HOT STOVE LEAGUE TRIP SUMMARIES

Year

Date

City

Ballpark

Home Team

Visiting Team

Score

WP

LP

S

HR

HOF[1]

Other Players of Note

1985

Aug. 3

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Red Sox

4-5

Roger Clemens

Mark Gubicza

Steve Crawford

Bill Buckner

Wade Boggs

Roger Clemens

George Brett

Dwight Evans

Jim Rice

Hal McRae

Jim Sundberg

Highlights:  Clemens came
off the DL to pick up career win No. 16 by pitching six innings of three hit
ball and giving up one earned run.
Willie Wilson and Bye-Bye Balboni hit triples.

1985

Aug. 4

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Red Sox

5-6

Bob Stanley

Mike LaCoss

Mark Clear

Mike Easler

Wade Boggs

Roger Clemens

George Brett

Tony Armas

Dennis Boyd

Charlie Leibrandt

Dan Quisenberry

Highlights:  The Red
Sox scored a single run in the top of the 9th to tie the game and take Oil Can
off the hook, then scored three runs in the twelfth when Buckner and Rice
both doubled.  Stanley
gave up singles to Wilson
and White and a double to Brett before giving way to Clear, who struck out
Balboni to end the Royals’ threat in the bottom of the twelfth.

1986

Aug. 16

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Yankees

4-2

Danny Jackson

Dennis Rasmussen

Buddy Black

Dave Winfield

Steve Balboni

Dave Winfield

George Brett

Rickey Henderson

Don Mattingly

Mike Easler

Mike Pagliarulo

Highlights:  The
Royals came up big in the sixth inning with three runs off Dennis Rasmussen,
with singles by Lonnie Smith and George Brett and a two-RBI double by Hal
McRae producing the inning’s three runs.  The game also featured three-baggers
by Easler, Salazar and Smith in a rare three-triple game.

1986

Aug. 17

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Yankees

5-0

Mark Gubicza

Ron Guidry

George Brett

Frank White

Willie Wilson

Dave Winfield

George Brett

Rickey Henderson

Ron Guidry

Claudell Washington

Dan Pasqua

Wayne Tolleson

Highlights:  Mark
Gubicza tossed a six-hit shutout with no walks and ten strikeouts to best
“Louisiana Lighting” (Guidry), who on an off day gave up three
home runs and five earned runs in seven innings of work.  Frank White had a perfect 3-for-3 day
at the plate, while Lonnie “Skates” Smith was caught stealing at
second in one of his many career base-running blunders.

1987

Oct. 4

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Twins

10-1

Mark Gubicza

Joe Niekro

Frank White

Kirby Puckett

Joe Niekro

Kent Hrbek

Billy Beane

Highlights:  The hometown
Royals, competing in their last game of the season, took it to Twins starter
Joe Niekro early and often, knocking him out of the game with only one out in
the second inning with a walk to Tartabull, a single by Frank White, a double
by Jim Eisenreich, another walk, a sac fly by Jamie Quirk, another single, a
wild pitch, and another walk.  For
his trouble, Niekro suffered his next-to-last loss of his long and largely
successful career, before retiring the following season after pitching only
11 2/3 innings.  Puckett had two
hits in the game to end the season with 207 hits, while Kevin Seitzer also
notched two hits to likewise end the year with a total of 207 hits.  For the second straight year, we saw
Royal pitcher Mark Gubicza throw a complete game victory for the Royals,
giving up eight hits over nine innings, one earned run, and striking out four
while walking none, to improve to 13-18 on the year.  Umpires Durwood Merrill and Rich
Garcia led the crew of arbiters.

1988

Aug. 13

Chicago

Wrigley Field

Cubs

Cardinals

5-1

Jamie Moyer

Bob Forsch

Ryne Sandberg

Ozzie Smith

Ryne Sandberg

Andre Dawson

Willie McGee

Highlights:  A young Jamie Moyer threw a six-hit, one-run
gem against the punchless Cardinals, limiting them to five singles and one
double.  Sandberg’s home
run, single and three runs batted in paced the Cubs in this two-hour,
twenty-eight minute game.

1988

Aug. 14

Chicago

Wrigley Field

Cubs

Cardinals

8-3

Mike Bielecki

Ken Dayley

Les Lancaster

Tom Brunanski

Darrin Jackson

Mitch Webster

Rafael Palmeiro

Ozzie Smith

Mark Grace

Vince Coleman

Tom Brunanski

Highlights:  A balanced
Cubs offence pounded away at Jose Deleon and a host of Cardinal relievers,
including former K.C. Royal Dan Quisenberry.  Les Lancaster, later to become the
coach of the Lincoln Saltdogs, pitched two innings of no-hit relief to earn
his fifth save of the season.
Umpire Dutch Rennert led a watchful and diligent blues crew to another
admirable performance. However, the biggest excitement of the day was pregame
as McBlunder exhibited undaunted courage but questionable judgment as he
negotiated our tickets from long distance with the purveyor holding both
tickets and cash at a considerable distance from Stretch.  Happily, this recipe for disaster and
disappointment did not turn into grist for a 20-20 expose, as the inbred
honesty and integrity of our Chicagoland ticket broker won out in the end.

1989

July 20

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Indians

0-4

Greg Swindell

Bret Saberhagen

George Brett

Joe Carter

Albert Bell

Bob Boone

Pete O’Brien

Highlights:
U-Bob’s favorite scab, Greg Swindell, tossed seven innings of
dominating two-hit ball to lead the visiting Tribe past the flaccid Royals,
improving his season record to 13-2.
Jesse Orasco came on in the 8th and pitched two innings of shutout
relief.  His mound counterpart for
the Royals, Bret Saberhagen, was far less effective, giving up nine hits and
four runs to the Indians, as Prince
Albert had a 4-1-2-1 day and Brad Komminsk touched
him for three singles in four at-bats.

