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User:MisfitToys/2005 in baseball

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{{Year in bazeball}}

Champions

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Major League Baseball

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{{MLB2005Bracket}}

Other champions

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Awards and honors

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Major League Baseball final standings

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{{MLB2005Standings}}

MLB statistical leaders

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{{MLB2005Leaders}}

Events

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January-March

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  • January 3 - Wade Boggs, a five-time batting champion, and Ryne Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove winner at second base, are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Boggs receives 474 votes, or 91.9 percent of the 516 ballots cast. Sandberg receives 393 votes, six more that the needed number. Relief pitchers Bruce Sutter (66.7 percent) and Rich "Goose" Gossage (55.2), and outfielders Jim Rice (59.5) and Andre Dawson (52.3), are the only other players to be named on at least half of the ballots cast.
  • January 11 - The Diamondbacks trade five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson to the Yankees in a three-team deal that sends Shawn Green from the Dodgers to Arizona.
  • January 18 - The Mets sign Carlos Beltrán to play center field for the next seven years.
  • January 21 - Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens and the Astros agree to an $18 million, one-year contract. The deal that makes him the highest-paid pitcher for the fifth time, following deals with the Red Sox in 1989 ($2.5 million) and 1991 ($5.38 million); with the Blue Jays before the 1997 season, and with the Yankees in 2000 ($15.45 million).
  • January 26 - Carlos Delgado agrees with the Marlins to a $52 million, four-year contract, with an option year making it potentially worth $64 million over five seasons.
  • February 2 - The trade that sent Sammy Sosa to the Orioles from the Cubs is finalized after commissioner Bud Selig approves the deal and the slugger passes his physical. Chicago receives three players in exchange, then signs Jeromy Burnitz as a free agent to replace Sosa in right field.
  • February 6 - At Mazatlan, Mexico, Francisco Campos turns in another brilliant outing, and Mexican champion Águilas de Mazatlán (Mazatlan Eagles) holds on in the final game, edging the Dominican Republic 4-3 to win the 56th Caribbean World Series. The title is just Mexico's fifth since joining the competition in 1970, the second in the last four years, but its first since hosting the series. Campos allows just three hits - two infield hits and a bunt single - and a run over his first eight innings of work, striking out 11. Previously, Campos handcuffed the Venezuelan champion Tigres de Aragua (Aragua Tigers) 4-0 in the series opener. He allowed just three hits over eight innings and struck out 10. Campos os voted the Series MVP.
  • February 8 - Magglio Ordóñez, the last remaining premier free agent of the offseason, agrees to a $75 million, five-year contract with the Tigers, with two option years that could raise the total to $105 million over seven seasons.
  • February 16 - The players' union signs an agreement calling for international drug-testing rules during a 16-team World Cup tournament (eventually called the World Baseball Classic) during 2006 spring training. Each team will select a provisional roster of 60 players, 45 days before the start of the tournament, and players will be covered by the drug-testing rules until the end of the competition. The deal, signed by the union, the commissioner's office and the International Baseball Federation, states that IBAF rules will cover the frequency of testing before and during the tournament, the list of prohibited substances, the procedures for taking samples and the laboratories used. More substances are banned by the IBAF than by the major leagues.
  • March 2:
  • March 29 - Five-time All-Star first baseman Andrés Galarraga announces his retirement after 399 home runs and 1425 RBI.

April

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  • April 3 - In his first outing for the Yankees, Randy Johnson allows a run and five hits in six innings as the Yankees open the 2005 major league season with a 9-2 triumph over the 2004 World Champion Red Sox.
  • April 4 - Opening Day highlights:
    • Orioles Sammy Sosa (574) and Rafael Palmeiro (551) become the first pair of teammates to have at least 500 career home runs apiece.
    • Tigers designated hitter Dmitri Young hits three home runs to lead his team to an 11-2 victory over the Royals in one of baseball's more difficult home run stadiums, Comerica Park.
    • Mark Buehrle yields two hits in eight shutout innings and Shingo Takatsu works a perfect ninth inning as the White Sox defeat the Indians 1-0 in a game that takes only an hour and 51 minutes to complete. Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook allows only one run and four hits in going the distance, but it isn't good enough to win. The only run comes in the seventh inning on an error by Cleveland shortstop Jhonny Peralta.
    • The Reds rally from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Mets 7-6, after a two-run, game-tying home run from Adam Dunn (his second of the game) and a solo blast to win it by Joe Randa.
    • Center fielder Brad Wilkerson has the honor of being the first batter for the Washington Nationals, and he responds with the first hit in Nationals history. Nevertheless, Kenny Lofton hits a three-run homer and Jon Lieber pitches 5 2/3 effective innings, leading the home team Phillies to an 8-4 victory over the Nationals.
  • April 6 - Brad Wilkerson of the Nationals hits for the cycle in the team's first win since moving to Washington D.C., 7-3 against the Phillies. He becomes the 20th player to hit for the cycle twice. One day later, Wilkerson continues his torrid hitting going 4-for-5, as the Nationals win their first series by taking two of three against the Phillies.
  • April 14 - On a historic night at RFK Stadium, Liván Hernández and Vinny Castilla are up to the task. Hernández carries a one-hitter into the ninth inning and Castilla falls a single shy of the cycle as the Nationals post a 5-3 victory over the Diamondbacks in the first major league game in Washington D.C. in over 33 years. After beginning their first season in the nation's capital with a nine-game road trip, the Nationals open the first game at RFK Stadium since the departure of the Washington Senators with former pitcher Joe Grzenda handing a ball to president George W. Bush, who throws the ceremonial first pitch; Grzenda tossed the final pitch in Senators history against the Yankees on September 30, 1971.
  • April 15 - Sammy Sosa hits his first home run at Camden Yards against the Yankees, giving him homers in 42 different ballparks.
  • April 16 - Manny Ramírez knocks in all six Red Sox runs with a grand slam and a two-run shot, and Matt Clement wins in his Fenway Park debut to lead the Red Sox over the Devil Rays. It is Ramirez's 18th career grand slam, most among active players. The homer ties him for third on the all-time grand slam list with Willie McCovey and Robin Ventura, behind only Eddie Murray (19) and Lou Gehrig (23). It is hiss 40th career multi-homer game (38 two-HR games, 2 three-HR games).
  • April 26 - Alex Rodriguez hits three home runs for the third time and drives in a career-high 10 runs as the Yankees win 12-4 over the Angels. He comes within one RBI of matching the AL record held former Yankee Tony Lazzeri.
  • April 27 - Mark Grudzielanek becomes the first Cardinals player to hit for the cycle since 1996 as St. Louis beats the Brewers 6–3. Grudzielanek is only the third Cardinals player to hit for the cycle at 40-year-old Busch Stadium, which is demolished after the season; the others were Ray Lankford on September 15, 1991 against the Mets, and Lou Brock on May 27, 1975 against the Padres.

