The 1998

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...

season was the Diamondbacks' inaugural season. They looked to contend in what was a strong

National League Western Division The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed for the 1969 season when the National League expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a re ...

. They finished the season 33 games behind the National League Champion

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

with a record of 65–97, last in the division.

Jeff Suppan Jeffrey Scot Suppan (; born January 2, 1975), is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current professional baseball coach who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, ...

was the last player from the inaugural team still active in Major League Baseball when he retired in 2012.

Offseason

* February 7, 1997: Mark Davis was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks. * August 14, 1997: Mark Davis was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers by the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a conditional deal. * November 17, 1997: Jay Bell signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks. * November 18, 1997: Devon White was traded by the Florida Marlins to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Jesus Martinez (minors). * November 18, 1997: Travis Fryman was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Gabe Alvarez, Joe Randa, and Matt Drews (minors). * December 1, 1997: Matt Williams was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Travis Fryman, Tom Martin, and cash. * January 8, 1998:

Andy Stankiewicz Andrew Neal Stankiewicz (born August 10, 1964), is the head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team in Los Angeles and is a retired Major League Baseball middle-infielder. Stankiewicz had a seven-year MLB playing career spanning four clubs and 42 ...

signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks. * January 11, 1998: Mark Davis was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Expansion Draft

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

1996–97 MLB June drafts and minor league affiliates

The two expansion teams set to debut in 1998, the Diamondbacks and

Tampa Bay Devil Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home ve ...

, had two full seasons to establish scouting and player development systems and were permitted to participate fully in the

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 800, causing the plane to crash and killing everyone o ...

and

1997 Major League Baseball draft The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997. A total of 1607 players were drafted over the course of 92 rounds. First round selections ...

s. The Diamondbacks drafted 30th in both 1996 and 1997, selecting 62 players (1996) and 60 players (1997) in those drafts. The team began developing those players in a

farm system In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...

with three minor-league affiliates in 1996 and four in 1997. Among the players selected and signed by Arizona from those drafts were

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or dr ...

Brad Penny Bradley Wayne Penny (born May 24, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Penny played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida / Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardi ...

(fifth round, 1996) and Casey Fossum (seventh, 1996);

infielders An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

Alex Cintrón Alexander Cintrón (born December 17, 1978) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder and current hitting coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox ...

(36th, 1997),

Jack Cust John Joseph "Jack" Cust III (born January 7, 1979) is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego ...

(first, 1997) and

Junior Spivey Ernest Lee "Junior" Spivey Jr. (born January 28, 1975) is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. In his five-year major league career, Spivey batted .270 with 48 home runs and 201 runs batted in in 457 games. He made the Nationa ...

(36th round, 1996); and

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to cat ...

s Ron Calloway (eighth, 1997) and

Jason Conti Stanley Jason Conti (; born January 27, 1975) is a former outfielder in Major League baseball. He spent five years in the major leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers. Career Conti was ...

(32nd, 1996).

1996 farm system

Visalia affiliation shared with

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

1997 farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: High Desert

Regular season

Opening Day starters

* Jay Bell * Andy Benes * Brent Brede * Edwin Diaz * Jorge Fábregas *

Karim García Gustavo Karim García Aguayo (born October 29, 1975) is a Mexican former professional baseball outfielder. García bats and throws left-handed. Professional career Minor leagues Born in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico, García signed as an amateur fre ...

* Travis Lee * Devon White * Matt Williams

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

* June 23, 1998: Alan Embree was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Russ Springer. * June 26, 1998: Aaron Small was selected off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Oakland Athletics.

