Champions
Major League Baseball
*Regular Season Champions
*World Series Champion –
Anaheim Angels
*Postseason – October 1 to October 27
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 during World Series as a result of the pre-2003 " alternating years" rule.
*Postseason MVPs
**
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
MVP –
Troy Glaus
**
ALCS MVP –
Adam Kennedy
**
NLCS
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff, best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Major League Baseball po ...
MVP –
Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago Rivera (born March 9, 1965) is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for 20 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2005, most prominently as a member of the ...
*
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that showcases the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or division, bu ...
, July 9 at
Miller Park
American Family Field is a retractable roof stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Located southwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin, Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard, it is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewe ...
– Tie game, 7–7 (11 inn.); no MVP selected
**
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an annual home run hitting competition in Major League Baseball (MLB) customarily held the day before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, MLB All-Star Game, which places the contest on a Monday in July. In the context ...
, July 8 –
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi (; born January 8, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, which began in 1995, Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yank ...
,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
Other champions
*
Caribbean World Series:
Tomateros de Culiacán (Mexico)
*
College World Series
The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is a baseball tournament held each June in Omaha, Nebraska. It is the culmination of the NCAA Division I baseball tournament—featuring 64 teams in the ...
:
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
*
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series (, or SNB) is a domestic baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the National Series is a part of the Cuban baseball league system.
For most ...
:
Holguín
Holguín (, ) is a municipality-city in Cuba. After Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Camagüey, it is the List of cities in Cuba, fourth largest city in Cuba.
History
Before Christopher Columbus, Columbus, the Taino people settled in huts made fro ...
over
Sancti Spíritus
Sancti Spíritus () is a municipality and capital city of the province of Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba and one of the oldest Cuban European settlements. Sancti Spíritus is the genitive case of Latin ''Sanctus Spiritus'' ("Holy Spirit").
...
(4–3)
*
European Cup (baseball)
The Baseball European Champions Cup (BECC), formerly called the Champions Cup and European Cup, is an annual baseball tournament, sanctioned and created by WBSC Europe. The tournament features the top teams of the professional baseball leagues ...
:
Neptunus (Netherlands) over
HCAW Bussum (Netherlands)
*
Japan Series
The Japan Series ( , officially the Japan Championship Series, ), also the Nippon Series, is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a best-of-seven series between the winning cl ...
:
Yomiuri Giants
The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They h ...
over
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway, ...
(4–0)
*
Korean Series:
Samsung Lions
The Samsung Lions () are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in the southeastern city of Daegu and are members of the KBO League. Their home stadium is Daegu Samsung Lions Park. They have won the Korean Cha ...
over
LG Twins
The LG Twins () are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the KBO League. The Twins play their home games at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, which they share with their rivals, the Doosan Bears.
...
(4–2)
*
Big League World Series:
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan ( , ; Spanish for "Saint John the Baptist, John") is the capital city and most populous Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the ...
*
Junior League World Series:
Cartersville, Georgia
Cartersville is a city in and the county seat of Bartow County, Georgia, Bartow County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States; it is located within the northwest edge of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, ...
*
Little League World Series
The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children (primarily boys) aged 10 to 12 years old, held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for th ...
: Valley Sports American,
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...
*
Senior League World Series:
Willemstad, Curaçao
*
Taiwan Series
The Taiwan Series () is the final championship series of the Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 a ...
:
Brother Elephants
A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly ...
over
Chinatrust Whales
*Intercontinental Cup:
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
Awards and honors
*
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
**
Ozzie Smith
*
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...
**
Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada ( Tejeda; born May 25, 1974) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for six teams, most notably the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, before ...
,
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
, SS (AL)
**
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
,
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
, OF (NL)
*
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (baseball), National League (NL). The award was introduced in 1956 by Commissioner of Baseball ( ...
**
Barry Zito
Barry William Zito (born May 13, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. His pitching repertoire consisted of a curveball ...
,
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
(AL)
**
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...
,
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
(NL)
*
Rookie of the Year
**
Eric Hinske,
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
, 3B (AL)
**
Jason Jennings,
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
, P (NL)
*
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to two outstanding manager (baseball), managers, one each in the American League (AL) and the National League (baseball), National League (NL). The winne ...
**
Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia ( ; born November 27, 1958), nicknamed "Sosh" and "El Jefe" (Spanish for "The Boss"), is an American former Major League Baseball catcher and manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He managed the Los A ...
,
Anaheim Angels (AL)
**
Tony La Russa
Anthony La Russa Jr. (; born October 4, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager (baseball), manager. His MLB career has spanned from 1963 to 2022, in several roles. He is the former manager of the St. Louis C ...
,
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
(NL)
*Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Brenda Yoder,
Greenville Braves
The Greenville Braves were an American minor league baseball franchise, based in Greenville, South Carolina, that served as the Class AA farm team of the Atlanta Braves between 1984 and 2004. The Braves played in Greenville Municipal Stadium f ...
, Southern League
MLB statistical leaders
Major league baseball final standings
* ''The asterisk denotes the club that won the
wild card for its respective league.''
Events
January
*January 8 –
Ozzie Smith is elected to the
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
in his first year of eligibility. Smith, named on 91.7 percent of the ballots, became the 37th player in baseball history in being elected to be elected to the hall in his first year on the ballot.
February
*February 11 – Major League Baseball owners approve the sales of the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
and
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
clubs. Marlins owner,
John Henry, is selling the team to
Jeffrey Loria for $158.5 million, while Loria is selling the Expos to ''Baseball Expos LP'', a limited partnership owned by the other 29 MLB teams, for $120 million.
*February 12 –
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
assistant
general manager
A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
Omar Minaya
Omar Teodoro Antonio Minaya y Sánchez (born November 10, 1958), whose nickname is O, is a Dominican baseball executive. He is the special assistant to the general manager of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously served as ...
is named general manager of the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
, Minaya, a native from the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
, becomes the first Hispanic by accepting the GM position in Major League Baseball history. Hall of Fame player-manager
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson (August 31, 1935 – February 7, 2019), nicknamed "the Judge", was an American professional baseball outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for five teams over 21 seasons: the Cincinnati Reds (1956–196 ...
is also announced as the
manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administra ...
of the Expos, which will be run by MLB during the 2002 season.
*February 27 – The sale of the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
to a group headed by
John Henry becomes official.
March
*March 1 – The
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
dismissed general manager
Dan Duquette and replaced him with
Mike Port on an interim basis.
*March 5 – The
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
dismissed manager
Joe Kerrigan and replaced him with
Mike Cubbage on an interim basis.
*March 11 – The
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
hire
Grady Little as their new manager.
*March 19 - The
YES Network
The Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network (YES) is an American pay television regional sports network owned by Yankee Global Enterprises (the largest shareholder with 26%), Main Street Sports Group (which owns 20%), Amazon (which owns 15% ...
is officially launched, going on air at noon on this day in 2002. The first live event to be broadcast on the network that day was a spring training game between the Yankees and the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
.
*March 22 – The
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
send
Ryan Jorgensen,
Julián Tavárez,
Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Wayne Willis (born January 12, 1982), nicknamed "the D-Train", is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A left-hander, he played in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamo ...
and minor leaguer José Cueto to the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
in exchange for
Antonio Alfonseca and
Matt Clement.
April
*April 2 – In beating the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
, 9–0, the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
became the first defending World Champions to open the season with back-to-back
shutout
In team sports, a shutout (North American English, US) or clean sheet (Commonwealth English, UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketba ...
s since the 1918-19
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
; the Sox shutouts were thrown by
Carl Mays
Carl William Mays (November 12, 1891 – April 4, 1971) was an American baseball pitcher who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1929. During his career, he won over 200 games, 27 in 1921 alone, and was a member of four Wo ...
and
Sad Sam Jones. Besides, the last team to start the year with consecutive shutouts was the 1994
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
.
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball right handed pitcher and commentator for media outlet BlazeTV. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series appearance in 1993 World Seri ...
is the winning pitcher against the Padres, following
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...
's 2–0 two–hitter a day before.
*April 3
**The
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
defeat the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
, 12–0, as
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
hits a pair of home runs for the second day in a row. Bonds becomes the second player in MLB history to begin a season with consecutive two-homer games. Previously,
Eddie Mathews
Edwin Lee Mathews (October 13, 1931 – February 18, 2001) was an American professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons for the Boston / Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1952–1966); Houston Astros (19 ...
also hit a pair of homers in each of the
Milwaukee Braves
The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966 they were rename ...
first two games against the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
to start
the 1958 season.
**At
Oakland Coliseum
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, often shortened to the Oakland Coliseum, is a multi-purpose stadium in Oakland, California, United States. It serves as part of the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Complex, located next to Oakland Arena. In 2 ...