May

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  • May 6:
    • During a 6-5 win over the Cardinals, Padres closer Trevor Hoffman becomes just the third pitcher in major league history to reach the 400-save plateau, joining Lee Smith (478) and John Franco (424). Hoffman has converted 400 of 450 save chances in his career.
  • May 7 - Julio Franco goes 3-for-4 including his first home run of the season as the Braves beat the Astros 4-1. Franco, who turns 47 on August 23, becomes the second-oldest player in major league history to homer at 46 years, 257 days. Jack Quinn, a pitcher, was 46 years, 357 days old when he hit one for the Philadelphia Athletics on June 27, 1930.
  • May 8 - At Fenway Park, the Red Sox beat the Mariners 6-3 as pitcher Jeremi González wins for the first time since August 19, 2003 after going 0-11 in his previous 15 starts.
  • May 10 - Tony Peña resigns as Royals manager after a loss at Toronto.
  • May 15 - At Safeco Field, Boston's Manny Ramírez hits his 400th career home run, a three-run shot in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Gil Meche. Ramírez is the 39th player in major league history to reach 400 homers, and just the fifth to reach the mark in a Red Sox uniform. The others were Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Andre Dawson. He also is the 13th player to reach the mark before his 33rd birthday and just the fourth since Harmon Killebrew in 1969, and the fifth-fastest to 400 in number of at-bats, behind Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, Killebrew and Jim Thome. The Mariners overcome Ramírez's milestone to beat the Red Sox 5-4.
  • May 21:
    • The Giants hold a celebration in honor of Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. A 9-foot bronze statue of him is dedicated on the plaza outside the ballpark, joining similar larger than life-size sculptures of Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. Leonel Fernández, the President of the Dominican Republic, is in attendance. In the game which follows the ceremonies, the Giants wear uniforms with the word "Gigantes" on the front (the Spanish word for "Giants"), the first time in the club's 123-year history it has worn such threads; the uniforms are to be auctioned off afterward. Many of Marichal's former teammates are in attendance, including Mays, McCovey, Felipe Alou, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry.
    • At Arlington, David Dellucci hits two of the Texas Rangers' team-record eight home runs in an 18-3 rout of the Astros. Rod Barajas, Mark Teixeira, Hank Blalock and Laynce Nix connect homers to highlight a club record four-homer second inning, and Richard Hidalgo and Kevin Mench also homer to help the Rangers top their previous best of seven, accomplished in 1986 and 2003.
  • May 23 - At Cooperstown, NY, minor leaguer Derek Nicholson hits a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending the Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox in the annual Hall of Fame game. Nicholson, who plays for the Class A Lakeland Tigers of the Florida State League, sends a 1-0 pitch from reliever Barry Hertzler of the Class A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League over the fence in left-center field. In the traditional home-run contest staged before the game, David Ortiz of the Red Sox hits a record-breaking eight in his 10 official swings. He hits his last one, a drive that barely cleared the wall in right field, with a broken bat.
  • May 25 - The Cardinals beat the Pirates 2–1 in 12 innings, as manager Tony La Russa wins his 823d game with the Cardinals, passing Whitey Herzog for second place on the franchise list. La Russa is 218 victories behind franchise leader Red Schoendienst.
  • May 28:
  • May 30:
    • The White Sox extend manager Ozzie Guillén's contract, making the move while the team has the best record in the majors (33-17). Chicago picks up the 2006 option on Guillén's contract, adds two more years and includes an option for the 2009 season.
    • 42-year-old Jamie Moyer pitches six solid innings for his 131st win with the Seattle Mariners, passing Randy Johnson to become the club's career leader as the Mariners beat the visiting Blue Jays 4-3.
  • May 31 - The Royals hire Buddy Bell as their manager, three weeks after Tony Peña resigned. Bell, the bench coach for the Indians, has previously managed the Tigers and Rockies.

