MLB 1993

1. Paul Molitor: Was the World Series MVP for the Blue Jays. He was 12-24 in the six games with 10 runs scored and eight RBIs.

His two-run triple and solo HR sparked Toronto to a 10-3 Game 3 win and a 2-1 series lead

Molitor’s RBI double started the Blue Jays’ six run eighth inning rally in their epic 15-14 win in Game 4.

In Game 6 Molitor again started off the scoring in the 1^st with a triple, homered for the second time in the series in the 5^th, and singled in the bottom of the ninth, which set up Joe Carter’s Series winning walk-off, 3R-HR.

Against Chicago in the ALCS he was 9-23 (.391), with 7 runs and 5 RBIs. He had a 4-5, 3 RBI, 2 R Game 1 performance, as Toronto won 7-3.

In the regular season he was second in the MVP voting. He was an All-Star and Silver Slugger as a DH. He earned that status by leading the league with 211 hits, and finishing second in the AL in batting at .332, runs (121) and at bats (636).

At age 36 he had a career high 22 HRs, 111 RBIs (surpassed in 1996) along with 22 steals.

The Blue Jays had the best record in the AL with 95 wins and won the East by seven games over New York. They beat the White Sox in six games to win the pennant. Toronto won their 2^nd straight World Series 4-2 over the Phillies.

2. Barry Bonds: National League MVP for the third time in four years.

He was close to a triple crown. He led the NL with 46 home runs and 123 RBIs. He was 4^th in the league with .336 averages.

Barry topped the senior circuit in on base, and slugging percentage as well as walks and total bases (365). He was second in the league scoring 129 runs. Bonds swiped 29 bases.

He was the starting leftfielder for the NL in the All-Star game (2-3, 2 R), a Gold Glover and Silver Slugger.

The 1993 Giants won 103 games and finished a game behind Atlanta in the NL West. That was 31 more than 1992 when Bonds was not in San Francisco. The Giants finished six games ahead of East champion Philadelphia.

3. Frank Thomas: He won the American League MVP. He was ML Player of the Year, named by the Sporting News. He was a All-Star and Silver Slugger as a first baseman.

He posted a .311 average (6^th), 41 HR (3^rd), 128 RBI (2^nd), and 106 runs.

He finished in the top five in the AL in on-base and slugging %, OPS, total bases and walks.

In Game 4 of the ALCS Thomas helped Chicago tie the series at 2-2 with his game-tying home run in the sixth. The White Sox won 7-4. He was 6-17 in the series (.353) and walked 10 times (.593 OBP).

The White Sox won 94 games (eight more than 1992) and the AL West by eight games over Texas. They went to their first playoffs in a decade and lost in six games to Toronto.

NBA 1993

1. Michael Jordan: Won his third consecutive Finals MVP. Was All-NBA first team and all league defensive. He was a All-Star starter for the East (30 pt., 5 ast and 4 steals)

He lead the NBA with 32.6 points and 2.8 steals per game. He also contributed 6.7 reb. and 5.5 ast. per contest.

He also lead the league in field goals made and attempted.

During the regular season MJ put up 17 dbl-dbls, and four triple doubles. He had a 57 point 10 assist performance vs Washington and 64 point outburst against Orlando.

In a round 1 sweep of Atlanta Jordan averaged 34 and 6. In round 2 he scored 31.3 per game in a 4-0 sweep of Cleveland.

In the East Finals New York built a 2-0 lead, until Jordan’s 54 point Game 4 that tied the series at 2. He hit 18-30 shots including 6-9 from beyond the arc. In Game 5 Chicago took control over the series beyond Jordan triple double of 29 pt, 14 ast and 10 boards. They would win the series in six.

In the Finals against Phoenix, he led Chicago to a Game 2 win with 42-12-9. He had 44 in the 3 OT loss in Game 3.

In Game 4 he buried the Suns with a 55 point (21-37) masterpiece.

For the series he averaged 41 points per game (four straight 40+), 8.5 reb, and 6.3 ast.

The Bulls won their third title in a row in six games. They won 57 games and the Central Division, as they had the NBA’s #2 scoring defense.

He continued to be a global marketing machine.

2. Charles Barkley: Was the 1993 MVP and 1^st team All-NBA. He was an All-Star starter for the West. He finished 5^th in the league in scoring (25.6 per game)

He posted 12.2 rebounds 5.1 assists while shooting 51%. He had 55 double doubles and six triple doubles in his 76 games played.

