2011 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

2011 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
DurationMarch 31 – October 28, 2011
Number of games162
Number of teams30
TV partner(s) Fox, TBS, ESPN, MLB Network
Draft
Top draft pick Gerrit Cole
Picked by Pittsburgh Pirates
Regular season
Season MVP NL: Ryan Braun (MIL)
AL: Justin Verlander (DET)
Postseason
AL champions Texas Rangers
  AL runners-up Detroit Tigers
NL champions St. Louis Cardinals
  NL runners-up Milwaukee Brewers
World Series
Champions St. Louis Cardinals
  Runners-up Texas Rangers
World Series MVP David Freese (STL)
MLB seasons

The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. [1] This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since 1976, and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since 1990. The 82nd edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 12 with the National League defeating the American League for the second straight year, by a score of 5–1. As had been the case since 2003, the league winning that game had home field advantage in the World Series. Accordingly, the World Series began on October 19, and ended on October 28, with the St. Louis Cardinals winning in seven games over the Texas Rangers. [1]

Contents

The season is notable for its wild card chase on the last day of the regular season.

Only two teams were unable to complete the entire 162-game regular season schedule, as the make-up game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 8 was cancelled due to rain and not made up, owing to scheduling constraints and the game being inconsequential to the playoffs. [2]

Standings

Postseason

Bracket

Division Series
(ALDS, NLDS)
League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)
World Series
         
1 NY Yankees 2
3 Detroit3
3 Detroit 2
American League
2 Texas4
2 Texas3
4 Tampa Bay 1
AL2 Texas 3
NL4 St. Louis4
1 Philadelphia 2
4 St. Louis3
4 St. Louis4
National League
2 Milwaukee 2
2 Milwaukee3
3 Arizona 2

Managerial changes

General managers

Off-season

TeamFormer GMNew GMFormer job
New York Mets Omar Minaya Sandy Alderson CEO of San Diego Padres until March 2009. [3]

In-season

DateTeamFormer GMNew GMFormer job
August 19 Chicago Cubs Jim Hendry Randy Bush Bush was the assistant GM and served as his interim replacement until the team hired Theo Epstein in October.

Field managers

Off-season

Four teams announced new managers for the 2011 season after the former manager retired from baseball.

TeamFormer managerNew managerStory
Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox Fredi González Cox announced in 2009 that the 2010 season would be his last as manager of the Braves. In two terms, first from 1978 through 1981 and from mid-1990, replacing Russ Nixon as manager through 2010, Cox has led the team to fourteen division titles, five pennants and the 1995 World Championship. Cox retires as the manager with the fourth highest number of wins (2,504) along with the most ejections in baseball history (158).
Chicago Cubs Lou Piniella Mike Quade After six decades in baseball as a player, coach, manager and television commentator, Piniella announced on June 19, 2010, his intentions to retire. He has managed the New York Yankees, the Cincinnati Reds (including their 1990 World Series championship), the Seattle Mariners (including a record 116 win season in 2001), the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Cubs. The official retirement came on August 22 as Piniella stepped down due to his mother's failing health, and Quade, the Cubs' third base coach, was named interim manager, and was named permanent manager October 19.
Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Torre Don Mattingly Torre announced on September 17 that he would not be returning to the Dodgers for the 2011 season. With his contract expiring and club ownership being contested in divorce court, Torre chose not to negotiate an extension. [4] At the same time, the Dodgers announced the promotion of Mattingly, the team's hitting coach, to manager. [4] As a player, Mattingly was best known as an outstanding first baseman with the New York Yankees.
Toronto Blue Jays Cito Gaston John Farrell After being lured out of retirement by team president Paul Beeston, Gaston announced on October 29, 2009, that he would step aside after the completion of the 2010 season and remain in a consulting position. In his first term as the Jays' skipper, he led the team to their greatest success, winning back-to-back Fall Classic in 1992 and 1993. His second term started as he replaced John Gibbons in the middle of the 2008 season. Farrell comes over after serving as the pitching coach for the AL East rival Boston Red Sox.