June

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  • June 1 - The Astros defeat the Reds 4-1, as pitcher Roy Oswalt takes the major league lead for victories against a team without a defeat, improving to 14-0 against visiting Cincinnati. Oswalt was tied for the lead in victories against one team without a loss with Pedro Martínez, who has a 13-0 record against the Mariners. Randy Johnson is 12-0 against the Cubs.
  • June 2 - The Yankees are swept by the worst team in baseball, falling 5-2 to the Royals for their first five-game losing streak in more than two years. Buddy Bell, the new Royals skipper, is unbeaten after sweeping three games from the visiting Yankees. It's the third time in their storied history the Yankees have been swept in three games by the team with the worst record in the majors. The other times were in 2000 by the Tigers and 1937 by the Philadelphia Athletics; in both those seasons, New York won the pennant. Kansas City completes its first three-game sweep at home of the Yankees in 15 years. The Royals had gone 78 series without sweeping anyone, the longest drought in the majors since the Phillies went 79 series without a sweep from 1996-97. Despite their three-game sweep, the Royals' record of 16-37 is still the worst in the majors.
  • June 4:
    • Chan Ho Park becomes the first South Korean pitcher to to do earn 100 major league wins.
    • Garret Anderson's go-ahead, three-run homer caps a four-run seventh inning, and the Angels pass the host Red Sox 13-6. Anderson's homer gives him a club-record 990 RBI, breaking the old mark of 989 set by Tim Salmon.
  • June 5 - For the first time since 1933, a team called Washington is in first place late in the season. The Nationals complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Marlins with a 6-3 triumph; the victory, coupled with Atlanta's loss to Pittsburgh, puts Washington in first place. 75 years ago, the Washington Senators team that won the American League pennant topped the standings this time of year or later.
  • June 6 - Rockies rookie shortstop sensation Clint Barmes is expected to miss at least three months after breaking his left collarbone in a fall while carrying groceries up the stairs in his apartment building. Leading NL rookies in hitting (.329), runs (40), hits (74), doubles (16), home runs (8) and RBI (34), he undergoes surgery the next day.
  • June 7 - Justin Upton, a slugging high school shortstop from Virginia, is taken by the Diamondbacks with the No. 1 pick in the 2005 baseball draft. He and his brother B.J., the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, are the highest-drafted siblings.
  • June 8:
    • Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest member of the 400-home run club when he hits a solo shot in the eighth inning of New York's 12-3 win over host Milwaukee. The home run is the second of the game for the 29-year-old, who becomes the 40th player in major league history to reach 400 homers, with two more than Dale Murphy and one more than Al Kaline and Andrés Galarraga.
    • Minnesota ace Johan Santana improves to 15-0 over his last 17 road starts by pitching an 8-0 four-hit, nine-strikeout shutout against Arizona.
  • June 9 - The Giants' Omar Vizquel plays in his 2,179th game as a shortstop, passing Dave Concepción for sole possession of sixth place on the career list. Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio holds the record of 2,581.
  • June 10:
    • Greg Maddux makes the Red Sox' first appearance at Wrigley Field a sour one. He allows three runs in 6 2/3 innings and homers for the first time in six years as the Cubs capture their 11th win in their last 14 games with a 14-6 victory over the Red Sox. Facing the Cubs for the first time since the 1918 World Series, Boston did not play at Wrigley Field before because of the decision that year to host the postseason games in Chicago at Comiskey Park because of its greater seating capacity.
    • The 1919 contract that shipped Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees sells at auction for a staggering $996,000, delighting its new owner, Pete Siegel, a die-hard Yankees fan, and a hunger-relief group designated to receive a financial windfall from the sale. The price is nearly double the presale estimate for the December 26, 1919, contract, signed by owners Harry Frazee of the Red Sox and Jacob Ruppert of Yankees, and nearly 10 times the $100,000 cost of purchasing Ruth. The auction was announced six days earlier, and this is all that remains of the Curse of the Bambino: five neatly typed pages, two bold signatures, and the scars from 86 years of torment.
  • June 12 - Acquired in a trade two days before, Junior Spivey hits a two-run home run as the Nationals tie a franchise record with their 10th consecutive win - a 3–2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Before relocating to the nation's capital this season, the Nationals were known as the Montreal Expos, who won 10 straight games three previous times in 1979, 1980 and 1997.
  • June 14:
    • The Red Sox honor their Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk and the 12th-inning home run that won Game 6 of the 1975 World Series by naming the left field foul pole where it landed the "Fisk Pole". In a pregame ceremony from the Monster Seats, Fisk is cheered by the Fenway Park crowd while the shot is replayed to the strains of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. The Red Sox scheduled the ceremony to coincide with an interleague series against the Reds, who make their first trip back to Fenway Park since the '75 Series. Thirty years later, the video of Fisk trying to wave the ball fair remains one of the game's enduring images; Game 6 is often called the best game in major leagues history. Fenway's right field foul pole, which is just 302 feet from the plate, has long been unofficially named the Pesky Pole, for light-hitting former Red Sox shortstop Johnny Pesky, who had a tendency to curve fly balls around it for homers. On the field, Fisk throws out the ceremonial first pitch to former battery-mate Luis Tiant.
    • Commissioner Bud Selig favors reversing use of the designated hitter for interleague games next season. Under Selig's proposal, which will be considered during the offseason, the DH would be used in NL parks instead of in AL stadiums.
  • June 15 - Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners collects his 1,000th career hit, becoming just the third player since 1900 to reach the plateau in fewer than 700 games.
  • June 16:
    • The Rockies become the seventh team since 1900 to go 4-26 in its first 30 road games, joining the Washington Senators (1904), Philadelphia Athletics (1916), Phillies (1928), Cubs (1981), Twins (1982) and Devil Rays (2005).
    • With a 9-6 victory over the Dodgers, Kansas City becomes the first major league team to have three-game sweeps of the Dodgers and Yankees in one regular season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. According to Elias, the Angels and Mariners also swept the Yankees and Dodgers in one season since interleague play began in 1997, but both were not three-game sweeps.
  • June 17:
    • The Orioles' Miguel Tejada plays in his 822d consecutive game, tying Gus Suhr for ninth place on the all-time list.
    • Former Red Sox Brian Daubach starts at first base for the Mets, drawing three walks and scoring two runs one day after being called up from Triple-A Norfolk. Daubach was drafted by the Mets in the 17th round in 1990, but this is his first big league game for the club.
  • June 24:
    • At Yankee Stadium, the Mets set an NL record by hitting three sacrifice flies in one inning, an oddity accomplished three times by AL teams. Ramón Castro, José Reyes and Mike Cameron each hit one in the second inning, and Reyes adds his second of the game in the ninth, as the Mets defeat the Yankees 6-4.
    • Dodgers closer Eric Gagné has season-ending elbow surgery which goes better than expected. Gagné does not need a ligament replaced and could return by spring training. Originally expected to be out 12-to-14 months, Gagné now faces about six months recovery time, and may start throwing a baseball even earlier.
  • June 27:
    • Julio Franco hits his eighth career grand slam as the Braves get past the Marlins. The 46-year-old Atlanta first baseman has shown in June that he clearly can still play the game. In his last seven appearances, Franco is hitting .458 with four home runs and 11 RBI, and is making plenty of entries on those oldest-to-do-whatever lists. Earlier this month, he became the oldest player in major league history to have a two-homer game, the oldest in the last 96 years to steal a base and extended his own mark for being the oldest to hit a grand slam.

