Champions
Major League Baseball
Regular Season Champions LeagueEastern Division ChampionsCentral Division ChampionsWestern Division ChampionsWild Card Qualifier 1Wild Card Qualifier 2American LeagueNew York YankeesDetroit TigersOakland AthleticsTexas RangersBaltimore OriolesNational LeagueWashington NationalsCincinnati RedsSan Francisco GiantsAtlanta BravesSt. Louis Cardinals Postseason
Other Champions Minor League Baseball AAA Championship: Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) International League: Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) Pacific Coast League: Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) Mexican League: Rojos del Águila de Veracruz AA Eastern League: Akron Aeros (Cleveland Indians) Southern League: Mobile BayBears (Arizona Diamondbacks) Texas League: Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals) A California League: Lancaster JetHawks (Houston Astros) Carolina League: Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves) Florida State League: Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers) Midwest League: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers) South Atlantic League: Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies) New York–Penn League: Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays) Northwest League: Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays) Rookie Appalachian League: Elizabethton Twins (Minnesota Twins) Gulf Coast League: GCL Pirates (Pittsburgh Pirates) Pioneer League: Missoula Osprey (Arizona Diamondbacks) Arizona League: AZL Rangers (Texas Rangers) Arizona Fall League: Peoria Javelinas Independent baseball leagues American Association: Winnipeg Goldeyes Atlantic League: Long Island Ducks CanAm League: Quebec Capitales Freedom Pro Baseball League: Copper State Prospectors Frontier League: Southern Illinois Miners North American League: San Rafael Pacifics (North Division); Edinburg Roadrunners (South Division) Pecos League: Alpine Cowboys Amateur College College World Series: Arizona NCAA Division II: West Chester NCAA Division III: Marietta NAIA: Tennessee Wesleyan Youth Big League World Series: San Juan, Puerto Rico Junior League World Series: Rockledge, Florida Little League World Series: Tokyo, Japan Senior League World Series: Guatemala City, Guatemala International National teams
European Baseball Championship: Italy Women's World Cup: Japan International club team competitions Asia Series: Yomiuri Giants (Japan) Caribbean Series: Leones del Escogido (Dominican Republic) European Champion Cup Final Four: Fortitudo Bologna (Italy) Domestic leagues Australian Baseball League: Perth Heat
Cuban National Series: Ciego de Ávila Dominican League: Leones del Escogido France – Division Elite: Rouen Huskies Holland Series: Corendon Kinheim Italian Baseball Series: T&A San Marino Japan Series: Yomiuri Giants Pacific League: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Central League: Yomiuri Giants Korea Series: Samsung Lions Mexican League: Yaquis de Obregón Puerto Rican League: Indios de Mayagüez Taiwan Series: Lamigo Monkeys Venezuelan League: Tigres de Aragua
Awards and honors Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Darlene Giardina, Rochester Red Wings, International League
Major League Baseball BBWAA awards Baseball Hall of Fame honors Barry Larkin was elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and subsequently inducted. Ron Santo was elected by the Veterans Committee and subsequently inducted. Bob Elliott received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for excellence in writing. Tim McCarver received the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. MVP Award American League – Miguel Cabrera, DET National League – Buster Posey, SF Cy Young Award American League – David Price, TB National League – R. A. Dickey, NYM Rookie of the Year American League – Mike Trout, LAA National League – Bryce Harper, WSH Manager of the Year Award American League – Bob Melvin, OAK National League – Davey Johnson, WSH
Major League Baseball awards Delivery Man of the Year Award: Fernando Rodney, TB Comeback Player of the Year: Fernando Rodney, TB (AL); Buster Posey, SF (NL) Roberto Clemente Award: Clayton Kershaw, LAD Hank Aaron Award: Miguel Cabrera, DET (AL); Buster Posey, SF (NL) All-Star Game MVP: Melky Cabrera, SF League Championship Series MVP: Delmon Young, DET (AL); Marco Scutaro, SF (NL) World Series MVP: Pablo Sandoval, SF
Sporting News Awards Player of the Year: Miguel Cabrera, DET
Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout, LAA (AL); Wade Miley, AZ (NL) Comeback Player of the Year: Adam Dunn, CWS (AL); Buster Posey, SF (NL) Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, BAL (AL); Davey Johnson, WSH (NL) Executive of the Year: Billy Beane, OAK
Players Choice Awards Player of the Year: Miguel Cabrera, DET Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Chipper Jones, ATL Outstanding Players: Miguel Cabrera, DET (AL); Andrew McCutchen, PIT, (NL) Outstanding Pitchers: David Price, TB (AL); R. A. Dickey, NYM (NL) Outstanding Rookies: Mike Trout, LAA (AL); Todd Frazier, CIN (NL) Comeback Players of the Year: Adam Dunn, CWS (AL); Buster Posey, SF (NL)
Silver Slugger Awards
American League National LeaguePlayer Team Position Player TeamBilly Butler Kansas City Royals DH / Pitcher Stephen Strasburg Washington NationalsA. J. Pierzynski Chicago White Sox Catcher Buster Posey San Francisco GiantsPrince Fielder Detroit Tigers 1st baseman Adam LaRoche Washington NationalsRobinson Canó New York Yankees 2nd baseman Aaron Hill Arizona DiamondbacksMiguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers 3rd baseman Chase Headley San Diego PadresDerek Jeter New York Yankees Shortstop Ian Desmond Washington NationalsJosh Hamilton Texas Rangers Outfielder Ryan Braun Milwaukee BrewersMike Trout Los Angeles Angels Outfielder Jay Bruce Cincinnati RedsJosh Willingham Minnesota Twins Outfielder Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates
Gold Glove Awards
