» June 5, 1989:
The Orioles select Louisiana State University pitcher Ben McDonald (14–3) with the first pick in the annual amateur draft. He'll sign August 19 and debut September 6, missing by three days being the first in this draft to debut. The Jays John Olerud, picked on the 3rd round, will debut September 3, singling in his first at bat. The next three picks are high schoolers: the Braves take Tyler Houston; the Mariners pick Roger Salkeld; and the Phillies choose Jeff Jackson. The White Sox get Frank Thomas with the 7th pick, while the Angels take Kyle Abbott with the 10th, and Chad Curtis on the 45th round. The Dodgers use their 1st round pick on Jamie McAndrew, son of former Mets P Jim McAndrew. Mo Vaughn goes to Boston on the 23rd pick and Chuck Knoblauch to the Twins on the 25th (he had been picked on the 18th round by the Phils in 1986, but did not sign). On the 4th round, the Twins select and sign P Scott Erickson, who was drafted but not signed in the previous three drafts. » July 21, 1990: In his first ML start, Baltimore's Big Ben McDonald shuts out Chicago 2–0. McDonald was the first pick in the 1989 June draft. It is the first shut out in a American League debut in 15 years.
» May 12, 1991: Six-foot ten-inch Randy Johnson of the Mariners squares off against 6-foot 7-inch Ben McDonald of the Orioles in the tallest pitching matchup in history. Neither is involved in the decision in the game won by the Mariners, 5-4.
» May 1, 1992:
Seattle's Randy Johnson hands out 10 walks in just four 1/3 innings in a 15–1 swamping by the Orioles. The Big Unit allows eight earned runs. Mike Devereaux has a pair of homers and drives in six runs. 6'7" Ben McDonald (3–0) pitches the complete-game win.
» September 24, 1992: Toronto's Dave Winfield becomes the first 40-year-old in major league history to drive in 100 runs in a season when he strokes a 2–run double off Baltimore's Ben McDonald. The Blue Jays defeat the Orioles , 8–2.
» July 20, 1993: Baltimore P Ben McDonald (7–8) hurls a 1-hit shutout to beat the Royals, 7-0. Gary Gaetti's single is the only hit.
» August 5, 1994: Baltimore P Ben McDonald 1-hits Milwaukee, winning by a score of 4-0. McDonald fans nine and walks four in his masterpiece, allowing only a 4th-inning single to Dave Nilsson.
» January 20, 1996:
The Brewers sign free agent P Ben McDonald to a 2-year contract.
» December 8, 1997:
The Indians sign free agent OF Kenny Lofton to a 3-year contract, and free agent P Dwight Gooden to a 2-year pact. They also trade OF Marquis Grissom and P Jeff Juden to the Brewers in exchange for Ps Ben McDonald, Ron Villone, and Mike Fetters. Fetters is then sent to the Athletics in exchange for P Steve Karsay.
» February 26, 1998: Cleveland P Ben McDonald undergoes surgery on his right shoulder. He will be out for the season.
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