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. It became the latest date for a World Series game in 2022. The 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.
Standings American League
National League
The Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers in a one-game playoff to earn the AL Central division title.
Postseason
Bracket
Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.
League leaders American League
+ Batting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Joe Mauer (MIN) .365 OPS Joe Mauer (MIN) 1.031 HR Carlos Peña (TB)Mark Teixeira (NYY) 39 RBI Mark Teixeira (NYY) 122 R Dustin Pedroia (BOS) 115 H Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) 225 SB Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS) 70
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Justin Verlander (DET)CC Sabathia (NYY)Félix Hernández (SEA) 19 L Jeremy Guthrie (BAL) 17 ERA Zack Greinke (KC) 2.16 K Justin Verlander (DET) 269 IP Justin Verlander (DET) 240 SV Brian Fuentes (LAA) 48 WHIP Zack Greinke (KC) 1.073
National League
+ Batting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Hanley Ramírez (FLA) .342 OPS Albert Pujols (STL) 1.101 HR Albert Pujols (STL) 47 RBI Prince Fielder (MIL)Ryan Howard (PHI) 141 R Albert Pujols (STL) 124 H Ryan Braun (MIL) 203 SB Michael Bourn (HOU) 61
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Adam Wainwright (STL) 19 L Zack Duke (PIT) 16 ERA Chris Carpenter (STL) 2.24 K Tim Lincecum (SF) 261 IP Adam Wainwright (STL) 233 SV Heath Bell (SD) 42 WHIP Dan Haren (AZ) 1.003
Managing changes General managers The Seattle Mariners named Milwaukee Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik its new general manager on October 22, replacing interim GM Lee Pelekoudas.
Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden resigned on March 1 amid allegations that he was skimming bonus money from Latin American players. Team president Stan Kasten first took over the bulk of his duties before transferring them to assistant GM Mike Rizzo, who had served as acting GM, and was named as the full-time general manager on August 20.
During the last days of the regular season, two teams fired their general managers, effective at the end of the season. On October 3, the Toronto Blue Jays fired J. P. Ricciardi after eight seasons. The following day, the San Diego Padres axed Kevin Towers, who had been the longest-tenured GM in Major League Baseball at 14 seasons.
Field managers Off-season changes Two teams announced new managers in the offseason: DateTeamNew managerReplacedFormer jobOctober 30, 2008Milwaukee Brewers Ken MachaDale SveumMacha was a former manager of the Oakland Athletics, and served as a part-time anaylist for NESN.November 19, 2008Seattle MarinersDon WakamatsuJim Riggleman Wakamatsu, the first Major League Baseball manager of Asian descent, was the Athletics' bench coach.
Cito Gaston and Jerry Manuel both entered their first full season as managers of the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets, respectively, after taking over for managers dismissed in the middle of the 2008 season. Gaston had previously been the Blue Jays' manager from 1989 until 1997.
In-season changes DateTeamFormer managerReplacementPrevious Job May 8 Arizona Diamondbacks Bob Melvin A. J. Hinch Vice president of player development May 29 Colorado Rockies Clint Hurdle Jim Tracy Bench coach July 13 Washington Nationals Manny Acta Jim Riggleman Bench coach September 20 Houston Astros Cecil Cooper Dave Clark Third base coach
Rule changes On January 15, the owners of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs approved two rule changes governing the playing of postseason and one-game playoff games.
All "postseason games and games added to the regular season to determine qualifiers for the postseason" become suspended games if they are called before nine innings are played, regardless of whether the game would otherwise qualify as an official game, or the score at the time the game is called. The game is resumed when conditions permit at the same location from the point of suspension. This rule change codifies the controversial interpretation of the official rules made by MLB commissioner Bud Selig during Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. Coin tosses will no longer be used to determine home-field advantage for one-game tiebreakers held to determine division champions or wild card teams. Instead, "performance-based criteria"—starting with head-to-head record between the tied clubs—will be used to determine home-field advantage. This came into play for the first time when the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins tied for the lead of the American League Central at the end of the regular season (October 4); the one-game playoff was played on October 6 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as the Twins won the season series, 11–7. The game cannot be played on October 5 because of a scheduling conflict with the Minnesota Vikings, who hosted the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football that night.
