*September 25 - [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]' rookie closer [[Neftali Feliz]] acquires his 38th save of the season against the [[Oakland Athletics]], setting a record for most saves by a rookie in a single season. He surpassed the previous record of 37 held by former [[Seattle Mariners]]' closer [[Kazuhiro Sasaki]] in {{By|2000}}. Feliz's total for the year is at 40 saves. The win by the Texas Rangers also clinched their first AL West division title since 1999. <ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100925&content_id=15072658&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex With Cantu's help, Rangers clinch AL West]</ref>
*September 25 - [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]' rookie closer [[Neftali Feliz]] acquires his 38th save of the season against the [[Oakland Athletics]], setting a record for most saves by a rookie in a single season. He surpassed the previous record of 37 held by former [[Seattle Mariners]]' closer [[Kazuhiro Sasaki]] in {{By|2000}}. Feliz's total for the year is at 40 saves. The win by the Texas Rangers also clinched their first AL West division title since 1999. <ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100925&content_id=15072658&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex With Cantu's help, Rangers clinch AL West]</ref>
*September 28 - [[Lotte Giants]] slugger [[Lee Dae-ho]] won the third [[triple crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] in the 29 years of the Korea Baseball Organization, after hitting a .364 average with 44 home runs and 133 runs batted in. Lee also became the first multiple Triple Crown winner, having turned the feat in 2006.<ref>[http://baseballdeworld.com/2010/09/28/south-korea-lee-daeho-wins-triple-crown/ Baseball World – South Korea: Lee Dae-ho Wins Triple Crown]</ref>
*September 28 - [[Lotte Giants]] slugger [[Lee Dae-Ho]] won the third [[triple crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] in the 29 years of the Korea Baseball Organization, after hitting a .364 average with 44 home runs and 133 runs batted in. Lee also became the first multiple Triple Crown winner, having turned the feat in 2006.<ref>[http://baseballdeworld.com/2010/09/28/south-korea-lee-daeho-wins-triple-crown/ Baseball World – South Korea: Lee Dae-ho Wins Triple Crown]</ref>
*September 30 - MLB players and owners agrees to [[Free_agency#Major_League_Baseball_usage|free agency]] changes. Under the deal announced this date, players no longer have to file for free agency but automatically are set free. The exclusive period for teams to negotiate with their free agent-eligible players was cut from 15 days to five. The deadline was moved up for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents, as was the deadline for teams to offer contracts for the following season to players on their [[Major_League_Baseball_rosters#40-man_roster|40-man rosters]]. In addition, teams, players and agents will be restricted in their ability to conduct free-agent negotiations in the media. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5633968 MLB agrees to free agency changes] Espn.com/Associated Press</ref>
*September 30 - MLB players and owners agrees to [[Free_agency#Major_League_Baseball_usage|free agency]] changes. Under the deal announced this date, players no longer have to file for free agency but automatically are set free. The exclusive period for teams to negotiate with their free agent-eligible players was cut from 15 days to five. The deadline was moved up for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents, as was the deadline for teams to offer contracts for the following season to players on their [[Major_League_Baseball_rosters#40-man_roster|40-man rosters]]. In addition, teams, players and agents will be restricted in their ability to conduct free-agent negotiations in the media. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5633968 MLB agrees to free agency changes] Espn.com/Associated Press</ref>
Revision as of 16:50, 25 December 2010
The following are the baseball events of the year 2010 throughout the world.
Template:2010 MLB Playoffs
Click on any series score to link to that series' page.
Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series.
The National League champion has home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the NL victory in the All-Star Game.
January 2 – Toronto Blue Jaysthird basemanEdwin Encarnación is discharged from a Miami, Florida hospital after suffering first- and second-degree burns to his face when he was hit by fireworks during a New Year's celebration in his native La Romana, Dominican Republic. Encarnación was treated for minor facial injuries to the front and right side of his face after he was struck by a firecracker rocket near his jaw and it exploded. He went to a local clinic in the Dominican Republic on the 1st, but he was later transported to Miami, where he saw a face specialist for his injuries.
January 4 – The New York Mets announce the official signing of Jason Bay to a four-year, $66 million contract, which includes a fifth-year vesting option. The two sides originally agreed on the deal on December 29, 2009, however, it would not become official until after Bay passed his physical.
The St. Louis Cardinals re-signed outfielderMatt Holliday to a seven-year deal with an option for 2017, for a guaranteed $120 million. It is the richest contract in Cardinals history.
In an afternoon statement to news outlets, Mark McGwire admits that he used steroids during much of his Major League career, including in 1998, when he broke Major League Baseball's single-season home run record. In the evening, he addresses the situation further in an interview with Bob Costas on MLB Network.
I wish it never came into my life. But we're sitting here talking about it. I'm so sorry that I have to. I apologize to everybody at Major League Baseball, my family, the Marises, Bud Selig... Today was the hardest day of my life.
Oakland Athletics farmhand Grant Desme retires after a 30/30 2009 season in the minors and being named Arizona Fall League MVP in order to pursue the priesthood.
January 23 – Nolan Ryan and Pittsburghattorney Chuck Greenberg complete the initial step of purchasing controlling interest in the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks and the Hicks Sports Group.
In Puerto Rico, Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Ángel Sánchez goes 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI to pace Indios de Mayagüez past the Criollos de Caguas, 8–6, in 11 innings to claim their first league championship since 2005 and a chance at the Caribbean Series tournament.
Leones del Caracas cruised past Navegantes del Magallanes, 7–2, in decisive Game 7 of the Venezuelan winter league championship to claim the title and earn a berth in the Caribbean Series. The Venezuelan team was led by Atlanta Braves outfielder Gregor Blanco, who hit .318 with a .538 OBP and a .652 slugging, to being named Most Valuable Player.
January 30 – In Mexico, the Naranjeros de Hermosillo joins Winter League championship teams from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the double round-robin format tournament after edging the Venados de Mazatlán, 1–0, in Game 7 of the league championship series. Juan Delgadillo pitches 7⅔ shutout innings to out duel San Diego Padres right-hander Walter Silva. The game's only run scores in the first inning on a Vinny Castilla sacrifice fly after Chris Roberson tripled to lead off the game. The six-day Caribbean Series begins February 2 on the Venezuelan island of Margarita.