, the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
lose to the
Texas Rangers, 9–6, as the Rangers score three runs in the 8th inning. The loss snaps the A's string of 20 straight wins at home stretching back to August 24. Oakland moved past the 1974–75
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
for most consecutive home wins over two seasons, as the Reds mark was 17.
*April 5 – The
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
defeat the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
3–1, in 10 innings, on
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
' fifth home run of the year. In doing so, Bonds ties the mark for most home runs in the first four games of the season, set by
Lou Brock in 1967.
*April 7 – The
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
defeats the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...
, 2–0, as
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball right handed pitcher and commentator for media outlet BlazeTV. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series appearance in 1993 World Seri ...
strikes out 17 batters in hurling a one–hitter.
Raúl Casanova's 2nd–inning single is the only Milwaukee hit.
*April 11 – The
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
pound the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
, 15–6, scoring a franchise–high 12 runs in the 6th inning. They also collect a club–high 11 hits in 16 at-bats.
*April 14 –
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
infielder
Mike Bordick
Michael Todd Bordick (born July 21, 1965) is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays ...
begins a streak which leads to a Major League record for the most errorless games
5and total chances
31by a
shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...
.
*April 16 – The
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
win for the first time this season, defeating the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
, 9–3. The Tigers had lost their first 11 games for the fifth-worst start by a major league team.
*April 21
**
Rafael Furcal
Rafael Antoni Furcal (born October 24, 1977) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Miami Marlins. With St. Louis, h ...
hits three
triples
TripleS (; ; stylized as tripleS) is a South Korean 24-member multinational girl group formed by Modhaus. They aim to be the world's first decentralized idol group, where the members will rotate between the full group, sub-units, and solo activi ...
to tie the modern major league record, as the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
defeat the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
4–2. The last player to accomplish the feat was
Lance Johnson of the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
in .
**The
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
trounce the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
, 7–1, as
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...
strikes out 17 batters in becoming the first pitcher this year to win five games. It is the sixth time that Johnson has fanned 17 or more batters in a game.
**Making his first start in almost seven years, the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
'
José Rijo allows one unearned run in five innings as the Reds defeat the Cubs, 5–3. It is Rijo's first win since July 13, .
*April 27 –
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
pitcher
Derek Lowe hurls the first
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter or no-hit game is a game in which a team does not record a hit (baseball), hit through conventional methods. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in ...
at
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a ballpark located in Boston, Massachusetts, less than one mile from Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home field of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Boston Red Sox. While the stadium was built in 1912, it was substantia ...
since
the 1965 season, when
Dave Morehead no-hit the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
2–0 before only 1,247 fans at the ballpark. Lowe shutout the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
10–0. It was also the first career complete game for Lowe, who began last season as the Red Sox
closer. In his first start this year, Lowe hurled seven hitless innings against the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
.
*April 29 – Former major league outfielder
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry Sr. (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Throughout his career, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in the sport ...
is sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating the terms of his probation six times.
*April 30 –
Al Leiter of the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
earns a win over the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
, to become the first pitcher in Major League history to record wins over all 30 franchises that have existed since 1901.
May
*May 2 – The
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
rout the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
, 15–4, as outfielder
Mike Cameron becomes the thirteenth player in Major League history to slug
four home runs in a single game, all solo shots. In doing so, he becomes the first
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
player in
43 years to accomplish the feat. Cameron is also hit by a pitch and flies out to deep right field in a bid for a 5th homer. Cameron and second baseman
Bret Boone also become the first teammates in history to hit back–to–back home runs twice in the same inning, performing the feat in Seattle's 10–run 1st inning. The Mariners also tie a team record with seven homers in the game.
James Baldwin
James Arthur Baldwin (né Jones; August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) was an American writer and civil rights activist who garnered acclaim for his essays, novels, plays, and poems. His 1953 novel '' Go Tell It on the Mountain'' has been ranked ...
is the easy winner, with seven innings pitched. There had only been 39 previous occasions of a player hitting two home runs in an inning, according to the ''
Elias Sports Bureau
The Elias Sports Bureau is an American privately-held sports data company providing historical and current statistical information for the major professional sports leagues operating in the U.S. and Canada.
Founded in 1913, Elias is considere ...
''.
Eric Karros was last to do it, on August 22, 2000, for the Dodgers.
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963), nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Card ...
was the previous AL player to do it, on September 22, 1996, for Oakland.
*May 4 –
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
hits his 400th home run as a Giant, leading his team to a 3–0 win over Cincinnati. Bonds is the first player to hit 400 homers for one team and 100 with another.
*May 10 – The
Anaheim Angels crush the White Sox 19–0. The Angels join the 1923 Indians, 1939 Yankees and 1950 Red Sox as the only teams to beat two opponents by 19 or more runs in the same season. Earlier this year, the Angels beat the Indians 21–2. The Anaheim victory over Chicago is just the 11th since 1901 in which a team scored 19 or more runs while shutting out its opponent, and the first such shutout in the AL since 1955 when Cleveland beat Boston 19–0.
*May 17 – With the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
trailing the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
by three runs in the bottom of the 14th inning,
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi (; born January 8, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, which began in 1995, Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yank ...
hits a walk-off grand slam to give the Yankees a 13–12 victory.
*May 18 – During a rehab start with the triple A
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...
,
Manny Ramirez
Manuel Arístides Ramírez Onelcida (born May 30, 1972) is a Dominican Americans (Dominican Republic), Dominican-American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of 19 seasons. He played wit ...
loses his $15,000 diamond earring while sliding into third base. About half his teammates on their hands and knees, along with the Syracuse grounds crew, are unable to recover it despite combing the third base area after the game.
*May 23

**At
Miller Park
American Family Field is a retractable roof stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Located southwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin, Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard, it is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewe ...
,
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
outfielder
Shawn Green becomes the 14th man in major league history to hit four home runs in a game and sets a big league record with 19 total bases. He goes 6-for-6, scores six runs (both Dodgers records), and gets seven RBI in a 16–3 win over the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...
. Green is the second player this year to hit four home runs in a game. He also surpasses
Joe Adcock's former mark of 18 total bases, set in . According to the Elias Sports Bureau, six players have produced 17 or more total bases in a game, with the last being
Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt (born September 27, 1949) is an American former professional baseball third baseman who spent his entire 18-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972 to 1989. Schmidt was a 12-time Al ...
in . Green also is the first major league player to collect six hits while hitting four homers, and his four homers plus a double ties the NL mark for extra base hits. The Dodgers hit eight homers in the game, another franchise record. Before today's power display, Green had gone 0-for-15, and had been benched May 18.
**The
Gary SouthShore RailCats played their first
Northern League game on the road versus the
Sioux Falls Canaries
The Sioux Falls Canaries are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The Canaries are members of the North Division of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major ...
.
*May 24 – The
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
lose to the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
, 14–3, despite
Shawn Green's fifth home run in two games, tying a major league record. Green also hits two singles to tie another mark with 25 total bases in the two games.
*May 25
**The
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
beat the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
, 6–3, as
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
takes over sole possession of fifth place on the all-time home run list with the 584th four-bagger of his career.
**The
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
top the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
, 10–5, as
Shawn Green hits two more home runs and drives home six runs. The seven home runs in three games is a new major league record.
*May 29 – In an article in ''
Sports Illustrated
''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...
'', former National League MVP
Ken Caminiti says that about 50 percent of current major league players use some form of steroids.
*May 31 –
Carlos Beltrán,
Mike Sweeney and
Joe Randa hit consecutive home runs in the top of the 11th inning to pace the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
to a 10–7 victory over the
Texas Rangers. The Royals became just the second team in MLB history to hit at least three consecutive home runs in extra innings. On May 2, , the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
hit four consecutive home runs, also in the top of the 11th inning, as
Tony Oliva,
Bob Allison,
Jimmie Hall and
Harmon Killebrew went deep in a 7–3 victory against the
Kansas City Athletics
The Kansas City Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1955 to 1967, having previously played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Athletics. After moving in 1967, the team became the ...
.
June
*June 2 –
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
pitcher
Robert Person puts on one of the best offensive displays by a pitcher in Major League history. In his team's 18–2 victory over the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
at
Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, at the northeast corner of Broad Street (Philadelphia), Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The seating ca ...
, he hits two home runs and drives in seven runs. The first home run is a grand slam and comes off
Bruce Chen in the first inning; the second comes in the fifth off
Masato Yoshii with two men on base. In between, in the third inning, he barely misses joining
Tony Cloninger in as the only pitchers to hit two grand slams in the same game; he strikes out to end the inning. With the second grand slam, Person, the first Phillie pitcher to hit two home runs in one game since
Randy Lerch in , would also have broken Cloninger's record of nine RBIs in one game by a pitcher, as well as become only the second pitcher to hit three home runs in one game, joining
Jim Tobin in .
