» August 3, 1998: Houston pitcher C.J. Nitkowski hits three consecutive Marlin batters with pitches in the 8th inning: Dock Ellis (1974) and Wilbur Wood (1977) are the only other pitchers since 1900 to hit three batters in a row. The three plunks in an inning ties the ML record. Nitkowski gives up a hit and four runs in Florida's 11–3 win.

» January 14, 1999: The Tigers obtain C Brad Ausmus and P C.J. Nitkowski from the Astros in exchange for C Paul Bako, pitchers Dean Crow, Mark Persails and Brian Powell, and 3B Carlos Villalobos.

» May 22, 1999: Mo Vaughn's single in the 8th snaps a tie and rescues Steve Sparks wild knuckler as the Angles beat the Devil Rays, 8–6. In the 3rd inning, Sparks hits Paul Sorrento to load the bases, then plunks the next two batters with a knuckler. He is the 4th pitcher to hit three batters in a row, joining Houston's C.J. Nitkowski (1988), White Sox Wilbur Wood (1977) and Pittsburgh's Dock Ellis (1974). He also plunks Jose Canseco in the 1st inning to tie the ML mark for HPB. Sparks only allows five hits, but walks six in addition to hitting 4.