The Hall of Fame will hold a second annual Hall of Fame Classic at Doubleday Field on Father's Day on June 20. The Hall began a Father's Day weekend last June, with five Hall of Famers and more than 20 other former major leaguers. The game replaced the annual exhibition game between major league teams, which was discontinued because it had become too difficult to fit into the regular-season schedule. This year's seven-inning exhibition game will feature Hall of Famers Gary Carter, Bob Feller, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Harmon Killebrew, Phil Niekro and Mike Schmidt.[2]
February 11
Tom Glavine retires after 22 major league seasons and accepts a front office job with the Atlanta Braves. The 300 game winner last pitched at the major league level in 2008, and will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2014, alongside longtime Braves teammate and fellow 300 game winner Greg Maddux.
After sitting out the entire 2009 season, Frank Thomas announces his official retirement from baseball.
February 12
Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants avoid arbitration, and agree on a two year, $23 million deal that will take him through the 2011 season.
Texas Rangers pitching prospects Omar Beltre, 28, and Alexi Ogando, 26, are granted visas, and allowed to attend Spring training, arriving in the U.S. on the 16th. The two confessed to involvement in a human trafficking ring in the Dominican Republic in 2004, and were banned from entering the United States for five years, limiting them to winter ball, the Dominican Summer League and international tournaments.
February 22
Johnny Damon joins the Detroit Tigers, signing a one-year, $8 million contract.
British rugby league player Terry Newton is the first professional athlete suspended for testing positive for human growth hormone. The blood test has been in existence since the 2004 Summer Olympics, but baseball officials have said until now that its validity was not universally accepted by the scientific community. Bud Selig introduces a plan to test minor leaguers for HGH shortly afterwards.
February 23 – Aaron Boone announces his retirement.
February 25 – The Texas Rangers void the contract of off-season acquisition Khalil Greene, who did not report to Spring training due to social anxiety disorder. Greene went on the disabled list twice last season while with the St. Louis Cardinals due to his disorder.
February 26 – Female pitcherEri Yoshida, formerly of the Kobe 9 Cruise in the Kansai Independent Baseball League in Japan, is drafted by the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. She is introduced as a member of the team on May 7, less than two weeks after graduating from high school and only a few hours after she landed in San Francisco following a flight from Tokyo. She becomes the first woman to play at the professional level in an American baseball league alongside men.
March 10 – Nomar Garciaparra signs a one day contract with the Boston Red Sox, and announces his retirement from baseball as a member of his original franchise at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida before the Sox's Spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Garciaparra then threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his teammate at both Georgia Tech and with the Red Sox, Jason Varitek.
March 11 – Outfielder Brian Giles announces his retirement a month after signing a Minor League contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
March 16
Though John Smoltz has yet to officially retire, Turner Sports announces that Smoltz will serve as one of their guest analysts for national broadcasts and will serve the same role for the 45 Atlanta Braves games that Peachtree Television will broadcast this season. Smoltz also joined the MLB Network's on-air roster the same day.
Former major league infielderChuck Knoblauch pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault on his common-law wife. Knoblauch entered his plea in exchange for deferred-adjudication probation. He was also fined $1,000.
March 17 – Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington calls a press conference apologizing for using and testing positive for cocaine during the first half of the 2009 season. A day later, Washington admits to having smoked marijuana and taken amphetamines during his playing career.
March 18 – Major League Baseball announces that the Florida Marlins and New York Mets' three-game set on June 28–30 has been moved from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
March 21 – Reigning American League MVP Joe Mauer signs an eight year, $184 million contract extension with the Minnesota Twins that will take him through the 2018 season.
March 23
Dwight Gooden is charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of a two-vehicle accident around 9 A.M. in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Gooden had a child in his vehicle at the time of the crash.
Jose Canseco announces on Twitter that the FBI was about to visit his house and that he has been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating whether Roger Clemens lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
April 7 – San Francisco Giants outfielder Eugenio Vélez enters the seventh inning of the Giants' 10–4 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park wearing a jersey with a pair of letters transposed. No one noticed his uniform read "San Francicso" until after the game had already ended.
April 14 – Jorge Cantú of the Florida Marlins hit a home run, making him the first player in major league history to have at least one hit and one RBI in each of his team's first nine games, and the Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 5–3. Cantú entered the game tied with George Kelly of the 1921 New York Giants with at least one hit and RBI in the opening eight games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals play eighteen innings at Busch Stadium without scoring a run. In the nineteenth inning, the Mets finally score a run on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Francoeur, only to have the Cardinals tying the game in the bottom of the inning on a double by Albert Pujols and a RBI-single by Yadier Molina. The Mets scored again in the twentieth on a sacrifice fly by José Reyes to win the game, 2–1. The Mets use 24 of the 25 men on their roster. The only player not used is the previous day's starter, Oliver Pérez, while the Cardinals use 22. Mets closer Francisco Rodríguez blew the save, but was credited with the win. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey earns his first career save, and the losing pitcher is Cardinals left fielder Joe Mather.
April 18 – At Nationals Park, the Milwaukee Brewers score ten runs in the first inning of their 11–7 victory over the Washington Nationals. It was the first time in Brewers history they accomplished such a feat. Nationals starter Jason Marquis allows seven earned runs on four hits, two hit batters and one walk and never retires a batter, making him the fifth pitcher since 1969 to allow seven earned runs at home without recording an out. The last was the Cincinnati Reds' Paul Wilson in 2005.
April 20 – At Fenway Park, Darnell McDonald pinch-hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the eight inning and a walk-off single in the ninth to push the Boston Red Sox to a 7–6 victory over the Texas Rangers. McDonald also became the first ever member of the Red Sox to collect a game-ending RBI in his debut with the club, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.[3]
April 21 – The Chicago Cubs confirmed reports that manager Lou Piniella is moving struggling starter Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen, in a move that may not be temporary. Zambrano is 1–2 with a 7.45 ERA in four starts, and the move makes room for Ted Lilly, who is returning to the Cubs' starting rotation after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. Piniella announced the movement one day after a 4–0 loss to the New York Mets, in which Zambrano pitched six innings and gave up two earned runs, while the Cubs bullpen gave up two, bringing the bullpen's ERA to 6.15.