American League National LeaguePlayer Team Position Player TeamHellickson/Peavy TB Rays/CHI White Sox Pitcher Mark Buehrle Miami MarlinsMatt Wieters Baltimore Orioles Catcher Yadier Molina St. Louis CardinalsMark Teixeira New York Yankees 1st baseman Adam LaRoche Washington NationalsRobinson Canó New York Yankees 2nd baseman Darwin Barney Chicago CubsAdrián Beltré Texas Rangers 3rd baseman Chase Headley San Diego PadresJ. J. Hardy Baltimore Orioles Shortstop Jimmy Rollins Philadelphia PhilliesAlex Gordon Kansas City Royals Left fielder Carlos González Colorado RockiesAdam Jones Baltimore Orioles Center fielder Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh PiratesJosh Reddick Oakland Athletics Right fielder Jason Heyward Atlanta Braves
Other awards Babe Ruth Award – Pablo Sandoval, SF Branch Rickey Award: R. A. Dickey, NYM Hutch Award: Barry Zito, SF Luis Aparicio Award: Miguel Cabrera, DET
Rolaids Relief Man Award: Jim Johnson, BAL (AL); Craig Kimbrel, ATL (NL) Warren Spahn Award: Gio González, WSH
Minor League Baseball Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award: Wil Myers, Omaha (KC) USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award: Wil Myers, Omaha (KC) International League MVP: Mauro Gomez, Pawtucket (BOS) Pacific Coast League MVP: Bryan LaHair, Iowa (CHC)
Events
January January 6 - The Chicago Cubs acquired Anthony Rizzo and Zach Cates from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Andrew Cashner and minor leaguer Kyung-Min Na. January 9 – former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin is the only player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, getting 86.4 percent of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). He would later be honored July 22 in Cooperstown, along with the late Ron Santo, who is elected by the Golden Era Committee. The day before the induction ceremony, the Hall presented Toronto Sun baseball writer Bob Elliott, with the BBWAA's J.G. Taylor Spink Award and Tim McCarver with its own Ford C. Frick Award. January 12 – Major League owners vote to approve a contract extension for two years for commissioner Bud Selig through the 2014 season. January 13 – In a cost-efficient effort to bolster the rotation, prized New York Yankees catching prospect Jesús Montero and pitcher Héctor Noesí are traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for power-pitching right hander Michael Pineda and minor leaguer José Campos. The Yankees build upon the trade agreement in a matter of hours with the addition of free agent Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year deal worth around 10 million dollars. January 17 – At White House, President Barack Obama dubs the St. Louis Cardinals the "greatest comeback team in the history of baseball" thanks to their thrilling late-season charge into the playoffs and death-defying, seven-game triumph in last November's World Series. Leading off at the event is First Lady Michelle Obama, celebrating her 48th birthday. Two key figures of the championship season are absent: Manager Tony La Russa retired after the series, while star Albert Pujols signed a $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in the offseason.
February February 6 – Dominican Republic's Leones del Escogido are soundly defeated by Venezuela's Tigres de Aragua, 7–0, but still clinched the 2012 Caribbean Series title when Mexico's Yaquis de Obregón loses to Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayagüez in the early game, 4–3, to play itself out of contention. February 23 – 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun wins his appeal against a 50-game suspension. The suspension was overturned by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das. The Braun case marks the first time a big leaguer has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance. According to ESPN sources, Major League Baseball is weighing the possibility of suing in federal court to reverse the decision.
March March 2 – Major League Baseball expands its playoff format to 10 teams for the 2012 season, adding a second wild card in each league. The decision establishes a new one-game, wild-card round in each league between the teams with the best records. March 16 – Andy Pettitte comes out of retirement to a $2.5 million deal with the New York Yankees. March 23 - The Chicago White Sox release Delwyn Young. March 28 – At Tokyo Dome, Japanese baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki has four hits and drives in a run, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 3–1 win over the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball season opener. March 30 – At the age of 49, Jamie Moyer becomes the oldest starting pitcher ever on an Opening Day roster. Moyer joined the Colorado Rockies on this date, which was the 20th anniversary of his being released by the Chicago Cubs. At that time, he had been released three times in three years. He would turn 50 in November 2012.
April April 4 – The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Miami Marlins 4–1 in the first regular-season game at Marlins Park. The ceremonial first pitch is thrown by Muhammad Ali, who won his first of three heavyweight boxing championships by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami in 1964. The game marks Mike Matheny's managerial debut; he replaced Tony La Russa, who retired after managing the Cardinals to the 2011 World Series title. April 5 – The longest MLB Opening Day game is played, with the Toronto Blue Jays defeating the Cleveland Indians, 7–4, at Progressive Field in 16 innings. A three-run homer by J. P. Arencibia marks the difference. The marathon eclipses the previous longest openers – 15 innings between Cleveland and the Detroit Tigers on April 19, , and 15 innings between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Washington Senators on April 13, . April 7 Rajai Davis hits a two-run double in the 12th inning, as the Toronto Blue Jays rally for the second straight game against Cleveland Indians' bullpen, to win in extra innings again, by the same score of 7–4. Robin Ventura earns his first career victory as a manager, as the Chicago White Sox defeat the two-time defending American League champion Texas Rangers, 4–3, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.