1989

July 21

Milwaukee

Milwaukee
County

Stadium

Brewers

Twins

5-3

Teddy Higuera

Shane Rawley

Greg Brock

Robin Yount

Paul Molitor

Kirby Puckett

Gary Gaetti

Jim Gantner

Dan Plesac

Highlights:  Despite being
outhit by the visiting Twins 10-8, the hometown Brewers managed to push all
five of their runs across in the bottom of the third inning, capped by
Brock’s three-run jack which cleaned the bases of Yount and Deer.  Higuera kept the Twinkies quiet by spreading
around seven hits in seven innings, allowing one earned run while walking two
and striking out seven.  Dan
Plesac made it exciting by giving up two runs in the top of the ninth before
coaxing a game-ending groundout by a pinch-hitting Gary Gaetti.

1989

July 22

Milwaukee

Milwaukee
County

Stadium

Brewers

Twins

1-6

Roy Smith

Jaime Navarro

Jeff Reardon

None

Kirby Puckett

Paul Molitor

Robin Yount

Jim Gantner

Rob Deere

Highlights:  Backed by
two-hit performances from their three, four and five hitters (Puckett, Hrbek
and Larkin), the Twinkies bounced back from their loss to the Brew-Crew from
the previous evening, hanging a loss on Jaime Navarro and company.  While verification is pending, it is
believed that this game featured the infamous “Seat Cushion
Night” episode by and between the Nebraska Hot Stove Leaguers, which
virtually reduced our revered but sometimes emotional Brother Shamu to tears.

1989

July 23

Chicago

Wrigley field

Cubs

Giants

9-5

Greg Maddux

Don Robinson

Andre Dawson

Greg Maddux

Andre Dawson

Will Clark

Kevin Mitchell

Brett Butler

Highlights:  Once the
Nebraska Hot Stove Leaguers were able to secure tickets for the correct date,
they were treated to a Cub pummeling of the visiting Giants. Sandberg started
the scoring in the first when he tripled off Robinson and scored on a Grace
single.  The Cubs went on to
efficiently score nine runs on nine hits, giving Maddux plenty of cushion to
coast to his tenth win of the ’89 season and the thirty-sixth win of
his now-stellar career.

1990

July 4

K.C.

Royals Stadium

Royals

Yankees

13-6

Steve Crawford

Lee Guetterman

Kevin Maas

Bob Geren

Kevin Seitzer

Bo Jackson

Frank White

George Brett

Steve Sax

Jesse Barfield

Dave Righetti

Highlights:  Royals
starter Bret Saberhagen managed to hold the Yankees to two runs while giving
up twelve hits and yielding two walks, before leaving the game after 5-1/3 innings
for reliever Steve Crawford after Kevin Maas hit a home run in the top of the
sixth off Sabes to bring the Yankees to within 4-2.  Crawford promptly gave up a three-run
jack to Bob Geren in the top of the seventh to blow the win for Saberhagen,
but the Royals came roaring back in the bottom of the frame with seven runs
on a three-run jack by Bo Jackson and a two-run dinger by Frank White to give
Crawford the win.  Jimmy
Eisenreich had a triple for the Royals in the fourth with one out, but Pat
Tabler flied out to shallow center and Gerald Perry flied to left to strand
Twitch at third.  A small
delegation of HSLers saw this game in Kansas City
before flying to Dallas
the following morning, and were favored with a spectacular July 4 fireworks
display, which was a bit hard to see from the top row seats that Shamu
secured for the group.
Skipper’s bride-to-be was lucky enough to sit in on her first
HSL event.

1990

July 5

Arlington

Arlington
Stadium

Rangers

Orioles

3-2

Mike Jeffcoat

Bob Milacki

Kenny Rogers

Mike Devereaux

Rafael Palmeiro

Rafael Palmeiro

Cal Ripken

Julio Franco

Rubin Sierra

Pete Incaviglia

Highlights:  The
spirited attendees of the first (and last) combination HSL Trip/Ernst Family Reunion
were treated to an exciting 3-2 contest which featured home runs by a beloved
former Senator, Mike Devereaux, and future Hall-of-Famer Rafael Palmeiro,
just starting to reach his prime in Texas.  The fleet-footed Pete Incaviglia was
picked off trying to steal second.
What was he thinking?  To the best of my memory, many frosty
ales were delightfully consumed.

1990

July 6

Arlington

Arlington
Stadium

Rangers

Red Sox

4-1

Kevin Brown

Mark Gardner

Wade Boggs

Rafael Palmeiro

Mike Greenwell

Tom Brunanski

Dewey Evans

Highlights:  Kevin
Brown pitched a seven-hit shutout to lead the hometown Rangers past the
visiting BoSox.  Future
Hall-of-Famer Wade Boggs had one of his trademark doubles, but also had an
error.  Julio Franco started the
scoring for the Rangers by doubling in Petrali in the third, while Rafael
Palmeiro doubled on a full count in the fifth to score Jeff Huson and
Franco.  Refreshments were served,
as the Ernst Family Reunion continued with great merriment.

1990

July 7

Arlington

Arlington
Stadium

Rangers

Red Sox

7-4

Nolan Ryan

Mike Boddicker

Kenny Rogers

Rubin Sierra

Pete Incaviglia (2)

Carlos Quintana

Wade Boggs

Nolan Ryan

Rafael Palmeiro

Tony Pena

Jody Reed

Mike Boddicker

Highlights:  The Hot
Stove Leaguers and Ernst Family Reunion attendees were treated to an
intriguing match-up between native Iowan Mike Boddicker and the Ryan Express.  Although Nolan yielded a leadoff triple
to Boggs to start the game, who then scored on a Greenwell single to give the
BoSox a 1-0 lead, and then gave up a two-run jack to Quintana in the fourth
to fall behind 3-1, the Rangers posted a three-spot in the bottom of the
fourth via a solo shot by Sierra and a two-run dinger by Inky-Dinky-Doo.  Although Ryan gave up a leadoff double
to Boggs in the top of the fifth, he shut the Red Sox down for the rest of
his seven innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs, walking two, and
fanning twelve to garner his seventh win of the season.  Kenny Rogers pitched the ninth to gain
his seventh save.  A quiet and
thirsty HSL/EFR contingency set glumly in the Family Section (read:  no alcohol) of Arlington Stadium.  Who bought those tickets, anyway?