The New York Yankees turn the first triple play of the season, and the first one in franchise history since 1968, in a 4–2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
April 24 – Ted Lilly pitches six shutout innings in his season debut, Carlos Zambrano made his first appearance out of the bullpen in almost eight years, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 5–1, at Miller Park. Lilly struck out four and walked two after being activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. He was out while recovering from left shoulder surgery in November. Zambrano gave up a run in 1⅓ innings and had a sacrifice fly in Chicago's three-run eighth.
April 26 – The Philadelphia Phillies sign Ryan Howard to a five-year, $125 million contract extension that will keep Howard with the Phillies through 2016. It is the largest contract in Phillies history, and the third-largest average annual value of a contract ($25 million per year) in baseball history.
April 28 – All-Star rosters have been expanded again by commissioner Bud Selig's special committee for on-field matters, with each team bringing 34 players, with 13 pitchers per team, to the July 13 game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, as part of several changes. Another change is that a pitcher who starts on the final Sunday before the All-Star break will be ineligible to pitch in the ASG and will be replaced on the roster. In addition, a designated hitter will be used in the ASG every year, including in National League cities; the AL's starting DH will continue to be elected by fans, and the NL's starting DH will be chosen by the NL All-Star manager. Under a change that runs contrary to normal baseball rules, each manager may designate a position player who will be eligible for re-entry to the game if the final position player, at any position, is injured.[4]
April 29 – A new report shows Major League Baseball equaled its best grades for racial and gender diversity hiring, even as the percentage of African American players dropped again last year, from 10.2 percent to 9 percent last season. The sport had made a small stride since reaching a low of 8.2 percent in 2007, but the latest data indicates a steady rise among black players might be years away.[5]
April 30 – Johnny Damon becomes the 68th player to score 1500 runs. He was batted in by a sacrifice fly of Magglio Ordóñez.
May
May 2 – Minnesota Twins catcher Wilson Ramos goes 4-for-5 with a double in his major league debut. He's is the only Twin besides Kirby Puckett in 1984 to collect four hits in a major league debut, and the only catcher in modern history (since 1900) to collect four hits in his MLB debut. He follows his debut by going three-for-four and driving in his first run on May 3.
May 3
New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Canó and Minnesota Twins starter Francisco Liriano were named the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month for April, respectively. Canó hit a Major League-best .400 batting average, including eight home runs, 21 runs scored and 18 RBI. Liriano went 3–0 and finished as the only AL starter with a sub-1.00 ERA (0.93) in 29 innings, which included a 23-inning scoreless streak.[6]
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Kelly Johnson and Colorado Rockies starter Ubaldo Jiménez were named the National League Player of the Month and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for April. Johnson hit .313 with 17 runs scored and 18 RBI, and also led the league with nine home runs and a slugging of .750. Jiménez, who posted a 5–0 record with 31 strikeouts and a 0.79 ERA in 34⅓ innings of work, also hurled the first no-hitter in Rockies history.[7]
May 6 – In Round Rock, Texas, the Express debut a new pitcher named Billy Ray "Rojo" Johnson, who in reality was actor Will Ferrell in disguise.
May 7
At Citizens Bank Park, Jamie Moyer becomes the first pitcher to throw a shutout in four separate decades, giving up only two hits in the of the Philadelphia Phillies's 7–0 victory over the Atlanta Braves. At 47 years, 170 days old, Moyer is also the oldest pitcher to throw a Major League shutout, eclipsing Phil Niekro's record by almost a year. At 46 years, 188 days old, Niekro, while pitching for the New York Yankees, tossed a four-hit shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays on October 6, 1985; the shutout was also Niekro's 300th career victory.[8]
Starlin Castro of the Chicago Cubs becomes the first player born in the 1990s to play in the majors. Castro arrived in historic style, hitting a three-run home run in his first at-bat and a bases-loaded triple, sliding headfirst into the record books with six runs batted in, the most ever in a modern day debut. Chicago defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 14–7, while the 20-year-old rookie became the youngest shortstop in Cubs history, surpassing Marty Shay, who was 100 days older when he made it to the majors in 1916.[9]
May 20 – After trailing 9-3 against the Cincinnati Reds, the Atlanta Braves score seven runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, all topped off by a Walk Off Grand Slam from the pinch hitter Brooks Conrad.
May 27 – The New York Mets complete a three game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies in which Philadelphia is shut out all three games. The last time the Mets accomplished such a feat was September 26–28, 1969 also against the Phillies.
Ubaldo Jiménez pitched a four-hitter to become the major's first 10-game winner this year, outpitching Tim Lincecum to lead the Colorado Rockies past the San Francisco Giants, 4–0, at Coors Field. Jiménez is now 10–1 with a 0.78 ERA in eleven starts. Since the earned run statistic became official (1912 NL, 1913 AL), only other two pitchers have won at least 10 of their first 11 starts with ERAs under 1.00, Eddie Cicotte (11–0, 0.95) in 1919 and Juan Marichal (10–0, 0.80) in 1956.[12]
June 1 – The Arizona Diamondbacks acquire pitcher Dontrelle Willis from the Detroit Tigers for right-handed reliever Billy Buckner.
