Champions
Major League Baseball
Click on any series score to link to that series'
page.
Higher seed has home field advantage during Division
Series and League Championship Series.
The American League Champion has home field advantage in the World
Series as a result of the pre-2003 "
alternating years" rule.
Other champions
Awards and honors
MLB Statistical Leaders
Major League Baseball final standings
- * The asterisk denotes the club that won the wild card for its respective
league.
- NOTE: Oakland did not have to make up one postponed game,
because even if they had lost and had finished in a tie with
Seattle, they would have been awarded the division title due to
winning the season series (9-4) between the teams.
Events
January-March
- January 6 - Major league officials
order Atlanta Braves reliever
John Rocker is to undergo psychological
testing following derogatory remarks he made in an interview with
Sports Illustrated
magazine. Commissioner Bud Selig says he
will listen to what the doctors say before deciding what
punishment—if any—will be handed down to the pitcher.
- January 31 - Braves reliever John
Rocker is suspended from baseball until May 1 by Commissioner Bud
Selig for his racial and ethnic remarks in an article published in
Sports Illustrated last month. He's also fined an
undisclosed amount and ordered to undergo sensitivity
training.
- March 1 - Independent arbitrator Shyam
Das cuts Braves pitcher John Rocker's suspension from 28 days to 14
days. Rocker, who is allowed to report to spring training with the
team, also has his fine cut.
April-May
- April 4 - Expos closer Ugueth Urbina strikes out the Dodgers in the
top of the ninth inning on nine pitches, tying a major league
record.
- April 7 - A total of 57 home runs are
hit in the 15 games played, for a new major league record. The
previous mark of 55 was set in 17 games on August 13, 1999. There were 36 homers hit in the AL,
smashing the previous mark for a single league.
- April 10 - Colorado beats Cincinnati
7-5, despite Ken Griffey, Jr.'s
400th career home run. At age of 30, Griffey is the youngest player
in major league history to reach that milestone.
- April 15 - The Baltimore Orioles defeat the Twins 6-4, as
Cal Ripken, Jr. gets the 3,000th hit
of his illustrious career. Ripken goes 3-for-5 in becoming the 24th
player to reach the milestone, and the 7th to get 3,000 hits and
400 home runs.
- April 21 - The Anaheim Angels down the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-6.
Mo Vaughn and Tim
Salmon hit back-to-back home runs for Anaheim in the fourth
inning, then repeat the feat in the ninth. Troy Glaus also homers in those same two innings,
marking the first time in major league history that three players
homer in the same inning twice in the same game. The three players
with two home runs in the game ties another major league
record.
- April 29 - The Giants finally win,
beating the Expos 2-1 for their 1st victory at Pacific Bell Park.
They are the 1st team to lose six straight game to begin play in a
newly constructed home park.
- April 30 - The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3, as Mark McGwire and Jim
Edmonds hit home runs. St. Louis finishes the month with 55
homers, a new record for April. It also ties the National League
mark for homers in any month. Major league batters also set a
record for most home runs in a month by hitting 931 in April; the
total is 140 more than the number hit in 1999.
- May 10 - Rickey Henderson becomes the 21st major
leaguer to garner 10,000 at bats in his career. Henderson finishes
the night with 10,002 at bats and trails only Cal Ripken, Jr. among
active players.
- May 18 - Mark McGwire hit three home runs
and seven RBI in a St. Louis 7-2 victory over the Phillies. The
homers move McGwire past Mickey Mantle
into 8th place on the all-time list with 539.
- May 23 - Baltimore defeats Seattle 4-2.
The Mariners' Rickey Henderson draws his 2,000th career walk in the
9th inning, making him the 3rd player to reach that level, behind
Babe Ruth and Ted
Williams.
June-July
- June 2 - The Montreal Expos announce they will wear
Maurice Richard's uniform number 9
on their jerseys for the rest of the season to honor the Montreal Canadiens great who died last
week. It is believed to be the first time a major league team has
honored an athlete from another sport in this way.
