Ten years ago, there was no Tampa Bay (no longer Devil) Rays feel good story in the American League East. No, on this day 10 years ago, the Devil Rays were a mere 45 games back with a 61-91 record.

There wasn’t even a pennant race as everything had already been signed, sealed, and delivered at the top of the division. The Red Sox had a respectable record (86-66), which would be good enough for a five game deficit this season. However, in 1998? Five game deficit? Try 20!

That’s right. Boston was 20 games out of first place September 18, 1998 even with 86 wins.

How? Well, the Red Sox were behind the team that produced one of the best seasons in Major League Baseball history, the New York Yankees. The ‘98 Yanks had piled up a 106-46 record by September 18 and would finish 8-2 to produce a 114-48 season record. The 114 wins were the most in MLB history up to this date in history (Seattle would win 116 in 2001).

But the Yanks were not only phenomenal during the regular season. They were terrific in the postseason as well. New York swept away the Texas Rangers in the division series allowing only one run in 3 games. In the ALCS, Cleveland jumped out to a 2-1 series lead behind an extra inning win and a dominant complete game performance by Bartolo Colon only to watch New York storm back to win 3 consecutive games

Then, there was the dominance displayed in the 1998 World Series. The Yankees took all 4 contests against the San Diego Padres, including besting Padres’ ace Kevin Brown in both of his starts.

Mariano Rivera saved three of the four games, entering in the 8th inning for each save. Third baseman Scott Brosius was named series MVP after batting .471 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in the 4-game sweep.

This team did not have the big boppers to lead the team. They did not have a Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, or Joe DiMaggio. They had only two guys who drove in over 100 runs (Tino Martinez - 123 & Paul O’Neil - 116).

So how were they so good? Instead of relying on two or three hitters in the middle of the lineup or an overpowering starting pitching duo, they got contributions from everyone:

  • Every member of the everyday lineup had at least 10 home runs (and Shane Spencer added 10 in only 67 at bats after a late season call up).
  • Led by Chuck Knoblauch’s 31 steals, five players had at least 15 stolen bases, including 35-year-old O’Neil.
  • They got solid production from their bench, which included Spencer, Tim Raines, current Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Luis Sojo, Chili Davis, and Ricky Ledee, who batted .600 with 3 doubles in the World Series.
  • The defense was solid throughout the season (.984 fielding percentage - 3rd in the AL).
  • The pitching staff’s ERA was almost 0.4 runs better than the next best American League team as all five starters had at least 12 wins led by the David duo - David Cone (20-7) and David Wells (18-4).
  • Besides Rivera, the bullpen got quality production from Mike Stanton, Graeme Lloyd, Jeff Nelson, and workhorse Ramiro Mendoza (10-2, 3.25 ERA in 130 1/3 IP).

Add in Manager of the Year Joe Torre and you had a team that produced the best combined regular and postseason winning percentage (.741) since the Murderer’s Row Yankees of 1927.

Shotgun Spratling

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