At the end of the 2010 season, three teams fired their managers and made replacements:

TeamFormer managerNew managerStory
Milwaukee Brewers Ken Macha Ron Roenicke Los Angeles Angels serving 11 seasons as Mike Scioscia's third base coach.
New York Mets Jerry Manuel Terry Collins Manuel, along with general manager Omar Minaya, were fired following the end of the 2010 season on October 4, 2010. Since making the 2006 National League Championship Series, the team has fallen short of expectations, which include back to back season ending collapses in 2007 and 2008, followed by back-to-back injury plagued seasons in 2009 and 2010. [6] Collins, a feisty and intense manager, was named the team's new manager November 2010 and returned to being a field manager in the majors after 12 years. He previously managed the Houston Astros and the Anaheim Angels from 1994 to 1999. [7]
Pittsburgh Pirates John Russell Clint Hurdle Russell was fired after three losing seasons, compiling a total record of 186–299 in those three seasons. The Pirates have not had a winning season since 1992, which was also the last time they made the playoffs. They have also endured six different managers during that span. [8] Hurdle last managed the Colorado Rockies in 2009 before being replaced.

The following managers who were interim managers for 2010 will lead their respective teams in 2011:

TeamManager that started 2010 seasonReplacementStory
Arizona Diamondbacks A. J. Hinch Kirk Gibson Gibson, who started the season as bench coach, filled in for the final 83 games. New GM Kevin Towers made the decision to keep Gibson as the manager for 2011. [9] Hinch was "demoted" from his position as Director of Player Development in 2009 when he took over for Bob Melvin.
Kansas City Royals Trey Hillman Ned Yost After coming to Kansas City to be a consultant, the Royals named Yost on May 13 to replace Hillman. Prior to that, Yost served as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers for much of the 2008 season, only to be sacked in mid-September when the team was struggling to make the postseason. Hillman had previous success in Japan, leading the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to the Japan World Series championship in 2006.
Baltimore Orioles Dave Trembley;
Juan Samuel (interim)
Buck Showalter The no-nonsense Showalter, who had previously managed the New York Yankees, the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on the brink of success before being replaced, served as a commentator for ESPN's Baseball Tonight before agreeing to return to the dugout with the Orioles on August 3, and turned the fortunes of the Maryland ball club. Trembley was in the manager's seat until June 4, when third-base coach Samuel replaced him on an interim basis before Showalter's arrival.
Florida Marlins Fredi González Edwin Rodríguez On May 23, González, who had coached under Bobby Cox in Atlanta, was fired from his position. Rodríguez had spent the past 1+12 years managing the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate. Cox made discouraging comments about the handling of the dismissal shortly afterward, and as a result, was not honored by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria when the Braves visit to Miami in September as part of Cox's retirement tour.
Chicago Cubs Lou Piniella Mike Quade (See Above)

One team has hired a new manager:

TeamManager that started 2010 seasonInterim ManagerReplacementStory
Seattle Mariners Don Wakamatsu Daren Brown Eric Wedge Wakamatsu, the first MLB manager of Asian-American descent, was fired on August 9 and replaced by Brown, at the time in his fourth season managing the Mariners' AAA affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. The team was expected to contend for the American League West title with the addition of Chone Figgins and Cliff Lee, but stumbled out of the starting gate. Wedge, who last managed with the Cleveland Indians in 2009, was reportedly hired by the Mariners according to a report by SI.com on October 15, 2010, [10] and made official three days later.

In-season changes

DateTeamFormer managerReasonReplacementPrevious Job and Story
June 9 Oakland Athletics Bob Geren Fired Bob Melvin Melvin had been the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Geren was fired after June 8 game. [11]
June 19 Florida Marlins Edwin Rodríguez Resigned Jack McKeon After a losing streak and slump in June, Rodriguez announced his resignation on June 19. [12] McKeon at age 80 became the oldest manager since Connie Mack to manage in the majors; he had won the 2003 World Series with the Marlins. McKeon announced his second retirement allowing Ozzie Guillén to become Marlins' skipper.
June 26
(June 23)
Washington Nationals Jim Riggleman Resigned Davey Johnson
(John McLaren)
McLaren, who was previously the Nationals bench coach, was named interim manager, but he is not expected to fill the role for the remainder of the season. [13] Davey Johnson was named the full-time manager three days after Riggleman resigned and two days after McLaren was named interim manager. [14]
September 26 Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillén Released Don Cooper Guillen was released from his contract after the White Sox game on September 26 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Guillen became the Marlins new manager with the retirement of Jack McKeon at the end of the season. [15] Cooper, the current pitching coach for the White Sox, managed the final two games of the season. [16]

