The 1996 Major League Baseball season was the final season of league-only play before the beginning of interleague play the following season. The season ended with the New York Yankees defeating the defending champion Atlanta Braves in six games for the World Series title, the Yankees' first championship since 1978. The record for most home runs hit in an MLB regular season, set at 4,458 in 1987, was broken, as the AL and NL combined to hit 4,962 home runs. Only 196 shutouts were recorded in the 2,266 MLB regular-season games. This was the first season in the Division Series era to be played to the full 162 games, as the 1994–95 player's strike caused the first two seasons of the era to be abbreviated.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Jim Bunning Bill Foster Ned Hanlon Earl Weaver
Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the YearTodd Hollandsworth (LAD)Derek Jeter (NYY)Cy Young AwardJohn Smoltz (ATL)Pat Hentgen (TOR)Manager of the YearBruce Bochy (SD)Johnny Oates (TEX)Joe Torre (NYY)Most Valuable PlayerKen Caminiti (SD)Juan González (TEX)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcherGreg Maddux (ATL)Mike Mussina (BAL)CatcherCharles Johnson (FLA)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)First BasemanMark Grace (CHC)J. T. Snow (CAL)Second BasemanCraig Biggio (HOU)Roberto Alomar (BAL)Third BasemanKen Caminiti (SD)Robin Ventura (CWS)ShortstopBarry Larkin (CIN)Omar Vizquel (CLE)OutfieldersBarry Bonds (SF)Kenny Lofton (CLE)Marquis Grissom (ATL)Jay Buhner (SEA)Steve Finley (SD)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)Silver Slugger AwardsPitcher/Designated HitterTom Glavine (ATL)Paul Molitor (MIN)CatcherMike Piazza (LAD)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)First BasemanAndrés Galarraga (COL)Mark McGwire (OAK)Second BasemanEric Young (COL)Roberto Alomar (BAL)Third BasemanKen Caminiti (SD)Jim Thome (CLE)ShortstopBarry Larkin (CIN)Alex Rodriguez (SEA)OutfieldersBarry Bonds (SF)Albert Belle (CLE)Ellis Burks (COL)Juan González (TEX)Gary Sheffield (FLA)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Other awards Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Paul Molitor (MIN) Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Kirby Puckett (MIN) Rolaids Relief Man Award: John Wetteland (NYY, American); Jeff Brantley (CIN, National)
Player of the Month Month American League National League April Frank Thomas Barry Bonds May Mo Vaughn Jeff Bagwell June Mark McGwire Dante Bichette July Juan González Sammy Sosa August Alex Rodriguez Ken Caminiti September Frank Thomas Ken Caminiti
Pitcher of the Month Month American League National League April Juan Guzmán John Smoltz May Charles Nagy John Smoltz June Orel Hershiser Jeff Fassero July Pat Hentgen Jeff Fassero August Pat Hentgen Kevin Brown September Charles Nagy Hideo Nomo
MLB statistical leaders Statistic American League National League AVG Alex Rodriguez SEA .358 Tony Gwynn SD .353 HR Mark McGwire OAK 52 Andrés Galarraga COL 47 RBI Albert Belle CLE 148 Andrés Galarraga COL 150 Wins Andy Pettitte NYY 21 John Smoltz ATL 24 ERA Juan Guzmán TOR 2.93 Kevin Brown FLA 1.89 SO Roger Clemens BOS 257 John Smoltz ATL 276 SV John Wetteland NYY 43 Jeff Brantley CINTodd Worrell LAD 44 SB Kenny Lofton CLE 75 Eric Young COL 53
Managers American League Team Manager Notes Baltimore Orioles Davey Johnson Boston Red Sox Kevin Kennedy California Angels Marcel Lachemann, John McNamara, Joe Maddon Chicago White Sox Terry Bevington Cleveland Indians Mike Hargrove Detroit Tigers Buddy Bell Kansas City Royals Bob Boone Milwaukee Brewers Phil Garner Minnesota Twins Tom Kelly New York Yankees Joe Torre Won World Series Oakland Athletics Art Howe Seattle Mariners Lou Piniella Texas Rangers Johnny Oates Toronto Blue Jays Cito Gaston
