1998 Major League Baseball expansion

Establishment of the 29th and 30th teams in MLB

The 1998 Major League Baseball expansion resulted in the establishment of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s 29th and 30th teams beginning play for the 1998 season. After initiating an expansion committee in March 1994, 27 groups representing nine cities submitted bids for the proposed expansion teams. After a yearlong process, on March 9, 1995, the league awarded the National League franchise to Phoenix and the American League franchise to Tampa Bay. The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (currently the Tampa Bay Rays), subsequently began play for the 1998 season.

Angels

Athletics

Mariners

Rangers

White Sox

Indians

Royals

Brewers

Twins

Orioles

Red
Sox

Tigers

Yankees

Blue
Jays

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams for the 1997 American League season
West Central East

Rockies

Dodgers

Padres

Giants

Cubs

Reds

Astros

Pirates

Cardinals

Braves

Marlins

Expos

Mets

Phillies

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams for the 1997 National League seasons
West Central East

Angels

Athletics

Mariners

Rangers

White Sox

Indians

Tigers

Royals

Twins

Orioles

Red
Sox

Yankees

Devil Rays

Blue
Jays

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams for the 1998 American League season
West Central East

Diamondbacks

Rockies

Dodgers

Padres

Giants

Cubs

Reds

Astros

Brewers

Pirates

Cardinals

Braves

Marlins

Expos

Mets

Phillies

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams for the 1998–1999 National League seasons
West Central East

## History

[edit]

With the successes of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins following the 1993 expansion, Major League Baseball by 1994 was looking to expand again from 28 to 30 teams. On March 2, 1994, MLB created an expansion committee to evaluate the feasibility of expansion.[1] Although both Phoenix and Tampa Bay were believed to be overwhelming favorites for the franchises, other cities were invited to bid for the proposed franchises.[1] The committee was headed by Boston Red Sox General Partner John Harrington, with others serving on the committee including Bill Giles of the Philadelphia Phillies, Jerry Reinsdorf of the Chicago White Sox, George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees, Stanton Cook of the Chicago Cubs, Richard Jacobs of the Cleveland Indians, Stan Kasten of the Atlanta Braves, the president of the National League, Leonard S. Coleman, Jr., and the president of the American League, Bobby Brown.[1]

By June, the league announced that all cities with interest in the proposed franchises should submit their intentions by June 24.[2] By June 30, the committee released the nine communities that submitted information to MLB for the proposed franchises.[3] Buffalo, Nashville, Northern Virginia, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa Bay and Vancouver placed expansion requests.[3] Other cities mentioned as potential expansion locations which did not officially submit an application to the league included Charlotte and Washington.[2]

After whittling down the field to four finalists (Northern Virginia, Orlando, Phoenix and Tampa Bay), MLB announced Phoenix and Tampa Bay as the two expansion franchises on March 9, 1995.[4] Announced to begin play for the 1998 season, each ownership group paid a $130 million expansion fee to enter the league.[4][5] The ownership groups paid $32 million in July 1995, $25 million in July 1996, $40 million in July 1997 and $33 million in November 1997. In addition, the two expansion teams gave away their rights to $5 million from baseball's central fund for each of the five years following expansion (1998–2002).

The adding of the 29th and 30th team caused the American League and the National League to have fifteen teams each. Because of the odd number of teams, only seven games could possibly be scheduled in each league on any given day. Thus, one team in each league would have to be idle on any given day. This would have made it difficult for scheduling, in terms of travel days and the need to end the season before October. In order for MLB officials to continue primarily intraleague play, both leagues would need to carry an even number of teams, so the decision was made to move one club from the AL Central to the NL Central - it was ultimately then-acting Commissioner Bud Selig (who at the time also owned the Milwaukee Brewers) who agreed to have his own franchise change leagues.

The 1998 expansion remains the most recent to be conducted in Major League Baseball. MLB would later reverse the imbalance created by the 1998 expansion when, following the sale of the Houston Astros, the new owners agreed to move their franchise to the American League before the 2013 season. Following that transaction, MLB consequently altered its season structure so as to include interleague play throughout the regular season.

