the 1999 orleans team featured two future ccbl hall of famers in pitcher ben sheets and league mvp lance niekro, as well as future major leaguer mark teixeira, who was named the league's outstanding pro prospect. sheets, who was an all-star the previous season with wareham, posted a 1.10 era in 16.1 innings for orleans in 1999. niekro batted .360 and clobbered 13 home runs on the season.