Champions
Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions
LeagueEastern Division ChampionsCentral Division ChampionsWestern Division ChampionsWild Card QualifierAmerican LeagueTampa Bay RaysMinnesota TwinsTexas RangersNew York YankeesNational LeaguePhiladelphia PhilliesCincinnati RedsSan Francisco GiantsAtlanta Braves World Series Champions – San Francisco Giants American League Champions – Texas Rangers National League Champions – San Francisco Giants Postseason – October 7 to November 4
Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series. The National League champion has home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the NL victory in the All-Star Game.
Other Champions Minor League Baseball AAA Championship: Columbus Clippers (Cleveland) International League: Columbus Clippers (Cleveland) Pacific Coast League: Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle) Mexican League: Saraperos de Saltillo AA Eastern League: Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh) Southern League: Jacksonville Suns (Florida) Texas League: Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City) A California League: San Jose Giants (San Francisco) Carolina League: Potomac Nationals (Washington) Florida State League: Tampa Yankees (New York, AL) Midwest League: Lake County Captains (Cleveland) South Atlantic League: Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia) New York–Penn League: Tri-City ValleyCats (Houston) Northwest League: Everett AquaSox (Seattle) Rookie Appalachian League: Johnson City Cardinals (St. Louis) Gulf Coast League: GF Phillies (Philadelphia) Pioneer League: Helena Brewers (Milwaukee) Arizona League: AZL Brewers (Milwaukee) Dominican Summer League: DSL Giants (San Francisco) Venezuelan Summer League: VSL Pirates (Pittsburgh) Arizona Fall League: Scottsdale Scorpions Independent baseball leagues American Association: Shreveport-Bossier Captains Atlantic League: York Revolution Canadian American Association: Québec Capitales Frontier League: River City Rascals Golden Baseball League: Chico Outlaws Northern League: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks United League Baseball: Edinburg Roadrunners Amateur College College World Series: South Carolina NCAA Division II: Southern Indiana NCAA Division III: Illinois Wesleyan NAIA: Cumberland Japan high school Spring Kōshien: Kōnan, Okinawa Summer Kōshien: Kōnan, Okinawa Kōnan becomes only the fifth school to sweep the country's two major high school tournaments in the same calendar year. Youth Big League World Series: San Juan, Puerto Rico Junior League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Little League World Series: Tokyo, Japan Senior League World Series: San Nicolaas, Aruba International National teams Intercontinental Cup: Cuba European Baseball Championship: Italy Central American and Caribbean Games: Dominican Republic Asian Games: South Korea South American Games: Venezuela World Junior Baseball Championship: Chinese Taipei Women's World Cup: Japan International Club team competitions Caribbean Series: Leones del Escogido (Dominican Republic) European Champion Cup Final Four: Fortitudo Bologna (Italy) KBO–NPB Championship: Chiba Lotte Marines (Japan) Central American Games: Panama Domestic leagues Australia – Claxton Shield: Victoria Aces China Baseball League: Guangdong Leopards Cuban National Series: Industriales Dominican League: Leones del Escogido France – Division Elite: Rouen Baseball 76 Holland Series: Neptunus Italian Cup: Fortitudo Bologna Japan Series: Chiba Lotte Marines Central League: Chunichi Dragons Pacific League: Chiba Lotte Marines Korea Baseball Organization: SK Wyverns Mexican League: Naranjeros de Hermosillo Puerto Rican League: Indios de Mayagüez Taiwan Series: Brother Elephants Venezuelan League: Leones del Caracas
Calendar
Major League Baseball
December December 4–7: Baseball winter meetings, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. December 12: Last day for teams to offer 2011 contracts to unsigned players.
Sources: Associated Press
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame honors Three individuals were elected and subsequently inducted—Andre Dawson in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and umpire Doug Harvey and manager Whitey Herzog in voting by separate panels of the Veterans Committee. Bill Madden received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for excellence in writing. Jon Miller received the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. MVP Awards American League – Josh Hamilton (TEX) National League – Joey Votto (CIN) Cy Young Awards American League – Félix Hernández (SEA) National League – Roy Halladay (PHI) Rookie of the Year Awards American League – Neftalí Feliz (TEX) National League – Buster Posey (SF) Manager of the Year Awards American League – Ron Gardenhire (MIN) National League – Bud Black (SD) Silver Slugger Awards
American League National LeaguePlayer Team Position Player TeamVladimir Guerrero Texas Rangers DH / Pitcher Yovani Gallardo Milwaukee BrewersJoe Mauer Minnesota Twins Catcher Brian McCann Atlanta BravesMiguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers 1st baseman Albert Pujols St. Louis CardinalsRobinson Canó New York Yankees 2nd baseman Dan Uggla Florida MarlinsAdrián Beltré Boston Red Sox 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman Washington NationalsAlexei Ramírez Chicago White Sox Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki Colorado RockiesJosé Bautista Toronto Blue Jays Outfielder Ryan Braun Milwaukee BrewersCarl Crawford Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder Carlos González Colorado RockiesJosh Hamilton Texas Rangers Outfielder Matt Holliday St. Louis Cardinals Gold Glove Awards