## See also

[edit]

* 1961 Major League Baseball expansion
* 1962 Major League Baseball expansion
* 1969 Major League Baseball expansion
* 1977 Major League Baseball expansion
* 1993 Major League Baseball expansion

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Justice, Richard (March 3, 1994). "Baseball eyes addition of its 29th, 30th teams". The Washington Post. p. D1. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
2. ^ a b Justice, Richard (June 10, 1994). "Owners Explore Expansion; Baseball Also Reports On Affirmative Action". The Washington Post. p. C1. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
3. ^ a b Staff reports (July 1, 1994). "Baseball:Orlando is on the list". The Orlando Sentinel. p. D1. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
4. ^ a b Lipton, Eric; Maske, Mark (March 10, 1995). "Virginia gets no promise - Locals eye existing teams - Tampa, Phoenix get new ones". The Washington Post. p. F1. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012.
5. ^ "Expansion Draft No Joke Anymore". Chicago Tribune. November 13, 1997. Retrieved October 19, 2011.

* v
* t
* e

Major League Baseball

2025 season

American League|

| East|

* Baltimore Orioles
* Boston Red Sox
* New York Yankees
* Tampa Bay Rays
* Toronto Blue Jays

|

Central|

* Chicago White Sox
* Cleveland Guardians
* Detroit Tigers
* Kansas City Royals
* Minnesota Twins

West|

* Athletics
* Houston Astros
* Los Angeles Angels
* Seattle Mariners
* Texas Rangers

National League|

| East|

* Atlanta Braves
* Miami Marlins
* New York Mets
* Philadelphia Phillies
* Washington Nationals

|

Central|

* Chicago Cubs
* Cincinnati Reds
* Milwaukee Brewers
* Pittsburgh Pirates
* St. Louis Cardinals

West|

* Arizona Diamondbacks
* Colorado Rockies
* Los Angeles Dodgers
* San Diego Padres
* San Francisco Giants

| Schedule|

* Spring training
* Opening Day
* Jackie Robinson Day
* Civil Rights Game
* All-Star Game
* Interleague play
* International games
* London
* Mexico City
* Seoul
* Little League Classic
* Field of Dreams Game
* Rickwood Field Game
* Players Weekend
* World Baseball Classic

|

Postseason|

* World Series
* Champions
* AL
* AL champions
* ALCS
* ALDS
* NL
* NL champions
* NLCS
* NLDS
* Wild Card Game/Series
* Appearances
* Streaks
* Droughts
* Series
* Sweeps
* Records
* Game 7s

Business|

* Authentication Program
* Business rules
* Draft
* Rule 5
* Highest-paid players
* Hot stove league
* Luxury tax
* Lockouts/strikes
* Media
* Logo
* Radio
* Television
* MLB.com
* MLB Advanced Media
* MLB Network
* MLB Local Media
* Minor League Baseball
* MLB Draft League
* Players Association
* World Baseball Classic Inc.
* Transactions
* Free agency
* Valuations
* Winter Meetings

Miscellaneous|

* Instant replay
* Team uniforms (2024 controversy)
* Stadiums
* Mascots
* Rivalries
* Comparison with Nippon Professional Baseball

History|

* History
* AL
* Seasons
* Tie-breakers
* Tie-breaking procedures
* All-time win–loss records
* Records
* Awards
* Retired numbers
* Hall of Fame
* members
* National Baseball Commission
* Continental League
* Organized baseball
* Baseball color line
* First black players in MLB
* Negro leaguers who played in MLB
* Women MLB owners

| Predecessors|

* National Association
* American Association
* Union Association
* Players' League
* Federal League
* Major Negro leagues
* Negro National League (I)
* Eastern Colored League
* American Negro League
* East–West League
* Negro Southern League
* Negro National League (II)
* Negro American League

|

Steroid usage|

* Drug policy
* suspensions
* Mitchell Report
* Biogenesis scandal
* BALCO scandal
* Barry Bonds perjury case

