1992 Major League Baseball season

This article is about the 1992 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1992 in baseball.

1992 MLB season
League	Major League Baseball
Sport	Baseball
Duration	April 6 – October 24, 1992
Number of games	162
Number of teams	26
TV partner(s)	CBS, ESPN
Draft
Top draft pick	Phil Nevin
Picked by	Houston Astros
Regular Season
Season MVP	AL: Dennis Eckersley (OAK) NL: Barry Bonds (PIT)
Postseason
AL champions	Toronto Blue Jays
AL runners-up	Oakland Athletics
NL champions	Atlanta Braves
NL runners-up	Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series
Champions	Toronto Blue Jays
Runners-up	Atlanta Braves
World Series MVP	Pat Borders (TOR)
MLB seasons
← 1991 1993 →

The 1992 Major League Baseball season saw the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, becoming the first team outside the United States to win the World Series.

A resurgence in pitching dominance occurred during this season. On average, one out of every seven games pitched this season was a shutout; in 2,106 MLB regular-season games, 298 shutouts were pitched (up from 272 in 2,104 regular-season games in 1991). ^{[1] [2]} Two teams pitched at least 20 shutouts each; the Atlanta Braves led the Majors with 24 and the Pittsburgh Pirates finished second with 20. In the National League, no team hit more than 138 home runs and no team scored 700 runs. The San Francisco Giants were shut out 18 times, the most in the Majors. ^{[3] [4]} The effect was similar in the American League. In 1991, two AL teams had scored at least 800 runs and three had collected 1,500 hits. ^[5] In 1992, no team scored 800 runs and only one reached 1,500 hits. ^[6] The California Angels were shut out 15 times, the most in the AL. ^[7]

Awards and honors

• Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Rollie Fingers
  • Bill McGowan
  • Hal Newhouser
  • Tom Seaver

Further information: 1992 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award	National League	American League
Rookie of the Year	Eric Karros (LAD)	Pat Listach (MIL)
Cy Young Award	Greg Maddux (CHC)	Dennis Eckersley (OAK)
Manager of the Year	Jim Leyland (PIT)	Tony La Russa (OAK)
Most Valuable Player	Barry Bonds (PIT)	Dennis Eckersley (OAK)
Gold Glove Awards
Position	National League	American League
Pitcher	Greg Maddux (CHC)	Mark Langston (CAL)
Catcher	Tom Pagnozzi (STL)	Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman	Mark Grace (CHC)	Don Mattingly (NYY)
Second Baseman	José Lind (PIT)	Roberto Alomar (TOR)
Third Baseman	Terry Pendleton (ATL)	Robin Ventura (CWS)
Shortstop	Ozzie Smith (STL)	Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)
Outfielders	Barry Bonds (PIT)	Kirby Puckett (MIN)
	Larry Walker (MTL)	Devon White (TOR)
	Andy Van Slyke (PIT)	Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter	Dwight Gooden (NYM)	Dave Winfield (TOR)
Catcher	Darren Daulton (PHI)	Mickey Tettleton (DET)
First Baseman	Fred McGriff (SD)	Mark McGwire (OAK)
Second Baseman	Ryne Sandberg (CHC)	Roberto Alomar (TOR)
Third Baseman	Gary Sheffield (SD)	Edgar Martínez (SEA)
Shortstop	Barry Larkin (CIN)	Travis Fryman (DET)
Outfielders	Barry Bonds (PIT)	Joe Carter (TOR)
	Andy Van Slyke (PIT)	Juan González (TEX)
	Larry Walker (MTL)	Kirby Puckett (MIN)

Other awards

• Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Dave Winfield (TOR)
• Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL).
• Rolaids Relief Man Award: Dennis Eckersley (OAK, American); Lee Smith (STL, National).

Player of the Month

Month	American League	National League
April	Roberto Alomar	Barry Bonds
May	Kirby Puckett	Félix José
June	Kirby Puckett	Cory Snyder
July	Edgar Martínez	Brett Butler
August	Edgar Martínez	Gary Sheffield
September	Frank Thomas	Barry Bonds

Pitcher of the Month

Month	American League	National League
April	Bill Krueger	Bill Swift
May	Roger Clemens	Mike Morgan
June	John Smiley	Randy Tomlin
July	Kevin Appier	Tom Glavine
August	Roger Clemens	Dennis Martínez
September	Cal Eldred	José Rijo