1991

Aug. 31

Chicago

Comiskey Park II

White Sox

Indians

10-5

Donn Pall

Dave Otto

Scott Radinsky

Frank Thomas

Albert Belle

Jose Gonzalez

Sammy Sosa

Carlton Fisk

Charlie Hough

Robin Ventura

Tim Raines

Highlights:  After Sox
starter Charlie “Mr. Haney” Hough surrendered five runs in the
first two innings to put the ChiSox in a 5-to-1 hole, the hometown heroes
came roaring back to score ten runs on home runs by Frank Thomas, three RBIs
by Robin Ventura, and three RBIs by Scott Fletcher.  Reliever Donn Pall pitched five strong
innings of relief for the Palehose, surrendering no runs and giving up two
hits to take the win for the hometown team.

1991

Sept. 1

Chicago

Comiskey Park II

White Sox

Indians

6-1

Wilson Alvarez

Greg Swindell

Carlos Martinez

Carlton
Fisk

Frank Thomas

Carlton Fisk

Sammy Sosa

Mark Whiten

Jesse Orosco

Ozzie Guillen

Highlights:  The White
Sox took control of this game early with three runs in the first on Fisk’s
homer with two men on, and three runs in the second off Big Hurt’s home
run, also with two men on, both long balls coming off Underbelly’s
personal hero, Greg Swindell.  The
six runs were much more than were needed by Wilson Alvarez, who twirled a four-hit,
one-run beauty to notch his second win of the season, against two
losses.  You may also recall that
this was the game during which SloPay nearly had Sister Mary Theckla talked
into leaving the convent to join him as the co-owner of the Irates, way back
when they were known as the Pirates.

1992

June 11

Toronto

Skydome

Blue Jays

Red Sox

4-0

Jack Morris

Roger Clemens

Joe Carter

Pat Borders

Dave Winfield

Dave Winfield

Roger Clemens

Wade Boggs

Devon White

Jeff Kent

Kelly Gruber

John Olerud

Highlights:  Possibly
the best pitching match-up ever witnessed on a Hot Stove League trip in which
grizzled veteran Jack Morris schooled the young Rocket by tossing a four-hit
shutout.  Clemens pitched 7-1/3
innings, giving up only seven hits while walking three and striking out
seven, but three of his seven hits were home runs, to Joe Carter in the
third, a two run shot; to Pat Borders in the sixth; and to Dave Winfield in
the bottom of the eighth, all four runs scoring on the Yard balls.

1992

June 12

Cleveland

Cleveland
Stadium

Indians

Yankees

3-0

Charles Nagy

Scott Kamieniecki

Don Mattingly

Danny Tartabull

Albert Belle

Brook Jacoby

Highlights:  The Hot
Stove Leaguers saw Charles Nagy throw a five-hit shutout against the visiting
Yankees, walking none and striking out five, in a game with very little
offense that lasted exactly two hours.
The pregame highlight was having a chance to schmooze with
Itchie’s high school idol, Tim Burke, and the post-game talking point
was Itchie being dusted (you can have him!) by an unimpressed young Cleveland
female.

1992

June 13

Detroit

Tiger Stadium

Tigers

Orioles

15-1

Mark Leiter

Bob Milacki

Cecil Fielder

Rob Deer

Mickey Tettleton

Cal Ripken

Cecil Fielder

Mickey Tettleton

Lou Whitaker

Brady Anderson

Highlights:  The
hometown Tigers jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the bottom of the
first, two off the bat of Cecil Fielder who went way deep onto the roof in
left field off of Bob Milacki, and was followed up with a Yard ball by Rob
Deer.  Sam Horn hit two monstrous
shots clean out of the stadium, but both way foul to the right field
side.  After the Tigers scored
three more runs in the third to take a 7-0 lead, Orioles veteran Mike
Flanagan came in to eat up a few innings, and got blasted for eight earned
runs in one inning of work, after his manager refused to take him out despite
his baleful looks to the dugout after Flanny realized he had no gas in the
tank.

1992

June 14

Detroit

Tiger Stadium

Tigers

Orioles

7-4

Frank Tanana

Jose Mesa

Mike Henneman

Chad
Kreuter

Cal Ripken

Mike Devereaux

Sam Horn

Travis Fryman

Storm Davis

Highlights:

1993

Aug. 5

Anaheim

Anaheim
Stadium

Angels

Royals

5-4

Hilly Hathaway

Tom Gordon

Steve Frey

Greg Gagne

Chili Davis

George Brett

Wally Joyner

Tim Salmon

Chili Davis

Highlights: This one’s easy.  Eighth inning, two Royals on base, the
light-hitting Greg Gagne up to bat, and a 25-to-1 wager against him leaving
the Yard.  Going, going, gone!
And to put salt in the wound, Luis Polonia fakes everyone out into
thinking that he actually caught it.
Sorry, Shamu. Pay up.

1993

Aug. 6

San Diego

Jack Murphy Stadium

Padres

Rockies

6-3

Andy Benes

Armando Reynoso

Trevor Hoffman

Daryl Boston

Tony Gwynn

Trevor Hoffman

Dante Bichette

Highlights:  Tony
Gwynn went 3-for-3 and recorded his 2000th hit, leading the way to
Benes’ thirteenth win and Hoffman’s third save.  Dante Bichette patrolled the outfield
with all of the grace and aplomb of Lonnie Smith, butchering several plays in
right field before our very eyes.

1993

Aug. 6

San Diego

Jack Murphy Stadium

Padres

Rockies

6-2

Scott Sanders

Willie Blair

Billy Bean

Tony Gwynn

Vinny Castilla

Highlights:  Gwynn went
2-for-5, Craig Shipley 3-for-5, and Phil Clark 4-for-5 as the Padres rapped
sixteen hits to pummel the visiting Rockies.

1993

Aug. 7

L.A.