July

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  • July 5 - At Arlington, Manny Ramírez hits his third grand slam this season and the 20th of his career as the Red Sox defeat the Rangers 7-4. The 20 grand slams trail only Lou Gehrig's 23 in major league history.
  • July 6 - Marlins pitchers are perfect for more than nine innings, and they set a team record with 22 strikeouts. Juan Encarnación's single in the 12th inning gives Florida a 5-4 victory over the Brewers, but it is the Marlins pitchers who steal the show. Starter A. J. Burnett matches his career high and the team record with 14 strikeouts in six innings and, after J.J. Hardy's RBI single with two outs in the third, Florida pitchers retire the final 28 Milwaukee hitters. Burnett throws 125 pitches in six innings, allowing four runs and four hits while walking five; Jim Mecir pitches the seventh but doesn't have a strikeout; Guillermo Mota strikes out two in the eighth and two in the ninth; Todd Jones strikes out one in the 10th and two in the 11th, and Valerio de los Santos, the game winner, strikes out one in the 12th.
  • July 11 - At Comerica Park – a field normally considered a "pitcher's park" - Bobby Abreu wins the Home Run Derby. He sets records with 24 home runs in a single round and 41 overall, topping Miguel Tejada's previous marks of 15 and 27, set a year earlier. Abreu's longest homer is measured at 517 feet.
  • July 12 - The American League rolls to a 7-5 victory over the National League in the 76th All-Star Game played at Comerica Park. Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada is named the MVP after starting the AL offense with a home run in the second inning and drives in another run in the third. Texas' Mark Teixeira and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki also drive in two runs each for the AL.
  • July 14 - The Giants defeat the archrival Dodgers 4-3 for the 10,000th victory in franchise history.
  • July 15 - Rafael Palmeiro's RBI double off Joel Piñeiro of the Mariners is his 3,000th career hit. Palmeiro, who also has 566 home runs, joins Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs as the Orioles beat Seattle 6-3.
  • July 23 - The Giants retire number 36 in honor of Gaylord Perry.
  • July 24 - At San Francisco, the Marlins beat the Giants 4-1 with 70-year-old Felipe Alou and 74-year-old Jack McKeon in the dugouts; it marks the first time in North American professional sports history that opposing teams both had managers or coaches 70 or older.
  • July 25:
    • The Athletics defeat the Indians 13-4, as Oakland DH Dan Johnson and Indians DH Jason Dubois both bat ninth, the first time in major league history each DH was in the last spot in the batting order.
    • At home, the Devil Rays beat Curt Schilling and the Red Sox, 4-3, on Aubrey Huff’s two-out double in the 10th inning. The Red Sox set a major league record to start a season by not playing extra-innings until their 99th game.
  • July 31:

August

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  • August 1 - Rafael Palmeiro is suspended for 10 days due to testing positive banned substance abuse.
  • August 2 - Ryan Franklin is suspended 10 days for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
  • August 3 - Manny Ramírez of the Red Sox becomes the seventh player in major league history to reach 30 home runs and 100 RBI in at least eight straight seasons. The others are Jimmie Foxx, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Albert Belle, Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa. Ramírez and Foxx are the only players in Red Sox history with five consecutive 30-homer seasons.
  • August 6 - Albert Pujols of the Cardinals becomes the first major league player to hit 30 home runs in each of his first five seasons. No. 30 comes in the first inning against John Smoltz, and it helps the Cardinals to an 11-3 victory over the visitors Braves.
  • August 7 - In just the fourth meeting of pitchers with the same last name since 2000, Víctor Zambrano of the Mets outduels Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs in front of 40,321 fans at Shea Stadium, pitching the Mets to a 6-1 win and a sweep of the three-game series. Both Zambranos entered with 42 career wins, the second time in major league history that opposing starters with the same last name came in with matching victory totals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The other was on June 15, 1944, when Red Barrett of the Boston Braves and Dick Barrett of the Phillies each had 19 career wins. Like the Barretts, Víctor and Carlos obviously share a double feat, but the similarities don't end there. The Zambranos were both born in Venezuela, both throw with their right arm, and both wear No. 38. Besides this, it is the fourth time in modern major league history that starting pitchers with a last name beginning with Z faced each other, according to ESPN. Víctor and Carlos Zambrano have both faced Barry Zito of the Athletics.
  • August 7 - Zach Duke becomes only the second rookie in Pirates history to win his first five decisions as a starter, as the Pirates pass the Dodgers 9-4. The 22-year-old is the first Pittsburgh rookie since Whitey Glazner in 1921 to start 5-0. No Pirates rookie has been 6-0. Duke is 5-0 with 35 strikeouts and a 1.52 ERA in 46.2 innings pitched; his 0.87 ERA in July was the lowest among all major league pitchers.
  • August 8 - In a doubleheader with the Marlins, the Rockies start two pitchers with the same surname. This is the first such doubleheader since June 22, 1974, when Gaylord Perry and his brother Jim Perry, both of the Indians, accomplished the feat against the Red Sox. Sun-Woo Kim starts the first game, and Byung-Hyun Kim starts the second game. The Rockies win both games of the doubleheader.
  • August 9 - Down 7-2 in the top of the 9th inning, the Indians score 11 runs against the Royals to win the game 13-7. With 2 outs, the Royals leading by 1 and a man on base, the Indian's Jeff Liefer hits a routine fly ball to left which is dropped by outfielder Chip Ambres, allowing the tying run to score. Kansas City made 3 errors all-together in the 9th inning. To make matters worse for the Royals, it was their 11th straight loss.
  • August 11 - Yankees closer Mariano Rivera converts his 31st consecutive save, the last in the longest such streak of his career.
  • August 20
    • 2005 Little League World Series: Kalen Pimentel of Vista, California, representing the West team, strikes out 18 batters in a six-inning game to lead his team over Owensboro, Kentucky, representing the Great Lakes, 7-2.
    • The Royals end major league baseball's losing streak in 17 years, defeating the Athletics 2-1 to snap a club-record 19-game skid. The Royals' mark was the longest since the Orioles lost an AL-record 21 in a row at the start of the 1988 season. The major league mark since 1900 is 23 straight losses, set by the Phillies in 1961.
  • August 28 - Jason Giambi of the Yankees collects his 1500th hit and drives in the 1000th RBI of his major league career in a 10-3 Yankee win over the Royals.
  • August 31 - Called up from Double-A Carolina, Jeremy Hermida of the Marlins becomes the second player in major league history to belt a grand slam in his first at-bat. But it is too late to rally the Marlins, who lose 10-5 to the Cardinals at Dolphins Stadium. Pinch-hitting in the seventh inning, Hermida hits his grand slam off Al Reyes on a 1-1 pitch. The Marlins' No. 1 draft pick in 2002, Hermida is a left-handed-hitting outfielder who was a rising star at Double-A before being brought up. The only other player to accomplish the feat was Bill Duggleby of the Phillies on April 21, 1898; Duggleby was the winning pitcher that day.

