The 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season was their second since the franchise was created. They finished last in the American League East with a record of 69 wins and 93 losses. Their manager was Larry Rothschild, who entered his second year with the club.
Offseason November 25, 1998: Dave Silvestri was signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. December 11, 1998: José Canseco signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. February 3, 1999: Joe Oliver was signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. February 19, 1999: Julio Franco was signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. March 31, 1999: Mike Kelly was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Regular season On August 7, 1999, Wade Boggs had the 3,000th hit of his career. The hit was a home run.
Opening Day starters 2 Randy Winn CF 14 Dave Martinez RF 33 Jose Canseco DH 29 Fred McGriff 1B 23 John Flaherty C 12 Wade Boggs 3B 44 Paul Sorrento LF 13 Miguel Cairo 2B 19 Kevin Stocker SS 40 Wilson Alvarez P
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions April 9, 1999: Dave Silvestri was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. May 27, 1999: Aaron Small was signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. July 23, 1999: Joe Oliver was traded by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with Humberto Cota to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jose Guillen and Jeff Sparks. June 23, 1999: Jim Morris was signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Draft picks June 2, 1999: Josh Hamilton was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1999 amateur draft. Player signed June 3, 1999. June 2, 1999: Carl Crawford was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2nd round of the 1999 amateur draft. Player signed June 14, 1999. June 2, 1999: Doug Waechter was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 3rd round of the 1999 amateur draft. Player signed June 27, 1999.
Citrus Series The season series each year between the Devil Rays and the Florida Marlins has come to be known as the Citrus Series. In 1999, the Marlins won the series 5 games to 1.
June 4 - Devil Rays vs Marlins: 0 – 10 June 5 - Devil Rays vs Marlins: 7 – 9 June 6 - Devil Rays vs Marlins: 6 – 11 July 9 - Devil Rays @ Marlins: 4 – 11 July 10 - Devil Rays @ Marlins: 9 – 8 July 11 - Devil Rays @ Marlins: 2 – 3
The Rookie While coaching baseball for the Reagan County Owls, Jim Morris made a promise to his team that he would try out for Major League Baseball if his team won the District Championship, something the team had never accomplished before. His team won the title, and Morris kept his end of the bargain. At tryouts, the Major League scout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays initially wasn't interested in Morris. But, the scout agreed to allow him to try out so Morris could keep his promise to his students. Surprisingly, Morris discovered that in spite of his age, and having several surgeries on his arm, he was able to throw a 98-mph fastball. In fact, he threw 12 consecutive 98-mph fastballs. After much debate with his family, Morris signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization at the age of 35. He started out with the Minor League Class AA Orlando Rays but after a few appearances he moved up to a spot with the AAA Durham Bulls. Thanks to solid performances with Durham, Tampa Bay gave him a chance to pitch with the big club when the rosters expanded, and on September 18, 1999, against Royce Clayton of the Texas Rangers, the 35-year-old Morris made his debut, striking Clayton out on four pitches. His goal of pitching in the majors was finally realized, and he made four more appearances later that year.
