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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 1, 1995:
The California Angels select Nebraska OF Darin Erstad with the 1st pick in the amateur draft. He'll sign for a $1.6 bonus, the highest signing bonus to date. Picking next, the Padres take high school C Ben Davis, and the Mariners pick Jose Cruz, Jr. The Cubs follow with Texas high schooler Kerry Wood. The 5th pick, P Ariel Prieto, will debut with the A's on July 5. Picking 7th, the Rangers pass over Todd Helton to take P Jonathan Johnson. Picking next, Colorado takes Helton. The Brewers take future starting OF Geoff Jenkins in the first round, but the rest of their picks will be busts. Sean Casey goes to the Indians on round 2, and the Royals take Carlos Beltran on the same round. Gabe Kapler goes to the Tigers on the 57th round. The Mets strike out in the first round (18th) with SS Ryan Jaroncyk; picking in the same spot four years ago they took OF Al Shirley.
»June 18, 1997:
The Giants win their 2nd straight against the Mariners, 4–2, behind Mark Gardner three hitter for seven 2/3 innings. Stan Javier hits his third interleague home run. Javier, who spent eight seasons in the American League, has just those three home runs this season. The two teams set a major league record by having four sons of former major leaguers in the lineups: Ken Griffey Jr., Jose Cruz Jr., Barry Bonds, and Javier.
»July 31, 1997:
How do you spell relief? In a fine move for Boston, the Red Sox send reliever Heathcliff Slocumb to the Mariners for minor leaguers Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe. Slocumb will not last a season in Seattle, while Varitek and Lowe will become key members of the 1999 Sox. The Mariners also ship budding star Jose Cruz, Jr. to Toronto for relievers Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric.
»July 7, 2000: David Wells (15-2) posts his ML-leading 15th win in Toronto's 6–3 victory over the Montreal Expos. Wells becomes just the 2nd pitcher since 1988 to win 15 games before the All-Star break. The portly ace wins his 13th consecutive game on the road, stretching back to September 7, 1999. His only mistake is serving up a gopher to reliever Felipe Lira, who connects for his 1st ML homer. Jose Cruz, Jr. hits his 20th homer, joining teammates Carlos Delgado, Tony Batista, and Raul Mondesi as Toronto becomes the first team in ML history with four players hitting 20 homers before the All-Star break.
»October 5, 2001:
In only the 2nd doubleheader ever played at the SkyDome (the first was 1989), the Blue Jays sweep the Indians, 5–0 and 4–3 in 11 innings. Jose Cruz Jr. leads the offense by stealing three bases and hitting a homer in his 6th straight game—a club record: he joins the 30-30 club. Roy "Doc" Halladay flirts with a no-hitter before Travis Fryman singles with two out in the 8th. Wil Cordero added a single in the 9th. Halladay lost a no-hitter in 1999 when he gave up a 2-out 9th inning home run to Bobby Higginson in his first ML win. Halladay had been sent all the way to single A Florida State league earlier in the year, following his 10.64 ERA in 2000, the worst in ML history.
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