2001 Major League Baseball season

The 2001 Major League Baseball season finished with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees in seven games for the World Series championship. The September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. pushed the end of the regular season from September 30 to October 7. Because of the attacks, the World Series was not completed until November 4. The 2001 World Series was the first World Series to end in November.

MLB used an unbalanced schedule for the first time since 1992 in the National League and 1978 in the American League. In all divisions except the NL Central and AL West each team played each of the other four teams in the same division 19 times. In the NL Central division foes met 16 or 17 times per season and in the AL West there were 19 or 20 games between each division foe.

This season included the Seattle Mariners tying the Major League regular season record of 116 wins, Barry Bonds breaking Mark McGwire's single-season home run record, and what some commentators described as a “patriotic return” of baseball following a week-long suspension of games after the September 11 attacks.

Standings

American League

National League

Postseason

Bracket

Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.

MLB statistical leaders

Statistic American League National League AVG Ichiro Suzuki SEA .350 Larry Walker COL .350 HR Alex Rodriguez TEX 52 Barry Bonds1 SF 73 RBI Bret Boone SEA 141 Sammy Sosa CHC 160 Wins Mark Mulder OAK 21 Matt Morris STLCurt Schilling AZ 22 ERA Freddy García SEA 3.05 Randy Johnson AZ 2.49 SO Hideo Nomo BOS 220 Randy Johnson AZ 372 SV Mariano Rivera NYY 50 Robb Nen SF 45 SB Ichiro Suzuki SEA 56 Juan Pierre COLJimmy Rollins PHI 46 1 All-time single-season home runs record

Managers

American League Team Manager CommentsAnaheim Angels Mike SciosciaBaltimore Orioles Mike HargroveBoston Red SoxJimy Williams Replaced during the season by Joe KerriganChicago White SoxJerry Manuel Cleveland Indians Charlie Manuel Detroit Tigers Phil Garner Kansas City Royals Tony Muser Minnesota Twins Tom Kelly New York Yankees Joe Torre Won the American League pennantOakland Athletics Art Howe Seattle Mariners± Lou Piniella Tampa Bay Devil Rays Larry RothschildReplaced during the season by Hal McRaeTexas Rangers Johnny OatesReplaced during the season by Jerry NarronToronto Blue Jays Buck Martinez

National League Team Manager CommentsArizona Diamondbacks Bob BrenlyWon the World SeriesAtlanta Braves Bobby CoxChicago Cubs Don BaylorCincinnati Reds Bob Boone Colorado Rockies Buddy BellFlorida Marlins John Boles Jr. Replaced during the season by Tony PérezHouston Astros Larry DierkerLos Angeles Dodgers Jim TracyMilwaukee BrewersDavey LopesMontreal Expos Felipe AlouReplaced during the season by Jeff TorborgNew York Mets Bobby ValentinePhiladelphia Phillies Larry BowaPittsburgh Pirates Lloyd McClendonSt. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa San Diego Padres Bruce BochySan Francisco Giants Dusty Baker ±hosted the MLB All Star Game

Milestones Batters Barry Bonds (SF): Became the 17th player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 17. Rickey Henderson (SD): Became the 25th member of the 3,000-hit club with a double in the first inning against the San Diego Padres on October 7.

Pitchers Randy Johnson (AZ): Tied a modern National League record (when including extra inning games) for most strikeouts in a single game, throwing 20 strikeouts in 9 innings in an 11-inning game in a 4–3 win against the Cincinnati Reds on May 8.

Miscellaneous Cleveland Indians: Tied a major league record by becoming the third team to overcome a 12-run deficit on August 5, the largest deficit ever overcome to win. The Indians were in a 12-run deficit twice, 12–0 after the third inning, and 14–2 after the fifth inning. The Indians would go on to win the game 15–14 in extra innings, following a walk-off in the bottom of the 11th in a win over the Seattle Mariners. Detroit Tigers: Tied a modern (1900–present) major league record set in for most runs scored in the ninth inning, by scoring 13 runs against the Texas Rangers on August 8.

Awards Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the YearAlbert Pujols (STL)Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)Cy Young AwardRandy Johnson (AZ)Roger Clemens (NYY)Manager of the YearLarry Bowa (PHI)Lou Piniella (SEA)Most Valuable PlayerBarry Bonds (SF)Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcherGreg Maddux (ATL)Mike Mussina (NYY)CatcherBrad Ausmus (HOU)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)1st BaseTodd Helton (COL)Doug Mientkiewicz (MIN)2nd BaseFernando Viña (STL)Roberto Alomar (CLE)3rd BaseScott Rolen (PHI)Eric Chavez (OAK)ShortstopOrlando Cabrera (MON)Omar Vizquel (CLE)OutfieldJim Edmonds (STL)Andruw Jones (ATL)Larry Walker (COL)Mike Cameron (SEA)Torii Hunter (MIN)Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)Silver Slugger AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcher/Designated HitterMike Hampton (COL) Edgar Martínez (SEA)CatcherMike Piazza (NYM)Jorge Posada (NYY)1st BaseTodd Helton (COL)Jason Giambi (OAK)2nd BaseJeff Kent (SF)Bret Boone (SEA)3rd BaseAlbert Pujols (STL)Troy Glaus (ANA)ShortstopRich Aurilia (SF)Alex Rodriguez (TEX)OutfieldBarry Bonds (SF)Luis Gonzalez (AZ)Sammy Sosa (CHC)Juan González (CLE)Manny Ramirez (BOS)Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)