September

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  • September 6 - Rangers slugger Mark Teixeira becomes the fifth player in major league history to hit 100 home runs in his first three seasons, joining Joe DiMaggio, Ralph Kiner, Eddie Mathews and Albert Pujols.
  • September 7:
    • Dontrelle Willis becomes the first Marlin to earn 20 wins in a season as Florida buries the Nationals 12-1 at RFK Stadium; he is also the first African American to do it since Oakland's Dave Stewart in 1990. Only 12 African Americans, plus Black Canadian Ferguson Jenkins, have posted 20-win campaigns in major league history.
    • Hideki Matsui hits his 400th professional home run in the fourth inning of the Yankees' 5-4 win over Tampa Bay. Matsui hit 332 homers for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League from 1993-2002, and 68 since joining the Yankees in 2003.
  • September 12 - David Ortiz of the Red Sox hits his second game-winning home run in seven days to beat the host Blue Jays in the 11th inning, 6-5. With his second HR of the night and 40th of the season, he joins Carl Yastrzemski as the only players in the 105-year franchise history to hit 40 home runs in consecutive seasons. Yaz did it in 1969 and 1970.
  • September 14:
    • Andruw Jones hits his 50th home run, becoming the first major leaguer to reach that mark since 2002, in the Braves' 12-4 loss to the Phillies. It is Jones' 300th career homer, and the 28-year-old becomes the 12th player in major league history to reach that milestone before his 30th birthday.
    • David Ortiz hits a game-winning two-run HR in the eighth inning as the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 5-3; it is his 38th homer this year hit out of the DH position, surpassing Edgar Martinez' single-season record of 37 in 2000 with the Mariners.
  • September 15 - The Cardinals beat the Cubs 6–1, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, running away with the NL Central title division for a second straight season – their fourth title in the last six years. The Cardinals moved into first place on April 16 and never left.
  • September 16 - Barry Bonds of the Giants hits his first home run of the season and the 704th of his career. He homers off Dodgers starter Brad Penny in his 11th at-bat after missing most of the year recovering from three operations on his right knee since January 31. Bonds is third on the career HR list, trailing only Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755).
  • September 17 - In a road game against the Marlins, the Phillies - trailing 2–0 going into the ninth inning - take advantage of four Marlin errors in the ninth to score 10 runs in the inning and go on to win 10-2. A blown save snaps Marlins closer Todd Jones' streak of 27 consecutive saves.
  • September 18 - The Rangers set a major league record for home runs at home when David Dellucci, Alfonso Soriano and Rod Barajas connect against the Mariners in an 8-6 victory. Barajas' homer in the fourth inning gives Texas 150 homers at Ameriquest Field, one more than the Rockies hit at Coors Field in 1996. Mark Teixeira adds two more home runs later in the game to bring Texas' overall home run total to 252, which leads the majors. The Rangers are only 13 homers shy of breaking the major league record of 264 set by Seattle in 1997. Barajas' homer gives the Rangers seven players with at least 20 homers, tying the major league record set by Baltimore in 1996 and matched by Toronto in 2000.
  • September 19 - The Pirates defeat Roger Clemens and the Astros 7–0 in the opener of a four-game set at PNC Park. Clemens has now pitched in every active ball park.
  • September 21 - Rafael Furcal sets an Atlanta team record with his 187th career stolen base, breaking the mark he shared with Otis Nixon. Hank Aaron holds the franchise record for stolen bases with 240, most of them while the Braves were in Milwaukee.
  • September 22 - Pitcher Dontrelle Willis bats seventh in the Marlins lineup, the first pitcher to bat seventh since the Expos' Steve Renko did so against the Padres on August 26, 1973.
  • September 27:
    • The Braves clinch their 14th straight division title thanks to Philadelphia's loss to the Mets. Atlanta began their record-setting streak in 1991, when they were in the NL West.
    • The Angels win the AL West title for the second consecutive season with a 4-3 win over the Athletics. Anaheim led the division or shared the lead for all but five days after the All-Star break.
    • Jimmy Rollins sets a Phillies record by extending his hitting streak to 32 games with a single in the seventh inning of a 3-2 loss to the Mets. Rollins breaks Ed Delahanty's record of 31 in a row set in 1899. Rollins' streak is the longest in the majors since Florida's Luis Castillo hit in 35 straight in 2002.
  • September 29:
    • The White Sox clinch their first division title since 2000 with a 4-2 victory over the Tigers. Chicago has 96 victories, the best record in the AL, and is just the 10th team in major league history to be in first place on every day of the season.

