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.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.
The Year of the Pitcher For much of the season, 2010 was frequently labeled the Year of the Pitcher (though this title is also taken by the 1968 season). 2010 saw many significant pitching achievements, including:
Six no-hitters were thrown. They were thrown by Ubaldo Jiménez (April 17), Dallas Braden (May 9), Roy Halladay (May 29), Edwin Jackson (June 25), Matt Garza (July 26), and Halladay again, this time in Game 1 of the NLDS. It was only the third time in major league history that at least six no-hitters were thrown in a single season. Braden's no-hitter and Halladay's first were both perfect games. Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game (June 2), in which Galarraga set down the first twenty-six Cleveland Indians batters in order before umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly ruled Jason Donald safe at first on a ground ball. If not for Joyce's mistaken call, Galarraga's would have been the third perfect game in a season (an MLB record, but it was later done in 2012 by Philip Humber, Matt Cain, and Félix Hernández), and the third in less than a month. MLB pitchers combined for 329 shutouts (the most since 1972, when there were 357) and a record 34,306 strikeouts (an average of 1,144 per team). A record-tying 15 pitchers recorded 200 or more strikeouts. Neftalí Feliz of the Texas Rangers earned 40 saves, breaking the record for most saves in a season for a rookie (previously held by Kazuhiro Sasaki). Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals struck out 41 batters in his first four major league starts, a major league record.
Managerial changes
General managers
Off-season TeamFormer GMNew GMFormer jobSan Diego PadresKevin TowersJed HoyerHoyer served as the Boston Red Sox assistant GM.Toronto Blue JaysJ. P. RicciardiAlex AnthopoulosAnthopoulos was Riccardi's assistant GM in Toronto.
In-season DateTeamFormer GMNew GMFormer jobJuly 1Arizona DiamondbacksJosh ByrnesJerry DipotoDipoto was assistant GM.September 22Arizona DiamondbacksJerry DiPotoKevin TowersTowers signed a two-year deal in September.
Field managers
Off season TeamFormer managerNew managerFormer jobCleveland IndiansEric WedgeManny ActaWas manager of Washington Nationals 2007–2009.Houston AstrosDave Clark *Brad MillsBench coach for Boston Red Sox. * Served as interim manager, replacing Cecil Cooper.
The following managers who were interim managers for 2009 will lead their respective teams in 2010: TeamManager that started 2009 seasonReplacementJob prior to becoming managerColorado RockiesClint HurdleJim TracyBench Coach for the Rockies during the 2009 season. After Hurdle was fired, Tracy took over as interim manager and won Manager of the Year in the National League, and will continue to serve as the manager for the 2010 season.Arizona DiamondbacksBob MelvinA. J. HinchDirector of player development for the Diamondbacks. Melvin was fired during the 2009 season and Hinch served as the interim manager for the remainder of the season. Washington NationalsManny ActaJim RigglemanBench Coach for the Nationals during the 2009 season. Riggleman took over as interim manager for the 2009 season after Acta was fired during the All-Star Break.
In-season changes DateTeamFormer managerReplacementPrevious Job May 13 Kansas City Royals Trey Hillman Ned Yost Yost last managed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. Yost signed a two-year extension July 31 to remain manager. June 4 Baltimore Orioles Dave Trembley Juan Samuel Third base coach; serving on an interim basis from June 4 through August 3, when Buck Showalter replaced him. June 23 Florida Marlins Fredi González Edwin Rodríguez Spent the past years managing the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate. July 1 Arizona Diamondbacks A. J. Hinch Kirk Gibson Best known for his dramatic walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gibson was the D-Backs' bench coach. August 3 Baltimore Orioles Juan Samuel Buck Showalter Showalter, who was with ESPN as an analyst on Baseball Tonight, last managed with the Texas Rangers in 2006. August 9 Seattle Mariners Don Wakamatsu Daren Brown Brown was in his fourth season managing the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate. August 22 Chicago Cubs Lou Piniella Mike Quade Piniella stepped down early from an earlier announcement of his retirement at the end of the season to tend to his mother's failing health.Lou Piniella, Former Yankees Manager and Player, Will Retire as Manager of Cubs at End of Season, New York Daily News, July 20, 2010 Quade served as the third-base coach of the Cubs and was named interim manager for the remainder of the season.