June 2
After 22 seasons, Ken Griffey, Jr. announced he is retiring, effective immediately.[14]
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz and starting pitcher Jon Lester earned American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for May. Ortiz hit .363 (29–80) in 23 games, including four doubles, 10 home runs, 16 runs and 27 RBI. He also posted a Major League-best .788 slugging percentage and a .424 on-base percentage. Lester, who posted a perfect 5–0 record in six outings, allowed just 24 hits through 44.0 innings of work while leading the Majors with 45 strikeouts. His 1.84 ERA, was the lowest of any AL pitcher with more than 27 innings pitched, while his five wins in May boosted his career record to 48–18, and his .727 winning percentage is the best in ML history (since 1901) among pitchers with at least 50 decisions and the ninth-best winning percentage ever through a pitcher's first 100 starts. It is the fourth career Player of the Month Award for Ortiz and the third Pitcher of the Month honor for Lester. It marks the first time that the two AL monthly awards were captured by teammates in the same month since June 2006, when Joe Mauer and Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins won the honors.[15]
Atlanta Braves first baseman Troy Glaus and Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jiménez were selected National League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for May. Glaus led the NL with 28 RBI, while hitting .330 (34–103) with six home runs, 17 runs and a .534 slugging percentage. The 2002 World Series Most Valuable Player finished the month riding a six-game hitting streak. Jiménez became the first pitcher in the majors to win the monthly award in April and May since Pedro Martínez of the Boston Red Sox did it in 1999. He also is the first NL pitcher to repeat the feat since John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves did it in 1996. Jiménez ranked first in the NL in ERA (0.78) and was tied for first in victories (5) and innings pitched (46.0) for the month. On May 3 he struck out a career-high 13 batters in 7.0 innings of work against the San Diego Padres, and ended the month with 26.0 consecutive scoreless innings. This scoreless stretch marks the second time this season that Jiménez has pitched 25 or more consecutive innings of shutout ball.[16]
Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga comes within one out of a perfect game. With two outs in the ninth inning, Cleveland Indians shortstop Jason Donald hits a soft ground ball to Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who tosses the ball to Galarraga covering first base. Though video replay showed that Galarraga beat Donald to the bag, first base umpire Jim Joyce calls Donald safe. Joyce was heckled by Tigers players and coaches for several minutes afterward, almost causing a brawl. The next batter, Trevor Crowe, grounded out to Brandon Inge, ending the game in a 3–0 victory for the Tigers.[17] Later on Fox Sports Detroit's Tigers Live post-game show, Galarraga said Joyce apologized to him and gave him a hug.
June 5 – Florida International University shortstop Garrett Wittels extends his hitting streak to 56 games, the same number of Joe DiMaggio's 1941 major league record, and just two shy of Robin Ventura's NCAA record. The Golden Panthers are eliminated with a 15–9 loss to Dartmouth in the NCAA Coral Gables regional, therefore, Wittels will go into the 2011 season with the streak intact.
June 7 – The Washington Nationals select College of Southern Nevada catcher/outfielder Bryce Harper with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. Other notable draftees include: Delino DeShields, Jr., son of the former second baseman, is selected eighth overall by the Houston Astros. John Franco, Jr. is selected by the New York Mets, the team for which his father pitched for 14 of his 20 seasons, in the 42nd round. The Los Angeles Dodgers select Andre Ethier's brother, Devon, in the 32nd round, the Detroit Tigers select Justin Verlander's brother, Benjamin, in the 46th round, and the Toronto Blue Jays select right-hander Gabriel Romero, brother of southpaw and former first-round draftee Ricky Romero in the 47th round. Reggie Golden, a product of Major League Baseball's RBI program (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, instituted with the hope of exposing more inner-city kids to the game), is selected in the second round by the Chicago Cubs. The New York Giants' Chad Jones and the Seattle Seahawks' Golden Tate were selected in the 50th round by the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants, respectively.
June 8 – Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes his big league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out fourteen, including his last seven, and not walking any over seven innings. The 2009 Major League Baseball Draft #1 overall pick wins his MLB debut, 5–2.
Jorge Posada clubs his second grand slam in two days in the New York Yankees' 9–5 victory over the Houston Astros. Posada becomes the first Major Leaguer to hit grand slams in back-to-back contests since Carlos Beltran in 2006 and the first Yankee since Bill Dickey in 1937.
In an Interleague meeting between the two Chicago teams at Wrigley Field, both starting pitchers carry no-hitters into the seventh inning. The White Sox's Gavin Floyd has his bid for a no-hitter broken up with two out in the seventh by an Alfonso Soriano double. Soriano scores on Chad Tracy's single one batter later for the game's lone run. Ted Lilly's is broken up in the ninth by Ex-Cub Juan Pierre with a leadoff single. After Pierre's single, Lilly is relieved by Carlos Mármol, who loads the bases but hangs on for the save. Lilly would have been the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter at Wrigley Field since Milt Pappas in 1972.
June 15 – The Oakland A's acquire outfielder Conor Jackson from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Minor League pitcher Sam Demel.
June 23 – The Florida Marlins dismiss manager Fredi González. Edwin Rodríguez, who has spent the past 1½ seasons as manager of Triple-A New Orleans, takes over as manager on an interim basis. Also fired were bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley. They were replaced on an interim basis by Brandon Hyde and John Mallee, respectively.
Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and Seattle Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee earned American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for June. Hamilton led all Major League batters with a .454 average. That, combined with 10 doubles, nine homers a club-record 49 hits and a 23-game hitting streak, secured the honor for Hamilton. He capped his monster month by officially hitting the longest home run in the history of Rangers Ballpark, in a June 27 game against the Astros. Lee, who posted a 4-1 record with a 1.76 ERA, struck out 36 batters while walking only two. At one point, he completed a streak of 38⅓ innings without giving up a walk.
New York Mets third baseman David Wright and Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson were voted National League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for June. Wright led the league with a .404 average and 29 RBI, placed second in slugging (.683) and on-base percentage (.447), and was tied for third in doubles (11), while hitting six home runs and swiping four bases in 26 games. He also became the first player in Mets history to hit at least .400 with 25 or more RBI in a calendar month while recording a 29-RBI month for the second time in his career (June, 2006). Johnson compiled a 3-1 record in five June starts with a 1.18 ERA, while striking out 38 in 38.0 innings and walking just six. His ERA was second-best among N.L. starters on the month while placing third in strikeouts. Johnson allowed no more than two earned runs in each of his starts this month and has not allowed more than two earned runs in nine-consecutive starts (dating back to June 13).
July 9 - The Texas Rangers acquired ace starting pitcher Cliff Lee and reliever Mark Lowe from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for first baseman Justin Smoak and three Minor League pitching prospects.[25]
July 13 – The National League wins its first All-Star Game since 1996. Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann wins the All Star MVP Award after driving in all 3 of the runs scored for the National League.