National League Team Manager Notes Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox Won National League Pennant Chicago Cubs Jim Riggleman Cincinnati Reds Ray Knight Colorado Rockies Don Baylor Florida Marlins Rene Lachemann, Cookie Rojas, John Boles Houston Astros Terry Collins Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell Montreal Expos Felipe Alou New York Mets Dallas Green, Bobby Valentine Philadelphia Phillies Jim Fregosi Pittsburgh Pirates Jim Leyland St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa San Diego Padres Bruce Bochy San Francisco Giants Dusty Baker
Home field attendance and payroll Team nameWinsHome attendanceEst. payrollColorado Rockies837.8%3,891,01414.8%48,037$40,324,82318.1%Baltimore Orioles8823.9%3,646,95017.7%44,475$54,599,31524.3%Cleveland Indians99 −1.0%3,318,17416.7%41,477$48,216,36026.7%Los Angeles Dodgers9015.4%3,188,45415.3%39,364$35,355,000 −10.0%Atlanta Braves966.7%2,901,24213.2%35,818$49,698,5005.2%Texas Rangers9021.6%2,889,02045.5%35,667$39,041,52812.9%Seattle Mariners857.6%2,723,85065.8%33,628$41,328,50113.3%St. Louis Cardinals8841.9%2,654,71851.1%32,774$40,269,6678.5%Toronto Blue Jays7432.1%2,559,573 −9.4%31,600$30,555,083 −39.6%Boston Red Sox85 −1.2%2,315,2317.0%28,583$42,393,50030.6%New York Yankees9216.5%2,250,87732.0%28,136$54,191,79210.9%Chicago Cubs764.1%2,219,11015.7%27,396$33,081,00012.1%San Diego Padres9130.0%2,187,886110.0%27,011$28,348,1727.5%Houston Astros827.9%1,975,88844.9%24,394$28,487,000 −16.6%Cincinnati Reds81 −4.7%1,861,4281.3%22,981$42,526,334 −1.4%California Angels70 −10.3%1,820,5214.1%22,476$28,847,000 −7.6%Philadelphia Phillies67 −2.9%1,801,677 −11.8%22,243$34,314,50012.3%Florida Marlins8019.4%1,746,7672.7%21,565$31,132,00027.0%Chicago White Sox8525.0%1,676,4034.1%20,696$45,289,500 −3.6%Montreal Expos8833.3%1,616,70923.4%19,959$16,264,50030.4%New York Mets712.9%1,588,32324.8%19,609$24,479,500 −11.5%Minnesota Twins7839.3%1,437,35235.9%17,529$23,117,000 −9.0%Kansas City Royals757.1%1,435,99716.4%17,950$20,281,250 −31.3%San Francisco Giants681.5%1,413,92213.9%17,243$37,144,7251.9%Pittsburgh Pirates7325.9%1,332,15047.1%16,652$23,017,50025.4%Milwaukee Brewers8023.1%1,327,15522.0%16,385$21,730,00022.1%Detroit Tigers53 −11.7%1,168,610 −1.0%14,427$23,438,000 −36.7%Oakland Athletics7816.4%1,148,380 −2.2%14,178$21,243,000 −43.7%
Television coverage This was the first season under new five-year rights agreements with ESPN, Fox and NBC. ESPN continued to air Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball. Fox basically reinstated the Saturday afternoon Game of the Week with its own Fox Saturday Baseball broadcasts, initially offering up to four regionalized telecasts per week. NBC declined to broadcast any regular season games and instead agreed to a limited deal in which the network aired the All-Star Game and the American League Championship Series in even-numbered years, the World Series and National League Championship Series in odd-numbered years, and three Division Series games in each of these five years. Fox handled the All-Star Game and the American League Championship Series in odd-numbered years, the World Series and National League Championship Series in even-numbered years, and five Division Series games each year. ESPN then aired any Division Series games not picked up by either Fox or NBC.