*June 4 – The
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
score 10 runs in the 7th inning to close out the scoring in a 23–2 win over the Indians, the largest margin of victory in Twins history. They stroke a franchise-record 25 hits (the team hit 24 five times while playing as the Washington Senators) in the contest, and tie their club record for total
RBI with 22. They also tie the AL record as four players have four or more hits –
Jacque Jones,
Dustan Mohr,
A. J. Pierzynski and
Luis Rivas. Rivas scores five times to tie a club record. The Indians tie their team record for biggest loss, tying the mark set in a 21–0 loss to the Tigers on September 15, 1901. Cleveland also becomes the first team since the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
to lose two games in the same season by 19 or more runs.
*June 10 – In an interleague game against the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
at
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
The stadium opened in April 2009, replacing the Yankee S ...
,
Marcus Thames of the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
becomes the first player ever to hit a home run off a defending Cy Young Award winner in his very first Major League at-bat. The home run comes in the third inning off defending National League Cy Young Award winner
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...
in the Yankees' 7–5 victory.
Retrosheet
/ref>
*June 18 – Jack Buck, Hall of Fame Broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
, passes away after months of hospitalization. He worked football games and playoff games as well—noted for his call in the 1988 World Series
The 1988 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1988 season. The 85th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Oakland Athletics and the ...
following the game-winning home run by Kirk Gibson and the 1991 World Series
The 1991 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1991 season. The 88th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Minnesota Twins (95–67) an ...
game winning "And we'll see you tomorrow night" home run by Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett (March 14, 1960 – March 6, 2006) was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the Minnesota Twins (1984–1995). Puckett was instrumental in helping the Twins t ...
. On the date of his death, Darryl Kile pitched the Cardinals into a tie for first place, their first time at the top of the division since early April. It would be his final start before his sudden death.
*June 20
**The Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
beats the Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
, 3–0, as the Marlins' Luis Castillo extends his hitting streak to 34 games, the longest ever by a second baseman.
**The St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
drop a 3–2 decision to the Anaheim Angels at Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III") is a baseball stadium located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the home of Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals. It has a seating capacity of 44,383, ...
following a memorial service for Jack Buck.
*June 22
**St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
pitcher Darryl Kile dies suddenly in his hotel room in downtown Chicago. When he didn't arrive at the ballpark, his room was checked. Kile had died in his sleep from 90% blockage of his arteries. He was 33. The game was postponed after the fans waited in the dark for an hour. Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
catcher Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American sports broadcaster and former professional baseball player and Manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, C ...
(who later played for the Cardinals) made the announcement to the crowd that the game was canceled due to a "tragedy in the Cardinal family." The game was rescheduled for August 31 with the Cardinals winning 10–4.
**In the 2002 College World Series
The 2002 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 2002 NCAA Division I baseball season to determine the national champion of college baseball. The tournament concluded with eight teams competing in the College World Seri ...
, Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
defeats South Carolina
South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
12–6 to win their 5th NCAA baseball title. It is the last College World Series championship to be decided by a single game before moving to a three-game format the following year.
*June 27 – Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
GM Omar Minaya
Omar Teodoro Antonio Minaya y Sánchez (born November 10, 1958), whose nickname is O, is a Dominican baseball executive. He is the special assistant to the general manager of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously served as ...
sends P Cliff Lee, 2B Brandon Phillips, OF Grady Sizemore and 1B Lee Stevens to the Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
in exchange for Ps Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew. Colón will win 10 of 17 starts for Montreal, but Sizemore with Cleveland and Phillips in Cincinnati will have solid careers for the rest of the decade.
*June 28
**The Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
defeat their cross-state rival Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
, 4–0 behind Wilson Álvarez and two relievers. Kevin Millar of the Marlins hits a towering fly that lands on one of the catwalks that hang from the stadium's dome. It never comes down and is ruled a double. It's the second time a ball has gotten stuck in a catwalk at Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field (nicknamed "The Trop") is a domed multipurpose stadium located in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. "The Trop" was the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season, 1998 to ...
. In , José Canseco hit a home run drive that lodged there. Millar joins Ruppert Jones
Ruppert Sanderson Jones (born March 12, 1955) is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder. He was the first player selected in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Kansas City Royals
Jones was b ...
, Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician and actor. From age eight, he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. In 1957, he began a ...
, Dave Kingman, Álvaro Espinoza and Canseco as the only players in major league history to hit a fair ball that got stuck in a stadium obstruction; Jones and Nelson both had hits get caught in the overhead speakers at the old Kingdome
The Kingdome (officially the King County Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Industrial District, Seattle, Industrial District (later SoDo, Seattle, SoDo) neighborhood of Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States. O ...
, while the balls hit by Kingman and Espinoza were at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, with Kingman's getting stuck in a drainage valve and Espinoza's lodging in an overhead speaker.
**The Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
take an 8–0 lead over the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was a ballpark in Chicago, Illinois, located in the Armour Square neighborhood on the near-south side of the city. The stadium served as the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League from 1910 through 1990. Built by Wh ...
behind Kerry Wood. After Wood hits Paul Konerko, the White Sox collect thirteen runs before allowing the Cubs to score one run late. Konerko had four hits, two of which were home runs in the 13–9 win for the Sox.
July
*July 2 – A combined total of 62 home runs are hit in today's games, breaking the old major league mark of 57 set on April 7, . A record 9 players have multiple home run games, breaking the previous mark of 8 set on May 19, 1999.
*July 6 – Daryle Ward of the Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...
hits the first home run ever to exit PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball stadium on the North Shore (Pittsburgh), North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth location to serve as the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. Opened during the 2001 Major League Baseb ...
and land in the Allegheny River
The Allegheny River ( ; ; ) is a tributary of the Ohio River that is located in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York in the United States. It runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border, nor ...
on the fly. The shot comes off Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Kip Wells in the fifth inning of a 10–2 Astro victory.
*July 9 – In a controversial finish, the 2002 All-Star Game held at Miller Park
American Family Field is a retractable roof stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Located southwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin, Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard, it is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewe ...
ends in a 7–7 tie after 11 innings as both the National and American Leagues run out of pitchers. Both managers discuss it with commissioner Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig
(; born July 30, 1934) is an American baseball executive who currently serves as the commissioner emeritus of baseball. Previously, he served as the ninth commissioner of baseball from 1998 to 2015. He initially served a ...
, who calls the game.
*July 23 – Nomar Garciaparra
Anthony Nomar Garciaparra (; born July 23, 1973) is an American former Major League Baseball player and current SportsNet LA analyst. After playing parts of nine seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played shortstop, Third ...
hits three home runs with eight RBI on his birthday as the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
22–4, in the opener of a day–night doubleheader. The round–trippers give him five in two games to tie a major league record. Garciaparra also becomes the only player in major league history to hit three home runs in two back-to-back innings.
August
*August 7 – In a historic movement, major league players end their long-held opposition to mandatory drug testing by agreeing to be tested for illegal steroids beginning in .
*August 8 – Braves pitcher John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time Ma ...
reaches 40 saves in a season faster than any pitcher in major league history.
*August 9
**The Giants' Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
hits the 600th home run of his career, but his team still falls to the Pirates by a score of 4–3. Bonds joins Hank Aaron
Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. Considered one ...
, Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
and Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of ...
in the exclusive 600-HR club.
**Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero Alvino (born February 9, 1975), nicknamed "Vlad the Impaler", is a People of the Dominican Republic, Dominican former professional baseball player who spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right fielder and des ...
hits his 200th career home run helping the Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
beat the Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...
11–4.
*August 10 – Sammy Sosa hits 3 home runs, helping the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
the beat the Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
15–1.
*August 11 – Sammy Sosa hits a grand slam and drives in five runs in the Chicago Cubs' 12–9 victory over Colorado to set an NL record for RBIs in consecutive games with 14.
*August 17 – The Yankees defeat the Mariners 8–3, as Alfonso Soriano hits a home run to become the first second baseman ever to join the 30–30 club
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 30–30 club is the group of 47 Batter (baseball), batters who have collected 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. ''Baseball Digest'' called the 30–30 club "the most celebrated feat that can ...
.
*August 26 – New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
shortstop Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter ( ; born June 26, 1974), nicknamed "the Captain", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) caree ...
scores his 100th run of the season, joining Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 193 ...
(1939–49) and Earle Combs (1925–32) as the only players in modern history to score at least 100 runs in their first seven full seasons. Jeter scored again in the bottom of the eighth as the Yankees routed the visiting Texas Rangers 10–3.
*August 28 – Éric Gagné earns a save in a Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
. It is the first of his Major League record 84 consecutive save opportunities that he will convert.
*August 29 – First baseman Mark Bellhorn becomes the first player in NL history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning, doing so in the Cubs' 10–run 4th inning at Miller Park
American Family Field is a retractable roof stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Located southwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin, Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard, it is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewe ...
in Milwaukee. Chicago wins 13–10 over the Brewers. Bellhorn also ties a team record with five RBI in the inning.
