The 1998 Strat Pack draft was a fascinating showcase of strategy, star power, and tactical drafting as eight teams competed to build their ultimate rosters over 25 rounds. Featuring some of the biggest names of the era, each team crafted a unique combination of pitchers, power hitters, and defensive specialists, with an eye on depth and flexibility.
Here’s a breakdown of the teams and key players selected, as well as insights into their strategies:
Kelly Leaks All Stars (Steve Albeck)
The All Stars secured one of the most feared sluggers of the '90s, Mark McGwire, with the first overall pick, setting the tone for a power-heavy lineup. Pairing McGwire with Greg Maddux, a perennial Cy Young candidate, in the second round, the All Stars balanced power and pitching early. They continued this theme by adding defensive specialists like Craig Biggio and Omar Vizquel, along with sluggers Manny Ramirez and Andruw Jones. Notably, they reinforced their bullpen by selecting Mariano Rivera in Round 11, one of the game’s greatest closers, while filling key depth positions with veterans like Cal Ripken Jr. and Jim Leyritz in later rounds.
Smithtown Scorpions (Terry Clark)
The Scorpions went all-in on elite pitching, securing Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens in the first two rounds. Known for their strikeouts and dominance, these two aces provided a formidable 1-2 punch. Vladimir Guerrero and Greg Vaughn added firepower to the middle of their lineup, while Roberto Alomar and Edgar Renteria formed a solid middle infield. The Scorpions also found balance with a mix of youth and veterans like Rafael Palmeiro and Jorge Posada. They shored up their bench with versatile players such as Steve Finley and defensive stalwarts like Walt Weiss.
Massapequa Mafia (John Salkowsky/Joe Ewald)
The Mafia prioritized power early, picking Sammy Sosa and Frank Thomas in the first two rounds, followed by ace pitcher Pedro Martinez in the third. This gave them one of the most formidable power/pitching combinations. Mo Vaughn and Jay Bell provided even more offensive firepower, while Javy Lopez and Tom Glavine offered stability behind the plate and on the mound, respectively. The Mafia’s draft strategy leaned heavily on stars in their prime, ensuring a strong core lineup, and they rounded out their roster with veterans like Tony Fernandez and future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
Farmingdale Sledgehammers (Scott Hilbrandt)
With Jeff Bagwell and Kevin Brown anchoring the team, the Sledgehammers built a lineup centered on consistent offense and elite pitching. Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin offered a dynamic combination of power, speed, and defense, while Moises Alou and Albert Belle added even more punch to the outfield. Pitching depth was a priority, highlighted by Curt Schilling, Billy Wagner, and John Wetteland, giving the Sledgehammers one of the strongest staffs. They rounded out their lineup with defensive contributors like Rey Ordonez and balanced their bullpen with players such as Troy Percival and Rick Aguilera.
Disco Turkeys (Rich O'Connor)
The Turkeys' strategy revolved around a mix of strong bats and versatile players. The team’s top pick, Alex Rodriguez, gave them a franchise cornerstone at shortstop, and they backed him up with reliable veterans like Mark Grace and Scott Rolen. A solid core was formed with Mike Piazza behind the plate and Robb Nen closing games. The Turkeys favored players with multi-positional abilities, such as Chuck Knoblauch and Johnny Damon, while veterans like Fernando Tatis and Rusty Greer provided clutch hitting and defensive flexibility. Their bullpen was strong, featuring Denny Neagle and Bob Howry.
Yesterday's Knights (Jon Meyers/Rich Prestano)
The Knights built around the all-around talent of Larry Walker, grabbing one of the most complete players in baseball with their first pick. The early focus on offense continued with John Olerud and Derek Jeter, giving the Knights a well-rounded lineup that combined power, average, and defense. On the mound, they selected proven ace John Smoltz and complemented him with solid pitching depth in Mike Williams and Matt Morris. They furthered their defensive prowess with Gary Sheffield and Jason Kendall, while late-round pickups like Edgardo Alfonzo and Jason Giambi provided even more offensive upside.
M and H Lumber (Mark Rosenman/Howie Fine)
Ivan Rodriguez at catcher and Nomar Garciaparra at shortstop gave the Lumber one of the best defensive batteries in the draft. They went for balance early, with Al Leiter and Bernie Williams in the next rounds, and kept adding talent with Trevor Hoffman to close out games. Offensive consistency came from Vinny Castilla and Edgar Martinez, while Paul O'Neill and Kenny Lofton offered versatility in the outfield. The Lumber’s later rounds saw them bolster their bullpen with veterans like Steve Reed and Dan Plesac, and they added some flash with a late pick of Darryl Strawberry.
Suffolk Suns (Arnie Carter)
The Suns grabbed one of the game’s greatest all-around talents in Barry Bonds and followed up with another superstar in Chipper Jones. The dynamic duo led an offense that also included power hitters like Andres Galarraga and Carlos Delgado. The pitching was anchored by young phenom Kerry Wood and closer Ugueth Urbina, giving the Suns a nice balance of power arms and elite defense. Late-round picks like Sterling Hitchcock and David Justice added depth, while savvy veteran picks like Sandy Alomar and Otis Nixon added defensive prowess and speed.
Final Thoughts
The 1998 Strat Pack draft was full of excitement, featuring a blend of Hall of Fame-caliber players, power hitters, and elite pitchers. Each team crafted its roster with its own unique blend of stars and depth pieces, making for a highly competitive season to come. With so many strong teams, it will be fascinating to see which strategy—whether focused on power, pitching, or balance—pays off when the games begin.
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