YEAR IN REVIEW : 1993 National League

Off the field...

On February 26, 1993 more than 1,000 lb. of explosives shook the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York leaving six people dead and over one thousand injured. The incident marked the first time in modern history that a terrorist attack was launched on American soil. Unfortunately, it would not be the last.

After an unsuccessful raid by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on David Koresh's Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas, the FBI and U.S. Army took over, mounting a fifty-one day siege. The standoff ended in tragedy when a fire broke out as government agents attempted to storm the compound. In the end, all seventy four cult members inside perished.

An attempt by a U.S. Special Forces team (including Delta Force and Army Rangers) to abduct two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord in Mogadishu, Somalia resulted in the downing of two Black Hawk helicopters and the longest sustained firefight involving American troops since the Vietnam War. The following morning, eighteen Americans were dead and more than seventy were badly injured.

In the American League...

Carlos Baerga became the first switch-hitter in Major League history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning as the Cleveland Indians topped the New York Yankees 15-5.

Kansas City's Greg Gagne belted the 10,000th hit in the history of Detroit's Tiger Stadium, making it the first ballpark to reach that figure. The Royals went on to defeat the home team 12-6.

Carlton Fisk, then with the Chicago White Sox, played in his 2,226 and final Major League game, surpassing Bob Boone's record for the most games caught. Following the historical outing, Fisk reluctantly retired with 3,999 total bases, the most ever for a catcher.

In the National League...

The Pittsburgh Pirate's Tim Wakefield set the record for the most pitches thrown in a single game in the 1990s. The Bucco's knuckler tossed one-hundred seventy-two en route to a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The last pitcher to match Wakefield was the Los Angeles Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela in 1987.

On July 7th, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies went head-to-head in a twenty-inning marathon that lasted six hours and ten minutes. The grueling contest finally ended after Lenny Dykstra hit a clutch, bases-loaded two-run double off Rod Nichols for the 7-6 finale.

The San Diego Padres appointed a twenty-nine year-old named Randy Smith as their new Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, making him the youngest General Manager in the history of Major League Baseball.

Around the league...

The Reverend Jesse Jackson accused baseball owners of discrimination practices and threatened to start a selective boycott unless a plan to hire more minorities for front-office jobs was in place by April 5.

Marge Schott, the Cincinnati Reds owner, was fined $25,000 by the commissioner's office and banned for an entire season after several complaints were filed accusing her of using of ethnic and racial slurs.

George Steinbrenner was finally able to resume his role as general partner of the New York Yankees after a suspension from baseball due to questionable dealings with renowned gambler Howard Spira.

In an effort to broaden both leagues and expand post-season opportunities, a vote was cast to divide both the American and National into three divisions and add another round of playoffs featuring two additional wild-card teams.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"If you're not going to get room service you might as well win." - John Kruk

1993 National League Player Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Walks Lenny Dykstra Philadelphia 129 Top 25
Batting Average Andres Galarraga Colorado .370 Top 25
Doubles Charlie Hayes Colorado 45 Top 25
Hits Lenny Dykstra Philadelphia 194 Top 25
Home Runs Barry Bonds San Francisco 46 Top 25
On Base Percentage Barry Bonds San Francisco .463 Top 25
RBI Barry Bonds San Francisco 123 Top 25
Runs Lenny Dykstra Philadelphia 143 Top 25
Slugging Average Barry Bonds San Francisco .677 Top 25
Stolen Bases Chuck Carr Florida 58 Top 25
Total Bases Barry Bonds San Francisco 365 Top 25
Triples Steve Finley Houston 13 Top 25

1993 National League Pitcher Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games Greg Maddux Atlanta 8 Top 25
ERA Greg Maddux Atlanta 2.36 Top 25
Games Mike Jackson San Francisco 81 Top 25
Saves Randy Myers Chicago 53 Top 25
Shutouts Pete Harnisch Houston 4 Top 25
Strikeouts Jose Rijo Cincinnati 227 Top 25
Winning Percentage Mark Portugal Houston .818 Top 25
Wins John Burkett San Francisco 22 Top 25
Tom Glavine Atlanta

1993 National League

Team Standings

Philadelphia Phillies 97 65 .599 0 $28,695,858
Montreal Expos 94 68 .580 3 $17,622,040
St. Louis Cardinals 87 75 .537 10 $24,190,667
Chicago Cubs 84 78 .519 13 $36,005,976
Pittsburgh Pirates 75 87 .463 22 $24,318,667
Florida Marlins 64 98 .395 33 $21,172,545
New York Mets 59 103 .364 38 $40,822,667
Atlanta Braves 104 58 .642 0 $47,206,416
San Francisco Giants 103 59 .636 1 $36,342,322
Houston Astros 85 77 .525 19 $30,130,233
Los Angeles Dodgers 81 81 .500 23 $33,529,000
Cincinnati Reds 73 89 .451 31 $41,641,387
Colorado Rockies 67 95 .414 37 $14,872,588
San Diego Padres 61 101 .377 43 $12,842,333
National League Team Standings

1993 National League Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls Philadelphia 665
Batting Average San Francisco .276
Doubles Philadelphia 297
Hits Philadelphia 1,555
Home Runs Atlanta 169
On Base Percentage Philadelphia .354
Runs Philadelphia 877
Slugging Average San Francisco .427
Stolen Bases Montreal 228
Triples Colorado 59

1993 National League Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games Philadelphia 24
ERA Atlanta 3.14
Fewest Hits Allowed Atlanta 1,297
Fewest Home Runs Allowed Atlanta 101
Fewest Walks Allowed St. Louis 383
Saves Montreal 61
Shutouts Atlanta 16
Strikeouts Philadelphia 1,117
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: $1,120,254.00
Minimum Salary: $109,000.00
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

On May 27, 1993, Dale Murphy resigned from Major League baseball two home runs shy of number four-hundred.

On July 7, 1993, Tom Browning left the dugout in Wrigley Field and went to watch the game from the roof of the three-story building on Sheffield Avenue! He was later fined $500 by Major League Baseball for his "unusual behavior."

On September 7, 1993, Mark "Hard Hitten" Whiten accomplished one of the rarest feats in baseball when he blasted four home runs during the same game.