The 2001 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2001 season. The 97th edition of the World Series,it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Arizona Diamondbacks and the three-time defending World Series champions and American League (AL) champion New York Yankees. The underdog Diamondbacks defeated the heavily favored Yankees,four games to three to win the series. Considered one of the greatest World Series of all time,its memorable aspects included two extra-inning games and three late-inning comebacks. Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were both named World Series Most Valuable Players.
Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals,Houston Astros,New York Mets,San Francisco Giants,St. Louis Cardinals,New York Yankees,and Texas Rangers. A right-handed thrower and switch hitter,Beltrán stands 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighs 215 pounds (98 kg).
Bob Kelly Abreu,nicknamed "El Comedulce" and "La Leche",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Philadelphia Phillies,New York Yankees,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Los Angeles Dodgers,and New York Mets.
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Dominican former professional baseball left fielder and second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Texas Rangers,Washington Nationals,and Chicago Cubs,and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Alfredo JoséPedrique García is a Venezuelan professional baseball player,coach,and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop for the New York Mets (1987),Pittsburgh Pirates (1987–88),and Detroit Tigers (1989). Pedrique served as the Houston Astros bench coach and as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also served first base coach of the Oakland Athletics a season before being shuffled to third base coaching for two further seasons. He is currently the manager for the Reading Fightin Phils.
Jay Stuart Bell is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and former manager of the Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Southern League. He played for the Cleveland Indians (1986–1988),Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–1996),Kansas City Royals (1997),Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2002) and New York Mets (2003). He was the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds,and was the bench coach for the New Zealand national baseball team that competed in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Steven Allen Finley is an American former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for eight teams between 1989 and 2007,most notably the Houston Astros,San Diego Padres,and Arizona Diamondbacks;he is one of only two players,along with Matt Herges,to play for all five National League West teams. An outstanding all-around player with power,speed,and defensive skill,he is one of only four players since 1945 with 300 home runs and 100 triples,along with Stan Musial,Willie Mays,and George Brett. He is also one of three players,along with Mays and Ken Griffey Jr.,to have 2,500 hits and win five Gold Glove Awards in center field.
Raúl Ramón MondesíAvelino is a Dominican former politician and baseball player. Mondesíplayed in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 seasons,primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers,and made his MLB debut with them in 1993. He was the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1994,an MLB All-Star,and a two-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner. Known for his combination of power and speed,Mondesítwice achieved the 30–30 club. He led MLB right fielders in assists in three separate seasons over the course of his career.
Kenneth Lofton is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. Lofton was a six-time All-Star (1994–1999),four-time Gold Glove Award winner (1993–1996),and at retirement,was ranked 15th among all-time stolen base leaders with 622. During his career,he played for the Houston Astros,Cleveland Indians,Atlanta Braves,Chicago White Sox,San Francisco Giants,Pittsburgh Pirates,Chicago Cubs,New York Yankees,Philadelphia Phillies,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Texas Rangers.
Matthew Lawton,Jr. is an American former professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons,including 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lawton,an outfielder,made his major league debut September 5,1995,with the Minnesota Twins,who signed him four years prior. He also played in the majors with the New York Mets (2001),the Cleveland Indians (2002–04),the Pittsburgh Pirates (2005),the Chicago Cubs (2005),the New York Yankees (2005),and the Seattle Mariners (2006). Over his major league career,Lawton compiled a .267 batting average with 1,273 hits,267 doubles,17 triples,138 home runs,631 runs batted in (RBIs),165 stolen bases,and 681 walks in 1,334 games played.
Luis Antonio Castillo is a Dominican former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Florida Marlins,New York Mets,and Minnesota Twins from 1996 through 2010.
Reginald Laverne Sanders is an American former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He played professionally with the Cincinnati Reds,St. Louis Cardinals,Pittsburgh Pirates,Atlanta Braves,San Francisco Giants,San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals,and was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series championship over the New York Yankees.
Robert Andrew Meacham is an American former professional baseball shortstop,who spent his entire six-year big league playing career with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Since retiring from active play,Meacham has managed and coached for several organizations in the majors and minors.
Christopher Brandon Young is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Oakland Athletics,New York Mets,New York Yankees,Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
Mitchell Otis Page was an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and designated hitter from 1977 to 1984,most prominently as a member of the Oakland Athletics where,he placed second to Hall of Fame member Eddie Murray in the 1977 American League Rookie of the Year balloting.
Mark Andrew Reynolds is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Baltimore Orioles,Cleveland Indians,New York Yankees,Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Washington Nationals,and two stints with the Colorado Rockies. A right-hander both when batting and throwing,Reynolds was known for his frequent and long home runs,high strikeout totals,and defensive versatility,having been primarily a third baseman before transitioning to first base while playing for the Orioles.
The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks,in their fourth year of existence,looked to improve on their 2000 season. They had to contend in what was a strong National League West.
Justin Barnett Christian is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees in 2008 and the San Francisco Giants in 2011 and 2012.
Antoan Edward Richardson is a Bahamian professional baseball coach currently serving as the first base coach for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. Before his professional career,he played college baseball at Palm Beach Community College and Vanderbilt University. Richardson served as the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants from 2020 to 2023 and served as the bench coach for the 2023 Great Britain national baseball team.
Diego Alejandro Castillo is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks.