*August 30 – Major league players and owners agree to a historic contract that prevents the players from going out on strike, marking the first time in over 30 years that a collective bargaining negotiation in baseball was met without a work stoppage.
*August 31 – The New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
are shut out by the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
1–0, to mark their 13th consecutive home defeat. In doing so, they become the first NL team to lose all their home games over the course of a month.
September
*September 1
** Jeff Kent of the San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
becomes the first second baseman in history to record 100 or more RBI for six consecutive years. The Giants lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
7–6.
**Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada ( Tejeda; born May 25, 1974) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for six teams, most notably the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, before ...
of the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
hits his 30th home run of the season as Oakland beats the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
7–5. Tejada is only the third shortstop in history with at least three seasons with 30 or more home runs and with 30 HR in three consecutive seasons. Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975), nicknamed "A-Rod", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, third baseman and designated hitter and current businessman. Rodriguez played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (ML ...
leads in both categories with six such seasons, five in a row.
*September 3
**The Mets lose the first game of their doubleheader against the Marlins 3–2, but bounce back to take the nightcap 11–5. The loss in the opener sets a new NL record for consecutive home losses with 15.
**Texas Rangers reliever Joaquín Benoit pitches seven innings of one-hit ball against the Baltimore Orioles to record the longest save in Major League history.
*September 4
**The Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
set an AL record by defeating the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
12–11 for their 20th straight win. Oakland blows an 11–0 lead, but scores in the bottom of the 9th for the victory. The old mark of 19 wins was shared between the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
and the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
.
** Aaron Myette, ejected yesterday for two pitches behind Melvin Mora
Melvin Mora Diaz (born February 2, 1972) is a Venezuelan-American former professional baseball infielder. He played for the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB).
From his ...
, starts today's game. According to The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
, it is the first back-to-back start by a pitcher since Steve McCatty in , though five pitchers – Dennis Martínez
José Dennis Martínez Ortiz (born May 14, 1955), nicknamed "El Presidente" (), is a Nicaraguan former professional baseball pitcher. Martínez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, S ...
, Bert Blyleven, Pete Vuckovich, Rick Langford
James Rick Langford (born March 20, 1952) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 through 1986. He has served as a coach (baseball), ...
and Juan Eichelberger – made their last start before the strike and their first start after.
*September 5
**In a Texas 11–2 victory over Baltimore, shortstop Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975), nicknamed "A-Rod", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, third baseman and designated hitter and current businessman. Rodriguez played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (ML ...
becomes the fifth player in major league history to record successive 50–home run seasons.
** Drew Henson makes his major league debut pinch-running for Bernie Williams
Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. (born September 13, 1968) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player and current musician. He played his entire 16-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the New York Yankees from 1991 through ...
in the eighth inning of the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
' 9–3 victory over the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
.
*September 6
**The St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
defeat the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
11–2, as brothers Andy Benes and Alan Benes oppose each other in the seventh matchup of brothers in major league history. Andy gets the win while Alan takes the loss. The Cardinals score all 11 of their runs in the third inning.
**The Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
' 20-game winning streak is snapped as Brad Radke pitches the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
to a 6–0 victory at home. The Athletics fall short of matching the second-longest winning streak in baseball history. The Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
of 1880
Events
January
*January 27 – Thomas Edison is granted a patent for the incandescent light bulb. Edison filed for a US patent for an electric lamp using "a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected ... to platina contact wires." gr ...
and both won 21 straight.
*September 8
**The Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
win their 11th straight NL division title when the second-place Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
lose to the New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
6–4.
**The Texas Rangers set a major league record by homering in their 26th consecutive game as Texas falls to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
6–3. Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corrales (born September 24, 1964) is a Cuban-American former baseball first baseman and left fielder. He played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for three teams. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State Univer ...
's solo shot in the sixth inning is the record–breaker. The streak will be ended at 27 games two days later.
*September 9 – Pitcher Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...
reaches 300 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season, extending his major league record.
*September 14
**Pitcher Derek Lowe gets his 20th victory as the Red Sox beat the Orioles 6–4. Lowe becomes the first pitcher in major league history to win 20 games the season after saving 20. He is also the first pitcher to record at least 40 saves and later win 20. Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3, 1954), nicknamed "Eck", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and color commentator. Between 1975 and 1998, he pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, ...
and John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time Ma ...
did it the other way around.
**Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
ties Hank Aaron
Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. Considered one ...
for the most 100-RBI seasons by an NL player as he drives in his 100th run of the season for the 11th time in his career. The major league record is 13, shared by Jimmie Foxx
James Emory Foxx (October 22, 1907 – July 21, 1967), nicknamed "Double X" and "the Beast", was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red ...
, Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis Gehrig ( ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941), also known as Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was ...
and Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
.
**Chin-Feng Chen
Chen Chin-feng (; born 28 October 1977) is a Taiwanese aborigine of Siraya tribal ancestry, who is a former professional baseball outfielder. In 2002, he became the first player born in Taiwan to play in Major League Baseball. He currently se ...
becomes the first Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
-born player to appear in the major leagues as he walks and scores as a pinch-hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
against the Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
. The 24-year-old first baseman-outfielder played for the Taiwan team which won the Little League World Series
The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children (primarily boys) aged 10 to 12 years old, held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for th ...
.
*September 15 – Sammy Sosa joins Mel Ott
Melvin Thomas Ott (March 2, 1909 – November 21, 1958), nicknamed "Master Melvin", was an American professional baseball right fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Giants, from through .
He batted left-handed ...
and Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of ...
as the only NL players to post eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons.
*September 17 – Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
outfielder Jacque Jones hits a lead-off home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...
against the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
, his eleventh of the season. That season total will place Jones second in AL history, only behind the twelve hit by Baltimore's Brady Anderson in 1996.
*September 18 – Arizona defeats San Diego 10–3, as Greg Colbrunn is the first player to hit two home runs in a game while hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter who hit (baseball), hits a single (baseball), single, a double (baseball), double, a triple (baseball), triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that ...
since George Brett
George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953) is an American former professional baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.
Brett's 3,154 career hit ( ...
(May 28, ).
*September 20 – Shortstop Mike Bordick
Michael Todd Bordick (born July 21, 1965) is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays ...
sets a major league record with his 102nd consecutive errorless game at shortstop. He also extends his major league mark of errorless chances at SS to 504.
*September 22
**Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966), also known as "Mad Dog" and "the Professor," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. ...
joins Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. Born in Gilmore, Ohio, he worked on his family's farm as a youth before starting his professional baseball career. Young entered t ...
as the only pitchers in major league history to win 15 or more games in 15 consecutive seasons.
**Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley McGriff (born October 31, 1963) is an American former first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for six teams from 1986 through 2004. Nicknamed "Crime Dog", a word play on McGruff the Crime Dog, he was one of the ...
becomes the first major league player to hit 30 homers for five different teams, and the first to homer in 42 different ballparks.
**The Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
play their last game at Riverfront Stadium
Riverfront Stadium, also known as Cinergy Field from 1996 to 2002, was a multi-purpose stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home of the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1970 Cincinnati Reds season, 1970 through 2002 Cincinna ...
, losing 4–3 to the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. Aaron Boone
Aaron John Boone (born March 9, 1973) is an American professional baseball manager and former infielder who is the manager of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2009. As ...
hit the stadium's last home run, and 1990 World Series
The 1990 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1990 season. The 87th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the defending champions and heavily favored American League (AL ...
hero José Rijo took the loss for the Reds.
*September 29 – Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara (, ; born December 11, 1985) is a Dominicans, Dominican professional baseball Manager (baseball), manager and former first baseman and designated hitter who is the manager of the Leones del Escogido of the Domin ...
becomes the fourth hitter in the major leagues, and the first batter since Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 193 ...
in 1939–40, to collect more than 250 RBI in his first two seasons in the majors. Pujols drove in 257 runs in his first two campaigns. Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul DiMaggio (; born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, ; November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe", "the Yankee Clipper" and "Joe D.", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career ...
holds the record with 292 RBI, Dale Alexander is second with 272, and Williams is third with 258.
October
*October 2 – Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway, ...
first baseman Alex Cabrera
Alexander Alberto Cabrera (born December 24, 1971) is a Venezuelan former first baseman and right-handed batter who played in 2000 for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball (MLB) and for 12 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NP ...
hits his 55th home run of the season, off Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
The were a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team based in Osaka, Japan, which was in the Pacific League. In 2005 the team was merged with the Orix BlueWave to become the team now known as the Orix Buffaloes. The team played in Fujiidera Stadi ...
pitcher Akira Okamoto, to tie the Japanese League record set by Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh ( Japanese: , ''Ō Sadaharu''; born May 20, 1940), also known as Wang Chen-chih (), is a Japanese-born Chinese former professional baseball player and manager who is currently the chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of N ...
in and matched by Tuffy Rhodes
Karl Derrick "Tuffy" Rhodes (born August 21, 1968) is a retired American professional baseball player. He played six years in Major League Baseball in the US, and thirteen years in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. Rhodes is the all-t ...
last year. Like Rhodes, Cabrera will see few good pitches for the remaining games.