July 16 - In the Texas Rangers' 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Bengie Molina became the eighth player since 1900, and the first catcher, to hit a grand slam and hit for the cycle in the same game. His triple to complete the cycle comes in the eighth inning; he hits a fly ball to the deepest part of the park in center field, into the triangle, the ball glancing off center fielder Eric Patterson's glove. Molina became the first catcher to hit for the cycle since Chad Moeller on April 27, 2004, and the first visiting player to hit for the cycle at Fenway Park since Cleveland's Andre Thornton on April 2, 1978.[26]
July 20 - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is accused of intentionally hitting Aaron Rowand of the San Francisco Giants and ejected from the game. Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer argued the call and were also ejected. The next day, Kershaw was suspended five games while Torre and Schaefer got one day suspensions.[27]
July 23 - Yankee catcher Jorge Posada records his 1,000th career RBI.
July 30 - At Coors Field, the Colorado Rockies set a Major League record with 11 consecutive base hits in a 17-2 pounding of the Chicago Cubs. With the Rockies leading 5-2, Clint Barmes opened up the eighth with a double and advanced to third on Melvin Mora's pinch-single. After the next two batters, Dexter Fowler and Ryan Spilborghs, struck out, Carlos González singled in Barmes to begin the hit streak, which includes home runs by Chris Iannetta and Fowler. González and Troy Tulowitzki collected two hits during the streak, which ended after the latter's double scored Spilborghs and González for the Rockies' 11th and 12th runs of the inning, a franchise record. Brad Hawpe and Iannetta then walked to load the bases, and finally Ian Stewart flew out to end the inning.[29][30]
July 31 - Carlos González hit a game-ending home run to complete the cycle, and the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs, 6–5, after blowing a three-run lead in the eighth inning. It was the fourth straight game for González with a homer, while his cycle was the sixth in Rockies history and fourth in the majors this season. Besides González, just four other players in MLB history have completed a cycle with a walk-off home run: Ken Boyer (1961),[31]César Tovar (1972),[32]George Brett (1979)[33] and Dwight Evans (1984).[34]
August
August 4:
At Yankee Stadium, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees hits his 600th home run, becoming the seventh player in Major League history to do so, in a 5–1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The shot comes in the first inning against the Jays' Shaun Marcum and three years to the day of Rodriguez' 500th home run. Rodriguez also becomes the youngest player to hit his 600th home run, at 35 years, 8 days; Babe Ruth had held the previous record at 36 years, 196 days.[35]
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder José Bautista and Minnesota Twins designated hitter Delmon Young have been voted the American League Players of the Month for July, while Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Gavin Floyd has been voted the American League Pitcher of the Month for July. Bautista led the Majors with 11 home runs during July, marking the second time this season he has recorded the most home runs in a single month (12 in May). He also led the AL with a .765 slugging percentage and ranked third with 29 RBI while posting a .347 batting average with eight doubles and 20 runs scored, including a 10 multi-hit efforts during the month. Young paced the AL with 46 hits during the month, batting .434 (46-for-106), and tied for the league-lead with 12 doubles. He also finished second in the league with 30 RBI and collected six home runs with 17 runs scored while slugging .736, hitting safely in 23 of 26 games, and had multi-hit performances in 16 contests. Floyd posted a Major League-leading 0.80 ERA en route to a 3–1 mark over five starts in July. In 33.2 innings pitched, he allowed just three earned runs on 28 hits with seven walks and 25 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .228 batting average. He earned victories in back-to-back home starts to begin the month, allowing just one earned run in each start. He later tossed 15 shutout innings and not allowed more than two earned runs in 11 consecutive outings. In addition, his 1.06 ERA since June 8 ranks first in the Majors ahead of San Diego Padres' Mat Latos (1.57).
San Francisco Giants rookie catcher Buster Posey and Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay have been voted the National League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for July. Posey led the NL with 43 hits and ranked third with a .417 average (43-for-103). His 24 RBI were tied for third-best in the N.L., while his .466 on-base percentage and .699 slugging percentage ranked fourth and fifth in the league, respectively. He belted seven home runs, while his 21-game hitting streak from July 4–29 marked the longest streak in the NL this season. In five July starts, Halladay went 3-1 with a 1.54 ERA. His 39 strikeouts were good for second in the National League while his 41.0 innings pitched ranked fourth. He notched his Major League-leading eighth complete game of the season, while his 158 strikeouts and 2.17 ERA rank second in the Majors and his 13 wins are tied for fourth.
August 6 - In Detroit, the Angels' Torii Hunter got ejected for arguing a strikeout. In a fit of rage, he threw a bag of balls on to the field. The next day, he was suspended four games.[36]
August 7 - The Blue Jays hit eight home runs in an 17–11 victory over the Rays. Leading the way was J. P. Arencibia with two in his Major League debut. Arencibia became the first player in the modern era to have four hits and two home runs in his major league debut.[37]
August 8 - At Rogers Centre, Brandon Morrow of the Toronto Blue Jays tosses his first shutout, first complete game with a career-high 17 strikeouts in a 1–0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. A two-out RBI-single by Vernon Wells in the first inning marked the difference. Morrow only allowed a two-out single by Evan Longoria in the ninth inning. It marked the fifth time this season the Rays have taken one or zero hits in a single game, including a perfect game and one no-hitter. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most such games in a single season in the live ball era (since 1920). Eleven other teams have four such games in a season. Only twice in the modern era (since 1900) has a team been held to one hit or fewer in more than five games in a season. In 1910, the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns both had six such games. To date, Dave Stieb has pitched the only no-hitter in Blue Jays history (September 2, 1990).[38][39]
August 18 - At Fenway Park, The Red Sox defeated the Angels, 7–5. By striking out the side in the ninth inning, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon became the first pitcher to notch at least 30 saves in five consecutive major league seasons.
August 19 - Former major league pitcher Roger Clemens is indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of lying to Congress over his use of performance enhancing drugs.