Statistical leaders

Statistic	American League		National League
AVG	Edgar Martínez SEA	.343	Gary Sheffield SD	.330
HR	Juan González TEX	43	Fred McGriff SD	35
RBI	Cecil Fielder DET	124	Darren Daulton PHI	109
Wins	Kevin Brown TEX Jack Morris TOR	21	Tom Glavine ATL Greg Maddux CHC	20
ERA	Roger Clemens BOS	2.41	Bill Swift SF	2.08
SO	Randy Johnson SEA	241	John Smoltz ATL	215
SV	Dennis Eckersley OAK	51	Lee Smith STL	43
SB	Kenny Lofton CLE	66	Marquis Grissom MTL	78

Standings

American League v t e AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road (1) Toronto Blue Jays 96 66 0.593 — 53–28 43–38 Milwaukee Brewers 92 70 0.568 4 53–28 39–42 Baltimore Orioles 89 73 0.549 7 43–38 46–35 Cleveland Indians 76 86 0.469 20 41–40 35–46 New York Yankees 76 86 0.469 20 41–40 35–46 Detroit Tigers 75 87 0.463 21 38–42 37–45 Boston Red Sox 73 89 0.451 23 44–37 29–52 v t e AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road (2) Oakland Athletics 96 66 0.593 — 51–30 45–36 Minnesota Twins 90 72 0.556 6 48–33 42–39 Chicago White Sox 86 76 0.531 10 50–32 36–44 Texas Rangers 77 85 0.475 19 36–45 41–40 California Angels 72 90 0.444 24 41–40 31–50 Kansas City Royals 72 90 0.444 24 44–37 28–53 Seattle Mariners 64 98 0.395 32 38–43 26–55

National League v t e NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road (2) Pittsburgh Pirates 96 66 0.593 — 53–28 43–38 Montreal Expos 87 75 0.537 9 43–38 44–37 St. Louis Cardinals 83 79 0.512 13 45–36 38–43 Chicago Cubs 78 84 0.481 18 43–38 35–46 New York Mets 72 90 0.444 24 41–40 31–50 Philadelphia Phillies 70 92 0.432 26 41–40 29–52 v t e NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road (1) Atlanta Braves 98 64 0.605 — 51–30 47–34 Cincinnati Reds 90 72 0.556 8 53–28 37–44 San Diego Padres 82 80 0.506 16 45–36 37–44 Houston Astros 81 81 0.500 17 47–34 34–47 San Francisco Giants 72 90 0.444 26 42–39 30–51 Los Angeles Dodgers 63 99 0.389 35 37–44 26–55

Postseason

Main article: 1992 MLB Postseason

Bracket

	League Championship Series (ALCS, NLCS)					World Series
	East	Toronto	4
	West	Oakland	2
						AL	Toronto	4
						NL	Atlanta	2
	East	Pittsburgh	3
	West	Atlanta	4

Managers

American League

Team	Manager	Comments
Baltimore Orioles±	Johnny Oates
Boston Red Sox	Butch Hobson
California Angels	Buck Rodgers	After a May bus accident John Wathan was acting manager for the remainder of the season
Chicago White Sox	Gene Lamont
Cleveland Indians	Mike Hargrove
Detroit Tigers	Sparky Anderson
Kansas City Royals	Hal McRae
Milwaukee Brewers	Phil Garner
Minnesota Twins	Tom Kelly
New York Yankees	Buck Showalter
Oakland Athletics	Tony La Russa	Won AL West
Seattle Mariners	Bill Plummer
Texas Rangers	Bobby Valentine	Was replaced during the season by Toby Harrah
Toronto Blue Jays	Cito Gaston	Won the World Series

National League

Team	Manager	Comments
Atlanta Braves	Bobby Cox	Won the National League pennant
Chicago Cubs	Jim Lefebvre
Cincinnati Reds	Lou Piniella
Houston Astros	Art Howe
Los Angeles Dodgers	Tommy Lasorda
Montreal Expos	Tom Runnells	Was replaced during the season by Felipe Alou
New York Mets	Jeff Torborg
Philadelphia Phillies	Jim Fregosi
Pittsburgh Pirates	Jim Leyland	Won NL East
St. Louis Cardinals	Joe Torre
San Diego Padres±	Jim Riggleman
San Francisco Giants	Roger Craig