- June 26 - The Diamondbacks defeat the
Astros 6-1. Arizona rookie first baseman Alex Cabrera hits a two-run pinch-hit home run
in his first major league at bat.
- July 6 - St. Louis rookie catcher
Keith McDonald hits a home run in his
second at bat, becoming only the second player in major league
history to hit home runs in each of his first two big league at
bats. Bob Nieman, in 1951, is the other.
- July 8 - In a New York match, the Yankees
whip the Mets by identical 4-2 scores in both ends of an unusual
day-night doubleheader. With the first game played at Shea Stadium
and the nightcap at Yankee
Stadium
, it is the first time since 1903 that two teams played two games in
different stadiums on the same day. Dwight Gooden wins the first game with a six
inning effort in his first start since returning to the Yankees.
Roger Clemens wins the nightcap and
precipitate a near-brawl when he drills Mike
Piazza in the helmet with an inside fastball. Piazza suffers a
concussion.
- July 15 - A 1909 Honus Wagner baseball
card is auctioned for a record $1.1 million on eBay. Other high-priced items in the auction include a
baseball autographed by the entire 1919 "Chicago Black Sox" team, including
Shoeless Joe Jackson as well as
the umpires who worked the final game of the 1919 World Series,
sells for $93,666, including a 15% buyer's premium. A ball signed
by the 1919 Reds goes for $11,208, while a baseball autographed by
Babe Ruth sells for $76,020. A contract
from Shoeless Joe Jackson's sale of his Chicago pool hall to
teammate Lefty Williams sells for
$36,098. The contract, dated October 6, 1921, is for just $1.
- July 20 - In a Houston 6-2 win over
Cincinnati, Reds pinch-hitter Mike Bell strikes out in his major
league debut, making history by becoming part of the first
third-generation family to play for the same major league team. His
grandfather Gus Bell and father Buddy Bell also played for the Reds.
August
- August 21 - Potomac's Esix Snead breaks Lenny
Dykstra's Carolina League record
of 105 stolen bases by swiping his 106th. Snead has a batting
average of .242 and a .338 on base percentage. It's the 10th time
in the last 20 years that a minor-leaguer has stolen 100 or more
bases in a season. According to Howe Sports data, the
eight players who stole 100 or more bases in the minors were:
- Vince Coleman (Macon,
South Atlantic, 1983—145)
- Donell Nixon (Bakersfield,
California, 1983—144)
- Jeff Stone
(Spartanburg, South Atlantic, 1983—123)
- Alan Wiggins (Lodi, California,
1980—120)
- Marcus Lawton (Columbia, South
Atlantic, 1985—111)
- Esix Snead (Potomac, Carolina, 2000—106)
- Lenny Dykstra (Lynchburg, Carolina, 1983—105)
- Donell Nixon (Chattanooga, Southern, 1984—102)
- Vince Coleman (Louisville, American Association, 1983—
101)
- Albert Hall (Durham,
Carolina, 1980—100)
- August 22 - The Dodgers defeat the
Expos 14-6, as Eric Karros becomes the
first Dodger player to hit two home runs in a single inning
(6th).
September
- September 4 - At
Fenway
Park
, Carl Everett of the
Boston Red Sox becomes only the sixth
major-league switch-hitter to drive in 100 runs in both leagues
when he knocks in his 100th RBI of the year. Boston wins
over the Seattle Mariners, 5-1.
Everett drove in 108 runs for the Houston
Astros in 1999. The other five 100-100 switch-hitters were
Ted Simmons, Ken Singleton, Eddie
Murray, Bobby Bonilla and J.T. Snow. Before the
game, the Red Sox honor Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk. Fisk, who played his first nine
seasons with Boston, joins Bobby Doerr
(1), Joe Cronin (4), Carl Yastrzemski (8) and Ted Williams (9) in having his number (27) be
retired at Fenway.
- September 6 - After reaching an
agreement with Morgan,
Lewis & Bockius LLP, Major League Baseball can now use the
URL http://www.mlb.com. The law firm registered
the domain name in 1994 and refused to release it, making it
necessary for the sport to use
http://www.majorleaguebaseball.com.