October

[edit]
  • October 1 - The Yankees defeat the Red Sox at Fenway Park by a score of 8–4 to clinch their eighth consecutive AL East title. Yankees captain Derek Jeter gets his 200th hit of the season, and teammate Alex Rodriguez breaks a franchise season record for most home runs by a right hander batter with his 48th blast.
  • October 2:
    • Both wild card berths are clinched on the final day of the regular season. The Red Sox clinch their third straight wild card after the White Sox defeat the Indians 3–1, while the Astros earn their second straight berth with a 6-4 victory over the Cubs. Boston wins 10–1 over the Yankees, entering a tie for the first place in the AL East. The Yankees win their season series with the Red Sox ten games to nine, giving New York the division title and Boston the wild card. The last three World Series champions were wild card entries.
    • Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies extends his hitting streak to 36 games, the ninth longest in major league history, with a fourth-inning single in the regular-season finale against the Nationals. The streak is the longest since 1987, when Paul Molitor hit safely in 39 consecutive games. The old Phillies franchise record of 31 was set by Ed Delahanty in 1899.
    • Marlins manager Jack McKeon tells his team before a 7–6, 10-inning victory over the Braves that he will not be back as manager in 2006. McKeon led Florida to the 2003 World Series title and a winning record in each of his three seasons as manager of the club. He began his managerial career in the minors 50 years ago and became the 52nd manager to earn 1,000 major-league wins on September 3.
    • Leaders. Atlanta's Andruw Jones wins his first NL home run crown with a major league-best 51, three more than the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, who wins his fourth AL HR title in five seasons. Jones becomes the first player to reach 50 homers since Rodriguez and Jim Thome in 2002. Rodriguez gives the Yankees their first home run champion since Reggie Jackson was co-leader in 1980. Houston's Roger Clemens leads the major leagues in ERA for the first time since 1990 after posting a 1.87 mark. Derrek Lee of the Cubs and Michael Young of the Rangers win their first batting titles with .335 and .331 respectively. Boston's David Ortiz (148) and Atlanta's Andruw Jones (128) lead in RBI.
  • October 3:
    • Jim Tracy steps down as manager of the Dodgers a day after finishing his first losing season with the team.
    • Manager Alan Trammell is fired by the Tigers after three seasons in which he failed to turn around a franchise without a winning record since 1993.
    • Hitting coach Don Baylor and pitching coach Bryan Price decide to leave the Mariners.
    • Don Zimmer plans to return in 2006 for his 58th year in pro baseball as a senior adviser for the Devil Rays. He is completing his second season with Tampa Bay and has a contract that runs through next year.
    • The Astros announce a contract extension for Craig Biggio through 2006, which will be his 19th season - all in Houston.
  • October 4:
    • The Cardinals beat the Padres 8–5 to take the first game of their NL Division Series. Reggie Sanders sets an NLDS record with six RBI, including the third grand slam in Cardinals postseason history in the fifth inning.
    • The White Sox rout the Red Sox 14–2 to take the first game of their AL Division Series. The White Sox have an ALDS record-setting five home runs.
    • Mike Mussina pitches scoreless ball into the sixth inning, and rookie Robinson Canó lines a three-run double in the first as the Yankees defeat Bartolo Colón and the Angels 4–2, in Game One of their Division Series.
  • October 5:
    • Tadahito Iguchi hits a go-ahead, three-run home run after a deflating error by Red Sox second baseman Tony Graffanino, and the White Sox rally for a 5–4 victory to take a 2-0 lead against the defending World Series champions in their ALDS.
    • Morgan Ensberg has five RBI and Craig Biggio is in the middle of just about every rally, leading the Astros past the Braves 10–5 in Game One of their Division Series. Andy Pettitte overcomes two home runs to join Atlanta's John Smoltz as the winningest pitcher in major league postseason history.
    • With strong pitching and sparkling defense, Los Angeles defeats New York 5–3, to even their Division Series at one game apiece.
  • October 6:
    • Mark Mulder pitches shutout ball into the seventh inning, and the Cardinals once again built an early lead, beating the Padres 6–2 for a 2-0 edge in their best-of-five NLDS.
    • In his first postseason at-bat, Brian McCann hits a three-run homer off seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, sending John Smoltz and the Braves to a 7–1 victory over the Astros, tying their best-of-five NLDS at one game apiece. Another of the 18 rookies to play for the Braves this season, McCann was less than three months old when Clemens made his major league debut for the Red Sox in 1984. Smoltz breaks a one-day tie with Houston's Andy Pettitte to reclaim the title as the major leagues' winningest postseason pitcher, improving to 7-0 in the division series and 15-4 overall.
    • Baseball fans recognize the 2005 accomplishments of Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi, voting them Comeback Players of the Year. Following four years of serious injuries, Griffey hit .301 with 35 home runs and 92 RBI. Giambi led the AL with a .440 on base percentage and 108 walks, finishing eighth with a .535 slugging percentage, and hit .271 with 32 homers and 87 RBI. In 2004 Giambi suffered several ailments, and was also dogged by the BALCO steroids scandal. The award was voted on for the first time by fans on MLB.com [1]. This is the first year that the league officially has sanctioned the award. Six players from each league were nominated by the editorial staff at MLB.com and representatives of the league.
  • October 7:
    • The White Sox sweep the Red Sox with a 5–3 Game Three victory at Fenway Park, producing the first postseason series victory for the South Siders since 1917. It is the second postseason series win for any Chicago baseball team in the same time frame.
    • The Angels rough up Randy Johnson and Aaron Small to beat the Yankees 11–7, taking a 2-1 lead in their Division Series. Garret Anderson is 4-for-5 with five RBI, including a home run and a triple, and Bengie Molina homers for the third straight game.
    • The Twins announce that designated hitter Matt LeCroy, pitcher Joe Mays and coach Al Newman will not return in 2006.
    • Rockies outfielder Dustan Mohr opts for free agency after refusing an assignment to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
  • October 8:
    • Roy Oswalt pitches effectively into the eighth inning and Craig Biggio hits three doubles and scores two run as the Astros beat the Braves 7–3, to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Division Series.
    • The Cardinals chase former teammate Woody Williams before he can get out of the second inning in a 7–3 victory that completes a three-game sweep of the Padres. Matt Morris holds the Padres hitless for 4 1-3 innings, little David Eckstein hits his first career postseason home run, and Reggie Sanders drives in two more runs to set an NLDS record with 10. Jason Isringhausen earns his 10th career postseason save as St. Louis advances to the National League Championship Series for the fourth time in six years.
  • October 9:
    • In what will go down as a true classic post-season game, rookie Chris Burke hits a walk-off home run in the 18th inning as the Astros defeat the Braves 7–6 in a record-setting NLDS Game Four in extra innings. The game sets several records, including longest postseason game ever at 18 innings, longest postseason game by time (5 hours, 50 minutes), and first postseason game with two grand slams. The Astros' 23 players used tie an all-time post-season record as well. Houston will now advance to the NLCS for the second year in a row to face the 2004 NL Champion Cardinals.
    • The Yankees force an ALDS Game Five by defeating the Angels 3–2.
  • October 10:
    • Rookie Ervin Santana pitches 5 1/3 strong innings in his postseason debut, Garret Anderson hits a home run and drives in two runs, and Adam Kennedy hits a go-ahead two-run triple, to lead the Angels over the Yankees 5–3 in the decisive Game Five of their Division Series.
    • The Phillies fire Ed Wade after eight years as general manager.