Roster

Game log

, - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 1 , , March 31 , , Rockies , , 2–9 , , D. Kile , , A. Benes (0–1) , , , , 47,484 , , 0–1 , , Loss 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 2 , , April 1 , , Rockies , , 0–6 , , J. Thompson , , W. Blair (0–1) , , , , 43,758 , , 0–2 , , Loss 2 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 3 , , April 2 , , Rockies , , 4–6 , , P. Astacio , , B. Anderson (0–1) , , Dipoto , , 42,876 , , 0–3 , , Loss 3 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 4 , , April 3 , , Giants , , 3–8 , , M. Gardner , , J. Suppan (0–1) , , , , 45,590 , , 0–4 , , Loss 4 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 5 , , April 4 , , Giants , , 3–5 , , D. Darwin , , G. Olson (0–1) , , Nen , , 47,047 , , 0–5 , , Loss 5 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 6 , , April 5 , , Giants , , 3–2 , , A. Benes (1–1) , , S. Estes , , Rodriguez (1) , , 47,593 , , 1–5 , , Win 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 7 , , April 7 , , @ Dodgers , , 1–9 , , C. Park , , W. Blair (0–2) , , , , 52,424 , , 1–6 , , Loss 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 8 , , April 8 , , @ Dodgers , , 3–0 , , B. Anderson (1–1) , , H. Nomo , , Rodriguez (2) , , 37,016 , , 2–6 , , Win 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 9 , , April 9 , , @ Dodgers , , 2–7 , , I. Valdez , , J. Suppan (0–2) , , , , 39,541 , , 2–7 , , Loss 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 10 , , April 10 , , @ Padres , , 4–6 , , D. Mecili , , F. Rodriguez (0–1) , , , , 27,246 , , 2–8 , , Loss 2 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 11 , , April 11 , , @ Padres , , 0–7 , , P. Smith , , J. Adamson (0–1) , , , , 37,753 , , 2–9 , , Loss 3 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 12 , , April 12 , , @ Padres , , 2–4 , , J. Hamilton , , W. Blair (0–3) , , Hoffman , , 26,217 , , 2–10 , , Loss 4 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 13 , , April 13 , , @ Padres , , 0–1 , , A. Ashby , , B. Anderson (1–2) , , , , 36,278 , , 2–11 , , Loss 5 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 14 , , April 14 , , @ Cardinals , , 5–15 , , M. Bushy , , C. Sodowsky (0–1) , , , , 31,477 , , 2–12 , , Loss 6 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 15 , , April 16(1) , , @ Cardinals , , 4–5 , , T. Stottlmyrer , , J. Adamson (0–2) , , Brantley , , N/A , , 2–13 , , Loss 7 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 16 , , April 16(2) , , @ Cardinals , , 8–2 , , A. Benes (2–1) , , D. Osborne , , , , 32,039 , , 3–13 , , Win 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 17 , , April 17 , , Marlins , , 7–5 , , R. Springer (1–0) , , V. Darensbourgh , , Rodriguez (3) , , 47,401 , , 4–13 , , Win 2 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 18 , , April 18 , , Marlins , , 7–5 , , B. Manuel (1–0) , , A. Alfonseca , , Rodriguez (4) , , 49,910 , , 5–13 , , Win 3 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 19 , , April 19 , , Marlins , , 3–4 , , B. Meadows , , J. Suppan (0–3) , , Stanifer , , 47,339 , , 5–14 , , Loss 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 20 , , April 20 , , Marlins , , 15–4 , , C. Sodowsky (1–1) , , L. Hernandez , , , , 45,256 , , 6–14 , , Win 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 21 , , April 22 , , @ Braves , , 2–5 , , J. Smoltz , , A. Benes (2–2) , , , , 30,952 , , 6–15 , , Loss 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 22 , , April 23 , , @ Braves , , 1–3 , , T. Glavine , , W. Blair (0–4) , , Wohlers , , 33,013 , , 6–16 , , Loss 2 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 23 , , April 24 , , @ Braves , , 5–6 , , K. Ligtenberg , , R. Springer (1–1) , , , , 41,514 , , 6–17 , , Loss 3 , - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" , 24 , , April 25 , , @ Marlins , , 4–3 (11) , , S. Brow (1–0) , , V. Darensbourogh , , Rodriguez (5) , , 28,710 , , 7–17 , , Win 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 25 , , April 26 , , @ Marlins , , 6–12 , , E. Ludwick , , J. Adamson (0–3) , , , , 24,782 , , 7–18 , , Loss 1 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 26 , , April 27 , , Braves , , 5–6 , , M. Cather , , O. Daal (0–1) , , Wohlers , , 47,410 , , 7–19 , , Loss 2 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 27 , , April 28 , , Braves , , 2–12 , , T. Glavine , , W. Blair (0–5) , , , , 47,593 , , 7–20 , , Loss 3 , - , - style="text-align:center;" , 26 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 27 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 28 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 29 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 30 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 31 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 32 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 33 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 34 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 35 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 36 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 37 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 38 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 39 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - 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style="text-align:center;" , 145 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 146 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 147 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 148 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 149 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 150 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 151 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 152 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 153 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 154 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 155 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 156 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 157 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 158 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 159 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 160 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - style="text-align:center;" , 161 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , - style="text-align:center;" , 162 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - , - style="text-align:center;" , ''Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average''

Other batters

''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average''

Pitching

Starting pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed''

Other pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed''

Relief pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed''

Farm system

Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition''. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

References

External links

1998 Arizona Diamondbacks Statistics at Baseball Reference

1998 Arizona Diamondbacks team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1998 Arizona Diamondbacks Season Arizona Diamondbacks seasons Arizona Diamondbacks Season, 1998 Inaugural Major League Baseball seasons by team Arizonia