- September 10 - Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks becomes the 12th
pitcher to reach the 3,000-strikeout plateau, fanning a season-high
14 in seven innings as the Diamondbacks lose to the Florida Marlins 4–3 in 12 innings. Johnson's
3,000 strikeout victim is Mike Lowell,
who fans to end the 4th inning. In the first inning, Johnson also
records his 300th strikeout for the third consecutive season and
the fourth time overall. Nolan Ryan is
the only other pitcher to accomplish the feat, and is the only
pitcher who has reached 300 strikeouts more times with six
(1972-74, 1976-77 and
1989).
- September 26 - Longtime broadcast
partner NBC declines to
renew its rights. NBC had televised baseball since 1947, with the exception of 1990-93, and had been the exclusive home of the
World Series for 27 years.
- September 27 - In an Oakland 9-7
victory over the Angels, Anaheim's Darin
Erstad hits a home run in the 2nd inning for his 99th RBI of
the year from the leadoff spot to set a new record. Nomar Garciaparra drove home 98 in
1997 for the previous mark.
- September 28 at
Camden
Yards
, the Orioles bat around in back-to-back innings and
set a single-game franchise scoring record in a 23-1 rout of the
Toronto Blue Jays.
October-December
- October 2- Shane Halter of the Detroit Tigers becomes the fourth player to
play all nine positions in a single game as the Tigers won the game
12-11 on the final day of the regular season.
- December 1 - Relief pitcher Turk Wendell, who wears uniform number 99,
agrees to a three-year deal worth $9,999,999.99 with the New York Mets. Wendell had asked that his pact
include an option year in which he would play for free, but that
plan was unworkable because MLB collective bargaining agreement
sets a $200,000 minimum salary.
- December 11 - The Texas Rangers sign free agent
shortstop Alex Rodriguez to a record
$252 million, 10-year contract. It was, at the time, the richest
contract in the history of professional sports.
Movies
Deaths
January-March
- January 1 - Larry Bearnarth, 58, relief pitcher for the
Mets from 1963-66; later the Expos' pitching coach
- January 4 - John Milner, 50, first baseman and left fielder
for the Mets and Pirates who hit 20 home runs twice, had 10 career
grand slams
- January 11 - Bob
Lemon, 79, Hall of Fame pitcher who won 207 games including a
no-hitter for the Cleveland Indians, posting seven 20-win seasons;
won final game of 1948 World Series, and managed Yankees to 1978
championship
- January 16 - By
Saam, 85, broadcaster for the Philadelphia Athletics and
Phillies from 1938 to 1975
- January 19 - Lynn Myers, 85, shortstop who played
from 1938 to 1939 for the St. Louis Cardinals
- March 2 - Jack Robinson, 79, relief pitcher
for the 1949 Boston Red Sox
- March 7 - Jack
Sanford, 70, All-Star pitcher who was the 1957 NL Rookie of the
Year; was 24-7 for 1962 Giants
April-June
- April 6 - Don Johnson, 88, twice All-Star
second baseman who in 1945 hit .302 with 94 runs and 58 RBI as
leadoff hitter for the last Cubs team to win a pennant.