Roster 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches (Bullpen) (First Base) (Bench) (Third Base) (Hitting) (Pitching)
Player stats
= Indicates team leader
Batting Starters by position Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI SB C 117 446 124 .278 14 71 0 1B 144 529 164 .310 32 104 1 2B 120 465 137 .295 3 36 22 3B 90 292 88 .301 2 29 1 SS 79 254 76 .299 1 27 9 LF 82 283 82 .290 14 39 0 CF 79 303 81 .267 2 24 9 RF 143 514 146 .284 6 66 13 DH 113 430 120 .279 34 95 3
Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI SB 7 20 3 .150 0 0 0 28 81 16 .198 3 5 0 6 19 4 .211 0 0 0 51 179 55 .307 6 27 0 1 1 0 .000 0 0 0 39 130 41 .315 2 19 3 47 168 41 .244 2 13 0 55 12 28 .226 1 13 0 93 294 78 .265 0 30 1 66 185 48 .259 2 17 0 40 148 37 .250 1 18 6 66 209 53 .254 6 32 0 68 199 36 .181 3 19 4 99 294 69 .235 11 42 1
Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 32 180.1 7 15 5.84 123 28 160.0 9 9 4.22 128 24 142.1 8 9 4.55 97 24 140.2 7 12 5.18 107 Tony Saunders 9 42.0 3 3 6.43 30 Dan Wheeler 6 30.2 0 4 5.87 32
Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; Sv = Saves Player G IP W L ERA SO Sv 5 19.1 1 2 7.45 11 0 Dave Eiland 21 80.1 4 8 5.60 53 0 5 5.0 1 0 7.20 4 0 27 94.2 6 6 5.80 55 0 Julio Santana 22 55.1 1 4 7.32 34 0
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; Sv = Saves Player G IP W L ERA SO Sv 37 24.1 3 2 5.18 22 0 Wade Boggs 1 1.1 0 0 6.75 1 0 42 50.2 2 3 4.44 45 0 40 40.0 1 1 4.05 18 0 8 8.2 1 0 2.08 7 0 72 73.1 2 3 3.07 69 43 51 64.0 3 2 4.64 37 1 17 20.2 0 1 2.61 15 0 5 4.2 0 0 5.79 3 0 18 15.2 2 2 6.89 20 0 8 10.0 0 0 5.40 17 1 63 108.0 5 3 4.08 81 0 50 61.0 3 4 5.90 46 0
Game log
|- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |1 |April 5 |@ Orioles |10 – 7 |Mussina (1–0) |Alvarez (0–1) |Timlin (1) |46,733 |0-1 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |2 |April 7 |@ Orioles |8 – 5 |Saunders (1–0) |Guzman (0–1) |Hernandez (1) |42,284 |1-1 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |3 |April 8 |@ Orioles |6 – 3 |Witt (1–0) |Erickson (0–1) | |39,853 |2-1 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |4 |April 9 |Red Sox |4 – 1 |Portugal (1–0) |Arrojo (0–1) | |40,525 |2-2 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |5 |April 10 |Red Sox |5 – 3 |Martinez (2–0) |Santana (0–1) |Gordon (3) |28,522 |2-3 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |6 |April 11 |Red Sox |5 – 4 |Aldred (1–0) |Lowe (0–1) |Hernandez (2) |23,404 |3-3 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |7 |April 12 |@ Blue Jays |7 – 1 |Wells (2–0) |Saunders (1–1) | |37,160 |3-4 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |8 |April 13 |@ Blue Jays |8 – 5 |White (1–0) |Hamilton (0–2) |Hernandez (3) |23,710 |4-4 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |9 |April 14 |@ Blue Jays |7 – 6 (11) |Lloyd (1–0) |Lopez (0–1) | |23,847 |4-5 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |10 |April 15 |@ Blue Jays |11 – 1 |Carpenter (1–1) |Santana (0–2) | |23,765 |4-6 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |11 |April 16 |@ Red Sox |6 – 2 |Rekar (1–0) |Wakefield (1–1) | |18,809 |5-6 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |12 |April 17 |@ Red Sox |8 – 5 |Portugal (2–0) |Saunders (1–2) | |26,799 |5-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |13 |April 18 |@ Red Sox |5 – 1 |Witt (2–0) |Rapp (0–1) | |27,589 |6-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |14 |April 19 |@ Red Sox |4 – 1 |Arrojo (1–1) |Saberhagen (2–1) |Hernandez (4) |33,167 |7-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |15 |April 20 |Orioles |5 – 3 |Santana (1–2) |Erickson (0–3) |Hernandez (5) |17,660 |8-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |16 |April 21 |Orioles |14 – 8 |Rekar (2–0) |Mussina (2–1) | |22,119 |9-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |17 |April 22 |Orioles |1 – 0 |Saunders (2–2) |Ponson (0–2) |Hernandez (6) |17,334 |10-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |18 |April 23 |Mariners |5 – 4 |White (2–0) |Halama (0–2) |Hernandez (7) |20,322 |11-7 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |19 |April 24 |Mariners |9 – 4 |Henry (2–0) |Arrojo (1–2) | |26,065 |11-8 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |20 |April 25 |Mariners |6 – 4 |Paniagua (2–2) |Hernandez (0–1) |Mesa (5) |27,163 |11-9 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |21 |April 28 |@ White Sox |10 – 7 |Parque (3–1) |Rekar (2–1) |Howry (6) |? |11-10 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |22 |April 28 |@ White Sox |9 – 1 |Snyder (3–1) |Saunders (2–3) | |10,300 |11-11 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |23 |April 29 |@ White Sox |4 – 1 |Alvarez (1–1) |Sirotka (1–3 |Hernandez (8) |10,022 |12-11 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |24 |April 30 |Tigers |7 – 5 |Weaver (3–1) |Arrojo (1–3) |Jones (3) |19,177 |12-12
|- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |25 |May 1 |Tigers |4 – 3 |Witt (3–0) |Moehler (3–3) |Hernandez (9) |20,040 |13-12 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |26 |May 2 |Tigers |8 – 2 |Thompson (4–2) |Santana (1–3) | |20,644 |13-13 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |27 |May 3 |Tigers |14 – 6 |Yan (1–0) |Blair (0–4) | |15,430 |14-13 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |28 |May 4 |@ Royals |5 – 3 |Mathews (2–0) |Hernandez (0–2) | |15,470 |14-14 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |29 |May 5 |@ Royals |10 – 7 |White (3–0) |Witasick (0–2) |Hernandez (10) |16,111 |15-14 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |30 |May 6 |@ Royals |5 – 4 |Aldred (2–0) |Morman (1–1) |Hernandez (11) |15,321 |16-14 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |31 |May 7 |@ Indians |20 – 11 |Wagner (1–0) |Mecir (0–1) | |40,601 |16-15 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |32 |May 8 |@ Indians |7 – 6 |Rekar (3–1) |Nagy (3–3) |Hernandez (12) |40,590 |17-15 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |33 |May 9 |@ Indians |5 – 4 |Wright (4–0) |Alvarez (1–2) |Jackson (8) |42,835 |17-16 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |34 |May 11 |Twins |2 – 1 |Radke (4–2) |Rupe (0–1) |Aguilera (6) |17,227 |17-17 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |35 |May 12 |Twins |9 – 4 |Milton (1–3) |Arrojo (1–4) |Trombley (2) |18,068 |17-18 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |36 |May 14 |@ Angels |8 – 3 |Belcher (2–3) |Witt (3–1) | |35,515 |17-19 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |37 |May 15 |@ Angels |3 – 1 |Saunders (3–3) |Hill (1–3) |Hernandez (13) |36,939 |18-19 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |38 |May 16 |@ Angels |7 – 4 |Alvarez (2–2) |Sparks (1–4) | |35,064 |19-19 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |39 |May 17 |@ Rangers |13 – 3 |Rupe (1–1) |Burkett (0–3) | |29,946 |20-19 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |40 |May 18 |@ Rangers |5 – 4 |Arrojo (2–4) |Morgan (6–3) |Hernandez (14) |29,706 |21-19 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |41 |May 19 |@ Rangers |7 – 6 |Zimmerman (3–0) |Aldred (2–1) |Wetteland (12) |29,513 |21-20 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb" |42 |May 21 |Angels |10 – 9 |White (4–0) |Magnante (1–1) |Hernandez (15) |20,687 |22-20 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |43 |May 22 |Angels |8 – 6 |Petkovsek (4–1) |Newman (0–1) |Percival (11) |23,168 |22-21 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |44 |May 23 |Angels |4 – 0 (10) |Finley (3–4) |Hernandez (0–3) | |22,522 |22-22 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |45 |May 24 |Rangers |12 – 3 |Clark (3–3) |Arrojo (2–5) | |15,820 |22-23 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |46 |May 25 |Rangers |7 – 2 |Venafro (1–0) |Witt (3–2) | |16,058 |22-24 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |47 |May 26 |Rangers |8 – 6 |Helling (5–5) |Santana (1–4) |Wetteland (14) |17,575 |22-25 |- style="text-align:center; background: #fbb" |48 |May 28 |@ Mariners |6 – 1