Home field attendance and payroll

Team name	Wins	%±	Home attendance	%±	Per game	Est. payroll	%±
Toronto Blue Jays [8]	96	5.5%	4,028,318	0.7%	49,732	$44,788,666	125.0%
Baltimore Orioles [9]	89	32.8%	3,567,819	39.8%	44,047	$23,891,667	36.4%
Atlanta Braves [10]	98	4.3%	3,077,400	43.8%	37,993	$34,625,333	88.1%
Chicago White Sox [11]	86	-1.1%	2,681,156	-8.6%	32,697	$30,160,833	78.3%
Oakland Athletics [12]	96	14.3%	2,494,160	-8.1%	30,792	$41,035,000	10.9%
Minnesota Twins [13]	90	-5.3%	2,482,428	8.2%	30,647	$28,027,834	20.0%
Los Angeles Dodgers [14]	63	-32.3%	2,473,266	-26.1%	30,534	$44,788,166	36.6%
Boston Red Sox [15]	73	-13.1%	2,468,574	-3.7%	30,476	$43,610,584	24.0%
St. Louis Cardinals [16]	83	-1.2%	2,418,483	-1.2%	29,858	$27,583,836	26.2%
Cincinnati Reds [17]	90	21.6%	2,315,946	-2.4%	28,592	$33,431,499	27.1%
Texas Rangers [18]	77	-9.4%	2,198,231	-4.3%	27,139	$30,128,167	65.3%
Chicago Cubs [19]	78	1.3%	2,126,720	-8.1%	26,256	$29,829,686	27.6%
California Angels [20]	72	-11.1%	2,065,444	-14.5%	25,499	$34,749,334	5.1%
Philadelphia Phillies [21]	70	-10.3%	1,927,448	-6.0%	23,796	$24,492,834	8.9%
Kansas City Royals [22]	72	-12.2%	1,867,689	-13.6%	23,058	$33,893,834	28.8%
Milwaukee Brewers [23]	92	10.8%	1,857,351	25.6%	22,930	$31,013,667	34.2%
Pittsburgh Pirates [24]	96	-2.0%	1,829,395	-11.4%	22,585	$33,944,167	43.6%
New York Mets [25]	72	-6.5%	1,779,534	-22.1%	21,970	$44,602,002	36.9%
New York Yankees [26]	76	7.0%	1,748,737	-6.2%	21,589	$37,652,334	37.7%
San Diego Padres [27]	82	-2.4%	1,721,406	-4.6%	21,252	$26,854,167	21.2%
Montreal Expos [28]	87	22.5%	1,669,127	78.6%	20,607	$15,822,334	47.4%
Seattle Mariners [29]	64	-22.9%	1,651,367	-23.1%	20,387	$23,304,833	48.5%
San Francisco Giants [30]	72	-4.0%	1,560,998	-10.2%	19,272	$33,163,168	7.1%
Detroit Tigers [31]	75	-10.7%	1,423,963	-13.3%	17,800	$27,322,834	14.6%
Cleveland Indians [32]	76	33.3%	1,224,094	16.4%	15,112	$9,373,044	-46.8%
Houston Astros [33]	81	24.6%	1,211,412	1.3%	14,956	$15,407,500	19.9%

Television coverage

Network	Day of week	Announcers
CBS	Saturday afternoons	Sean McDonough, Tim McCarver, Dick Stockton, Jim Kaat
ESPN	Sunday nights Tuesday nights Wednesday nights Friday nights	Jon Miller, Joe Morgan See also: List of ESPN Major League Baseball broadcasters

Events

January–June

• January 2 – The Boston Red Sox sign free agent pitcher Frank Viola.
• January 7 – Pitchers Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Seaver finishes with a record 98.8% of the votes cast. Pete Rose, ineligible because of his ban from baseball (otherwise this year would have been his first year of eligibility), receives 41 write–in votes.
• January 31 – The Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Barry Bonds to a one-year contract worth $4.7 million, the largest-ever one-year deal.
• February 20 – The Simpsons episode Homer at the Bat airs on the Fox Network, featuring guest appearances by Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, José Canseco, Don Mattingly, Darryl Strawberry, and Mike Scioscia.
• March 2 – Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg becomes the highest-paid player in major league history when he agrees to a four-year contract extension worth $28.4 million.
• March 17 – Pitcher Hal Newhouser and umpire Bill McGowan are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
• March 30 – In one of the biggest cross-town trades in Chicago baseball history, the Chicago Cubs trade George Bell to the Chicago White Sox, while the Sox send Sammy Sosa to the Cubs.
• April 6 – A crowd of 44,568 sees the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Cleveland Indians 2–0 in the first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Rick Sutcliffe hurls the shutout for Baltimore.
• May 17 – The Minnesota Twins trade highly regarded pitching prospect Denny Neagle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher John Smiley.