- April 14 - Bob Barthelson, 73, pitcher for the 1944 New
York Giants, and one of several players who only appeared in the
major leagues during World War II
- April 28 - Jack
Merson, 78, infielder who played from 1951 to 1953 for the
Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox
- May 18 - Doyle
Lade, 79, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs from 1946 to 1950
- June 2 - Ellis
Clary, 83, infielder for the Senators and Browns; later a scout
for 32 years
- June 5 - Don
Liddle, 75, pitcher for the New York Giants during Game 1 of
the 1954 World Series when teammate Willie
Mays made his famous over-the-shoulder catch
- June 21 - Bud
Stewart, 84, outfielder who was the AL runnerup in triples with
the 1948 Senators
- June 23 - Bob
Tillman, 63, catcher for the Red Sox and Braves who caught two
no-hitters and had three home runs in a 1969 game
July-September
- July 20 - Jim
Suchecki, 73, pitched from 1950 through 1952 for the Boston Red
Sox, St. Louis Browns and Pittsburgh Pirates
- August 22 - Bill Bradford, 78, pitcher for the 1956 Kansas
City Athletics
- September 3 - Clyde Sukeforth, 98, catcher for the Reds
and Dodgers who later scouted Jackie
Robinson, and also signed Don
Newcombe and Roberto
Clemente
- September 4 - Pinky May, 89, All-Star second baseman for the
Philadelphia Phillies from 1939-1943, who led his team in seven
offensive categories in 1940, including a .293 BA and a .371
OBP
- September 17 - Chico Salmon, 59, infielder for the Indians and
Orioles who had a crucial pinch hit in the 1970 World Series
- September 23 - Aurelio Rodríguez, 52, third baseman,
primarily for the Tigers, who won a Gold Glove and retired with the
sixth most games at his position
October-December
- October 22 - Hank Wyse. 82, All-Star pitcher who helped the
Cubs to clinch the 1945 National League title after going 22-10
with a 2.68 ERA and the last Cubs pitcher to appear in a Series
game
- October 28 - Andújar Cedeño, 31, shortstop for
the Astros and Padres who hit for the cycle in a 1992 game
- November 5 - Willard Marshall, 79, outfielder for the
New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White
Sox 1942-55, who in 1947 tied a NL record by hitting a three-home
run game, and in 1951 became the second OF in major league history
to play an error-less season
- November 25 - Hugh Alexander, 83, outfielder who
played seven games for 1937 Indians; became a scout for 61 years
after losing his left hand in an accident
- December 3 - Red Nonnenkamp, 80, utility outfielder/first
baseman from 1933-1940 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red
Sox
- December 10 - Willard Nixon, 72, Boston Red Sox pitcher,
best remembered for his mastery of the New York Yankees in the
1950s
- December 13 - Jake Jones, 80, first baseman for the Chicago
White Sox and Boston Red Sox in the 1940s, who won several medals
for his notable contributions as an aviator during World War
II
- December 19 - Lou Polli, 99, Italian relief pitcher for the 1932
Browns and 1944 Giants
- December 27 - Roy Partee, 83, backup catcher for the Boston Red
Sox and St. Louis Browns in the mid-1940s
See also
- American League, 6-3; Derek Jeter, MVP
, Venezuela
, Australia: United States (Gold), Cuba (Silver), Korea (Bronze)
. Fisk is chosen in his 2nd year on the
ballot, while Pérez is picked on his 9th try.
in Tokyo
, Japan
, by
defeating the New York Mets 5-3, in
the first big league game ever played outside of North
America. Jon Lieber gets the
victory and Mike Hampton takes the
loss. Mark Grace and Mike Piazza also homer.
in San Francisco. Shortstop Kevin Elster leads the Dodger attack with three
home runs.
in Detroit.
, the Milwaukee
Brewers defeat the Chicago Cubs
14-8 in the longest 9-inning game in National League history—4 hours and 22
minutes. For the Brewers, Mark
Loretta goes 5-for-5 to offset Glenallen Hill's second-inning home run,
which lands on the roof of a five-story apartment building on
Waveland Avenue, beyond the left field seats.
.
's 133rd
birthday, the Marlins' Ryan Dempster
and the Expos' Mike Johnson
hook up in a rare matchup of Canadian starters. Dempster
comes out on top as Florida defeats Montreal 6–5. Johnson hails from
Edmonton,
Alberta
, while Dempster is a native of Sechelt,
British Columbia
. Theirs is the first matchup of
Canadian-born starters since September 1999, when Dempster took on Éric Gagné of the Dodgers.
, and Gonzalez is just the 9th player to both hit
for the cycle and have a 30-or-more-game hitting
streak.
's County
Stadium
the Brewers dropped an 8-1 decision to the
Cincinnati Reds.
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