick Bartell, 87, All-Star shortstop for five teams, known for his combative personality, who batted .300 five times and scored 100 runs three times; batted .381 for Giants in 1936 World Series.
  • August 13 – Mickey Mantle, 63, Hall of Fame center fielder for the Yankees who was the AL's MVP in 1956, 1957 and 1962 and won the 1956 Triple Crown; 16-time All-Star won four home run titles, hitting 50 twice, and retired with third most HRs (536) and walks (1733) in history; 10-time .300 hitter led AL in runs six times; most powerful switch-hitter in baseball history, with career marks for runs (1677), RBI (1509) and slugging percentage (.557), and successor to Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio as symbol of the Yankees' long reign; hit record 18 home runs in World Series play.
  • August 20 – Von McDaniel, 56, pitcher who joined his brother Lindy on the 1957–58 St. Louis Cardinals, winning seven games.
  • September 21 – Tony Cuccinello, 87, All-Star second baseman for five teams who lost the 1945 batting title by one point in his final season; later a coach.
  • September 21 – Andrew Rozdilsky, 77, who performed as Andy the Clown at White Sox games from 1960 to 1990.
  • October 21 – Vada Pinson, 57, twice a National League All-Star outfielder; finished his career with 2,757 hits in 18 seasons.
  • December 27 – Oscar Judd, 87, Canadian pitcher who was an American League All-Star in 1943.

References edit

  1. ^ "Colorado Rockies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Florida Marlins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Seattle Mariners Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Washington Nationals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  25. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. ^ Quirk, Fort, James, Rodney D. (January 10, 2010). Hard Ball: The Abuse of Power in Pro Team Sports. p. 43. ISBN 9780691146577.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Tracey Labovitz (July 16, 1995). "McNamara Vaults into Festival Coverage". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  31. ^ Jones, Tom (August 10, 1994). "For television, a baseball strike would be no big deal". Walker County Messenger.
  32. ^ Halberstam, David J. (October 21, 2019). "The cancelled '94 World Series: Network voices remember a baseball low point 25 years ago". Sports Broadcast Journal.
  33. ^ Jeff Jensen (September 19, 1994). "There's Always Next Year-Maybe Baseball Advertisers Take a Hike for '94". Advertising Age.
  34. ^ Jack Craig (August 20, 1995). "Fans not wild about baseball". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  35. ^ "Abc And Nbc Quit Baseball Network". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 23, 1995. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  36. ^ Jack McCallum; Christian Stone (July 3, 1995). "Scorecard". Sports Illustrated.
  37. ^ Richard Sandomir (June 27, 1995). "TV SPORTS; All Are to Blame for Baseball Network's Demise". The New York Times.
  38. ^ "Costas dreading baseball season". Eugene Register-Guard. January 11, 1995.
  39. ^ Staudohar, Paul D. (1996). Playing for Dollars: Labor Relations and the Sports Business. Cornell University Press. p. 21. ISBN 9780801483424. the baseball network abc nbc 1994.
  40. ^ ESPN Sports Reporters with Dick Schaap - October 20, 1995 from Fulton County Stadium on YouTube
  41. ^ Ben Walker (July 21, 1995). "The World Series may come down to Kenny Lofton vs. Deion Sanders". Associated Press News. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  42. ^ Steve Nidetz (July 21, 1995). "Abc, Nbc To Share World Series Coverage". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  43. ^ Donald L. Deardorff (2000). Sports: A Reference Guide and Critical Commentary, 1980–1999. p. 33. ISBN 9780313304453.

External links edit