Socially Pink Team owner/GM: Barry Hallman Hometown: Chico, CA Best Finish: Third (1999)

Master Batters Become the
Chico Wildcats and Pull Off Blockbuster Deal

6/7/99:
The Wildcats GM still wasn't content with his team. If the team is going to take a strong run at the title this year the GM felt it was necessary to mortgage the future in order to strengthen the present team. The Wildcats dealt away three budding stars in Bruce Chen, Preston Wilson and Russ Ortiz and a second round pick in order to get Billy Wagner, Mike Cameron and Eric Karros. In a salary dumping move by the O'men, the Wildcats took on the salary of S. Estes.

5/31/99:
Wildcats' management is about to sign their current GM to a new five year multi-million dollar deal they are so happy with the current year changes and deals that were completed so far, especially picking up Grissom and Schilling. The owner has also decided to change the name of the franchise to the Chico Wildcats in recognition of the Chico State NCAA division II baseball championship to rid themselves of the association the name Master Batters had with the last place team from the previous year.

1999 Chico Wildcats Reserve List

1. Bruce Chen, P, Atlanta
1. Rick Ankiel, P, St. Louis
2. Darren Bragg, OF, St. Louis
2. Ben Petrick, C, Colorado
2. Shawon Dunston, UT, St. Louis
3. Preston Wilson, OF, Florida
3. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Pitt.
4. Kevin Orie, 3B, Florida
5. Curtis Goodwin, OF, Chicago
5. Mike Grace, P, Phila.
6. Brad Penny, P, Arizona
7. Mike Thurman, P, Montreal
8. M. Giles, 2B, Atlanta
9. Jeremi Gonzalez, P, Chicago
10. Adam Kennedy, 2B, St. Louis
11. Pablo Osuna, SS, Florida
12. A. Armas, P, Montreal

Past News from the Chico Wildcats, 1998-1999