League leaders

American League

National League

Milestones

Batters

Pitchers

No-hitters

  • Francisco Liriano (MIN):
    • Threw the fifth no-hitter in Minnesota Twins history and the seventh in franchise history (the other two came when the club was known as the Washington Senators) in a 1–0 win over the Chicago White Sox in Chicago on May 3. It was also Liriano's first complete game in 95 major league starts. [19] Liriano also became just the fifth pitcher in the last 30 years to throw a no-hitter that included more walks (6) than strikeouts (2). In addition, he carried the second-highest ERA (minimum three starts) of 9.13 into the outing of any pitcher to go on to throw a no-hitter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. [20]
  • Justin Verlander (DET):
    • Threw the seventh no-hitter in Tigers history by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on May 7. This was Verlander's second no-hitter, his first coming against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. Verlander allowed one walk but still faced the minimum of 27 batters. He became the second Tigers pitcher (Virgil Trucks) and the 30th pitcher in Major League history to throw multiple career no-hitters.
  • Ervin Santana (LAA):
    • Threw the ninth no-hitter in Angels history by defeating the Cleveland Indians 3–1 in Cleveland on July 27. This was Santana's first career no-hitter. Santana walked only one batter while striking out 10, but he allowed one unearned run, a wild pitch in the 1st. His no-no improved him to 6–8 on the year. [21]

Other accomplishments

  • Jered Weaver (LAA):
    • Became the first pitcher in Major League history with six wins by April 25. He defeated the Oakland Athletics to set this record. He also became the sixth pitcher since 1900 with six wins by the end of April joining Vida Blue (1971), Dave Stewart (1988), Randy Johnson (2000, 2002) and Brandon Webb (2008).
  • Vin Mazzaro (KC):
    • According to The Elias Sports Bureau, Mazzaro became the first pitcher to give up at least 14 runs in fewer than three innings (2.1) in baseball's modern era (since 1900) against the Cleveland Indians on May 16. [22]
  • Jo-Jo Reyes (BAL)/(TOR):
    • Tied the major league record by making his 28th consecutive start without recording a win on May 25 against the New York Yankees. He ties the record that is currently held by Matt Keough (1978–79) and Cliff Curtis (1910–11).
  • Mariano Rivera (NYY):
    • Became the first pitcher in Major League history to have appeared in 1,000 games for one team by closing out the Yankees win on May 25 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rivera became the 15th pitcher overall to reach this plateau. [23]
    • Recorded his 20th save of the season by closing out a win against the Colorado Rockies on June 26. This is the 15th time that Rivera has reached 20 saves in one season, tying Trevor Hoffman for the most 20-plus save seasons in Major League history.
    • Recorded his 25th save of the season by closing out a win against the Oakland Athletics on July 24. This extends his record to 15 consecutive seasons with 25 or more saves. [24]
    • Set a Major League record for consecutive 30-save seasons with nine by closing out the win against the |Los Angeles Angels on August 11.
    • With his save on September 5 against the Baltimore Orioles, Rivera set the Major League record for the most saves by any pitcher against any team. His 69th save against the Orioles broke the record that Trevor Hoffman had against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
    • Recorded his 600th career save by closing out a win against the Seattle Mariners on September 13. He became the 2nd player to reach this mark.
    • With his save on September 19 against the Minnesota Twins, Rivera became the all-time saves leader in Major League history with his 602nd save, breaking Trevor Hoffman's record.
  • Francisco Cordero (CIN):
    • Recorded his 300th career save by closing out a win against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 1. He became the 22nd player to reach this mark.
    • With his 321st save on September 6 against the Chicago Cubs, Cordero tied José Mesa for the most saves by any pitcher from the Dominican Republic.
  • Craig Kimbrel (ATL):
    • Tied the Major League record for most saves by a rookie before the All-Star break since 1969 that was set by Jonathan Papelbon in 2006 by closing out the game against the Colorado Rockies on July 5. It was Kimbrel's 26th save. He set the rookie record on July 7 with his 27th save by closing out a win against the Colorado Rockies. He finished with 28 saves before the All-Star Game.
    • Tied the Major League record for most saves by a rookie by recording his 40th save on August 23 against the Chicago Cubs. He tied the record that was set by Neftalí Feliz that was set in 2010. He then broke the record with his 41st against the Washington Nationals on August 31. He finished with 46 saves.
  • Zach Britton (BAL):
    • Became the first player in Major League history to allow eight-or-more runs while lasting less than an inning in each of two consecutive starts. He allowed eight runs in two-thirds of an inning on July 8 against the Boston Red Sox and then in his next start on July 30 against the New York Yankees allowed nine runs in one-third of an inning.
  • Sergio Santos (CWS):
    • Set the Major League record for most consecutive scoreless road games to begin a season on August 11 against the Baltimore Orioles. He hasn't been charged with a run in 25 appearances in road games this year. He broke the record that was previously held by Mariano Rivera.
  • Jason Isringhausen (NYM):
  • Alfredo Aceves (BOS):
    • With his victory in relief against the Oakland Athletics on August 27, Aceves lifted his career record to 23–2. This set the Major League record for the most wins by a pitcher in his first 25 decisions, breaking the record held by Larry Corcoran who had 22 wins in his first 25 decisions in 1880.
  • Cliff Lee (PHI):
    • Became the first pitcher in Major League history to have two months in one season with at least five wins, no losses and an ERA under 0.50. Lee went 5–0 with a 0.21 ERA in June and then went 5–0 with a 0.45 ERA in August.
  • Yoshinori Tateyama (TEX):
    • Became the second player in Major League history to allow grand slams to consecutive batters faced. He gave up a grand slam to Carl Crawford on September 3 then in his next appearance on September 10, allowed a grand slam to the first batter he faced, Scott Sizemore. Greg McCarthy did this in 1998.
  • Roy Halladay (PHI):
    • Became the sixth player in Major League history to finish at least seven games over .500 in seven consecutive seasons. The other pitchers to do that are in the Hall of Fame: Tim Keefe (seven years, 1883–89), John Clarkson (nine, 1884–92), Kid Nichols (nine, 1890–98), Christy Mathewson (12, 1903–14) and Lefty Grove (seven, 1927–33).
  • Micah Owings (AZ):
    • Became the second pitcher in modern Major League history to earn a victory in which he recorded three-or-fewer outs while allowing five-or-more runs on September 27 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jack Knott was the other pitcher who accomplished this on May 22, 1934.