Antitrust cases|

* Federal Baseball Club v. National League (1922)
* Toolson v. New York Yankees, Inc. (1953)
* Flood v. Kuhn (1972)

Timeline|

* Timeline of Major League Baseball
* History of team nicknames
* Dead-ball era
* Live-ball era
* Golden age of baseball
* Defunct and relocated teams
* Relocations of the 1950s–1960s
* Expansion
* 1961
* 1962
* 1969
* 1977
* 1993
* 1998
* Potential
* Contraction attempt

* Commissioner: Rob Manfred
* League Presidents
* AL
* NL

* v
* t
* e

Arizona Diamondbacks

* Established in 1998
* Based in Phoenix, Arizona

Franchise|

* History
* Expansion
* Expansion draft
* Records
* No-hitters
* Players
* Owners and executives
* Managers
* Broadcasters
* Seasons
* Opening Day starters
* First-round draft picks

Ballparks|

* Chase Field
* Spring training: Tucson Electric Park
* Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Culture|

* Baxter the Bobcat
* D-backs Luchador
* The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty

Lore|

* Randy Johnson's perfect game
* Snakes Alive

Rivalries|

* Los Angeles Dodgers

Key personnel|

* Owner: Ken Kendrick
* President and CEO: Derrick Hall
* General Manager: Mike Hazen
* Manager: Torey Lovullo

Retired numbers|

* 20
* 42
* 51

World Series
championships (1)|

* 2001

National League
pennants (2)|

* 2001
* 2023

NL West
division titles (5)|

* 1999
* 2001
* 2002
* 2007
* 2011

NL Wild Card (2)|

* 2017
* 2023

Minor league affiliates|

* Triple-A: Reno Aces
* Double-A: Amarillo Sod Poodles
* High-A: Hillsboro Hops
* Single-A: Visalia Rawhide
* Rookie: ACL D-backs
* DSL Arizona Black
* DSL Arizona Red

Broadcasting|

| Television|

* MLB.tv

|

Radio|

* KMVP-FM
* KTAR (AM)
* Arizona Diamondbacks Radio Networks

Broadcasters|

* Steve Berthiaume
* Greg Schulte
* Bob Brenly
* Tom Candiotti

Seasons (27)

1990s|

* 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 ·  1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Tampa Bay Rays

* Established in 1998
* Formerly the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
* Based in Tampa, Florida (Tampa Bay)

Franchise|

* Players
* Managers
* Owners and executives
* Broadcasters
* Radio Network
* Awards
* Records
* Opening Day starting pitchers
* First-round draft picks

* History
* Baseball in the Tampa Bay area
* Seasons
* Expansion
* Expansion draft
* All articles

Ballparks|

* Tropicana Field (damaged)
* George M. Steinbrenner Field (temporary; 2025)
* Gas Plant Stadium (proposed)
* Ybor Stadium (proposed; abandoned)
* Rays Ballpark (proposed; abandoned)

Spring training
Al Lang Stadium
Charlotte Sports Park

Culture|

* Raymond
* The Rookie
* Dick Crippen
* The Happy Heckler
* Defenders of the Game
* Cowbell
* Opening pitcher

Lore|

* 9=8
* 2011 Major League Baseball wild card chase
* 2013 AL Wild Card tie-breaker game

Rivalries|

* Boston Red Sox

Key personnel|

* Owner: Stuart Sternberg
* President: Matthew Silverman & Brian Auld
* President of Baseball Operations: Erik Neander
* General Manager: Peter Bendix
* Manager: Kevin Cash

American League pennants (2)|

* 2008
* 2020

Division titles (4)|

* 2008
* 2010
* 2020
* 2021

Wild-Card berths (5)|

* 2011
* 2013
* 2019
* 2022
* 2023

Retired numbers|

* 12
* 42
* 66

Minor league
affiliates|

* Durham Bulls (Triple-A)
* Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A)
* Bowling Green Hot Rods (High-A)
* Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A)
* FCL Rays (Rookie)
* DSL Rays 1 (Rookie)
* DSL Rays 2 (Rookie)

Seasons (28)

1990s|

* 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 ·  1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template