Dodger Stadium

Dodgers

Reds

6-9

Jerry Spradlin

Orel
Hershiser

Rob Dibble

Joe Oliver

Eric Davis

Henry Rodriguez

Mike Piazza

Juan Samuel

Brett Butler

Orel
Hershiser

Highlights:  Reggie
Sanders went 3-for-4 and Kevin Mitchell 3-for-5 as the visiting Reds
outlasted the Dodgers by a score of 9-6.
Hershiser gave up 11 hits in 7-1/3 innings, walking three and striking
out 7 to lose the game and go 8-and-11 on the season.

1994

July 7

K.C.

Kauffman Stadium

Royals

Brewers

8-3

Tom Gordon

Cal Eldred

Brent Mayne

Mike McFarland

Hal McRae

Vince Coleman

Greg Vaughn

Highlights:  Dave
Nilsson put the Brew Crew ahead in the top of the second by combining for
three runs batted in off of Flash Gordon.  However, Gordon settled down to shut down
the Brewers for the rest of his 8 innings, and the Royals roughed up Cal
Eldred for six runs in the bottom of the 7th frame, including a two-run shot
by the powerful Brent Mayne and a 3-run dinger by Mike McFarland.  Royals third baseman Tom Howard also
contributed to the cause with three runs batted in on the strength of two
hits.  As memory serves, Mound
Ball was enjoyed by the HSL at a fever pitch.

1994

July 8

Boston

Fenway
Park

Red Sox

Mariners

4-3

Chris Nabholz

Bill Risley

Ken Ryan

Mike Blowers

John Valentin

Tom Brunansky

Rich Rowland

Alex Rodriguez

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Edgar Martinez

Goose Gossage

Andre Dawson

Highlights:  This
one’s easy:  John Valentin’s unassisted triple
play.  Of course, a couple of league
members were dozing and didn’t realize the immediate significance of
what they had just seen, but nonetheless, they were there, and present, and
“witnessed,” at least in some sense, one of the rarest of all
baseball feats.  The Hot Stove
Leaguers also saw a rare triple by Griffey, Jr., and were present for the
major league debut of a soon-to-be superstar, young Alex Rodriguez.  Not a bad night.

1994

July 9

N.Y.

Yankee Stadium

Yankees

Angels

5-10

Craig Leftwich

Scott Kamieniecki

Roberto Kelly

Matt Nokes (2)

Wade Boggs

Bernie Williams

Paul O’Neill

Jim Edmonds

Damien Easley

Highlights:  The Bronx
Bombers got roughed up by the visiting Angels, who pounded out thirteen hits against
Kamieniecki and a trio of forgettable relievers.  Spike Owen went 3-for-5 with three
RBIs, Tim Salmon and Chili Davis both went 6-1-2-1, and Gary DiSarcina was
2-for-3 with a run batted in.  The
Angels posted a five spot in the top of the fifth, three runs in the seventh,
and two in the eighth to turn the game into a laugher against the once proud
Yankees franchise.

1994

July 10

Baltimore

Camden
Yard

Orioles

Athletics

4-5

Ron Darling

Lee Smith

Dennis Eckersley

Scott Brosius

Mark McGwire

Rickey Henderson

Mark McGwire

Dennis Eckersley

Cal Ripken

Rafael Palmeiro

Rubin Sierra

Brady Anderson

Jaime Moyer

Scott Brosius

Harold Baines

Highlights:  The final
game of the 1994 East Coast Trip was a bully of a game, pitting Ron Darling
of the Oakland Athletics against Jaime Moyer of the Orioles, and featuring at
least five Hall-of-Famers (Eckersley, Ripken, McGwire, Henderson and
Palmeiro), one who might make it (Lee Smith), and a couple who probably
won’t but who have had outstanding major league careers (Jaime Moyer,
Harold Baines, Rubin Sierra).  The
best part was that we saw a close game that was won by the Athletics when
McGwire hit a two-run shot in the top of the 9th to give the A’s a 5-4
win, and more importantly, the game saw the Skipper take one of the largest
Mound Ball pots of all time, but unfortunately too late in the game to allow
him to buy a round.

1995

July 7

Denver

Coors Field

Rockies

Expos

12-7

Juan Acevedo

Gil Heredia

None

Shawn Berry

Mike Lansing

Shane Andrews

Larry Walker

Andres Galarraga

Vinny Castilla (2)

None

Larry Walker

Andres Galarraga

Moises Alou

Vinny Castilla

Highlights:  The Rockies made this a laugher with 4 runs in the bottom
of the first and 4 more in the bottom of the second.  After chasing Expos starter Gil
Heredia in the first with 6 hits and a walk and 4 earned runs (and no outs),
the Rockies next beat up on reliever Gabe White by clubbing three consecutive
home runs, the first one a two-run shot by Larry Walker, the second a solo
shot by the Big Cat, and the final blow being a line drive whistler by Vinny
Castilla that just barely cleared One Way Tony’s head in the left field
stands, following which our hero Tony willed himself to sobriety so as to
enjoy the rest of the evening.

1995

July 8

Denver

Coors Field

Rockies

Expos

8-3

Armanda Reynoso

Butch Henry

Curt Leskanic

Shane Andrews

Vinny Castilla (2)

Eric Young

Ellis Burks

Dante Bichette

Wil Cordero

Highlights:  Vinny
picked up where he left off on Friday night by drilling a two-run shot off
Butch Henry in the bottom of the second to put the Rockies
ahead 2-0.  He added a solo shot in
the eighth off one of the Perez boys to give him twin shots in consecutive
games.  Reynoso pitched 7-2/3
innings of five-hit ball, giving up two earned runs for the win while Curt
Leskanic pitched the final 1-1/3 innings for a cheap save.

1995

July 9

Denver

Coors Field

Rockies

Expos

4-1

Marvin Freeman

Pedro Martinez

Wil Cordero

Eric Young

Dante Bichette

Larry Walker

John Vander Wal

Pedro Martinez

Highlights:  In his Hot
Stove League debut, Pedro Martinez gave up three home runs (Young, Bichette
and Walker) in six innings of work, yielding only 5 hits and walking one
while striking out 6, to take the loss and go to 6-and-5.  Freeman pitched seven innings of 5-hit
shutout ball, with no walks and four strikeouts, to take the win for the Rockies.  In
a game in which all runs scored were on solo home runs, the Expos outhit the Rockies 7-6 but came out on the underside of the final
score.  Moises Alou put forth
maximum effort while going 4000.