Miscellaneous

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Craig Kimbrel (ATL) Jeremy Hellickson (TB)
Cy Young Award Clayton Kershaw (LAD) Justin Verlander (DET)
Manager of the Year Kirk Gibson (AZ) Joe Maddon (TB)
Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun (MIL) Justin Verlander (DET)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Clayton Kershaw (LAD) Mark Buehrle (CWS)
Catcher Yadier Molina (STL) Matt Wieters (BAL)
1st Base Joey Votto (CIN) Adrián González (BOS)
2nd Base Brandon Phillips (CIN) Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
3rd Base Plácido Polanco (PHI) Adrián Beltré (TEX)
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (COL) Erick Aybar (LAA)
Left field Gerardo Parra (AZ) Alex Gordon (KC)
Center field Matt Kemp (LAD) Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS)
Right field Andre Ethier (LAD) Nick Markakis (BAL)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter Daniel Hudson (AZ) David Ortiz (BOS)
Catcher Brian McCann (ATL) Alex Avila (DET)
1st Base Prince Fielder (MIL) Adrián González (BOS)
2nd Base Brandon Phillips (CIN) Robinson Canó (NYY)
3rd Base Aramis Ramírez (CHC) Adrián Beltré (TEX)
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (COL) Asdrúbal Cabrera (CLE)
Outfield Ryan Braun (MIL) Curtis Granderson (NYY)
Matt Kemp (LAD) Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS)
Justin Upton (AZ) José Bautista (TOR)

Player of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April José Bautista Ryan Braun
MayJosé Bautista Jay Bruce
June Adrián González Prince Fielder
July Dustin Pedroia Emilio Bonifacio
August Curtis Granderson Dan Uggla
September Adrián Beltré Ryan Braun

Pitcher of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Jered Weaver Josh Johnson
May Jeremy Hellickson Jair Jurrjens
June Justin Verlander Cliff Lee
July CC Sabathia Clayton Kershaw
August Ricky Romero Cliff Lee
September Doug Fister Javier Vázquez

Rookie of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Michael Pineda Darwin Barney
May Jeremy Hellickson Justin Turner
June Ben Revere
Jemile Weeks
Craig Kimbrel
July Eric Hosmer Freddie Freeman
August Mike Carp Craig Kimbrel
SeptemberEric Hosmer Dee Gordon

