Seattle announces that superstar Ken Griffey Jr. is requesting a trade closer to his home. The Mariners agree to try to trade him during the off season.
The St. Paul voters reject a referendum on a sales tax increase to cover 1/3 of the $325 million needed for the stadium. The plan called for the Twins to pay 1/3 and the legislature would provide the funding for the other 1/3.
IN THE NEWS: The Brewers hire Davey Lopes as their new manager.
Larry Dolan agrees to buy the Cleveland Indians from Richard Jacobs for $320 million. The sale is subject to approval by major league owners. If approved, the deal will be a record for a baseball franchise. The O'Malley family sold the Dodgers to the Fox division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation for $311 in 1998.
IN THE NEWS: After two days of play in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup tourney in Sydney, Australia, the USA has a 2–0 record. Yesterday, they won 4–0 over Japan by scoring four runs in the 9th, three on Dan Held's home run. Cuba beats Taiwan, 1–0, to avenge a loss yesterday to Cuba. Australia beats Italy after winning yesterday, 4–3 over the Netherlands, behind Shayne Bennett of the Expos.
IN THE NEWS: Cincinnati Reds relief P Scott Williamson is named the National League Rookie of the Year. Williamson was not on the Reds roster at the beginning of the year, but ended with a 12–7 record.
The Dodgers trade disgruntled OF Raul Mondesi and P Pedro Borbon to the Blue Jays for All-star OF Shawn Green and IF Jorge Nunez. Green said he wanted to play in a metropolitan city with a large Jewish population, but apparently the California native didn't include Toronto in that.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for Shoeless Joe Jackson to be honored. The resolution stops short of calling for his induction into the Hall of Fame. "It is worthy for this body to take a few minutes to stand up for fairness and right an old wrong," said Rep. Jim DeMint, the author of the resolution who represents Jackson's hometown of Greenville, S.C. Jackson was eligible for the Hall of Fame until 1991 but was never voted in either by the Baseball Writers' Association of American or the veterans committee. In 1991, the Hall's board adopted a resolution prohibiting players on the permanently banned list. The resolution now goes to the Senate.
IN THE NEWS: Kansas City Royals OF Carlos Beltran is named the American League Rookie of the Year. Beltran was the 1st rookie with 100+ RBI since Mike Piazza had 112 in 1993 and the 1st in the AL since Mark McGwire had 118 in 1987. He is the first rookie with 100 runs /100 RBI since Fred Lynn in 75.
IN THE NEWS: In the 1999 Intercontinental Cup tourney in Sydney, Australia, Cuban righthander Ciro Licea shuts out Team USA, 7-0 striking out 13. Team USA will play for the bronze medal against either Australia or Japan while Cuba, with its second win against the Americans in the tournament, will play the winner of that game for the gold medal.
As reported by Pete Bjarkman, the one place Cuba seems less than invincible is in the Intercontinental Cup tournament, where the international powerhouse team loses in a second straight upset, this time to Australia, 4–3 in 11 innings. Cuba, which did not send its best team, also lost the Intercontinental Cup Gold Medal Game Two years ago in Barcelona, falling to Japan, this year's Bronze medal winner. The USA finishes 4th.
IN THE NEWS: Surprise! Boston Red Sox P Pedro Martinez is named the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young Award. He led the AL in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Martinez also won the award in the National League, just the 3rd pitcher to do so.
IN THE NEWS: Arbitrator Alan Symonette rejects the owners' attempt to dismiss the umpires grievance dismissed, giving the 22 booted umps a chance to get their jobs back. Symonette will hear the grievance beginning December 13.
IN THE NEWS: Members of the umpires association vote 57-35 to form a new union, with one vote voided because the umpire signed his ballot. The NLRB will certify the election results in seven days, if there are no objections. But, Jerry Crawford, the president of the old union, said objections are likely to be filed.
Braves minor leaguer Roger Blanco is killed by robbers in Ctia La Mar, Venezuela. Blanco, 30, was traded to the Braves in 1996 for Mark Whiten.
Pete Rose launches a new web site, allowing fans to add their names to a petition to vote for his reinstatement. He was banned from the game for gambling in August 1989.