Milestones Reached
Jody Gerut, then with the San Diego Padres, became the first player to open a new ballpark with a leadoff home run, as the Padres beat the New York Mets 6–5 at Citi Field on April 13. Chicago White Sox teammates Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko both hit their 300th career home runs in back-to-back plate appearances against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning at Comerica Park on April 13, the first time that historic home runs were hit consecutively. Gary Sheffield of the New York Mets became the 25th member of the 500 home run club on April 17 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. The historic home run came in the bottom of the seventh inning as a pinch hitter, the first time a player has reached 500 home runs in this way. The Cleveland Indians set a Major League record for most runs scored in the second inning, by scoring 14 runs against the New York Yankees on April 18. Liván Hernández, who at the time was with the New York Mets, wins his 150th game on May 10. Iván Rodríguez, then of the Houston Astros, hit his 300th career home run in a game against the Chicago Cubs on May 17 at Wrigley Field. On June 17, Rodríguez played in his 2,227th game as a catcher, breaking the record for all-time games caught previously held by Carlton Fisk. He finished the season as a member of the Texas Rangers. Jason Kendall of the Milwaukee Brewers accomplished his 2,000th career hit in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 18 at Busch Stadium. Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies got his 2,000th career hit and his 500th career double (on July 22). Jason Giambi, then of the Oakland Athletics, recorded his 400th career home run. He finished the season as a member of the Colorado Rockies. Jamie Moyer of the Philadelphia Phillies notched his 250th career victory on May 31 against the Washington Nationals. Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees got his 2,600th hit and 1,500th run on June 2 against the Texas Rangers. The Yankees' captain would then pass Luis Aparicio for most hits by a shortstop on August 16. Jeter also became the all-time hit leader in Yankees history with a single in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles on September 11. He broke the record of 2,721 hits that was held by Lou Gehrig. Randy Johnson of the San Francisco Giants became the 24th member of the 300 win club, defeating the Nationals on June 4 in the first game of a makeup doubleheader, earning the win in a 5–1 triumph. Johnson became the sixth southpaw to reach the milestone. Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs wins his 100th career game against the Cincinnati Reds defeating the Reds on June 5. Miguel Tejada and Bobby Abreu have reached 2,000 career hits as well. Jim Thome passed the 1,500 RBIs and the 400-double milestone as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He finished the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Boston Red Sox celebrated their 500th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park on June 18. Sox pitcher Brad Penny also got his 100th career win. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa won his 2,500th game in his managerial career defeating the Kansas City Royals June 21 at Kaufmann Stadium, 12–5. Omar Vizquel passed Luis Aparicio for most hits by a native-born Venezuelan. Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros hit his 300th career home run and passed the 1,000 RBI mark. Kevin Millwood of the Texas Rangers wins his 150th game on June 26. Mariano Rivera becomes the second pitcher in MLB history to record 500 career saves on June 29 in a 4–2 victory against their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets. He also saved his major league record fourth All-Star Game. Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals reached the 1,000 RBI list and the 1,000-run list. On June 30 at Busch Stadium, Pujols became the 32nd player to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break. He is also the seventh player to hit 30 home runs before the month of July. He would later become the second player in history to record at least 100 RBI in each of his first nine seasons on a 3-run double in the sixth inning at Pittsburgh on August 8, and also hit his 350th career home run after nine seasons. Adam Dunn hit his 300th career home run on July 3. Garret Anderson of the Atlanta Braves hit his 500th career double on June 27. He also got his 2,500th career hit with a single in the second inning against the Washington Nationals on October 1. He became the 90th player in major league history to reach this mark. David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox reached the 300 home run plateau on July 9. He also got his 1,000th career hit as a member of the team on July 11. On September 15, Ortiz set the record for most home runs for a designated hitter by hitting his 270th against the Los Angeles Angels. Jonathan Sánchez of the San Francisco Giants pitched baseball's first no-hitter of the season on July 10 as he defeated the San Diego Padres, 8–0 at AT&T Park. It was the first no-hitter hurled at "The Phone Booth". Ted Lilly of the Chicago Cubs won his 100th game on July 11. Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox won his 100th game on July 12. Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox pitched the 16th perfect game in baseball's modern era on July 23, beating the Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field, 5–0. Buehrle became the sixth pitcher to hurl both a no hitter and a perfect game in his career, joining Hall of Famers Addie Joss, Cy Young, Sandy Koufax and Jim Bunning, and also Randy Johnson. Buehrle did this in the midst of setting a Major League record by retiring 45 consecutive batters over three games. Josh Willingham of the Washington Nationals became the 13th player in history to hit two grand slams in one game on July 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros hits his 300th career home run in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 8. He becomes the 125th person in major league baseball history to reach this mark.