Other awards

Fielding Bible Awards
PositionPlayer
Pitcher Mark Buehrle (CWS)
Catcher Matt Wieters (BAL)
1st Base Albert Pujols (STL)
2nd Base Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
3rd Base Adrián Beltré (TEX)
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (COL)
Left Field Brett Gardner (NYY)
Center Field Austin Jackson (DET)
Right Field Justin Upton (AZ)

Home field attendance and payroll

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer gameEst. payroll
Philadelphia Phillies [27] 1025.2%3,680,718-2.6%45,441$172,976,37921.9%
New York Yankees [28] 972.1%3,653,680-3.0%45,107$206,275,028-2.1%
San Francisco Giants [29] 86-6.5%3,387,30311.5%41,819$124,198,33325.9%
Minnesota Twins [30] 63-33.0%3,168,116-1.7%39,113$112,737,00015.6%
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim [31] 867.5%3,166,321-2.6%39,090$138,543,16632.0%
St. Louis Cardinals [32] 904.7%3,093,954-6.3%38,197$105,433,57212.7%
Milwaukee Brewers [33] 9624.7%3,071,37310.6%37,918$86,636,3336.8%
Boston Red Sox [34] 901.1%3,054,0010.2%37,704$166,662,4751.3%
Chicago Cubs [35] 71-5.3%3,017,966-1.5%37,259$136,547,329-6.9%
Texas Rangers [36] 966.7%2,946,94917.6%36,382$93,799,26466.1%
Los Angeles Dodgers [37] 822.5%2,935,139-17.6%36,236$103,785,4778.8%
Colorado Rockies [38] 73-12.0%2,909,7771.2%35,923$91,648,0711.1%
Detroit Tigers [39] 9517.3%2,642,0457.3%32,618$106,875,231-13.8%
Atlanta Braves [40] 89-2.2%2,372,940-5.5%29,296$93,855,13211.2%
New York Mets [41] 77-2.5%2,352,596-8.1%29,044$151,897,30913.0%
Cincinnati Reds [42] 79-13.2%2,213,5887.4%27,328$77,297,1342.6%
San Diego Padres [43] 71-21.1%2,143,0180.5%26,457$45,869,14021.3%
Arizona Diamondbacks [44] 9444.6%2,105,4322.4%25,993$54,823,166-10.7%
Houston Astros [45] 56-26.3%2,067,016-11.3%25,519$71,110,500-23.7%
Chicago White Sox [46] 79-10.2%2,001,117-8.8%24,705$127,789,00019.2%
Washington Nationals [47] 8015.9%1,940,4786.1%24,256$68,492,9281.2%
Pittsburgh Pirates [48] 7226.3%1,940,42920.3%23,956$45,047,00020.3%
Seattle Mariners [49] 679.8%1,896,321-9.1%23,411$86,110,600-0.5%
Cleveland Indians [50] 8015.9%1,840,83532.3%22,726$49,426,566-19.2%
Toronto Blue Jays [51] 81-4.7%1,818,10321.6%22,446$64,567,8002.9%
Baltimore Orioles [52] 694.5%1,755,4611.3%21,672$88,299,0388.2%
Kansas City Royals [53] 716.0%1,724,4506.8%21,290$35,712,000-51.1%
Tampa Bay Rays [54] 91-5.2%1,529,188-18.0%18,879$41,053,571-42.9%
Florida Marlins [55] 72-10.0%1,520,562-0.3%18,772$57,694,0000.4%
Oakland Athletics [27] 74-8.6%1,476,7914.1%18,232$67,094,00015.9%

Broadcasting

Television

Two more teams joined the growing cable-exclusive telecast teams in 2011. Fox Sports Midwest produced and televised all St. Louis Cardinals games on the cable station, along with selected areas of the Cardinals' DMA[ clarification needed ] outside St. Louis including Fox Sports Tennessee in Tennessee, Fox Sports Indiana in parts of Indiana, and SportsSouth in Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma. [56] The 2010 season was their last season of splitting games with KSDK. [57]

The Minnesota Twins also joined the group, with Fox Sports North becoming their exclusive local home. [58] The 2010 season was their last season of splitting games with WFTC.

Atlanta Braves games that aired on WPCH-TV were produced by and simulcast on Fox Sports South or SportSouth, marking the first season since 1972 which local Braves telecasts weren't produced by Turner Sports. [59]

The national telecast breakdown is as follows, along with the maximum number of appearances per team:

In Canada, Toronto Blue Jays games were televised on Rogers Sportsnet, which also held the Canadian rights to air the Fox and ESPN/ESPN2 games if they did not conflict with Blue Jays' games, and additional regular season games on a regional basis on Rogers Sportsnet One as well as the All-Star Game and the entire postseason. TSN2 held rights to the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecasts.