Network Day of week Announcers ESPN Sunday nightsWednesday nights Jon Miller, Joe Morgan Fox Saturday afternoons Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Thom Brennaman, Bob Brenly NBC NoneNBC did not broadcast any regular season games. They only broadcast the All-Star Game, three divisional playoff games in prime time and the ALCS. Bob Costas, Joe Morgan, Bob Uecker
Events January–June January 8 – For only the seventh time in history and the first time since 1971, the Baseball Writers' Association of America fails to select a player for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. March 5 – The Veterans Committee elects four new members to the Hall of Fame and just misses naming a fifth. The group elected includes Earl Weaver, Baltimore Orioles manager for 17 seasons; pitcher Jim Bunning, who won 100 games in each league; 19th-century manager Ned Hanlon, who won pennants in Baltimore and Brooklyn, and Bill Foster, the Negro leagues' pitcher with most wins. Second baseman Nellie Fox receives the necessary 75% of the Committee's votes, but the rules allow for election of only one modern player, and Bunning has more votes. April 1 – Seven pitches into the first game of the season, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, home plate umpire John McSherry collapses on the field and dies of a massive heart attack. The game between the Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos is postponed, along with the rest of the games scheduled for that day. Reds owner Marge Schott later comes under fire for wanting the game in Cincinnati to continue despite the tragedy (and against the wishes of the players on both teams), saying that she felt "cheated" when it was canceled. April 6 – Cleveland Indians player Albert Belle hits Sports Illustrated photographer Tony Tomsic in the hand prior to a game between the Indians and Toronto Blue Jays at Jacobs Field. The angry Indians outfielder had told the photographer to stop taking pictures of him doing pre-game stretches and Tomsic complied. Belle then throws a ball from the outfield that breaks the skin of the photographer's hand in two places and draws blood. April 19 – The Texas Rangers set a major league record for most runs scored in the eighth inning, by scoring 19 runs against the Baltimore Orioles. May 14 – New York Yankee pitcher Dwight Gooden pitches the first Yankee Stadium no-hitter in 3 years as his Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 3–0. May 17 – Baltimore Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles hits a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the ninth, down by three, with two outs and a full count. This is only the second occurrence of this cliché ultimate game ending event in the history of professional baseball; during the 1988 season, Alan Trammell became the first to accomplish this feat in a 7–6 comeback win over the Yankees. June 1 – Major League Baseball games begin to be broadcast on Fox. June 6 – The Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 7–4, as John Valentin of Boston hits for the cycle and the White Sox complete a triple play. It marks the first time since July 1, 1931, that both events occur in the same game.
July–December July 9 – At Veterans Stadium, the National League defeats the American League 6–0 in the All-Star Game. Ken Caminiti and Mike Piazza hit home runs for the winners. The game is the first All-Star contest in which no walks are issued by either team. The Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. starts the game, despite suffering a broken nose when he accidentally catches a forearm from White Sox reliever Roberto Hernández when the latter slips on the tarp during the AL team photo shoot. September 6 – Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles becomes the 15th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. He homers off Felipe Lira in the seventh inning of the Orioles' 5–4, 12-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards. Murray also joins Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only big leaguers to reach both this milestone and also the 3,000 hit mark. September 6 – Brett Butler returns to the Los Angeles Dodgers line-up four months after having surgery for throat cancer. The 39-year-old center fielder scores the decisive run in a 2–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. September 16 – Paul Molitor of the Minnesota Twins became the 21st member of the 3,000-hit club with a triple in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals. September 17 – Hideo Nomo pitches a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9–0 victory. Nomo walks four batters and strikes out eight. September 18 – Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox ties a Major League record (matching his own feat) for most strikeouts in a single nine-inning game, throwing 20 strikeouts in a 4–0 win against the Detroit Tigers. October 24 – The Atlanta Braves play their final game at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium vs. the New York Yankees.