August 22 - Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who had previously announced that he would retire at the end of the season, announces his immediate retirement in order to care for his ailing mother.[42]
September 1 - Nyjer Morgan of the Washington Nationals charges the mound after Florida Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad throws behind him, starting a brawl.[44] Morgan received an eight-game suspension which he began serving on September 17, while Volstad began serving a six-game suspension on September 13.
September 2
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder José Bautista and Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz earned the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for August. Bautista led the league in home runs (12), runs batted in (24), slugging percentage (.724) and total bases (72), and tied for the lead in extra-base hits (18). This is the second career monthly award for Bautista, who shared last month's honor with Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins. Buchholz went 4-0 with a 1.03 earned run average and 28 strikeouts over six August starts. He finished the month second in ERA, tied for second in wins, tied for third in innings pitched (43.2), and also led the majors with a 2.21 ERA on the season. This is the first career monthly award for Buchholz.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson were voted the National League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for August. In 26 games last month, Pujols batted .379 (39-for-103) and led the circuit with 11 home runs, a .777 slugging and 29 runs scored while driving in 23 runs. On August 26, Pujols clubbed his 400th career home run, his 34th of the season, becoming the first player to reach the 400-homer plateau in his first 10 Major League seasons. This is the fifth career monthly award for Pujols, the most recent being earned in June 2009. Hudson went 4-0 with a 1.71 earned run average in six starts and struck out 35 while walking only nine in 42 innings of work. On August 28, he notched his 1,500th career strikeout and his 600th for Atlanta in a 12–3 victory over the Florida Marlins. This is the second career monthly award for Hudson and his first since winning American League honors in September 2000 with the Oakland Athletics.
September 6 - At Yankee Stadium, Alex Rodriguez sets a Major League record by registering 100 runs batted in for the 14th time in his career. After homering in the fourth inning of the New York Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, Rodriguez records his 100th RBI in the sixth inning, on a sacrifice fly that scores Nick Swisher. Rodriguez breaks a four-way tie that he had shared with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx with 13 seasons of at least 100 RBIs. [46]
September 11 - At Progressive Field, Jim Thome of the Minnesota Twins hits a 12th-inning home run for the lone run of the game in the Twins' 1-0 victory over his former team, the Cleveland Indians. The home run gives Thome 587 on his career, passing Frank Robinson for eight place on the all-time home run list. [48]
September 19 - Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit two home runs in a 12–2 victory against the host Los Angeles Dodgers to tie a major league record with 14 homers in a 15-game stretch. He joined Albert Belle (1995) and Barry Bonds (2001) as the only major league players since 1900 to homer 14 times in a span of 15 games.
September 19 - Los Angeles Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu hit two solo home runs in the Angels' 6–3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Abreu now has collected nine seasons with at least 20 homers, 20 stolen bases and 30 doubles, for the third most in major league history. He is surpassed only by Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonds, who accomplished the feat 10 times.
September 23 - At Rogers Centre, Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners becomes the first player to record 200 hits in 10 consecutive seasons. His 200th hit, a double, comes off Toronto Blue Jays starter Shawn Hill in the third inning. Suzuki also breaks an American League record he had shared with Ty Cobb of nine seasons with 200 hits, and ties Pete Rose's record of 10 200-hit seasons. However, the Blue Jays defeat the Mariners 1-0 as José Bautista, who had already broken George Bell's single-season franchise record of 47 home runs in 1987, hits number 50 in the first inning off Félix Hernández for the game's only run. [49][50]
September 25 - Texas Rangers' rookie closer Neftali Feliz acquires his 38th save of the season against the Oakland Athletics, setting a record for most saves by a rookie in a single season. He surpassed the previous record of 37 held by former Seattle Mariners' closer Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000. Feliz's total for the year is at 40 saves. The win by the Texas Rangers also clinched their first AL West division title since 1999. [51]
September 28 - Lotte Giants slugger Lee Dae-Ho won the third Triple Crown in the 29 years of the Korea Baseball Organization, after hitting a .364 average with 44 home runs and 133 runs batted in. Lee also became the first multiple Triple Crown winner, having turned the feat in 2006.[52]
September 30 - MLB players and owners agrees to free agency changes. Under the deal announced this date, players no longer have to file for free agency but automatically are set free. The exclusive period for teams to negotiate with their free agent-eligible players was cut from 15 days to five. The deadline was moved up for clubs to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents, as was the deadline for teams to offer contracts for the following season to players on their 40-man rosters. In addition, teams, players and agents will be restricted in their ability to conduct free-agent negotiations in the media. [53]
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki were selected American League and National League Players of the Month, respectively, for September. Rodriguez provided provided a bright spot for the Yankees down the final stretch run, leading the American League in RBIs (26) and slugging percentage (.667), while tying for second with nine home runs. He also reached safely in 18 of 22 games for his team, propelling the Yankees to their 15th postseason berth in the last 16 years. Tulowitzki provided plenty of support for Colorado, leading the Majors with 15 home runs, 40 RBIs, 30 runs scored and a stunning .800 slugging percentage. Tulowitzki finished the season ranked first among Major League shortstops in home runs (27), RBIs (95), batting average (.315), slugging percentage (.568) and OPS (.949), to become the first player to lead all National League shortstops in both slugging percentage and fielding percentage (.984) since Jay Bell accomplished the feat in 1993 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays and Derek Lowe of the Atlanta Braves were voted the American League and National League Pitchers of the Month, respectively, for September. Price was instrumental in the Rays winning their second AL East Championship in club history, as he posted a 4-0 record with 33 strikeouts and a 1.67 over sx starts. Lowe was equally impressive for the Braves, who secured the NL Wild Card for their first trip to the playoffs since 2005, collecting a perfect 5-0 in five September starts, with a miniscule 1.17 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 29:3. Lowe also pitched on three days' rest, winning a critical game against the Florida Marlins on September 29, and finished the regular season with a 16-12 record and a 4.00 ERA, with 136 strikeouts in 193 ⅔ innings of work.
October 5 - In Japanese baseball, former major leaguer Matt Murton broke Ichiro Suzuki's record for the most hits in a single season. Murton got his 211th hit of the year with a two-run single to center in the second inning for the Hanshin Tigers against the Yakult Swallows. Suzuki set the record of 210 in 1994 for the Orix BlueWave.[54]
October 12 - The Texas Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in Game 5 of the ALDS to win a postseason series for the first time. Each game in the series is won by the road team.