In Australia, it was free to air channel One HD and showed up to five games live per week, and European channel ESPN America broadcast games as well.

For international viewers, MLB International broadcast the All-Star Game, the NLCS and the World Series.

Radio

ESPN Radio served as MLB's national radio network, broadcasting Sunday Night Baseball as well as selected Saturday and holiday games during the regular season, the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, and all postseason series. ESPN Deportes Radio held the Spanish language rights to the Fall Classic.

Uniform changes

Wholesale changes

Throwbacks

Patches

Alternate jerseys

Special jerseys

Other

Angels' 50th anniversary

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2011. Founded by Gene Autry in 1961, the team played at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field in their first season, then shared Dodger Stadium (called "Chavez Ravine" by Angels management) with the Dodgers before moving to Anaheim in 1966 and their own stadium, Anaheim Stadium (later to become Edison International Field of Anaheim and finally Angel Stadium of Anaheim). That year, the team name was altered to the California Angels. After being purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 1997, the team name was changed to the Anaheim Angels and after Arte Moreno purchased the team, the name was changed to its current moniker to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005. For the season, in addition to the patch, the Angels changed the color of the halo from silver to gold on their uniforms, just as it looked from 1971 through 1996. [72] In addition, on selected Friday night games, the team donned replicas of five of the six styles of uniforms they have worn, the most notable omission being that of the "Periwinkle Blue" era from 1997 to 2001, when Disney owned the team.

Stadiums

This was the Florida Marlins' final season at Sun Life Stadium, after 19 years, [73] they moved to their new ballpark in downtown Miami, where they became the Miami Marlins.

Venue changes

Due to the U2 360° Tour concert scheduled June 29 at Sun Life Stadium and the needed time to set up the stage, the Marlins were forced to move their scheduled home games for June 24–26 against the Seattle Mariners to the Mariners' park at Safeco Field. As the Marlins were the home team, NL rules (no designated hitter) were applied. Mariners and Marlins did not meet again in Miami until 2014.

Team purchases

The Houston Astros were sold by Drayton McLane for US $680 million to a group led by Jim Crane, the founder of a transit logistics company.

Retired numbers

The Detroit Tigers retired Sparky Anderson's No. 11 on June 26. [74]

Bert Blyleven, elected to the Class of 2011 of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was honored with the retirement of his uniform No. 28 by the Twins on July 16. [75]

Roberto Alomar, also a 2011 Hall of Fame class member, became the first member of the Toronto Blue Jays to have his number (#12) retired on July 31. [76]

The Atlanta Braves retired Bobby Cox's No. 6 prior to their game against the Chicago Cubs on August 12. [77]

Trevor Hoffman, who had been the all-time saves leader until Mariano Rivera surpassed him on September 19, had his No. 51 retired by the San Diego Padres on August 21. [78]

See also

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The 1971 Major League Baseball season was the final season for the Senators in Washington, D.C., before the team's relocation to the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb Arlington for the following season, as the Texas Rangers, leaving the nation's capital without a baseball team of its own until 2005.

The 2009 Major League Baseball season began on April 5, 2009; the regular season was extended two days for a one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central title. The postseason began the next day with the Division Series. The World Series began on October 28, and ended on November 4, with the New York Yankees defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. This was the second time the season was completed in November. The only other occasion was the 2001 World Series, because of the delaying of the end of that season due to the September 11 attacks as November baseball would be guaranteed when Game 4 was played on Sunday, November 1. Had the 2009 World Series gone the full seven games, Game 7 would've been played on November 5, the latest date ever scheduled for a World Series game. American League champion had home field advantage for the World Series by virtue of winning the All-Star Game on July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, 4–3. In addition, the annual Civil Rights Game became a regular season game, and was played June 20 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, when the host Cincinnati Reds lost to the Chicago White Sox in an interleague game, 10–8. Both teams wore replicas of their 1965 uniforms in the contest.

The 2010 Major League Baseball season began April 4, with the regular season ending on October 3. The 2010 All-Star Game was played on July 13 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. The National League ended a 13-game winless streak with a 3–1 victory. Due to this result, the World Series began October 27 in the city of the National League Champion, the San Francisco Giants, and ended November 1 when the Giants defeated the American League Champion Texas Rangers, four games to one.

