Stephen Charles Balboni is an American former Major League Baseball player,who played for the New York Yankees,Seattle Mariners,Kansas City Royals,and Texas Rangers. He was a player with home run power and a tendency to strike out. He was nicknamed "Bye Bye" because of his home run hitting prowess. He was also known by the nickname "Bones",which is a malapropism for Balboni. He is also known for the "Curse of the Balboni",an idea written about by Rany Jazayerli which said no baseball team with a player hitting more than 36 home runs for that team could win the World Series. Since Balboni was the last player to hit 36 home runs and win a World Series,,the curse bore his name. The curse ran from 1985 until Luis Gonzalez and the Arizona Diamondbacks won the 2001 World Series.
Kelly Brian Shoppach is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Cleveland Indians,Tampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Michael Anthony Easler,nicknamed "the Hit Man",is an American former professional baseball outfielder,designated hitter,and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,California Angels,Pittsburgh Pirates,Boston Red Sox,New York Yankees,and Philadelphia Phillies,from 1973 to 1987.
Joshua Aaron Wilson is an American former professional baseball infielder. Wilson is a Mt. Lebanon,Pennsylvania native. He was part of the 1998 Pennsylvania state championship baseball team and Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Wilson played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins,Washington Nationals,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Arizona Diamondbacks,San Diego Padres,Seattle Mariners,Milwaukee Brewers,Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.
Jimmy Dale Sexton is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Houston Astros,Oakland Athletics,and St. Louis Cardinals. Sexton signed his first professional contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970. In his minor league career,Sexton batted .282 with 951 hits in 3,373 at-bats,and 137 doubles,36 triples,and 30 home runs. In his major league career,Sexton batted .218 with 81 hits in 372 at-bats,with 9 doubles,3 triples,5 home runs,24 RBIs,and 36 stolen bases.
David Matthew Murphy is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The 1987 New York Yankees season was the 85th season for the Yankees. The team finished in fourth place with a record of 89–73,finishing 9 games behind the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Lou Piniella. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.
The 1988 New York Yankees season was the 86th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 85–76,finishing in fifth place,3.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Lou Piniella and Billy Martin,with the latter managing the team for the fifth and final time. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.
The 1992 New York Yankees season was the 90th season for the Yankees,their 69th at Yankee Stadium and their first under manager Buck Showalter. The team looked to improve their standings from 1991 when they finished fifth in the American League East with a 71–91 record.
The 1995 New York Yankees season was the 93rd season for the Yankees,and their 71st playing home games at Yankee Stadium. Managed by Buck Showalter,the team finished with a record of 79–65,seven games behind the Boston Red Sox,and returned to postseason play for the first time since the 1981 season. They won the first American League Wild Card. In the Division Series,they squandered a 2–0 series lead,losing three straight games at The Kingdome to succumb to the Seattle Mariners in five games.
The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. The 1996 New York Yankees were managed by Joe Torre,and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Jay Allen Bruce is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,New York Mets,Cleveland Indians,Seattle Mariners,Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. The Reds drafted Bruce in the first round,12th overall pick,of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft;he made his MLB debut in 2008. Bruce was named an All-Star three times during his career,and won the Silver Slugger Award twice.
The 1991 Seattle Mariners season was the 15th since the franchise's creation. It was the first winning season in franchise history,as the Mariners finished fifth in the American League West with a record of 83–79 (.512). Home attendance at the Kingdome was the highest to date,exceeding 2.1 million.
The Seattle Mariners 1988 season was their 12th since the franchise creation,and ended the season finishing seventh in the American League West with a record of 68–93 (.422).
The 1977 Seattle Mariners season was the first season in franchise history,which was established via the 1977 Major League Baseball expansion. The creation of the Mariners brought baseball back to Seattle,which had been without a major league team since the Seattle Pilots left for Milwaukee to become the Brewers in April 1970.
The 2002 Boston Red Sox season was the 102nd season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished second in the American League East with a record of 93 wins and 69 losses,10+1⁄2 games behind the New York Yankees. The Red Sox did not qualify for the postseason,as the AL wild card went to the Anaheim Angels,who had finished second in the American League West with a record of 99–63.
The 2004 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 105th season,and their 104th season in Major League Baseball. They finished with a record of 83–79,good enough for second place in the American League Central,9 games behind the champion Minnesota Twins.
The 2000 Cincinnati Reds season was the 131st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League Central,although coming short in second place. They had a record of 85 wins and 77 losses. The Reds became only the second team in the modern era of baseball not be shut out for an entire season,joining the 1932 New York Yankees. The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers later accomplished this feat,but their season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1986 Chicago White Sox season was the 87th season for the Chicago White Sox franchise of Major League Baseball (MLB). They compiled a record of 72–90,finishing in fifth place in the West division of the American League,20 games behind the first-place California Angels. The team played their home games at Comiskey Park.
Erik Floyd Kratz is an American former professional baseball catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies,Toronto Blue Jays,Kansas City Royals,Houston Astros,Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Tampa Bay Rays,and New York Yankees during an 11-year career. Kratz was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.