October 28 - The San Francisco Giants defeat the Texas Rangers 9-0 in Game 2 of the World Series. Texas reliever Derek Holland issues three consecutive walks in the eighth inning on only 13 pitches, including 11 balls in a row. The three consecutive walks tie a World Series record.
October 31 - In Game 4 of the World Series, Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants become the first all-rookie battery in a World Series game since 1947. Bumgarner combines with Brian Wilson to three-hit the Texas Rangers in a 4-0 San Francisco victory. Combined with a 9-0 loss to the Giants in Game 2, the Rangers become the first team to be shutout twice in a World Series since 1966. It is also the Giants pitching staff's fourth shutout of the postseason, tying a Major League record.
November
November 1 - The San Francisco Giants defeat the Texas Rangers 3–1 to win the World Series four games to one. It is the franchise's first championship since 1954, and first since moving to San Francisco prior to the 1958 season. Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson combine to three-hit the Rangers. Edgar Rentería, whose seventh-inning three-run home run against Cliff Lee broke a scoreless tie and accounted for all the Giants' runs in the game, is named series MVP.
December 6 - The San Diego Padres trade Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox for Reymond Fuentes, Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and a player to be named later. The Red Sox send Eric Patterson to the Padres to complete the trade on December 16.
December 11 - Outfielder Carl Crawford signs as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox for seven-years and $142 million.
December 15 - Pitcher Cliff Lee returns to the Philadelphia Phillies, signing a five-year, $120 million contract with a vesting option for a sixth season in 2016, which would increase the value of the deal to $135 million.
December 16 - The New York Yankees signed free agent catcher Russell Martin.
January 3 – Bobby Wilkins, 87, shortstop for the 1944 and 1945 Philadelphia Athletics
January 4 – Rory Markas, 54, play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Milwaukee Brewers[57]
January 12 – Hillis Layne, 91, third baseman for the Washington Senators in the 1940s, who also led the Pacific Coast League hitters in 1947 with a .367 average
January 21 – Bobby Bragan, 92, major league catcher, manager and coach
January 21 – Hal Manders, 92, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs between 1941 and 1946
January 21 – Curt Motton, 69, backup outfielder who hit .213 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI from 1967 to 1974
January 26 – Ken Walters, 76, backup outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in the early 1960s
January 27 – Sammy Drake, 75, Negro League infielder and a member of the original 1962 New York Mets [58]
January 28 – Frank Baker, 66, outfielder for the Cleveland Indians and a Vietnam War veteran
February
February 7 – Paul LaPalme, 86, left-handed knuckleball pitcher for the Pirates, Cardinals, Redlegs and White Sox from 1951 to 1957
February 12 – Jerry Fahr, 85, pitcher for the 1951 Cleveland Indians [58]
February 16 – Jim Bibby, 65, Major League pitcher from 1972 to 1984; won World Series with Pirates in 1979 and pitched first no-hitter in Senators/Rangers history (1973)
February 16 – Jim Waugh, 76, pitcher who posted a 5–11 record with a 6.43 ERA for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1952 to 1953
February 18 – Bob Chakales, 82, pitcher for the Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Senators and Red Sox [59]
February 19 – George Cisar, 99, outfielder for the 1937 Brooklyn Dodgers; the second-oldest former major-league player player at the time of his death [60]
February 21 – George Strickland, 84, Major League shortstop for 10 seasons with the Indians and Pirates and a coach, manager and scout for 11 more [61]
March
March 3 – Frank Bertaina, 65, pitcher for the Senators, Orioles and Cardinals between 1964 and 1970
March 3 – Hank Small, 58, first baseman who played for the 1978 Atlanta Braves [62]
March 6 – Jim Roland, 67, pitcher who played from 1962 through 1972 for the Athletics, Twins, Yankees and Rangers
March 9 – Willie Davis, 69, three-time Gold Glove outfielder for the Dodgers, Expos, Rangers, Cardinals, Padres and Angels, member of the Dodgers' 1963 and 1965 World Series champions
March 15 - Ken Holcombe, 91, pitcher who posted a 18-22 record in six seasons with the Yankees, Reds, White Sox, Browns and Red Sox
March 16 – Billy Hoeft, 77, All-Star pitcher whose career spanned 15 seasons, mainly with the Detroit Tigers
March 17 – Van Fletcher, 85, pitcher for the 1955 Detroit Tigers
March 28 – John Purdin, 67, relief pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers between the 1964 and 1969 seasons.
April
April 2 – Mike Cuellar, 72, 4-time All-Star pitcher for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and California Angels between 1959 and 1977; won 1969 NL Cy Young Award and 1970 World Series; and was one of four 20-game winners on the 1971 Baltimore Orioles
April 3 – Jim Pagliaroni, 72, catcher for the Red Sox, Pirates, Athletics and Pilots, who set a Pirates all-time, season-record for catchers with 17 home runs in 1965
April 9 – Bill Moisan, 84, relief pitcher for the 1953 Chicago Cubs, who had been a prisoner of war in Germany in early 1945, earning the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart [63]
April 15 – Takuya Kimura, 37, Japanese player for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Toyo Carp, and Giants from 1992 to 2009, and a member of the 2009 Japan Series champion
April 20 – Keli McGregor, 48, President of the Colorado Rockies and a former tight end in the National Football League
April 22 – Pete Castiglione, 89, third baseman who hit .255 in eight seasons with the Pirates and Cardinals [64]
April 22 – Dick Kenworthy, 69, backup infielder who hit .215 in 125 games with the Chicago White Sox from 1962 to 1968 [65]
May 6 – Robin Roberts, 83, Hall of Fame pitcher and a seven-time All-Star in 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, who led the National League in wins from 1952 to 1955, innings pitched from '51 to '55 and complete games from '52 to '56 [67]
May 8 – George Susce, 78, middle relief pitcher who posted a 22–17 record with a 4.42 ERA and three saves in 117 games for the Red Sox and Tigers from 1955 to 1959 [68]
May 17 – Dorothy Kamenshek, 84, seven-time All-Star first basewoman and two-time champion bat in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
May 23 – José Lima, 37, All-Star Dominican pitcher who posted a 89–102 record in 13 seasons with the Tigers, Astros, Royals, Dodgers and Mets [69]
May 24 – Morrie Martin, 87, pitcher who played for seven different teams from 1949 to 1959, mainly with the Philadelphia Athletics [68]
May 24 – Rogelio Martínez, 91, Cuban pitcher for the 1950 Washington Senators
May 27 – Louise Arnold, 87, pitcher for the AAGPBL champion South Bend Blue Sox in 1951 and 1952, who hurled a no-hitter and led the league with a .833 winning percentage in 1951
June 1 – Freddie Burdette, 73, middle reliever who posted a 1–0 record with a 3.41 ERA and one save in 68 games for the Chicago Cubs from 1962 to 1964 [68]
June 6 – Jerry Stephenson, 66, pitcher who posted a 8–19 record in a seven-year career, and a member of the 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox team [68]
June 14 – Oscar Azócar, 45, Venezuelan outfielder for the Yankees and Padres in the early 1990s.[70]
June 16 – Bob Hartman, 72, left-handed pitcher who had brief stints with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 and the Cleveland Indians in 1962.[71]
July
July 8 - Clint Hartung, 87, pitcher and outfielder for the New York Giants from 1947 to 1952, who became the 11th player in major league history whose first home run came as a pitcher and later homered as a position player.