The 2012 Major League Baseball season began on April 5 because during the MLB Spring Training it was the first of a two-game series between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. On November 22, 2011, a new contract between Major League Baseball and its players union was ratified, and as a result, an expanded playoff format adding two clubs would be adopted no later than 2013 according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The new format of the 2012 postseason to used the 1 game series of the Wild Card round of the format for the 2012 postseason only. The restriction against divisional rivals playing against each other in the Division Series round that had existed in previous years was eliminated, as the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees squared off in one of the best-of-five LDS in the American League. On April 4, 2012, it was the last day of the MLB Spring Training and ended with the new Marlins Park, as the newly renamed Miami Marlins hosted the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. The regular season ended on Wednesday, October 3. The entire master schedule was released on September 14, 2011.

The 2013 Major League Baseball season started on March 31 with a Sunday night game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Opening Day for most clubs was a day later on April 1. The regular season ended on September 30, extended one day for a one-game playoff between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers to decide the second American League Wild Card winner.

The 2014 Major League Baseball season began on March 22 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The North American part of the season started on March 30 and ended on September 28.

The 2015 Major League Baseball season began on April 5 with a Sunday night game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, and ended on November 1 with the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series. This was Rob Manfred's first season serving as Commissioner of Baseball.

The 2016 Major League Baseball season began on April 3, 2016, with a Sunday afternoon matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, the two teams with the best regular-season records in 2015, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The regular season ended on Sunday, October 2, 2016, and the postseason on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, with the Chicago Cubs coming back from a three games to one deficit to defeat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series and win their first championship since 1908.

The 2017 Major League Baseball season began on April 2 with three games, including the 2016 World Series champions Chicago Cubs facing off against the St. Louis Cardinals, the regular season ended in late September. The postseason began on October 3. The World Series began October 24 and Game 7 was played on November 1, in which the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games, to capture their first World Series championship in franchise history.

The 2018 Major League Baseball season began on March 29. The regular season ended on October 1, extended a day for tiebreaker games to decide the winners of the National League Central and National League West. The postseason began on October 2. The World Series began on October 23, and ended on October 28 with the Boston Red Sox defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games to win their ninth World Series championship.

The 2019 Major League Baseball season began on March 20, while the regular season ended on September 29. It was the 150th anniversary of professional baseball, dating back to the 1869 foundation of the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The postseason began on October 1. The World Series began October 22 and ended October 30 with the Washington Nationals defeating the Houston Astros in seven games to win their first World Series championship. The entire schedule was released on August 22, 2018.

The 2020 Major League Baseball season began on July 23 and ended on September 27 with only 60 games amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The full 162-game regular season was planned to begin on March 26, but the pandemic caused Major League Baseball (MLB) to announce on March 12 that the remainder of spring training was canceled and that the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks. On March 16, MLB announced that the season would be postponed indefinitely, following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restrict events of more than 50 people. This was the first time that MLB games had been put on hold since the 2001 season, when the season was paused for over a week after the September 11 attacks.

The 2021 Major League Baseball season began on April 1, while the regular season ended on October 3. The postseason began on October 5. The World Series then began on October 26 and ended on November 2 with the Atlanta Braves defeating the Houston Astros in six games to win their second title since moving to Atlanta.

The 2022 Major League Baseball season (MLB) was originally scheduled to begin on March 31 and end on October 2. The 2021–22 lockout caused the season to be delayed by one week, starting on April 7. The regular season ended on October 5. The start of the season was delayed by a lockout of players, which commenced on December 2, 2021, following the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). On March 10, 2022, MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal on a five-year CBA, with Opening Day being held on April 7, and a full 162-game schedule played. Under the new CBA, universal designated hitter was adopted, the postseason was expanded to 12 teams, and the regular season tie-breaker game was eliminated. In November 2021, the Cleveland Indians announced their new team name, the Cleveland Guardians. The 2022 MLB All-Star Game was held on July 19 and hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The 2023 Major League Baseball season (MLB) began on March 30. The 93rd All-Star Game was played on July 11, hosted by the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, with the National League winning, 3–2. The regular season ended on October 1, and the postseason began on October 3, and ended with Game 5 of the World Series on November 1. This season saw the introduction of several rule changes: in an effort to create a quicker pace of play, a pitch clock was introduced along with other minor changes, while limits on defensive shifts and larger bases were also introduced.

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