1996

June 21

Cleveland

Jacobs Field

Indians

Yankees

3-9

Ramiro Mendoza

Julian Tavarez

Andy Fox

Eddie Murray

Derek Jeter

Tino Martinez

Kenny Lofton

Jim Thome

Mariano Rivera

Highlights:  The visiting
Bronx Bombers showed why they would make it to the postseason in ’96
and win the World Series for the first time since 1978, blasting 17 hits and
scoring 9 runs against a trio of Cleveland
pitchers, Julian Tavarez, Greg Swindell and Paul Assenmacher.  The Yankees scored in each of the
first three innings, racing to a 7-0 lead, including a home run from their
promising young third baseman, Andy Fox, whose career would prove to be
short-lived.  Fox went 5-2-3-2 on
the day, while Jeter and Tino Martinez each contributed three hits to the
cause as well.  Carlos Baerga had
a 4-1-2-1 day for the hometown Tribe.
This trip to Jacobs Field also completed the circuit for B.T. and
Skipper in attending all then-current major league baseball parks.

1996

June 22

Cleveland

Jacobs Field

Indians

Yankees

9-11

Billy Brewer

Dennis Martinez

John Wetteland

Rubin Sierra (2)

Wade Boggs

Derek Jeter

Eddie Murray

Omar Vizquel

Julio Franco

Manny Ramirez

Tony Pena

Highlights:  Kenny Rogers
and “El Presidente” Dennis Martinez
faced off in this Saturday afternoon game, in what should have been a
pitchers’ duel.  However,
after the Indians beat up on Kenny Rogers for five runs in 3-1/3 innings,
knocking him out of the game, the Yankees came roaring back with nine runs in
the top of the sixth off Martinez
and Eric Plunk.  The Yankees
outhit the Indians by 15 to 12, with the offensive stars being Rubin Sierra
(4-2-3-4), Paul O’Neill (5-1-3-3), Wade Boggs (5-2-2-1), and Tino
Martinez (5-2-2-1).  The Tribe was
led by Omar Vizquel (6-1-2-2), Albert Belle (5-1-3-1) and Eddie Murray
(5-1-2-2).  Despite giving up 15
hits to the Yankees, the Tribe pitching staff managed to fan ten Bronx
Bombers for the game.  The
smooth-fielding Albert Belle committed his sixth error in the Indian
outfield, with the season not yet half over.

1996

June 23

Detroit

Tiger Stadium

Tigers

Twins

10-8

Tom Urbani

Brad Radke

Dave Hollins

Bobby Higginson

Paul Molitor

Chuck Knoblauch

Marty Cordova

Cecil Fielder

Gregg Olson

Highlights:  In a game
of big innings, the Tigers scored 4 in the fourth and 6 in the seventh to
account for all of their runs, while the Twins scored 5 in the sixth and 3 in
the eighth to account for their 8 runs.  The Twins outhit the Tigers 14 to 9,
but came out on the losing end of the score.  Molitor went 3-1-2-1, Cordova 4-1-2-3
and Hollins 5-1-2-3 for the Twins, while Fryman went 4-2-2-3 and Higginson
3-2-2-2 for the victorious Tigers.
The starting pitcher for the Tigers was Greg Gohr, who gave up 5
earned runs and 10 hits in five innings on the mound.

1997

June 28

Atlanta

Turner Field

Braves

Phillies

9-1

John Smoltz

Curt Schilling

Michael Tucker (2)

Chipper Jones

Javy Lopez

Fred McGriff

Scott Rolen

Darrin Daulton

Ricky Bottalico

Highlights:  Our first
HSL group visit to Atlanta
and Turner Field was highlighted by a 9-1 trouncing of the visiting Phillies and
their ace, Curt Schilling, as well as by the abundant good eats and chilled
libations made available to us in the First Data Resources luxury box.  With climate control, multiple
television sets, a bathroom on premises, and free and plentiful drinks and
food, if one had suggested to Shamu that this wasn’t really a baseball
park but heaven on earth, one would not have received an argument from
Brother Shamu.

1997

June 29

Atlanta

Turner Field

Braves

Phillies

6-5

Mike Bielecki

Billy Brewer

Mark Wohlers

Keith Lockhart

Fred McGriff

Rico Brogna

Gregg Jeffries

Jeff Blauser

Ryan Klesko

Highlights:  Although
the starting pitchers for this Sunday afternoon duel were no-namers Scott
Ruffcorn and Chris Brock, the Hot Stove League contingency was still treated
to an exciting contest, as the Braves battled back from a 5-0 deficit at the
hands of the Phillies to win by a score of 6-5, principally on the strength
of a grand slam by the power-hitting Keith Lockhart in the bottom of the 6th
inning.  Also noteworthy is the
fact that Crime Dog hit his first (and probably only) triple of the year in
this game, and gold glove third baseman Scott Rolen had an error for the
second consecutive game.  The Vesuvian
Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect ninth, recording two strikeouts, for the
save.  The merry men of the Hot
Stove League were saddened by having to leave their luxury corporate box, but
all encouraged Itchie to try to remain gainfully employed with First Data so
that future Hot Stove League outings could enjoy this same level of
comfort.  Not to be forgotten on
this trip were the interesting discussions with and observations of the
participants in the Atlanta Gay Pride parade, which unbeknownst to us had selected
our hotel as its home base.

1998

July 7

Denver

Coors Field

Nat’l League

Am. League

8-13

Bartolo Colon

Ugueth Urbina

Barry Bonds

Alex Rodriguez

Robby Alomar,Jr.