Other awards Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Edgar Martínez (SEA) Hank Aaron Award: Alex Rodriguez (TEX, American); Barry Bonds (SF, National). Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Curt Schilling (AZ) Residents of New York City, for their relief efforts following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Rolaids Relief Man Award: Mariano Rivera (NYY, American); Armando Benítez (NYM, National). Warren Spahn Award (Best left-handed pitcher): Randy Johnson (AZ)

Player of the Month Month American League National League April Manny Ramirez Luis Gonzalez May Jason Giambi Barry Bonds June Mike Sweeney Luis Gonzalez July Jim Thome Jeff Bagwell August Jermaine Dye Sammy Sosa September Eric Chavez Barry Bonds

Pitcher of the Month Month American League National League April Brad Radke Wade Miller May Pedro Martínez Curt Schilling June Roger Clemens Greg Maddux July Mark Mulder Greg Maddux August Barry Zito Javier Vázquez September Barry Zito Woody Williams

Rookie of the Month Month American League National League April Ichiro Suzuki Albert Pujols May Ichiro Suzuki Albert Pujols June Ichiro Suzuki Ben Sheets July CC Sabathia Pedro Feliz August Ichiro Suzuki Roy Oswalt September Ichiro Suzuki Bud Smith

Home field attendance and payroll Team nameWinsHome attendanceEst. payrollSeattle Mariners11627.5%3,507,32620.3%43,300$74,720,83423.5%San Francisco Giants90 −7.2%3,311,958 −0.2%40,888$63,280,16717.8%New York Yankees959.2%3,264,9076.9%40,811$112,787,14321.1%Cleveland Indians911.1%3,175,523 −8.1%39,694$93,360,00121.3%Colorado Rockies73 −11.0%3,166,821 −3.9%39,097$71,541,33417.1%St. Louis Cardinals93 −2.1%3,109,578 −6.8%37,922$79,373,33328.7%Baltimore Orioles63 −14.9%3,094,841 −6.1%38,686$74,279,540 −9.8%Los Angeles Dodgers860.0%3,017,1434.8%37,249$109,105,95323.8%Houston Astros9329.2%2,904,277 −5.0%35,855$60,612,66718.2%Texas Rangers732.8%2,831,0219.4%34,525$88,633,50025.2%Atlanta Braves88 −7.4%2,823,530 −12.7%34,858$91,936,1668.5%Milwaukee Brewers68 −6.8%2,811,04178.6%34,704$43,886,83317.6%Chicago Cubs8835.4%2,779,465 −0.4%34,314$64,715,8336.9%Arizona Diamondbacks928.2%2,736,451 −7.0%33,783$85,082,9995.0%New York Mets82 −12.8%2,658,330 −5.8%32,819$93,174,42817.2%Boston Red Sox82 −3.5%2,625,3331.5%32,412$110,035,83337.6%Pittsburgh Pirates62 −10.1%2,464,87040.9%30,430$57,760,83384.4%San Diego Padres793.9%2,378,1281.1%29,360$39,182,833 −28.8%Oakland Athletics10212.1%2,133,27733.0%26,337$33,810,7501.9%Anaheim Angels75 −8.5%2,000,919 −3.2%24,703$47,735,167 −9.4%Detroit Tigers66 −16.5%1,921,305 −21.2%23,720$53,416,167 −10.4%Toronto Blue Jays80 −3.6%1,915,43812.3%23,359$76,895,99967.0%Cincinnati Reds66 −22.4%1,879,757 −27.1%23,207$48,986,0004.5%Minnesota Twins8523.2%1,782,92978.2%22,011$24,130,00037.7%Philadelphia Phillies8632.3%1,782,05410.5%22,001$41,663,833 −12.3%Chicago White Sox83 −12.6%1,766,172 −9.3%21,805$65,653,667106.8%Kansas City Royals65 −15.6%1,536,371 −1.8%18,968$35,422,50042.2%Tampa Bay Devil Rays62 −10.1%1,298,365 −10.4%16,029$56,980,000 −9.9%Florida Marlins76 −3.8%1,261,2263.5%15,765$35,762,50075.8%Montreal Expos681.5%642,745 −30.6%7,935$35,159,5006.6%

Television coverage This was the first season that national television coverage was split between ESPN and Fox Sports. ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected weeknight and Sunday night games, and selected Division Series playoff games. Fox televised Saturday baseball, the All-Star Game, selected Division Series games, both League Championship Series, and the World Series. Sister network FX also aired Saturday primetime games. Thursday night games moved from Fox Sports Net to Fox Family. Fox Family also aired selected Division Series games. This was the last season that Fox Sports broadcast regular season games on either Fox Family or FX.

See also 2001 Nippon Professional Baseball season

References

External links 2001 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference Major League Baseball standings 2001