*October 10 – The San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
take a 2–games–to–0 lead in the NLCS with a 4–1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
. Jason Schmidt pitches shutout ball into the eighth inning while shortstop Rich Aurilia hits a pair of home runs with three RBI.
*October 13 – Adam Kennedy of the Anaheim Angels becomes the first player since Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez Jackson (born May 18, 1946) is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Cal ...
in 1977
Events January
* January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group.
* January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...
to hit three home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...
s in a single postseason game as the Angels defeat the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
to claim their first American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
title in their 42-year existence.
*October 26 – The Anaheim Angels stage one of the great comebacks in World Series history to force a seventh game. With one out in the 7th inning, the Giants are leading 5–0 and are just 8 outs from their first World Series title since moving to San Francisco. But after two singles, Scott Spezio fouls off several pitches before hitting a 3-run homer to get the Angels close. In the bottom of the 8th, Darin Erstad led off with a home run to make it 5–4. After two singles, the Giants brought in their ace reliever Rob Nen. Series MVP Troy Glaus greeted him with a 2-run double to give the Angels a 6–5 lead. Reliever Troy Percival pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save.
*October 27 – The Anaheim Angels win their first World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
as they defeat the San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
4–1 in Game Seven. Pitcher John Lackey (with relief help from Brendan Donnelly, Francisco Rodríguez, and Troy Percival) becomes the first rookie to win a 7th game of a World Series since . Garret Anderson's bases-loaded double in the third inning scores three runs for Anaheim to break a 1–1 tie and provide the margin of victory. Troy Glaus is named Series MVP.
*October 28 – Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella ( usually ; born August 28, 1943) is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder, he played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals a ...
asks to be released from his managerial contract with the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
so that he may sign with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
.
November
*November 4 – It was a busy rookie awards day. First Eric Hinske of the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
was named American League Rookie of the Year getting 19 of the 28 first-place votes while the National League Rookie of the Year was won by Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
' Jason Jennings who himself got 27 of the 32 first-place votes.
*November 6 – It was a busy manager awards day. First Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia ( ; born November 27, 1958), nicknamed "Sosh" and "El Jefe" (Spanish for "The Boss"), is an American former Major League Baseball catcher and manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He managed the Los A ...
who led the Anaheim Angels to a 24-game turnaround from a 74-88 record in to a World Championship was named American League Manager of the Year, then Tony La Russa
Anthony La Russa Jr. (; born October 4, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager (baseball), manager. His MLB career has spanned from 1963 to 2022, in several roles. He is the former manager of the St. Louis C ...
who led the Cardinals to 96 wins and overcoming with the deaths of Jack Buck and Darryl Kile to win the National League Central was named National League Manager of the Year.
*November 12 – Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
shortstop Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada ( Tejeda; born May 25, 1974) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for six teams, most notably the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, before ...
, who receives 356 points from the BBWAA, including 21 first-place votes of the 28 cast, is selected as the American League MVP. Tejada joins countrymen George Bell () and Sammy Sosa () as Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
natives to win the award.
*November 22 – Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...
right fielder Richard Hidalgo is shot in the left forearm during a carjacking
Carjacking is a robbery in which a motor vehicle is taken over.Michael Cherbonneau, "Carjacking," in ''Encyclopedia of Social Problems'', Vol. 1 (SAGE, 2008: ed. Vincent N. Parrillo), pp. 110-11. In contrast to car theft, carjacking is usually i ...
in Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
. He is released from the hospital and is expected to go to Houston for more tests.
*November 25 – The Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
sign 28-year–old Theo Epstein
Theo Nathaniel Epstein (born December 29, 1973) is an American Major League Baseball executive who is, since 2024, the senior adviser and part-owner of Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball and Liverpool FC o ...
as their new general manager. He becomes the youngest GM in major league history.
*November 26 – Prior to playing two regular-season games against the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
to open the major league season in Japan, the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
will face the Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway, ...
and Yomiuri Giants
The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They h ...
in exhibition contests on March 22 and 23 of spring training.
December
*December 2
**In support of a national strike, the Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
n professional league suspends its games. Many of the eight teams in the league belong to news media owners opposed to President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (; ; 28 July 1954 – 5 March 2013) was a Venezuelan politician, Bolivarian Revolution, revolutionary, and Officer (armed forces), military officer who served as the 52nd president of Venezuela from 1999 until De ...
. When the strike continues, the league will cancel its season on January 13, .
**In the biggest free agent signing this year, the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
sign Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
first baseman Jim Thome to a 6-year contract.
*December 29 – Riverfront Stadium
Riverfront Stadium, also known as Cinergy Field from 1996 to 2002, was a multi-purpose stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home of the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1970 Cincinnati Reds season, 1970 through 2002 Cincinna ...
, home of the Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
since 1970, is imploded. The team will start playing in Great American Ball Park
Great American Ball Park is a baseball stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and opened on March 31, 2003, replacing Cinergy Field (formerly Riverfront Stadium), the Reds' fo ...
next season.
Books
*'' The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine'', an autobiography
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights. This genre allows individuals to share thei ...
by Fay Vincent.
*'' Summerland'', a novel by Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon ( ;
born May 24, 1963) is an American novelist, screenwriter, columnist, and short story writer. Born in Washington, D.C., he spent a year studying at Carnegie Mellon University before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh, ...
.
*'' Win Shares'', by Bill James
George William James (born October 5, 1949) is an American baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books about baseball history and statistics. His a ...
, presenting the sabermetrician's new system for evaluating player performance.
*''Moneyball Moneyball or money ball may refer to:
* '' Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game'', 2003 book by Michael Lewis
** ''Moneyball'' (film), 2011 film adaptation of the book
* ''Moneyball'' (album), 2025 album by Dutch Interior
* Sabermetrics
...
'', by Michael Lewis
Michael Monroe Lewis (born October 15, 1960) Gale Biography In Context. is an American author and financial journalist. He has also been a contributing editor to '' Vanity Fair'' since 2009, writing mostly on business, finance, and economics. ...
, presenting the A's statistical method to the 2002 season.
Movies
* '' Bleacher Bums'' (TV)
* '' The Rookie (2002 film)''
Births
January
*January 11 – Elly De La Cruz
*January 12 – Anthony Molina
*January 24 – Carson Tucker
*January 27 – Ángel Martínez
*January 28 – Luis Matos
*January 29 – Ed Howard IV
February
*February 14 – Nolan Schanuel
*February 15 – Kyle Teel
*February 26 – Dylan Crews
March
*March 1 – Hurston Waldrep
*March 2 – Logan Henderson
*March 8 – Rhett Lowder
Rhett Hamilton Lowder (born March 8, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Amateur career
Lowder went to North Stanly High School located New London, North Carolina, where he ...
*March 12 – Luisangel Acuña
*March 12 – Bryan Ramos
*March 21 – Masyn Winn
*March 25 – Pete Crow-Armstrong
*March 30 – Jacob Wilson
April
*April 2 – Nick Yorke
*April 3 – Jacob Misiorowski
*April 10 – Thomas Saggese
May
*May 20 – Grant Taylor
*May 22 – Jordan Walker
*May 23 – Jonatan Clase
*May 29 – Paul Skenes
June
*June 16 – Nick Bitsko
*June 24 – Edgardo Henriquez
*June 28 – Kristian Campbell
July
*July 12 – Kevin Alcántara
*July 17 – Jordan Lawlar
*July 27 – Angel Chivilli
*July 30 – Jackson Jobe
August
*August 5 – Ryan Johnson
*August 15 – Luke Keaschall
*August 25 – Max Muncy
Maxwell Steven Muncy (born August 25, 1990) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Baylor Bears baseball, Baylor Bears. He was selected by the ...
*August 29 – Evan Carter
September
*September 3 – Javier Sanoja
*September 17 – James Wood
October
*October 10 – Alejandro Osuna
*October 21 – Christian Moore
November
*November 20 – AJ Smith-Shawver
*November 30 – Daylen Lile
December
*December 12 – Marcelo Mayer
Marcelo Mayer ( ; born December 12, 2002) is an Mexican-American professional baseball infielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Red Sox in the first round, fourth overall, of the 2021 MLB draft, an ...
*December 21 – Cristian Mena
Deaths
January
*January 2 – Bob Stevens, 85, sportswriter for the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' for over 40 years.