    • At a charity golf event, Jim Beattie tells people that he will not be returning as the executive vice president of baseball operations for the Orioles. Mike Flanagan will take over the full-time duties that he shared with Beattie.
  • October 11:
    • Jim Tracy signs a three-year contract to become the Pirates' manager after five mostly successful seasons with the Dodgers.
    • Injured ace Bartolo Colón is left off the Angels' roster for the American League Championship Series and will not pitch at all against the White Sox. A 21-game winner during the regular season, Colón left his start against the Yankees in Game Five of the Division Series after only 23 pitches because of inflammation in his right shoulder.
    • Well-rested, playing in front of a sold out home crowd and with their top pitcher José Contreras on the mound against a road-weary team, the White Sox have everything lined up for a quick start in the ALCS, but lose to the Angels 3–2 in Game 1. The Angels traveled about 4,700 miles in a 32-hour span, becoming the first team in major league history to play three games in three cities on successive nights, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Angels lost Game 4 of the Division Series in New York on Sunday, won Game 5 in Anaheim on Monday and wiped out the White Sox' home-field advantage in the ALCS on Tuesday.
  • October 12 :
    • Mark Buehrle pitches a five-hitter complete game, and Joe Crede's second double of the game scores the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the White Sox a 2–1 win over the Angels in Game Two of the ALCS. The double comes after a controversial call involving A. J. Pierzynski reaching first on a dropped third strike.
    • Reggie Sanders of the Cardinals hits a two-run home run to help St. Louis beat the Astros 5–3 in Game One of the NLCS. Chris Carpenter is the winning pitcher and Andy Pettitte the loser.
    • The Orioles remove the interim title from Sam Perlozzo and hire him as their manager for the 2006 season.
    • Fans reward Yankees closer Mariano Rivera for his season-long efforts and award him the "Delivery Man of the Year" award.
  • October 13:
    • Roy Oswalt works seven innings of five-hit one-run ball and Brad Lidge throws two scoreless innings in relief as the Astros get past the Cardinals 4–1. Rookie outfielder Chris Burke keeps up his unllikely postseason hitting, scoring two runs and driving in another with a two-out single. Burke came through in the Division Series with an 18th-inning walk-off home run that knocked out Atlanta, and he had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in Houston's Game One loss to St. Louis. Houston evens the best-of-seven series at one game apiece and heads home for the next three contests.
  • October 14:
    • After failing earlier in the month to agree to a contract, the Athletics and Ken Macha agree to a three-year contract to allow Macha's return as the manager of the A's.
    • Jon Garland pitches a four-hit complete game and Paul Konerko goes 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI as the White Sox take a 2-1 lead in the ALCS with a 5–2 win over the Angels.
  • October 15:
    • Roger Clemens pitches six innings of two-hit baseball and Mike Lamb hits a two-run homer as the Astros take a two-games-to-one lead in the NLCS with a 4-3 win over the Cardinals.
    • In the ALCS, Freddy García continues the powerful pitching parade that has guided the White Sox to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series by tossing a complete game as the Angels are defeated 8–2. Paul Konerko has a three-run home run off Ervin Santana in the first inning, the second straight game in which he had gone deep in the first. García joins Jon Garland and Mark Buehrle to give the White Sox a formidable streak of three consecutive complete games. It is the first time a team had pitched three consecutive complete games in the postseason since Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack and Jerry Koosman did it for the Mets during the 1973 NLCS against the Reds.
  • October 16:
    • Pitcher Brandon Backe allows one run while striking out seven over 5 2-3 innings, and Jason Lane goes 2-for-3 with a solo home run, to lead the Astros to a 2–1 victory over the Cardinals in Game Four of the NLCS.
    • The White Sox clinch the AL pennant with a 6–3 victory over the Angels in Game 5 of the ALCS. José Contreras becomes the fourth consecutive White Sox pitcher to throw a complete game, the first time that has happened since the 1956 Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers behind five straight complete games from Whitey Ford, Tom Sturdivant, Don Larsen (who pitched a perfect game), Bob Turley and Johnny Kucks. Paul Konerko is named ALCS MVP. This is the White Sox' first trip to the World Series since 1959.
  • October 17 - At Minute Maid Park, the Astros are one out from their first World Series appearance, but Albert Pujols saves the Cardinals by hitting a stunning three-run home run off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning, and the Cardinals rally for a 5–4 victory. Houston still leads the NLCS 3-2 as St. Louis has forced a Game Six at Busch Stadium.
  • October 18 - In Game Six of the NLCS, the Astros earn their first World Series berth in 44 years of team history with a 5–1 victory over the Cardinals. Roy Oswalt, who also won Game Two, gives up only three hits and strikes out six Cardinals for seven innings in earning the NLCS MVP award. Houston had been 0-5 with a chance to clinch the NLCS. For the Cardinals, the loss marks the end of the season for the team that led the majors with 100 wins. It also is the final game at Busch Stadium, scheduled to be demolished by a wrecking ball to make room for St. Louis' new ballpark.
  • October 22 - In the World Series opener, José Contreras pitches seven solid innings, then relievers Neal Cotts and Bobby Jenks combine for two scoreless innings — getting five of the last six outs on strikeouts — as the White Sox defeat the Astros 5–3 at U.S. Cellular Field. Joe Crede and Jermaine Dye hit home runs for Chicago. Houston starter Roger Clemens leaves the game after two innings with a strained left hamstring, the same injury that caused him to miss a start in late September. While registering 92 miles-an-hour on his fastball, he struggles, allowing three runs on four hits in the two innings and leaving after throwing 54 pitches.
  • October 23 - The White Sox crash two of the more dramatic home runs in recent World Series history to score a 7–6 victory against the Astros and take a two-games-to-none lead in the Series. Paul Konerko, who hit 40 homers in the regular season, and Scott Podsednik, who hit none, provide the fireworks. Konerko, the ALCS MVP, hits a grand slam in the seventh inning to give the White Sox a 6–4 lead. After the Astros tie the score in the ninth against Chicago closer Bobby Jenks, Podsednik smacks a 2-1 pitch from Houston closer Brad Lidge into the bleachers in right-center field to trigger a boisterous celebration.
  • October 25 - In the first World Series game played in the state of Texas, former Astro Geoff Blum wins the longest game in WS history with a tiebreaking two-out solo home run as the White Sox beat the Astros 7–5 at Minute Maid Park to move within a win of a sweep and their first title since 1917. The 14-inning marathon lasts a total of five hours and 41 minutes. The previous longest game was 4:51 when the Yankees beat the Mets in 12 innings in Game One in 2000. This matches the longest by innings, a Babe Ruth complete game for the Red Sox against the Brooklyn Robins in Game Two of the 1916 WS (at 2:32). The 43 players used by both teams also are a Series record, as are the combined 17 pitchers and 30 runners left on base.
  • October 26 - The White Sox complete a World Series sweep of the Astros with a 1–0 victory in Game Four. Freddy García pitches seven shutout innings, and Series MVP Jermaine Dye connects an RBI single off Brad Lidge in the eighth for the only run of the game, as Juan Uribe adds strong defensive support at shortstop. García becomes the first Venezuelan starting pitcher to win a World Series game. He also accomplishes the feat with good friend and fellow countryman Ozzie Guillén at the helm, who manages the White Sox to earn their first World Championship since 1917.
  • October 31 - Theo Epstein rejects a contract offer by the Red Sox, and steps down as the club's general manager.

