Derek Jeter & Co. became the first team in a quarter-century to win three straight World Series crowns, yet their 26th title was not baseball’s biggest number in 2000. The most staggering figure had nothing to do with the long balls launched by Slammin’ Sammy, Big Mac and Junior in the Home Run Central. Or the wild pitches by Rick Ankiel that hit the backstop. Instead, it was all about the money now belonging to Jeter’s buddy, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod became A-Lot, getting more than a quarter-billion dollars to sign with the Texas Rangers. A dizzying, $252 million deal for 10 years. “Texas just made it real easy for me,” the superstar shortstop said. It was more than Rangers owner Tom Hicks paid to buy the whole team three years ago from a group that included George W. Bush. Naturally, plenty of his former players had planned to vote for the president-elect. “I just think it would be cool to know the dude in the White House,” pitcher Darren Oliver said. Just like the presidential race, Baseball 2000 was spiced with controversy and a late finish. Remember John Rocker? And what, exactly, was Roger Clemens doing when he threw that jagged bat barrel near Mike Piazza in the World Series, having already beaned the Mets’ star three months earlier? The playoff chase, meanwhile, was settled on the final day of the regular season. With many potential scheduling snags looming, Oakland and Seattle won their way in and Cleveland was left out. “I was better off reciting the Declaration of Independence backwards than figuring out all the possible scenarios,” Oakland’s Randy Velarde said. Atlanta won its ninth straight division title. But Boston and Arizona, despite Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson winning their second straight Cy Young Awards and continuing to dominate in the hitters’ era, did not make it back. Soon thereafter, big shifts came in the dugout. Davey Johnson, Buck Showalter and Jack McKeon were among the half-dozen managers who lost their jobs, with former broadcasters Bob Brenly and Buck Martinez among those taking over. There was a new look when it came to ballparks, too. Pacific Bell Park, with Barry Bonds hitting balls into the Bay, presented a panoramic picture in San Francisco. Enron Field emerged as a launching pad — of the record 5,693 homers in the majors this season, there were 266 at Houston’s new home, up from the 118 at the Astrodome the previous year. Comerica Park in Detroit was a delight for pitchers with its deep dimensions. Next season, PNC Park replaces Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and Miller Park takes over for County Stadium in Milwaukee. The season also featured the return of several stars. Andres Galarraga, Moises Alou, Kerry Wood and Jason Kendall came back from severe setbacks. John Smoltz, sidelined all year and sorely missed by Atlanta, plans to pitch next season. Fans everywhere hope Mark McGwire can return from the tendinitis that took all the juice out of his home-run race with Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa. Chances are, however, that there is no more baseball left for Darryl Strawberry. Certainly Frank Robinson was busy in his new role as baseball’s enforcer. He handed out 16 suspensions after Detroit and the White Sox brawled, then suspended 19 members of the Los Angeles Dodgers — believed to be the biggest penalty ever for one fight — after they went into the stands at Wrigley Field. Off the field, baseball had other problems. Finding a way to speed up games and call higher strikes was minor compared with the major issue: financial disparity. With salaries soaring for the likes of Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Mike Hampton and Mike Mussina, worries continued to build about competitive balance. As in, are the Montreals and Minnesotas of the league being priced out by the Yankees and Braves, and is the sport headed toward yet another work stoppage after the 2001 season? On the field, there was this concern: Can anyone stop the Yankees? After becoming the first team since the 1972-74 Oakland Athletics to win three World Series in a row, Jeter and his teammates — Mussina now included — will take aim at the Yankees’ dynasty that won five straight from 1949-53. Jeter became the first player to win the MVPs of the All-Star game and World Series in the same year. At 26, he earned his fourth championship ring in just five major league seasons. The first Subway Series since 1956 drew the lowest TV ratings ever. Not that Yankees fans minded that much of the country tuned out. And Mets fans, who had seen their team open the season at the Tokyo Dome and play a rare, two-stadium doubleheader in Queens and the Bronx in July, could only cringe as the Yankees celebrated the final out of Game 5 at Shea Stadium. For only the second time and first since 1915 — when Babe Ruth was a Red Sox rookie and Boston beat the Philadelphia Phillies — no World Series game was decided by more than two runs. “Every year is a different story. We struggled this year,” Jeter said. “This one was a little more satisfying.” Also worth noting: – Hall of Fame voting will be announced Jan. 16. Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield and Don Mattingly are among the first-time candidates. – A former Toronto farmhand won the Heisman Trophy. Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke hit .248 with 69 home runs from 1991-96 in the Blue Jays’ system. He once batted in a lineup with Carlos Delgado, finished off a triple play hit into by Nomar Garciaparra and played first base when Michael Jordan got his first pro hit. – Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Lemon died Jan. 11 at age 79. The seven-time 20-game winner with the Cleveland Indians managed the Yankees to the 1978 World Series title. – Velarde turned the 11th unassisted triple play since 1900, against his former team, the Yankees, on May 29. He caught a line drive, tagged a runner going to second and then doubled up another by stepping on the second-base bag. – Opening day 2001 will take place in Puerto Rico. Rodriguez is to make his Texas debut when the Rangers play Toronto on April 1 in San Juan.