American League National LeaguePlayer Team Position Player TeamMark Buehrle Chicago White Sox Pitcher Bronson Arroyo Cincinnati RedsJoe Mauer Minnesota Twins Catcher Yadier Molina St. Louis CardinalsMark Teixeira New York Yankees 1st baseman Albert Pujols St. Louis CardinalsRobinson Canó New York Yankees 2nd baseman Brandon Phillips Cincinnati RedsEvan Longoria Tampa Bay Rays 3rd baseman Scott Rolen Cincinnati RedsDerek Jeter New York Yankees Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki Colorado RockiesCarl Crawford Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder Carlos González Colorado RockiesFranklin Gutiérrez Seattle Mariners Outfielder Michael Bourn Houston AstrosIchiro Suzuki Seattle Mariners Outfielder Shane Victorino Philadelphia Phillies
Others Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Sharon Ridley, Nashville Sounds, Pacific Coast League Major Leagues Babe Ruth Award – Tim Lincecum (SF) Branch Rickey Award – Vernon Wells (TOR) DHL Delivery Man of the Year Award – Heath Bell (SD) Edgar Martínez Award – Vladimir Guerrero (TEX) Hutch Award – Tim Hudson (ATL) Luis Aparicio Award – Carlos González (COL) Roberto Clemente Award – Tim Wakefield (BOS) Tony Conigliaro Award – Joaquín Benoit (TB) Players Choice Awards Player of the Year – Carlos González (COL) Marvin Miller Man of the Year – Brandon Inge (DET) Outstanding Players – Josh Hamilton (TEX, AL) / Carlos González (COL, NL) Outstanding Pitchers – David Price (TB, AL) / Roy Halladay (PHI, NL) Outstanding Rookies – Austin Jackson (DET, AL) / Buster Posey (SF, NL) Comeback players of the year – Vladimir Guerrero (TEX, AL) / Tim Hudson (ATL, NL) Sporting News Awards Player of the Year – Josh Hamilton (TEX) Managers of the Year – Ron Gardenhire (MIN, AL) / Bud Black (SD, NL) Pitchers of the Year – Félix Hernández (SEA, AL) / Roy Halladay (PHI, NL) Rookies of the Year – Austin Jackson (DET, AL) / Jason Heyward (ATL, NL) Comeback players of the year – Vladimir Guerrero (TEX, AL) / Tim Hudson (ATL, NL) Relievers of the year – Rafael Soriano (TB, AL) / Heath Bell (SD, NL) Fielding Bible Awards
Player Team PositionMark Buehrle Chicago White Sox PitcherYadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals CatcherDaric Barton Oakland Athletics 1st basemanChase Utley Philadelphia Phillies 2nd basemanEvan Longoria Tampa Bay Rays 3rd basemanTroy Tulowitzki Colorado Rockies Shortstop Brett Gardner New York Yankees Left fielder Michael Bourn Houston Astros Center fielder Ichiro Suzuki Seattle Mariners Right fielder
Minor Leagues Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award – Jeremy Hellickson (TB) USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award – Jeremy Hellickson (TB)
Events
January January 2 – Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnación is discharged from a Miami, Florida, hospital after suffering first- and second-degree burns to his face when he gets hit by fireworks during a New Year's celebration in his native La Romana, Dominican Republic. Encarnación is treated for minor facial injuries to the front and right side of his face after he is struck by a firecracker rocket near his jaw and it explodes. He goes to a local clinic in the Dominican Republic on the 1st, but is later transported to Miami, where he sees a face specialist for his injuries. January 4 – The New York Mets announce the official signing of Jason Bay to a four-year, $66 million contract, which includes a fifth-year vesting option. The two sides originally agree on the deal on December 29, , however, it is not official until after Bay passes his physical.
January 5 Five time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson announces his retirement. Johnson is 303–166 over his 22-year career, with a 3.29 earned run average. His 4,875 career strikeouts are second only to Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The St. Louis Cardinals re-sign outfielder Matt Holliday to a seven-year deal with an option for 2017, for a guaranteed $120 million. It is the richest contract in Cardinals history. January 7 – The Seattle Mariners acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Bill Hall. January 11 21-year-old Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman signs with the Cincinnati Reds. In an afternoon statement to news outlets, Mark McGwire admits that he used steroids during much of his Major League career, including in 1998, when he broke Major League Baseball's single-season home run record. In the evening, he addresses the situation further in an interview with Bob Costas on MLB Network.
January 16 – The San Diego Padres acquire Scott Hairston and outfielder Aaron Cunningham from the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and Minor League infielder Eric Sogard. Two days later, the Padres reach an agreement with Jerry Hairston Jr. on a one-year deal. The Hairstons become the seventh set of brothers to play for the Padres and the fifth to play as teammates. January 22 Oakland Athletics farmhand Grant Desme retires after a 30/30 2009 season in the minors and being named Arizona Fall League MVP in order to pursue the priesthood. The New York Mets acquire former All-Star outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for reliever Brian Stokes and cash considerations. January 23 – Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg complete the initial step of purchasing controlling interest in the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks and the Hicks Sports Group. January 28 – Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano strikes out ten batters over five scoreless innings to lead Leones del Escogido to a 5–3 win over Gigantes del Cibao for the Dominican Republic League title in the deciding ninth game of the series. The Dominicans become the first squad to qualify for the 2010 Caribbean Series. January 29 In Puerto Rico, Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Ángel Sánchez goes 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI to pace Indios de Mayagüez past the Criollos de Caguas, 8–6, in 11 innings to claim their first league championship since and a berth in the Caribbean Series tournament. Leones del Caracas cruises past Navegantes del Magallanes, 7–2, in decisive Game 7 of the Venezuelan winter league championship to claim the title and earn a berth in the Caribbean Series. The Venezuelan team is led by Atlanta Braves outfielder Gregor Blanco, who hits .318 with a .538 OBP and a .652 slugging, who is named Most Valuable Player.