Along with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Arizona Diamondbacks were one of two expansion teams to begin play in 1998. Even before the new team played a game, their free-spending ways had already built a relatively competitive expansion team. It also had sparked a backlash from many major-league owners. Even after paying MLB a $130 million expansion fee, Arizona was able to shell out $34 million over four years for shortstop Jay Bell, $10 million over four years for amateur first baseman Travis Lee, and $2.9 million over two years for catcher Jorge Fabregas -- after an arbitrator awarded Fabregas $875,000 for one year.
The strategist behind the Diamondbacks' aggressive tactics was managing partner Jerry Colangelo, who had also owned basketball’s Phoenix Suns ever since they joined the NBA. Unlike some other owners, Colangelo wasn’t foolish enough to meddle in his investment. Instead, he turned the reins over to Buck Showalter, who was named manager on November 15, 1995 -- more than two years before the team took the field for the first time. As a result, Showalter played a unique role in building the organziation, not just the team. He advised architects on the configuration of Bank One Ballpark, the team’s new stadium; he helped design the team’s spring training camp; and he authored a thick manual containing his vision of the Diamondbacks’ philosophy distributed to each player in spring training ’98. Veteran shortstop Jay Bell echoed Showalter’s own mantra thus; "let’s start a tradition with character, not characters."
As a result, "Choo-Choo" Coleman types were not to be found on the team’s first roster. Like Larry Rothschild’s Devil Rays, the Diamondbacks built their team around veterans. Their first major signing after bonus baby Travis Lee was Bell, for what many observers considered an outrageous sum of money. The club then traded for veterans Devon White and Travis Fryman (soon sent to Cleveland for All-Star Matt Williams) and signed pitchers Willie Blair and Andy Benes.
It took a year and another off-season binge for Colangelo's aggressive strategy to show results. After losing nearly 100 games in their debut season, the Diamondbacks invested nearly $87 million to sign free-agent starters Randy Johnson, Todd Stottlemyre, and Armando Reynoso. They also renovated their outfield by inking centerfielder Steve Finley and trading for speedy Tony Womack (a converted second baseman) and underrated Luis Gonzalez; Gonzalez responded with a 30-game hitting streak over the first two months of the season. The Diamondbacks' investment paid off with 100 wins and the NL West division title, but Arizona fell to the surging New York Mets in the NL Division Series, three games to one. (JGR)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»November 15, 1995: The Arizona Diamondbacks, who will not begin play until the 1998 season, sign Buck Showalter to a 7-year contract as manager.
»October 11, 1996:
The Arizona Diamondbacks sign Travis Lee to a 4-year, $10 million contract. Lee, selected by the Twins in this year's amateur draft, was declared a free agent on September 24th because Minnesota failed to offer him a contract within 15 days of the end of the draft. Arizona outbid several other teams for Lee's services. Lee's deal will be voided by major league officials next week, and have to be reworked.
»November 18, 1997: The expansion draft for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks is held in Phoenix, Arizona. Florida pitcher Tony Saunders is taken with the 1st pick by the Devil Rays, while the Diamondbacks select pitcher Brian Anderson from Cleveland. Following the draft, the Diamondbacks acquire 3B Travis Fryman from the Tigers in exchange for infielders Joe Randa and Gabe Alvarez and P Matt Drews. They also obtain OF Devon White from the Marlins in exchange for P Jesus Martinez. In a rash of moves, the Devil Rays get 1B Fred McGriff from the Braves in exchange for a player to be named, C John Flaherty from the Padres in exchange for P Brian Boehringer and IF Andy Sheets, SS Kevin Stocker from the Phillies in exchange for Bobby Abreu, and sign free agent P Roberto Hernandez to a 4-year contract.
»March 31, 1998:
The Arizona Diamondbacks drop a 9–2 decision to the Rockies in their first game ever. P Andy Benes is tagged with the loss, and rookies Travis Lee, who gets three hits, and Karim Garcia hit home runs. Vinny Castilla drives in five runs for Colorado.
»April 5, 1998: The Arizona Diamondbacks win their first game in franchise history, 3–2, over the Giants. Andy Benes gets the win for the 1–5 D'backs.
»October 27, 2000: Colorado Rockies pitcher Bobby Chouinard, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for abusing his wife, will serve a year in jail under an agreement approved by a judge. Chouinard will serve his time in Colorado during the off season. Chouinard, then with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was arrested last Christmas at his Phoenix home after he hit his wife, Erica, and held a loaded gun to her head while she begged for her life, police said. The Diamondbacks released him at his request in February.
»November 4, 2001: The Arizona Diamondbacks win the first World Series of their 4-year existence with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Yankees. Alfonso Soriano breaks a 1-1 tie with a home run in the 8th inning to give NY the lead, but Arizona comes back with two runs in the bottom half of the 9th off Mariano Rivera to get the win. Luis Gonzalez drives home the winning run while Randy Johnson gets the win in relief. Johnson and Curt Schilling share the World Series MVP award.
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