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Manny Ramirez

Rafael Palmeiro

Alex Rodriguez

Cal Ripken

Roger Clemens

Greg Maddux

Barry Bonds

Mark McGwire

Tony Gwynn

Ivan Rodriguez

Mike Piazza

Gary Sheffield

Juan Gonzalez

Jim Thome

John Wetteland

Highlights:  Although represented
by a small contingency of the group at large, the three Hot Stove League
members who attended the 1998 All Star game (B.T., Stretch and Skipper),
watched enthusiastically as the American League put a pounding on the Senior
Circuit to the tune of 13-8.  The
game began with David Wells on the mound for the American League and Greg
Maddux on the hill for the Nationals.
Wells shut down the Nationals for two innings without giving up a hit,
yielding only a walk to Barry Bonds who was subsequently erased in a double
play.  Maddux gave up three hits
and a walk in his two innings on the mound, but managed to escape
unscathed.  The scoring began in
the bottom of the 3rd as Clemens replaced Wells, walked Larry Walker, gave up
a single to Al Weiss, saw Glavine sacrifice the two of them over to second
and third, hit Biggio to load the bases, and then gave up a single to Tony
Gwynn to score two runs.  Clemens
then knuckled down and struck out McGwire and got Bonds to fly out to
left.

The American Leaguers answered in
the 4th with 4 runs off new pitcher Tom Glavine, on the strength of singles
by A-Rod and I-Rod, a double by Ripken, a single by Easley, walks to Alomar
and Griffey, and then a sacrifice fly by Juan Gonzalez off new pitcher Kevin
Brown.  Bonds reclaimed the lead
for the Nationals in the bottom of the 5th with a 3-run homer off Bartolo
Colon, but the American Leaguers stormed back with 3 runs in the top of the
sixth, one run in each of the 7th and 8th innings, and then three runs in the
9th off reliever Rob Nen.  A
fantastic game for the mid-season showpiece of the majors.

1999

May 15

St. Louis

Busch Stadium II

Cardinals

Dodgers

8-6

Kent Bottenfield

Chan Ho Park

Joe McEwing

Mark McGwire

Raul Mondesi

Gary Sheffield

Todd Hundley

Ray Lankford

Highlights:  In
addition to watching a fellow fan wolf down a turkey leg and McDonald’s
–– hot coffee in 90 degree heat, the Hot Stove Leaguers first group
outing to Busch II produced a number of highlights, including a spirited
Cardinal comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Redbirds pushed
across four runs to take a 5-4 lead over the visiting Dodgers.  Star Skipjack Joe McEwing blasted out
a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to ice the game for the
Cardinals, stealing some of the thunder from his more powerful teammate, Big
Mac.

1999

May 16

St. Louis

Busch Stadium II

Cardinals

Dodgers

5-4

Ricky Bottalico

Jeff Shaw

Edgar Renteria

Ray Lankford (2)

Mark McGwire

Ismael Valdez

Eric Young

Paul LoDuca

Highlights:  The Hot
Stove Leaguers were treated to another exciting contest between the Cardinals
and the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon, as Ismael Valdez and Juan Acevedo
squared off in a battle of pitching titans.  The Dodgers jumped out to an early
lead of 4-1 after two innings, knocking Acevedo out of the box after only two
innings of mound work.  Valdez pitched 5-1/3
innings of six-hit, three-earned-run ball, and left the game with a 4-3 lead
as he’d turned matters over to the Dodger bullpen.  The tally stayed the same until the
bottom of the ninth, when Ray Lankford hit a two-run walk-off homer with one
out to give the hometown Redbirds the 5-4  win.  The Nebraska Hot Stove Leaguers left
St. Louis with the satisfaction of having seen two terrific comeback wins by
the Cardinals over the Dodger Blues, but unfortunately, sans U-Bob’s wallet and trip-spending money.

2000

June 3

Houston

Enron Field

Astros

White Sox

6-1

Chris Holt

Kip Wells

Carlos Lee

Richard Hidalgo

Jeff Bagwell

Frank Thomas

Magglio Ordonez

Craig Biggio

Ken Caminiti

Highlights:  The Hot Stove
Leaguers were treated to an interleague match-up between the Houston Astros
and the Chicago White Sox in the brand-spanking new Enron Field in downtown Houston, matching
starting pitchers Kip Wells and Chris Holt.  After a scoreless pitchers’ duel
for 4-1/2 innings, the hometown Astros pushed across two runs in the bottom
of the fifth to take the lead, and a two-run dinger in the bottom of the
sixth by Richard Hidalgo gave the Astros some additional insurance.  The lone run for the White Sox came in
the top of the seventh inning with Carlos Lee hit a solo shot off Astros
pitcher Holt, who went eight innings and gave up only a single run to take
the victory against the White Sox.
One-Way Tony made a guest appearance on the HSL trip and led the Hot
Stove Leaguers to multiple refreshment stands at the ballpark and on a
cultural tour of the Houston Ballet on Saturday night.

2000

June 4

Houston

Enron Field

Astros

White Sox

3-7

Mike Sirotka

Octavio Dotel

Ray Durham

Chris Singleton

Richard Hidalgo

Daryl Ward

Jeff Bagwell

Ray Durham

Paul Konerko

Lance Berkman

Jose Valentin

Highlights:  The
visiting Pale Hose jumped on then-Astros starter Octavio Dotel for an early lead,
with the first batter of the game, Ray Durham, going Yard on Hidalgo.  In the second inning, it was more of
the same as Singleton went Yard off Hidalgo
to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead.
After the Astros scored a single tally in the bottom of the second,
the White Sox exploded for three runs in the top of the third, including a
double by Konerko, and held on to the lead the rest of the way, prevailing by
a final score of 7-3.

2001

June 2

Milwaukee

Miller
Park

Brewers

Cubs

4-10

Kevin Tapani

Paul Rigdon

Matt Stairs

Sammy Sosa

Devon White

Sammy Sosa

Mark Loretta

Geoff Jenkins

Richie Sexson

Highlights:  The
visiting Cubs, who probably outnumbered the hometown Brewers in terms of fan attendance,
used three-run homers by Matt Stairs and two-run shots by Sammy Sosa and
Devon White to break out to an 8-1 lead after four innings.  While the Brew Crew outhit the Cubs
sixteen to nine, they came out on the short end of the scoreboard by the tune
of 10-4.  The Hot Stove League
contingency enjoyed their first game ever at Miller
Park, and the perpetually
over-served Itchie led the crew on a comprehensive tour of Milwaukee’s finest drinking
establishments on Saturday night.
A good time was had by all.

2001

June 3

Milwaukee

Miller
Park

Brewers

Cubs

4-2

Ben Sheets

Julian Tavarez

Curt Leskanic

Matt Stairs

Sammy Sosa

Todd Hundley

Jeromy Burnitz

Eric Young

Highlights:  The hometown
Brewers jumped out to a 3-to-nil lead in the bottom of the third on the
strength of a two-run double by Jeromy Burnitz, who went three-for-four on
the day.  Matt Stairs hit a solo
shot for the Cubs in the top of the sixth, and the Cubs pushed across one
other run in the top of the ninth to make it interesting.  Ben Sheets pitched 5-1/3 innings of
five-hit, one-earned-run ball, while Curt Leskanic pitched the ninth to
record the save for the Brewers.

2002

August 3

Pittsburgh

PNC Park

Pirates

Giants

6-11

Jason Schmidt

Kip Wells

Barry Bonds

Jeff Kent

J.T. Snow

Brian Giles

Barry Bonds

Kenny Lofton

Rich Aurilia

Jeff Kent

Jason Kendall

Highlights:  As the
HSL crew lapped up the atmosphere of beautiful new PNC
Park, Barry Bonds and Company took it to the Pirates, scoring early and
often.  The Giants posted a
two-spot in the top of the first and never looked back.  Barry Bonds hit a three-run shot in
the top of the third, and Jeff Kent and J.T. Snow later added solo shots for
the Giants.  Brian Giles hit a
three-run tater in the bottom of the eighth as the Pirates scored five runs
in that inning to close to within 9-6, but could do no further damage.  Jason Schmidt pitched 7-1/3 innings of
seven-hit ball, but had the plug pulled on him after Giles took him deep in
the eighth.

2002

August 4

Pittsburgh

PNC Park

Pirates

Giants

5-10

Kirk Rueter

Kris Benson

David Bell (2)

J.T. Snow

Reggie Sanders

Rich Aurelia

Barry Bonds

Craig Wilson (2)

Barry Bonds

Reggie Sanders

Shawon Dunston

Brian Giles

Aramis Ramirez

Highlights:  For the
second day in a row, the visiting Giants punched out the hometown Pirates,
blasting out six home runs and a total of sixteen hits.  J.T. Snow went two-for-four with five
runs batted in to pace the Giants, while Bonds went three-for-four and scored
three times, also reaching base on a walk.  Craig Wilson jacked two longballs for
the Pirates and drove in four, but had little help from his teammates.  Kirk Rueter pitched 5-1/3 innings of
five-hit ball, yielding four earned runs.  Kris Benson also went 5-1/3, but gave
up seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks.

2003

Aug. 16

Cincinnati

Great Am. Ballpark

Reds

Astros

2-5

Wade Miller

Seth Etherton

Billy Wagner

Jeff Kent

Lance Berkman

Jeff Bagwell

Craig Biggio

Jeff Kent

Lance Berkman

Sean Casey

Highlights:  As the
Hot Stove Leaguers got their first taste of the Great American Ballpark one day
after their historic tour of the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat factory, not
to mention the wrecking-ball remains of Churchill Downs.  In B.T.’s words, we saw Louisville like the
Romans.  Back at the ballpark, the
visiting Astros took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Jeff Kent’s
solo shot, added a second run in the top of the third, and then put the game
away in the fifth with Lance Berkman’s three-run Yardball.  The impotent Reds could only manage
five hits and two runs, with the hitting star being the late, great Darnell
Stenson, who went three-for-four with two doubles.  A moment of silence for Darnell,
please.  Wade Miller pitched six
terrific innings of one-hit, one-run ball, walking four and striking out
four.

2003

Aug. 17

Cincinnati

Great Am. Ballpark

Reds

Astros

4-3

Paul Wilson

Tim Redding

Chris Reitsma

Jeff Bagwell

Darnell Stenson

Jeff Bagwell

Richard Hidalgo

Sean Casey

Highlights:  Jeff Bagwell
jacked a solo shot in the top of the first to give the Astros an early 1-0
lead, but the always-tough Reds came back with a solo shot in the bottom of
the second by the late, great Darnell Stenson to tie the contest.  After the ’Stros notched a second
run in the top of the fourth, lightly-regarded Juan Castro hit a three-run
dinger in the bottom of the fourth to give the Reds a lead which they would
never relinquish.  Paul Wilson
pitched six innings of five-hit, three-earned-run ball for the Reds, while
Tim Redding gave up all four Reds runs in his six innings of work.

2004

Aug. 20

San Diego

PETCO
Park

Padres

Marlins

2-8

Josh Beckett

Adam Eaton

Juan Pierre

Jeff Conine

Khalil Green

Brian Giles

Mark Loretta

Khalil Greene

Josh Beckett

Highlights:  Padres hurler Brian Lawrence pitched a
5-hit, 1-run, complete game beauty to out-duel Florida counterpart Dontrelle
Willis, who was touched up for 6 earned runs in 7 innings.  2nd sacker Mark Loretta paced the
hitting for the Padres with a home run and 3 runs scored, while Brian Giles
knocked in the Padres’ final run in the 7th with a booming triple off
Dontrelle.

2004

Aug. 21

San Diego

PETCO
Park

Padres

Marlins

6-1

Brian Lawrence

Dontrelle Willis

Ramon Hernandez

Mark Loretta

Miguel Cabrera

Paul LoDuca

Dontrelle Willis

Brian Lawrence

Highlights:  Miguel Cabrera tied a career high with
4 hits in 5 at-bats, while banjo hitter Juan Pierre cracked his third home
run of the season off Padres pitcher Adam Eaton in the 6th to give the
Marlins the lead for good.  Josh
Beckett threw 6 solid innings of 6-hit, 2-run ball to notch is first win in three
months.  Khalil Green went yard
off Beckett in the 4th inning, showing power at the plate to compliment his
slick fielding at shortstop.

2005

Aug. 19

Philadelphia

Citizens
Bank Park

Phillies

Pirates

2-11

Kip Wells

Robinson Tejada

Kip Wells

Brad Eldred

Jason
Bay

Kenny Lofton

Chase Utley

Bobby Abreu

Highlights:  In this first of a three-game
intrastate matchup, the visiting Pirates picked on Phillies hurler Robinson Tejada
early, knocking him out of the game in the 4th inning after he yielded 8 hits
and 6 earned runs.  Visiting
pitcher Kip Wells blasted a 2-run homer off Tejada in the 2nd inning to help
out his own cause, while elongated Pirate rookie Brad Eldred followed with a
2-run homer off middle reliever Geoff Geary in the 6th inning.  Kip Wells threw a beauty to win his
seventh game of the season, a 7-inning, 3-hit, 1-run, 7-strikeout bravura
performance.

2005

Aug. 20

Philadelphia

Citizens
Bank Park

Phillies

Pirates

6-1

Brett Myers

Dave Williams

Brett Myers

Jimmy Rollins

Pat Burrell

Highlights:  Phillies starter Brett Myers was the
hero of the night as he pitched a complete game shutout, yielding only 6 hits,
three of which were infield singles, to allow the Phillies to even the score
with the Pirates.  Chase Utley was
the offensive star for the Phillies, blasting a 2-run triple off the wall in
right in the bottom of the 4th to give the Phillies the lead for good.  Utley was also walked three times and
scored twice, ending up with the unusual line score of 1 2 1 2 3.  Third sacker David Bell added a double
in the 6th to knock in two more runs.

2005

Aug. 21

Philadelphia

Citizens
Bank Park

Phillies

Pirates

4-3

Ryan Madson

Rick White

Billy Wagner

Brad Eldred

Pat Burrell

Ugueth Urbina

Billy Wagner

Highlights:  In this sweltering Sunday afternoon finale
of the three-game set between these National League rivals, the Phillies used
a tie-breaking double by Bobby Abreu in the bottom of the 7th off Pirate
reliever Rick White to forge a 4-3 lead, and then watched Uggie Urbina pitch
a scoreless 8th and Billy Wagner work around two Pirate hits in the 9th to
earn his 30th save.  Brad Eldred
hit his second home run of the series off Phillies starter Brito in the 2nd,
while Phillies strongman Pat Burrell jacked his 24th tater of the season in
the 4th inning off Pirate starter Mike Redman with one man aboard.

2006

June 16

St. Louis

Busch II

Cardinals

Rockies

8-1

Jason Marquis

Aaron Cook

Brad Hawpe

Scott Rolen, Jim
Edmonds, Todd Helton

Highlights:  After witnessing the disfigured Stan
Musial statue located outside the entrance to Busch II, the Hot Stove League
boys watched a pitcher’s duel between Jason Marquis and Aaron Cook
until the home town Cardinals broke loose for six runs in the bottom of the
8th inning, on their way to an 8-1 victory.  Marquis threw an 8-inning gem, giving
up only five hits and one earned run, while losing pitcher Aaron Cook pitched
7 strong innings and gave up only 2 earned runs before the Rockies’
bullpen collapsed.

2006

June 17

St. Louis

Busch II

Cardinals

Rockies

6-5

Jeff Suppan

Jeff Francis

Jason Isringhausen

Juan Encarnacion (2);
Matt Holladay; J.D. Closser

Jason Isringhausen

Highlights:  Before heading over to Mike
Shannon’s for many rounds of Jager Bombs, the Hot Stove Leaguers
watched the Rockies battle back from a 6-1
deficit in the 4th for three runs in the top of the 8th and one in the top of
the 9th to make it close.
Although superstar Albert Pujols was on the DL and not available to
play, his replacement in the clean-up spot, Juan Encarnacion, hit two home
runs to pace the hometown Cardinals.
Cardinal starter and winner Jeff Suppan pitched magnificently for
7-2/3 innings, giving up only 5 hits and 2 earned runs, en route to his 100th
career victory as a major leaguer.

2007

August 23

Detroit

Comerica

Tigers

Yankees

9-6

Chad
Durbin

Sean Henn

Magglio Ordonez; Carlos
Guillen; Alex Rodriguez

Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez,
Derek Jeter, Ivan Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera

Joba Chamberlain, Bobby
Abreu, Hideko Matsui, Johnny Damon

Highlights:  In a rain-delayed game which did not begin
until 11 p.m., the Hot Stove League contingent endured as the game went into
extra innings before being won in the bottom of the 11th inning in thrilling
fashion, with Carlos Guillen hitting a 3-run walk-off home run off of Yankee
reliever Sean Henn, as the speakers at Comerica Park blared Lionel
Richie’s hit song “All Night Long.”  While Roger Clemens was less than at
his best for the Yankees -- giving up 6 earned runs and walking 3 in five
innings of work, the Hot Stove Leaguers got a chance to see rookie icon Joba
Chamberlain (from Lincoln Northeast High School and the University of
Nebraska) shut down the Tigers in the 7th inning, giving up no hits and
striking out 1.  The boys were
also treated to Mariano Rivera shutting down the Tigers in the bottom of the
10th after giving up a leadoff double to red-hot Magglio Ordonez.

2007

August 24

Detroit

Comerica

Tigers

Yankees

2-7

Chien-Ming Wang

Jeromy Bonderman

Johnny Damon

Derek Jeter, Alex
Rodriguez

Placido Palanco, Sean Casey,
Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano

Highlights:  A tired Hot Stove League crew was
treated to a pitching gem by Yankee starter Chien-Ming Wang, who threw eight
innings of 5-hit ball, giving up only 1 earned run, while walking 2 and striking
out 6, en route to his 15th victory against 6 defeats.  On the offensive side, Matsui led the
charge with 3 hits in 5 at-bats, driving in 2 runs, while Johnny Damon
blasted a home run off of Bonderman in the 3rd inning and ended up with 2
RBIs.

[1] Hall of Famers seen in
bold; likely future Hall of Famers in italics.