European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 the stars and stripes wednesday december 29,1993 traditions by Ben Walker a baseball writer Joe Carter had just finished jumping around the bases and already the sky Doc workers were Busy pulling Down the Outfield Fence rolling up the turf and carting away the Mound. Baseball went through similar changes in 1993, tearing Down some of its traditions and reshaping the very look of the game. Atlanta and san Francisco staged one of the Best Pennant races Ever next year teams will not need to finish first to make the postseason. Instead the majors Are set to split into six divisions with an Al Central and no Central added and two wild card clubs will a look Back i join an expanded playoff format. But there a a catch a not every playoff game will be on television., Nolan Ryan George Brett Carlton Fisk and Dale Murphy finished Mike Piazza and Tim Salmon started. Can while Barry Bonds and Frank Thomas dominated. Cleveland stadium and Arlington stadium closed new ballparks for the indians and rangers prepared to open. Meanwhile the Colorado Rockies set an All time attendance record and the Florida marlins also did Well As baseball expanded for the first time since 1977. Some things however stayed the  Mitch discussion baseball failed to come up with a new commissioner. No amount of talk however could Cut the average time it took to play a game which decreased by just a minute to 2 48. As always there were moments to remember Carter connecting off Mitch Williams in the Bottom of the ninth inning a Only the second Home run to end a world series a and making the Toronto Blue jays the first repeat Champion in 15 years. Nolan Ryan standing tall on the Mound at age 46, head Locking Robin Ventura like a Texas steer and throwing punches instead of pitches. Mark Whiten putting on the greatest single game offensive show Ever hitting four Home runs and driving in 12 runs. Toronto beating Lenny Dykstra and Philadelphia 15-14 in the wildest world series game Ever. Anthony Young keeping his composure even while his losing Streak reached 27 games. Jose Canseco letting a Ball Bounce off his head for a Home run then not using his head by trying to pitch Chris Bosio Darryl Kile and Jim Abbott a in the stretch at Yankee stadium a pitching no hitlers. To Jackson hovering on his first swing after returning with an artificial hip. Ken Griffey or. Hitting Home runs in eight straight games. John Olerud taking a ,400 average into August. Colorado s Andres Galarraga becoming the first player from an expansion team to win a batting title the Detroit tigers breaking Loose for a pair of 20-run games in april. Dave Winfield who turned 43, getting his 3,000lh hit. Toronto manager Cilo Gaston getting booed in Baltimore As the Al wrapped up its record sixth straight Victory in the All Star game. Mets fans booing All year As their team wracked by problems on and off the Field lost 103 times. A Yankees fan Rushing on the Field As the apparent final out was being made giving his team another Chance to win. George Steinbrenner returning from his suspension and Marge Schott starting and ending hers. And there were moments that should be never happened Cleveland pitchers Steve Glia and Tim Crews killed in a boating Accident in Spring training indians Pitcher Cliff Young killed in an automobile Accident after the season dodgers flail of fumes Roy Campanula and Don Drysdale dying a week apart. Those tragedies came amid a season full of triumphs. For the first time in awhile there was a race in All four divisions. The braves and giants went Down to the final Day before the dodgers did in their traditional rivals enabling Atlanta to win it with 104 victories. But Topf Lunves failed to become the first no team since St. Toronto a Joe Carter produced one of �?T9j�?Ts most vivid scenes with his series ending Homer and joyous tour of the bases. Louis in 1942-44 to win three straight pennants when they lost to Philadelphia in the playoffs. The Spil and grit Phillies however could not overcome the neat and clean Blue jays. Toronto topped by Young Winner Jack Mcdowell and Chicago in six games in the playoffs then took tote phils in  games. Carter joined Bill Mazeroski As just the second player to end the world series with a Home run and etched his name alongside that of Bobby Thomson Kirk Gibson and Fisk As those who have hit baseball a greatest homers. Carter also made Toronto the first repeat Champion since the 1977-78 new York Yankees. Carters three run shot with one out in the Bottom of the ninth inning gave Toronto an 8-6 win and came after Rickey Henderson walked and series map Paul Molitor singled. Henderson and Molitor were among several prominent players to change teams in 1993, a list boosted by the san Diego padres fire Sale of Fred Mcgriff and Gary Sheffield. Bonds who won his third map award in four years and Greg Maddux a repeat by Young Winner were the biggest names in new places. The end of the season however did not end the movement. Soon after Williams threw the fateful final pitch the Phillies traded wild thing to Houston. In the meantime will Clark left the giants and signed with Texas Montreal traded Delino Deshields to los Angeles for Pedro Martinez and Cleveland signed free agents Eddie Murray and Dennis Martinez who earlier became the seventh Pitcher to win 100 games in both leagues