November-December

[edit]
  • November 2 - Matt Lawton of the Yankees is suspended for 10 days, effective for the start of the 2006 regular season, for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
  • December 20 - Johnny Damon leaves the Red Sox and signs with the Yankees for $52 million over four years.

Movies

[edit]

Deaths

[edit]

January-March

[edit]
  • January 10 - Tommy Fine, 90, pitcher, briefly with the Red Sox and Browns, who in 1952 threw the only no-hitter in Caribbean World Series history
  • January 22 - César Gutiérrez, 61, Venezuelan shortstop who with the 1970 Tigers became one of three players in major league history with a 7-for-7 game
  • January 31 - Bill Voiselle, 86, All-Star pitcher for the Giants and Braves who won 21 games and led the NL in strikeouts and innings as a 1944 rookie
  • February 4 - Luis Sánchez, 51, Venezuelan relief pitcher for the Angels who led the team in saves in 1983 and 1984
  • February 13 - Nelson Briles, 61, pitcher who won 19 games for the 1968 Cardinals and pitched a 2-hitter for the Pirates in the 1971 World Series; later a broadcaster
  • March 2 - Rick Mahler, 51, pitcher for the Braves who won 17 games in 1985 and threw three Opening Day shutouts
  • March 6 - Danny Gardella, 85, left fielder for the 1944-45 Giants who was the first major leaguer to challenge baseball's reserve clause in court
  • March 6 - Chuck Thompson, 83, broadcaster for the Orioles for nearly 50 years, also with the Washington Senators and Philadelphia Athletics and Phillies
  • March 13 - Frank House, 75, catcher, primarily for the Tigers, who peaked with 15 HRs and 53 RBI in 1955
  • March 16 - Dick Radatz, 67, All-Star relief pitcher for the Red Sox who had over 20 saves in each of his first four seasons, leading the AL twice
  • March 26 - Marius Russo, 90, All-Star pitcher for the Yankees who had 2-1 victories in both the 1941 and 1943 World Series
  • March 27 - Bob Casey, 79, Minnesota Twins public address announcer for all of their 44 years

April-June

[edit]
  • April 7 - Bob Kennedy, 84, outfielder and third baseman who became manager and general manager of the Cubs; hit the first grand slam in Orioles history and was also the Oakland Athletics' first manager
  • April 13 - Don Blasingame, 73, All-Star second baseman who later managed Hiroshima and Hanshin teams in Japan
  • April 23 - Earl Wilson, 70, pitcher for the Red Sox and Tigers who won 22 games in 1967; first black pitcher to throw a major league no-hitter (1962)
  • May 6 - Lee Stine, 91, pitcher, mainly for the 1936 Reds, who gave up Lou Gehrig's 14th career grand slam while with the White Sox
  • May 26 - Chico Carrasquel, 77, Venezuelan shortstop for the White Sox and Indians who became the first Latin American All-Star; later a broadcaster in his native country
  • May 30 - Juan Pedro Villamán, 46, Spanish-language Red Sox broadcaster since 1995
  • June 28 - Dick Dietz, 63, All-Star catcher for the Giants who was controversially denied first base after being hit by a Don Drysdale pitch in 1968, extending Drysdale's streak of scoreless innings

July-September

[edit]
  • July 13 - Mickey Owen, 89, All-Star catcher for three NL teams, best known for a dropped third strike in the 1941 World Series; jumped to the Mexican League as a player-manager in 1946, and later became a coach and scout
  • July 30 - Ray Cunningham, 100, reserve third baseman for the 1931-32 Cardinals, and the oldest living major leaguer
  • August 8 - Gene Mauch, 79, winningest manager (1,901 victories) in major league history who never won a pennant, falling achingly short with the Phillies in 1964 and the Angels in 1982 and 1986; known for emphasis on fundamentals, also managed Expos and Twins
  • August 11 - Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, 103, All-Star pitcher and catcher of the Negro Leagues who played for more than 15 teams between the late 1920s and the early 1950s
  • September 10 - Charlie Williams, 61, umpire from 1982 to 2000, mainly in the National League, who in 1993 became the first black umpire to work home plate in the World Series
  • September 16 - John McMullen, 87, owner of the Houston Astros from 1979 to 1992, during which time the team made its first three playoff appearances
  • September 17 - Donn Clendenon, 70, first baseman for four NL teams who was the MVP of the Mets' 1969 World Series victory, hitting three home runs
  • September 20 - Joe Bauman, 83, first baseman in the minor leagues whose 72 home runs for the 1954 Roswell Rockets were an organized baseball record until 2001; retired with 337 career HRs

October-December

[edit]
  • October 2 - Pat Kelly, 61, All-Star outfielder for five AL teams who stole 30 bases three times and batted .364 in the 1979 ALCS with the Orioles
  • October 9 - Tom Cheek, 66, Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer from the team's formation in 1977 through 2004
  • October 15 - Al Widmar, 80, pitcher for the Red Sox, Browns and White Sox; became a minor league manager, and pitching coach with the Phillies and Blue Jays
  • October 18 - Bill King, 78, radio voice of the Oakland Athletics for 25 years (1981-2005)
  • October 18 - Hal Lebovitz, 89, sportswriter for the Cleveland News and Plain Dealer for over 40 years; also wrote for The Sporting News
  • October 23 - Harry Dalton, 77, general manager of the Baltimore Orioles, California Angels and Milwaukee Brewers from 1966 to 1991
  • October 28 - Bob Broeg, 87, sportswriter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Sporting News from 1945 to 1995
  • October 30 - Al Lopez, 97, Hall of Famer who set a major league record for career games as a catcher (1,918), almost entirely in the NL, and managed the Cleveland Indians (1954) and Chicago White Sox (1959) to the only non-Yankee AL pennants between 1949 and 1964
  • November 16 - Sandalio (Sandy) Consuegra, 85, All-Star pitcher who posted a 16-3 record with the 1954 White Sox
  • November 29 - Vic Power, 78, Puerto Rican All-Star first baseman for the Athletics, Indians and Twins who won seven Gold Gloves, batted .300 three times and led AL in triples in 1958
  • December 3 - Herb Moford, 77, pitcher for four teams, most notably the 1958 Tigers
  • December 21 - Elrod Hendricks, 64, catcher and coach for the Orioles from 1968 through 2005 who batted .364 and made a disputed defensive play in the 1970 World Series
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