League leaders
American League
+ Batting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Josh Hamilton (TEX) .359 HR José Bautista (TOR) 54 RBI Miguel Cabrera (DET) 126 R Mark Teixeira (NYY) 113 H Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) 214 SB Juan Pierre (CWS) 68
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W CC Sabathia (NYY) 21 L Kevin Millwood (BAL) 16 ERA Félix Hernández (SEA) 2.27 K Jered Weaver (LAA) 233 IP Félix Hernández (SEA) 249.2 SV Rafael Soriano (TB) 45
National League
+ Batting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Carlos Gonzalez (COL) .336 HR Albert Pujols (STL) 42 RBI Albert Pujols (STL) 118 R Albert Pujols (STL) 115 H Carlos Gonzalez (COL) 197 SB Michael Bourn (HOU) 52
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Roy Halladay (PHI) 21 L Rodrigo Lopez (AZ) 16 ERA Josh Johnson (FLA) 2.30 K Tim Lincecum (SF) 231 IP Roy Halladay (PHI) 250.2 SV Brian Wilson (SF) 48
Milestones
Reached Batters Manny Ramirez (CWS)/(LAD): As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez recorded his 2500th career hit with a single in the 5th inning against the Florida Marlins on April 10. Ramirez became the 91st player to reach this mark. Ramírez hit his 550th career home run in the 2nd inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 31. He became the 14th player to reach this mark. Iván Rodríguez (WSH): Recorded his 550th career double in the 6th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 12. "Pudge" became the 23rd player to reach this mark. Johnny Damon (DET): Recorded his 1000th career RBI with a double in the 5th inning against the Kansas City Royals on April 14. Damon became the 264th player to reach this mark. Scored his 1500th career run in the 1st inning against the Los Angeles Angels on April 30. He became the 68th player to reach this mark. Recorded his 2500th career hit with a single in the 3rd inning against the Baltimore Orioles on July 6. He became the 92nd player to reach this mark. Collected his 100th career triple against the Texas Rangers on September 15. He became 160th the player to reach this mark. José Guillén (KC): Recorded his 200th career home run in the 7th inning against the Detroit Tigers on April 14. Guillen became the 296th player to reach this mark. On August 13, Guillen was traded to the San Francisco Giants. Magglio Ordóñez (DET): Recorded his 1000th career run scored in the 3rd inning on a Carlos Guillén ground out against the Los Angeles Angels on April 22. Ordonez became the 303rd player to reach this mark. Recorded his 2000th career hit with a single in the 4th inning against the Minnesota Twins on April 29. He became the 260th player to reach this mark. David Wright (NYM): Becomes the youngest in Mets history to record his 1000th hit. He reached that mark with a single in the 5th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a doubleheader on April 27. Orlando Cabrera (CIN): Recorded his 200th career stolen base in the 6th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30. Cabrera became the 337th player to reach this mark. Vernon Wells (TOR): Recorded his 200th career home run in the 5th inning against the Oakland Athletics on April 30. Wells became the 297th player to reach this mark. Jason Kendall (KC): Was hit by a pitch for the 250th career time on May 12 against the Cleveland Indians. Fausto Carmona was the pitcher that hit him in the 4th inning as Kendall became the 5th player to reach this mark. Scored his 1000th career run on a Mike Avilés single in the 3rd inning against the Cleveland Indians on May 19. He became the 304th player to reach this mark. Lance Berkman (NYY)/(HOU): As a member of the Houston Astros, Berkman walked for the 1000th career time on May 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 5th inning by David Bush. Berkman became the 110th player to reach this mark. Berkman, also as a member of the Astros, scored his 1000th career run on a home run on July 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He became the 306th player to reach this mark. Berkman was traded to the New York Yankees on July 30. Mark Teixeira (NYY): Recorded his 250th career home run in the 7th inning against the Cleveland Indians on May 30. Teixeira became the 197th player to reach this mark. Bobby Abreu (LAA): Recorded his 500th career double in the 1st inning against the Kansas City Royals on June 2. Abreu became the 51st player to reach this mark. Recorded his ninth 20–20 season (20 home runs-20 stolen bases) by hitting his 20th home run on September 19. This is the third-most in history. Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds hold the record by having ten 20–20 seasons. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): Scored his 1000th career run in the 5th inning against the Los Angeles Angels on June 5. Ichiro became the 305th player to reach this mark. Extended his own record of consecutive 200-hit seasons to ten with a single in the 5th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 23. He has tied Pete Rose for most 200-hit seasons in Major League history. Derrek Lee (ATL)/(CHC): As a member of the Chicago Cubs, Lee recorded his 300th career home run against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 9. Lee became the 126th player to reach this mark. Also as a member of the Cubs, Lee scored his 1000th career run against the Colorado Rockies on July 31. He became the 307th player to reach this mark. Lee was traded to the Atlanta Braves on August 18. As a member of the Braves, collected his 1000th career RBI against the Colorado Rockies on August 25. He became the 267th player to reach this mark. Carlos Peña (TB): Hit his 129th home run as a member of the Rays setting the franchise record against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 10. Pena broke the record that was previously held by Aubrey Huff. Alfonso Soriano (CHC): Hit his 300th career home run in the 2nd inning against the Chicago White Sox on June 11. Soriano became the 127th player to reach this mark. Jorge Posada (NYY): Hit his 250th career home run in the 3rd inning against the Houston Astros on June 12. Posada became the 198th player to reach this mark. Recorded his 1000th career RBI in the 1st inning against the Kansas City Royals on July 23. He became the 265th player to reach this mark. Michael Young (TEX): Collected his 1748th hit as a Ranger with a single in the 8th inning against the Florida Marlins. He broke the record that was previously held by Iván Rodríguez. Chone Figgins (SEA): Collected his 300th career stolen base against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 26. Figgins became the 156th player to reach this mark. Jim Thome (MIN): Scored his 1500th career run against the Detroit Tigers on June 28. Thome became the 69th player to reach this mark. Scott Rolen (CIN): Hit his 300th career home run against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 28. Rolen became the 128th player to reach this mark.