July–December

• July 7 – Andy Van Slyke of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the first outfielder in nearly 18 years to record an unassisted double play, in the Pirates' 5–3 win over the Houston Astros. Van Slyke races in from center field to catch a fly ball, then continues in to double up Ken Caminiti, who was running from second base on the play.
• July 14 – The American League pounds out a record 19 hits in defeating the National League by a score of 13–6 in the All-Star Game. It is the AL's fifth straight win. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who hit a single, a double and a home run, is named the MVP, 12 years after his father Ken Sr. won the same honor.
• August 28 – The Milwaukee Brewers lash 31 hits in a 22–2 drubbing of the Toronto Blue Jays, setting a record for the most hits by a team in a single nine-inning game. Darryl Hamilton leads the way for the Brewers, going 4-for-7 with 5 RBI.
• September 7 – After receiving an 18–9 no-confidence vote from the owners, Commissioner Fay Vincent is forced to resign. Vincent is soon replaced by Milwaukee Brewers president Bud Selig on what is meant to be an interim basis.
• September 9 – Robin Yount becomes the 17th player to reach 3,000 hits in the Milwaukee Brewers' 5–4 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Yount singles to right center off Cleveland's José Mesa in the seventh inning.
• September 20 – Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini completes the first unassisted triple play in the National League in 65 years against their in-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Morandini snares Jeff King's line drive, steps on second to double off Andy Van Slyke, and finally tags Barry Bonds out before he can return to first. It is the ninth unassisted triple play since 1901, but only the second to be pulled off by a second baseman.
• September 23 – Bip Roberts of the Cincinnati Reds hits safely in his tenth consecutive at-bat. He ends his streak later in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• September 26 – Bill Pecota becomes the first position player for the New York Mets to pitch in a game, giving up a home run in the 8th inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Mets 19-2. ^[34]
• September 27 – The Pittsburgh Pirates seal their third consecutive National League East championship with a 4–2 victory over the New York Mets.
• September 28 – The idle Oakland Athletics clinch their fourth American League West crown in five years when the second-place Minnesota Twins fall to the Chicago White Sox 9–4.
• September 29 – The Atlanta Braves wrap up the National League West with a 6–0 shutout of the San Francisco Giants.
• September 30 – George Brett of the Kansas City Royals collects his 3,000th hit, an infield single off Tim Fortugno in the seventh inning of a 4–0 Royals victory over the California Angels.
• October 3 – The Toronto Blue Jays clinch their second straight American League East title with a 3–1 win over the Detroit Tigers.
• October 23 – The expansion Florida Marlins hire Rene Lachemann as the team's first manager.
• October 24 – The Toronto Blue Jays clinch their first World Series championship with a 4–3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 6. Dave Winfield's 2–out, 2–run double in the top of the 11th gives Toronto a 4–2 lead. The Braves score one run in the bottom half of the inning and have the tying run on 3rd when the final out is made. Jimmy Key wins the game in relief, and Candy Maldonado homers for Toronto. Blue Jays catcher Pat Borders, with a .450 batting average, is named the Series MVP. The Toronto Blue Jays finish the season without being swept in any series. They are the first team from outside the United States to win the World Series.
• October 27 – The expansion Colorado Rockies hire Don Baylor as the team's first manager.
• November 10 – In a 9–4 vote, the National League fails to get enough yes votes to approve a sale of the San Francisco Giants to Vince Naimoli, which would have resulted in a move of the team to St. Petersburg, Florida.
• November 10 - The Seattle Mariners hire Lou Piniella as their new manager.
• November 16 – The Rockies sign free agent first baseman Andrés Galarraga, who rejoins Don Baylor, his hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. Galarraga is coming off his second injury-plagued year, having missed 44 days of the season after being hit on the wrist by a Wally Whitehurst pitch in the 3rd game of the season.
• November 17 – Major League Baseball holds an expansion draft to stock the rosters of the National League's two new teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. A total of 72 players are chosen. The best picks for Florida are Trevor Hoffman, eventually packaged for Gary Sheffield; Jeff Conine, and Cris Carpenter, later dealt to the Texas Rangers for Robb Nen. For Colorado, their best picks are Eric Young, Joe Girardi, Vinny Castilla, Armando Reynoso, Andy Ashby, Brad Ausmus, Charlie Hayes and Doug Bochtler. The next season, Ashby, Ausmus and Bochtler will go to the San Diego Padres in an ill-fated deal for pricey veteran pitchers Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris.

Movies

• A League of Their Own

References

1. "1992 Major League Baseball Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
2. "1991 Major League Baseball Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
3. "1992 National League Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
4. "1992 San Francisco Giants". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
5. "1991 American League Standard Batting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
6. "1992 American League Standard Batting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
7. "1992 California Angels". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
8. "Toronto Blue Jays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
9. "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
10. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
11. "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
12. "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
13. "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
14. "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
15. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
16. "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
17. "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
18. "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
19. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
20. "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
21. "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
22. "Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
23. "Milwaukee Brewers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
24. "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
25. "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
26. "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
27. "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
28. "Washington Nationals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
29. "Seattle Mariners Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
30. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
31. "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
32. "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
33. "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
34. "Today In All Teams History – September 26". nationalpastime.com. Retrieved September 26, 2015.

External links

• 1992 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference