Baysox 20th Anniversary Celebration: 1998
Bowie is still searching for its first Eastern League championship, but has achieved many impressive accomplishments throughout the years that will be highlighted during the coming months. Be sure to check back each week until the season starts for a fresh taste of Bowie Baysox history.
In their second of three seasons under Manager Joe Ferguson, Bowie won its final six games to finish at .500 (71-71) and in fourth place in the division. Offense was the club's strength as they hit .269 as a team, which is the third highest average in Baysox history. The 1998 squad is also fourth in RBIs (628) and tied for fourth in home runs (126)
In May 1998, the Baysox hosted the Orioles Spring Classic at Prince George's Stadium. The game matched the Baltimore Orioles against the Orioles Minor League All-Stars.
Calvin Pickering had one of the most impressive seasons in Baysox history as he won the Chase Manhattan Eastern League MVP award, leading the league with 31 homers and 114 RBIs. He was named the Orioles Minor League Player of the Year and he made the Eastern League All-Star Team. The first baseman was the first Baysox player to ever be named Eastern League Player of the Month when he won the honor in August. During that season, he set four franchise records that still stand today: 114 RBIs, 276 total bases, 98 walks and a .434 on base percentage.
Gabe Molina recorded 24 saves, which was at the time a franchise record and now the third best mark in team history. At the end of the season, Molina was named the Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Year. D.C. Conner hit for the cycle for the first time in club history May 14 against Reading
Second baseman Jerry Hairston, Jr., who started the season at Frederick and third baseman Ryan Minor were among four Baysox players who were September call-ups to Baltimore at the end of the season.
Hairston has gone on to have a successful Major League career that includes a World Series ring won with the New York Yankees in 2009. He made the playoffs last season as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers and signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December.
Minor spent parts of four seasons at the Major League level with the Orioles and the Montreal Expos and is now back in Baltimore system as a coach. He has spent the last two seasons as a Manager of the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.
Want to see what was being written about the Baysox in 1998? Check out the PDFs below of newspaper articles from that year:
USA Today - Nothing Minor about Orioles' young talent
The Sentinel - Baysox fans enjoy dining with future stars
The Washington Times - Family fun
Baysox Baseball - We'll Knock Your 'Sox Off. The Baysox open their 20th season at Prince George's Stadium Thursday, April 5. Baysox Holiday Packs make great gifts and can be purchased at www.baysoxshop.com. To keep up with Baysox news during the offseason, follow the Baysox on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BowieBaysox.