In the Playoffs Barkley put up 26.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game in his 24 games.

He helped the top seed Phoenix to a comeback over the Lakers in their best of five series after digging a 2-0 hole. In the Game Five clincher Barkley had 31-14-5.

He had a 28 point 21 rebound and four steal Game 6 to clinch the next round over San Antonio.

In the West Finals the forward carried the Suns to the Finals. In Game 5 had a monster triple double with 43 points (16-22 fgs 11-11 fts) 15 rebs and 10 ast.

In game 7 he had 44 points and 24 rebounds in a 123-110 victory over Seattle.

In the NBA finals he had 42-13 in a game 2 loss and 24-19 in Phoenix’s triple overtime win.

In 1992-93 Phoenix finished with the NBA’s best record at 62-20. They also topped the league with 113.8 points per contest. They advanced to the franchise’s second finals losing in six games to Chicago.

3. 3. Hakeem Olajuwon: Was the MVP runner-up. Was 1^st team All-NBA center and All-Star starter. Was named Defensive Player of the Year as he led the NBA in blocks (4.2 per game).

Hakeem was 4^th in scoring (26.1), and rebounding (13). He also had 1.8 steals. He was second in minutes.

He displayed amazing consistency with 72 dbl-dbls in 82 games.

He remained consistent in the 12 playoff games with 25.7 points, 14 rebounds and 4.9 blocks.

In round one vs. the Clippers The Dream nearly dropped a triple-double twice.

In Game 1 Olajuwon carried Houston had 28 points, 11 reb, 9 blocks to go along with six asts, and four steals.

To clinch the series in Game 5 with a 31-21 and 7 block performance.

In Round 2 against the Supersonics he helped the Rockets to the brink of victory. In Game 4 Houston tied the series at 2-2 behind Olajuwon’s 24 points, 12 rebounds, eight blocks and seven assists.

Houston lost the series in seven games.

Houston finished 55-27, won the Midwest Division with the second best record in Western Conference.

1993 College Basketball

1. Calbert Cheaney: Was the consensus National Player of the Year. Among the awards he won was Player of Year named by the AP and Sports Illastrated. He won the Wooden and Nasmith awards.

We was the Big Ten’s MVP, and became the league’s all time leading scorer with 2613 points (a mark that still stands).

On the season he put up 22.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He shot 55 % from the field and 42.7 from beyond the arc.

In the Preseason NIT Cheaney powered Indiana to a title with his MVP performance. He put in 70 points in the final to games; wins over top ten foes Florida St. and Seton Hall.

The Hoosiers went 28-3, including 17-1 in the Big Ten and were conference champions. (There was no Big 10 tournament until 1999). They finished the regular season as ranked #1 in the final polls.

In the NCAA tournament, he average 26.5 points in his four games. In the sweet 16 against #4 seed Louisville he connected on 10-12 shots from the field and the line and finished with 32 points and four assists. In a loss to Kansas in the regional final Cheaney scored 23.

2. Jamal Mashburn: Was a consensus All-American. Was named SEC Player of the Year after posting 21 points, eight rebounds, 3.6 assist and 1.5 steals per game.

He helped Kentucky to the SEC tournament title and was named All-tournament.

The Wildcats went 26-3 in the regular season and 13-3 in the SEC. They were #2 in the final polls.

In the round of 16 Mashburn keyed a route of Wake Forest with a 5-5 three-point shooting and 23 point performance. Kentucky easily beat Florida St. to go to the final four and Mashburn contributed 12-9 -7.

In the Final Four, Mashburn played 41 minutes before fouling out in overtime. He scored 26 points in a loss to #1 seed Michigan.

3. George Lynch: Heart and soul of North Carolina’s national championship team. He was first team All-ACC and honorable mention All-American (UPI).

Lynch averaged 14.7 points 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, while hitting half of his shots.

In the elite eight he carried the Tar Heels to a comeback victory in overtime over Cincinnati with 22-14 and six steals. He earned East Region MVP for his effort.

Lynch was named All-Final Four. Over last four wins en route to the national title he averaged 17.5 points and 11 rebounds, and had a double-double in all four games (Wins over Arkansas, Cincy, Kansas and Michigan).

He was named Team MVP of the 34-4 Tar Heels. UNC went 14-2 in the ACC and were regular season champs. They were #4 in the final polls.