July 8 - Maje McDonnell, 89, Philadelphia Phillies coach from 1951 to 1957, and a World War II veteran who earned five battle stars and a Bronze Star.
July 9 - Frank Verdi, 84, shortstop who played briefly for the Yankees in the 1953 season and later managed in the minor leagues.
July 10 - Ed Palmquist, 77, relief pitcher who played from 1960 to 1961 with the Dodgers and Twins.
July 10 - Johnny Van Cuyk, 89, relief pitcher who played on the 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers team that won the National League pennant.[72]
July 15 - Billy Loes, 80, pitcher who posted a 80-63 record in 12 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants.
July 16 - Kenny Kuhn, 73, backup infielder who hit .210 in 71 games with the Cleveland Indians from 1955 to 1957.[75]
July 20 - Jimmy McMath, 60, backup outfielder for the 1968 Chicago Cubs.[76]
July 21 - Ralph Houk, 90, third-string catcher for the New York Yankees who went on to win three straight American League pennants and two World Series championships in his first three seasons as their manager.
July 22 - Larry Fritz, 61, pinch-hitter for the 1975 Philadelphia Phillies.
July 26 - Jake Jacobs, 73, outfielder who played from 1960 to 1961 for the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins.
August
August 7 - Keith Drumright, 55, second baseman for the 1978 Astros and the 1981 Athletics.
August 9 - Gene Hermanski, 90, outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1943 to 1953, who also was a World War II veteran.
August 11 - Nellie King, 82, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1950s and broadcaster of the last Pirates game at Three Rivers Stadium in 2000.
August 15 - Joe L. Brown, 91, Pirates’ general manager who helped build 1970s’ teams that beat the Orioles twice in the World Series.
August 21 - Satch Davidson, 74, National League umpire who worked behind the plate when Hank Aaron hit his historic 715th career home run as well as when Carlton Fisk hit his memorable homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.
August 26 - Cal McLish, 84, All-Star pitcher with a 15-season career for five teams, who set a major league record with 16 consecutive road wins over the 1958-59 seasons, which stood for 36 years until Greg Maddux surpassed it over the 1994-95 seasons.
September
September 1 - Don Lang, 95, infielder for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.[77]
September 9 - Eddie Phillips, 80, pinch-runner who scored four runs in nine games for the 1953 St. Louis Cardinals, but never batted or fielded a ball in the majors.
September 16 - Wayne Twitchell, 62, 1973 NL All-Star pitcher who posted a 48-65 record in ten seasons with the Brewers, Phillies, Expos, Mets and Mariners.
September 18 - Ray Coleman, 88, outfielder and World War II veteran, who hit a .258 average in five seasons for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox.[78]
September 20 - Al Pilarcik, 80, outfielder and Korean War veteran, who hit .256 in 668 games for the Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox.[79]
September 23 - Bob Shaw, 77, who spent eleven years in the majors pitching for the Tigers, White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves, SF Giants, Mets and Cubs, and beat Sandy Koufax in 1959 World Series.[80]
October 31 - Artie Wilson, 90, Negro Leagues All-Star shortstop.
November
November 2 - Clyde King, 86, whose major league baseball career as a player, coach, manager and front-office man spanned six decades.[58]
November 4 - Sparky Anderson, 76, Hall of Fame manager; first manager to win the World Series in both leagues with the Cincinnati Reds (1975-1976) and Detroit Tigers 1984).[83]
November 10 - Dave Niehaus, 75, Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners since its inception in 1977 to their final game of the 2010 season.[84]
November 13 - George Binks, 96, outfielder/first baseman who hit .253 in 351 games for the Washington Senators, Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns from 1944 to 1948. Hit .300 for the 1938 Tyler Trojans of the East Texas League.
November 20 - Danny McDevitt, 78, pitcher who posted a 21-27 record and a 4.40 ERA in six seasons, who is most remembered by start for the Dodgers last home game in Brooklyn, hurling a 2–0 shutout victory over the Pirates.[58]
November 22 - Tom Underwood, 56, pitcher who posted a 86-87 record with a 3.89 ERA for the Phillies, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Yankees, Athletics and Orioles from 1974 to 1984.[58]
December 15 - Bob Feller, 92, Cleveland Indians legend and Hall of Fame pitcher.
December 17 - Walt Dropo, 87, who played 13 seasons in the majors and won the 1950 American League Rookie of the Year award with the Boston Red Sox, after batting .322 with 34 home runs and a league-best 144 RBI in 136 games.
December 18 - Phil Cavarretta, 94, three-time All-Star who won the National League MVP in 1945 to led the Chicago Cubs to their last World Series appearance.
^Associated Press (November 4, 2010). "Sparky Anderson dies at 76". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)