*January 3 – Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944) was the 42nd governor of New York, serving from 1919 to 1920 and again from 1923 to 1928. He was the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party's presidential nominee in the 1 ...
, 73, three-time All-Star outfielder who, after three seasons in the Negro leagues, spent 12 years (1953–1964) in the American League with four different clubs, chiefly the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox; member of two pennant-winners: the 1954 Indians, who won a then-AL record 111 games, and 1959 White Sox.
*January 4 – Adrián Zabala, 85, Cuban pitcher who played for the New York Giants in the 1945 and 1949 seasons, and also one of the players barred from organized baseball in 1946 by Commissioner of Baseball Happy Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler Sr. (July 14, 1898 – June 15, 1991) was an American politician from Kentucky. He represented Kentucky in the U.S. Senate and served as its List of Governors of Kentucky, 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his ...
for jumping to the Mexican League.
*January 6 – Fred Taylor, 77, first baseman who played from 1950 through 1952 for the Washington Senators.
*January 7 – Hal Marnie
Harry Sylvester "Hal" Marnie (July 6, 1918 – January 7, 2002) was an American professional baseball player. Born in Philadelphia, he was a second baseman and shortstop who appeared in 96 games played, games in Major League Baseball over parts o ...
, 83, backup infielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in part of three seasons spanning 1940–1942.
*January 18 – Quincy Smith, 83, outfielder for the 1943 Cleveland Buckeyes and 1947 Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League who later played six seasons in racially integrated "Organized Baseball" minor leagues.
*January 24 – Irene Kotowicz
Irene K. Kotowicz Ike"(December 10, 1919 – January 24, 2002) was an American pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 128 lb., she batted and threw right-handed ...
, 82, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley, which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...
pitcher.
*January 24 – Tommy Sampson, 89, All-Star second baseman (1940–1947) and player-manager (1946–1947) of the Birmingham Black Barons; signed teenager and future Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of ...
to Mays' first pro contract.
*January 26 – Ray Yochim, 79, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1948 to 1949.
*January 27 – Reggie Sanders, 52, first baseman for the 1974 Detroit Tigers, who hit a home run off pitcher Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter (April 8, 1946 – September 9, 1999) was an American professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB). From to , he was a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and New York Y ...
in his first major league at bat
In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...
.
*January 31 – Harry Chiti, 69, catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets in a span of ten seasons from 1950 to 1962; regarded as a specialist in catching knuckleball
A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch (baseball), pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from Laminar flow, lamin ...
pitchers.
February
*February 2 – Andy Hansen
Andrew Viggo Hansen Jr. (November 12, 1924 – February 2, 2002), nicknamed "Swede", was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. In a nine-season career, he played for the New York Giants (NL), New York Giants and the Philadelphia Phil ...
, 77, pitcher who played for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies over all or parts of nine seasons from 1944 to 1953.
*February 3 – Mel McGaha, 75, manager of the Cleveland Indians (1962) and Kansas City Athletics (June 12, 1964 to May 15, 1965); coached for Indians (1961), Athletics (1963 to June 11, 1964) and Houston Astros (1968–1970).
*February 8 – Steve Roser, 84, pitcher who played from 1944 to 1946 for the New York Yankees and Boston Braves.
*February 10 – Chet Clemens, 84, outfielder who played in 28 career games for the Boston Bees/Braves in two separate stints (1939 and 1944).
*February 10 – Jim Spencer, 54, All-Star first baseman who played for five American League teams, earning Gold Gloves with the California Angels in 1970 and the Chicago White Sox in 1977, while winning a 1978 World Series
The 1978 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1978 season. The 75th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion New York Yankees and the Nat ...
ring with the New York Yankees.
*February 11 – Frankie Crosetti, 91, All-Star shortstop and longtime coach for the New York Yankees, who spent 37 straight seasons (1932 to 1968) in a Yankee uniform and played or coached on 17 World Series champions; scored 100 runs four times and led American League in stolen bases in 1938.
*February 11 – Les Peden, 78, backup catcher for the 1953 Washington Senators, who later spent ten seasons as a playing manager in the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Athletics minor league systems.
*February 15 – Mike Darr, 25, outfielder for the San Diego Padres from 1999 until the time of his death, when he was killed in a car accident during spring training in Arizona.
*February 21 – Bill Faul, 61, pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants in a span of six seasons from 1962 to 1970.
*February 27 – Dykes Potter, 91, pitcher for the 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers.
March
*March 5 – Clay Smith, 87, pitcher who played with the Cleveland Indians in the 1938 season and for the Detroit Tigers in 1940.
*March 7 – Mickey Haslin
Michael Joseph "Mickey" Haslin (October 25, 1909 – March 7, 2002), born Michael Joseph Hazlinsky, was a Jewish-Austrian American professional baseball player whose career spanned 13 seasons, six of which were spent in Major League Baseball (MLB ...
, 92, middle infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Bees and New York Giants during six seasons from 1933 to 1938.
*March 8 – Ted Sepkowski, 78, infield/outfield utility man who appeared in 19 games for the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees in part of three seasons from 1942 to 1947.
*March 9 – Jack Baer, 87, coach who led the Oklahoma team to the 1951 College World Series title.
*March 11 – Al Cowens
Alfred Edward Cowens, Jr. (October 25, 1951 – March 11, 2002) was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball. From through , Cowens played for the Kansas City Royals (1974–79), California Angels (1980), Detroit Tigers (1980–81) and ...
, 50, right fielder for four American League teams (1974 to 1986), who batted .312, won a Gold Glove, and was the AL MVP runner-up for the 1977 Kansas City Royals.
*March 11 – Genevieve George, 74, Canadian catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
*March 12 – Steve Gromek, 82, All-Star pitcher who won 19 games for the 1945 Cleveland Indians and hurled a 2–1 victory against the Boston Braves in Game 4 of the 1948 World Series
The 1948 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1948 season. The 45th edition of the World Series, it matched the American League (AL) champion Cleveland Indians and the National League (NL) champion Boston Br ...
, won by Cleveland in six games.
*March 13 – Lou Kahn, 86, member of St. Louis Cardinals' coaching staff (1954–1955); former minor-league catcher and manager; later, longtime scout for Philadelphia Phillies.
*March 17 – Lefty Bertrand, 93, pitcher who appeared in one game for the 1936 Philadelphia Phillies.
*March 23 – Minnie Rojas, 68, Cuban relief pitcher for the 1966–1968 California Angels who led the American League in saves (27) in 1967.
*March 24 – Mace Brown, 92, All-Star relief pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Red Sox in a span of ten seasons from 1935 to 1946; later a longtime scout and pitching coach in Red Sox' organization.
*March 26 – Whitey Wietelmann, 83, infielder for the Boston Bees/Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1939 through 1947; spent a decade as a coach in Pacific Coast League and 13 years as MLB coach for the 1966–1967 Cincinnati Reds and 1969–1979 San Diego Padres.
April
*April 1 – Russell Awkard, 84, outfielder in the Negro National League in 1940 and 1941, then served in the United States Army during World War II.
*April 3 – Roy Nichols, 81, infielder for the 1944 New York Giants.
*April 3 – Karl Swanson, 101, second baseman for the Chicago White Sox in the 1928 and 1929 seasons, who at the time of his death was the oldest living major leaguer.
*April 5 – Paul Erickson, 86, pitcher who appeared in 207 games for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Giants between 1941 and 1948, being a contributor to the Cubs in their run for the 1945 National League championship, going 7–4 with 3.32 ERA in 28 games while compiling three complete games and three saves, then working in four of the seven games of the 1945 World Series
The 1945 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1945 season. The 42nd edition of the World Series, it matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion Chicago Cubs. Th ...
, including the decisive Game 7 defeat against the Detroit Tigers.
*April 5 – Sheriff Robinson, 80, minor-league catcher and manager who spent all or parts of five seasons as an MLB coach for the New York Mets between 1964 and 1972; longtime scout.
*April 6 – Tom Sunkel, 89, pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and Brooklyn Dodgers in part of six seasons spanning 1937–1944, even though his left eye was damaged when he was a child which caused him to lose all sight in this eye in 1941.
*April 9 – James T. Gallagher, 97, sportswriter turned executive; general manager of Chicago Cubs from 1941 to 1949, and business manager from 1950 through 1956.
*April 21 – Sam Dente, 79, reliable shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox, as well as a member of the 1954 American League champion Cleveland Indians.
*April 23 – Jim "Fireball" Cohen, 83, All-Star pitcher for the 1948 Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League.
*April 23 – Pee Wee Jenkins, 79, southpaw who pitched for the Negro leagues' Birmingham Black Barons (1944) and New York Cubans (1946–1948).
*April 26 – John "Red" Davis, 86, third baseman who played in 21 games for the 1941 New York Giants and later managed in the minor leagues for 27 years.
