More 1993 Baseball Season Highlights

Below are more highlights of the 1993 baseball season, including Kevin Appier winning the American League ERA crown and Phil Plantier setting an all-time record with 100 RBI on just 111 hits:

  • San Francisco is the first team since 1980 Orioles to fail to win a division title despite posting 100 or more victories. The Giants' 103 victories are the most by a division or league runner-up since the 162-game schedule was adopted.

  • The Expos' 94 wins are one short of the club record of 95, set in 1979.

  • The Phils top the National League in runs (877), while the Giants lead the loop in BA (.276).

  • Atlanta posts far and away the lowest staff ERA in majors at 3.14.

  • Maddux's mound teammate Tom Glavine ties San Francisco's John Burkett for the National League lead in wins (22).

  • Seattle's Randy Johnson paces majors with 308 strikeouts, the most by an American League southpaw since 1971, when Mickey Lolich also fanned 308.

  • The National League strikeout king is Jose Rijo of Cincinnati, with 227.

  • Jeff Montgomery of the Royals and Toronto stopper Duane Ward tie for the American League save crown with 45.

  • Kevin Appier of the Royals wins American League ERA crown with a 2.56 mark.

  • Jimmy Key, the Yankees' most important off-season free-agent signing, tops the American League with a .750 winning percentage.

  • Dave Winfield collects his 3,000th career hit off Jose Mesa of the Indians.

  • San Diego's Phil Plantier sets an all-time record with 100 RBI on just 111 hits. His .240 BA is one of the lowest ever by a player with 100-plus RBI.

  • For the 12th straight season, Jesse Orosco makes at least 45 mound appearances.

  • Colorado's Andres Galarraga's .370 BA is the best ever by a first-year expansion player and the highest in the National League since 1987.

  • Galarraga's .602 SA sets record for a player on a first-year expansion team.

  • Playing half their games in "Mile High" Denver, the Rockies produce the worst ERA in majors (5.41).

  • Albert Belle's 129 RBI give Cleveland its second American League RBI leader since 1965.

  • Frank Thomas bags the American League MVP Award.

  • Juan Gonzalez of Texas repeats as the American League homer champ with 46. He also bags slugging crown with a .632 SA.

  • On September 7, Mark Whiten of the Cards clubs four homers and 12 RBI, tying Jim Bottomley's all-time single-game RBI record.

  • The Cubs' Sammy Sosa joins 30/30 club with 33 homers and 36 swipes.

  • Cal Ripken ties a loop record for shortstops when he leads the American League in assists for the seventh time.

  • Bo Jackson, playing with an artificial hip after missing all of 1992, hits .232 for the White Sox in 85 games.

  • Giants third sacker Matt Williams, after a dismal season in 1992, clouts 38 homers and logs 110 RBI.

  • Williams and Barry Bonds rip 84 homers, most by a pair of Giants since the days of Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.

  • Bonds wins his second straight National League MVP Award, vindicating the Giants for making him the most expensive free-agent signee to date.

  • Tim Salmon of the Angels parlays his 31 homers to win the American League ROTY honors.

  • Piazza's overwhelming rookie year brings him the National League's top yearling honor.

  • The Indians play their final game in Cleveland Stadium, the Tribe's home since 1932.

  • For the first time in team history, Cleveland draws over two million fans both at home and on the road.

  • The Pirates, in pursuit of their fourth straight division title, instead plummet to 12 games below .500.

  • Dodgers shortstop Jose Offerman leads all National League performers in errors with 37.

  • Lee Smith becomes the first hurler to collect 400 career saves when he finishes the season with 401.

  • Dodgers center fielder Brett Butler leads the National League in singles for a record fourth straight season.

  • Two Cleveland relievers, Tim Crews and Steve Olin, are killed in a preseason boating accident.

  • Gonzalez is the first player since Jim Rice in 1977-78 to win consecutive American League home run crowns.

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