*April 27 – Jerry Witte, 86, first baseman who played for the St. Louis Browns in part of two seasons from 1946 to 1947.
May
*May 10 – Larry Napoleon, 79, southpaw who pitched for the 1947 Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League.
*May 10 – Willie Simms, 93, outfielder for the Chicago American Giants and Kansas City Monarchs between 1937 and 1943.
*May 11 – Steve Rachunok, 85, pitcher for the 1940 Brooklyn Dodgers.
*May 13 – Bill Rodgers, 79, backup outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1944 to 1945, who was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II.
*May 17 – Joe Black, 78, Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1952, while becoming the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, doing it in his rookie season.
*May 17 – Bobby Robinson, 98, slick-fielding third baseman who played in the Negro leagues between 1925 and 1940; known as "The Human Vacuum Cleaner".
*May 21 – Bob Poser, 92, who played with the Chicago White Sox in the 1932 season and for the St. Louis Browns in 1935, whose nine-game major league career emerged from oblivion when Chris Resop appeared in the majors, as Poser and Resop became the third pair of big leaguers with reversed surnames.
*May 22 – Fritz Ackley, 65, pitcher who appeared in five games for the Chicago White Sox in 1963 and 1964.
*May 22 – Joe Cascarella, 94, pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and Cincinnati Reds in the 1930s, and the last surviving member of the 1934 U.S. All-Star team which toured Japan.
*May 22 – Faye Dancer, 78, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley, which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...
center fielder, who served as inspiration for the character portrayed by Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
in the 1992 film ''A League of Their Own
''A League of Their Own'' is a 1992 American sports comedy drama film directed by Penny Marshall that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). It stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Ma ...
''.
*May 22 – Paul Giel, 69, relief pitcher who played from 1954 through 1962 for the New York/San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Athletics and Minnesota Twins.
*May 22 – Warren Hacker, 77, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox for a dozen seasons spanning 1948 to 1961.
*May 24 – Jim "Big Stick" McCurine, 81, outfielder for the 1946–1948 Chicago American Giants of the Negro American League.
*May 25 – Adolph Matulis, 81, Chicago-area multi-sport athlete who starred in baseball, basketball and football at the University of Arizona who later was a pitcher and player-manager in the Cubs' organization.
*May 28 – Wes Westrum, 79, catcher for the New York Giants from 1947 to 1957; member of 1954 World Series champions and two-time NL All-Star; manager of the New York Mets (1965–1967) and San Francisco Giants (1974–1975); longtime coach and scout.
*May 29 – Sam Page, 86, pitcher for the 1939 Philadelphia Athletics.
June
*June 12 – Hank Boney, 98, relief pitcher for the 1927 New York Giants.
*June 17 – Bill Adair, 89, longtime manager in the minor leagues who briefly served as interim manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1970; coached for White Sox, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, and Montreal Expos.
*June 18 – Jack Buck, 77, broadcaster who worked for the St. Louis Cardinals for nearly 50 years, whose play-by-play work earned him recognition from numerous Halls of Fame, such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the National Radio Hall of Fame.
*June 18 – Jack Jenkins, 59, pitcher who played with the Washington Senators in the 1962 and 1963 seasons and for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969.
*June 20 – Cecil Cole, 82, pitcher for the 1946 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League.
*June 22 – Darryl Kile, 33, three-time All-Star pitcher for the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals from 1991 through 2002, who threw a no-hitter for the Astros in 1993, won 20 games for St. Louis in 2000, and died of coronary disease in Chicago, where he and the Cardinals were staying for a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.
*June 22 – Ron Kline, 70, pitcher for nine teams, primarily with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who led the American League in saves while pitching for the 1965 Washington Senators.
*June 24 – June Schofield, 76, Canadian infielder who played from 1948 to 1949 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
*June 25 – Joe Antolick, 86, backup catcher for the 1944 Philadelphia Phillies, who later served as a player/manager in the minor leagues from 1946 to 1951.
*June 27 – Ralph Erickson, 100, relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1929 and 1930, who upon the April 3 death of Karl Swanson became baseball's oldest living player, dying two days after his 100th birthday.
*June 30 – Pete Gray
Peter James Gray (''Birth name, né'' Wyshner; March 6, 1915 – June 30, 2002) was an American professional baseball outfielder who played for the St. Louis Browns of Major League Baseball for one season in 1945. He was notable for playing ...
, 87, outfielder who played in the major leagues for the 1945 St. Louis Browns despite having lost his right arm in a childhood accident.
*June 30 – Raúl Sánchez, 71, Cuban pitcher for the Washington Senators and Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds during three seasons from 1952 to 1960, who also played for the Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings () were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played from 1946 to 1960. From 1954 until 1960, they belonged in the Class Triple-A (baseball), AAA International League, affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cinci ...
of the International League.
*June 30 – Wilmore Williams, 84, third baseman for the 1943 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League.
July
*July 3 – Earl Francis, 66, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals during six seasons from 1960 to 1965.
*July 5 – Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 193 ...
, 83, Hall of Fame and 17-time All-Star left fielder for the Boston Red Sox, widely regarded as the greatest hitter in the sport's history, who won two Triple Crowns, two MVP awards and six batting titles, including a .406 season in 1941, the last .400 mark in the major leagues, while posting a .344 lifetime average (7th highest ever), a .634 slugging average
In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (SLG) is a measure of the batting productivity of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at-bats, through the following formula, where ''AB'' is the number of at-bats for a given player, a ...
mark (2nd to Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
), including 521 home runs with four AL titles and a .482 on-base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) measures how frequently a batting (baseball), batter reaches base (baseball), base. An official Major League Baseball (MLB) statistic since 1984, it is sometimes referred to as on-base average (OBA ...
(MLB all-time record); manager of Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchise (1969–1972).
*July 14 – Alphonso Gerard, 85, outfielder and only native of U.S. Virgin Islands to play in the Negro leagues, primarily as a member of the New York Black Yankees from 1945 to 1947.
*July 17 – Lee Maye, 67, outfielder who played 13 seasons from 1959 through 1971 for the Milwaukee Braves, Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox; led the major leagues with 44 doubles in 1964.
*July 18 – Del Wilber, 83, catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox during eight seasons between 1946 and 1954; a manager, scout and coach after his playing days.
*July 19 – Spec Shea, 81, All-Star pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and Washington Senators in parts of 8 seasons from 1947 to 1955 who also won a World Series championship in his rookie season of 1947.
*July 23 – Ned Martin, 78, play-by-play broadcaster for Boston Red Sox for 32 seasons (1961 through 1992) known for his wit, Shakespearean quotes, and restrained delivery; "Voice of the Red Sox" on radio (1972–1978) and television (1979–1992), and called post-season baseball for CBS Radio during the 1970s.
*July 24 – Pete Coscarart, 87, All-Star second baseman who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates in nine seasons from 1938 to 1946.
*July 24 – Al Silvera, 66, outfielder for the Cincinnati Redlegs during the 1955 and 1956 seasons.
*July 24 – Barney White, 79, infielder for the 1945 Brooklyn Dodgers.
*July 25 – Bob Barr
Robert Laurence Barr Jr. (born November 5, 1948) is an American attorney and politician who served as president of the National Rifle Association from 2024 to 2025. He previously served as a federal prosecutor and as a U.S. Representative, repr ...
, 94, relief pitcher for the 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers.
*July 25 – Izzy León, 91, Cuban pitcher for the 1945 Philadelphia Phillies, and one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the majors during World War II.
*July 26 – Ed Runge
Edward Paul Runge (May 12, 1918 – July 25, 2002) was an American professional baseball umpire. He worked in Major League Baseball between 1954 and 1970. During his career, he officiated three World Series and five All-Star games.
Early life
He ...
, 87, American League umpire from 1954 to 1970 who worked in three World Series; his son Paul
Paul may refer to:
People
* Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people
* Paul (surname), a list of people
* Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament
* Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo ...
and grandson Brian
Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan (given name), Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish language, Irish and Breton language, Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan language, Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world. ...
also became MLB umpires.
*July 28 – Steve Souchock, 83, outfielder and first baseman who played for three teams, most notably the Detroit Tigers in parts of 8 seasons from 1946 to 1955.
*July 28 – Hal Spindel, 89, backup catcher for the St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Phillies in parts of three seasons between 1939 and 1946.
August
*August 1 – Jack Tighe, 88, former minor league catcher and longtime employee of Detroit Tigers; coached for Tigers (1942 and 1955–1956) and served as manager from 1957 to June 9, 1958.
*August 4 – Mike Payne, 40, pitcher for the 1984 Atlanta Braves.
*August 5 – Willis Hudlin, 96, pitcher who won 158 games in 16 seasons in the majors with almost all of them coming with the Cleveland Indians from 1926 through 1940.
*August 5 – Darrell Porter, 50, All-Star catcher who overcame drug and alcohol addiction to become the Most Valuable Player of the 1982 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
*August 8 – Willie Young, 90, southpaw pitcher for the 1945 Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League; born without a right hand.
*August 12 – Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter (April 27, 1916 – August 12, 2002), nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He played for 19 seasons on four major league teams from 1938 to 1942 and 1946 to 1959. He is noted prim ...
, 86, Hall of Fame right fielder who spent 13 seasons (1938–1942, 1946–1953) with the St. Louis Cardinals and was a ten-time All-Star, batting .300 lifetime and leading the National League in triples twice and in doubles, hits and RBI once each; best known for his "mad dash" to score from first base on Harry Walker's double to win Game 7 of the 1946 World Series over the Boston Red Sox; won four World Series rings with Cardinals, and — late in his career — New York Yankees.
*August 13 – Jack Creel, 86, pitcher for the 1945 St. Louis Cardinals.
*August 15 – Arnie Moser, 87, pinch hitter for the 1937 Cincinnati Reds.
*August 16 – John Roseboro
John Junior Roseboro (May 13, 1933 – August 16, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1957 until 1970, most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A four ...
, 69, six-time All-Star catcher and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, who won three World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, being also involved in a major altercation with pitcher Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez (born October 20, 1937), nicknamed "the Dominican Dandy", is a Dominican former right-handed pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1975, mostly with the San Francisco Giants. Known ...
during a game between the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in 1965.
*August 17 – Jimmy Bloodworth
James Henry Bloodworth (July 26, 1917 – August 17, 2002) was an American professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators (1901–1960), Washington Senators (1937 and 1939–41), Detroi ...
, 85, second baseman for the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies in parts of 11 seasons from 1937 to 1951; backup infielder for 1950 Phils' "Whiz Kids".
*August 18 – Dick O'Connell, 87, executive; general manager of the Boston Red Sox from September 16, 1965, to October 24, 1977; two-time (1967, 1975) ''The Sporting News'' Major League Executive of the Year.
*August 23 – Hoyt Wilhelm, 80, Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher, who in 1985 became the first reliever so honored; set records for career games (1,070) and saves (227) over 21 seasons (1952–1972), winning 143 games, despite ending rookie year at age 30; threw a no-hitter in a rare 1958 start; led National League in earned-run average and games pitched in debut season with 1952 New York Giants, and later led American League in ERA in 1959, while posting a career 2.52 ERA — lowest of any modern pitcher with 2,000 innings.
September
*September 4 – Jim Constable, 69, pitcher for the New York/San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and Milwaukee Braves in parts of 5 seasons from 1956 to 1963.
*September 14 – Jim McKee, 55, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
*September 14 – Eddie Shokes, 82, first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds in parts of two seasons from 1941 to 1946.
*September 22 – Don Carlsen, 75, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates in parts of 3 seasons from 1948 to 1952.
*September 25 – Ray Hayworth, 98, the last surviving teammate of Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was an American professional baseball center fielder. A native of rural Narrows, Georgia, Cobb played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent ...
, who worked in baseball for over a half-century in different roles; spent 15 seasons in the majors as a catcher, almost all of it with the Detroit Tigers, including Detroit's World Series teams in 1934 and 1935, while setting an American League record for most consecutive without committing an error at 439 between 1931 and 1932, later broken by Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (born Lorenzo Pietro Berra; May 12, 1925 – September 22, 2015) was an American professional baseball catcher who later took on the roles of Manager (baseball), manager and Coach (baseball), coach. He played 19 seas ...
.
*September 26 – Al Kvasnak, 81, outfielder for the 1942 Washington Senators.
*September 30 – Eddie McGah, 81, catcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1946 to 1947, who later became a minority owner of the AFL-NFL Oakland Raiders from 1959 to 2002.
October
*October 4 – Edgar Munzel, 95, sportswriter for the Chicago ''Herald-Examiner'' and ''Sun-Times'' from 1929 to 1973.
*October 8 – Jodie Beeler, 81, infielder for the 1944 Cincinnati Reds.
*October 10 – Joe Wood, 86, son of the legendary Smoky Joe Wood, who pitched briefly for the Boston Red Sox in their 1944 season.
*October 11 – Toots Ferrell, 73, pitcher for the 1947 Newark Eagles and 1948–1949 Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League.
*October 20 – Mel Harder
Melvin Leroy Harder (October 15, 1909 – October 20, 2002), nicknamed "Chief", was an American right-handed starting pitcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball, who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He spent 42 sea ...
, 93, who spent 36 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, as a pitcher from 1928 to 1947, pitching coach from 1948 to 1963, and interim manager in 1961 (one game) and 1962 (two games), with Cleveland retiring his #18 uniform in 1990; appeared in four All-Star games from 1934 to 1937, throwing a record 13 straight shutout innings; set Cleveland franchise records for wins (223), games started (433) and innings pitched () that were later broken by Bob Feller
Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010), nicknamed "the Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert", was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Clevel ...
; holds club record of 582 career games pitched; after 1963, a coach for the Mets, Cubs, Reds and Royals.
November
*November 3 – Warren Peace, 81, pitcher for the 1945–1947 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League.
*November 10 – Ken Raffensberger, 85, All-Star pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs during 14 seasons spanning 1939–1954, being noted for his pinpoint control, as he hurled four one-hitters and led National League in shutouts twice.
*November 15 – Ed Freed, 83, outfielder who played briefly with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1942 season.
*November 17 – Ulysses Redd, 88, shortstop for the 1940–1941 Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League.
December
*December 1 – Dave McNally, 60, three-time All-Star pitcher and member of two World Series championship teams with the Baltimore Orioles, who had four consecutive 20-win seasons from 1968 to 1971, pitched a 1–0 shutout
In team sports, a shutout (North American English, US) or clean sheet (Commonwealth English, UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketba ...
in Game 4 of the 1966 World Series to swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and batted a grand slam in Game 3 of the 1970 World Series, to become the only pitcher to hit a slam in Series history; also known, along with Andy Messersmith, for challenging the reserve clause
The reserve clause, in North American professional sports, was part of a player contract which stated that the rights to players were retained by the team upon the contract's expiration. Players under these contracts were not free to enter into ano ...
in standard player contracts, which resulted in a December 1975 arbitrator's decision permitting free agency in professional baseball.
*December 2 – Frank Bradley, 84, pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League from 1937 through 1942.
*December 2 – Ben Wade, 80, pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates in a span of five seasons between 1948 and 1955, as well as a distinguished scout and then director of scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, supplying the club with players that would lead it to eight National League championships and four World Series titles during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
*December 3 – Jug Thesenga, 88, pitcher who appeared in five games for the Washington Senators in the 1944 season.
*December 6 – Clarence Beers, 83, relief pitcher who appeared in one game (and two-thirds of an inning) for the 1948 St. Louis Cardinals.
*December 9 – Johnny Lazor, 90, outfielder who provided four years of good services for the Boston Red Sox while left fielder Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 193 ...
and center fielder Dom DiMaggio
Dominic Paul DiMaggio (February 12, 1917 – May 8, 2009), nicknamed "the Little Professor", was an American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 11-year baseball career for the Boston Red Sox (1940–1953). DiMaggio wa ...
were in the military service from 1943 to 1946.
*December 10 – Earl Henry, 85, pitcher who played from 1944 to 1945 for the Cleveland Indians.
*December 10 – Mike Kosman, 85, minor-league second baseman who appeared in one game as a pinch runner for the 1944 Cincinnati Reds.
*December 10 – Homer Spragins, 82, relief pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1947 season.
*December 11 – Bob Loane, 88, center fielder who played with the Washington Senators in the 1939 season and for the Boston Bees in 1940.
*December 14 – Hank Arft, 80, first baseman who played from 1948 through 1952 for the St. Louis Browns.
*December 15 – Dick Stuart, 70, two-time All-Star first baseman who played for six different clubs from 1958 to 1969, notably the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox; member of the 1960 world champion Pirates; poor fielder (known as "Dr. Strangeglove") who hit at least 30 homers with 100 or more RBIs in each league while ranking among the top-ten home run hitters in five seasons.
*December 19 – Claude Crocker, 78, pitcher for the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers, and one of several players who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II.
*December 19 – Bob Rinker, 81, catcher for the 1950 Philadelphia Athletics.
*December 23 – George Bullard, 74, shortstop for the 1954 Detroit Tigers.
*December 26 – Frank Reiber, 93, backup catcher who appeared in 44 games for the Detroit Tigers in three seasons spanning 1933–1936, including the team that won the 1935 World Series.
Sources
External links
Major League Baseball official website
Minor League Baseball official website
Baseball Almanac – Major League Baseball Players Who Died in 2002
{{DEFAULTSORT:2002 In Baseball