Champions
Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves (4-3); Jack Morris, MVP
American League Championship Series MVP: Kirby Puckett National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Avery All-Star Game, July 9 at SkyDome: American League, 4-2; Cal Ripken Jr., MVP
Other champions Caribbean World Series: Tigres de Licey (Dominican Republic) College World Series: LSU Japan Series: Seibu Lions over Hiroshima Toyo Carp (4-3) Korean Series: Haitai Tigers over Binggrae Eagles Big League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Junior League World Series: Spring, Texas Little League World Series: Hsi Nan, Taichung, Taiwan Senior League World Series: Pingtung, Taiwan Pan American Games: Cuba over Puerto Rico Taiwan Series: Uni-President Lions over Wei Chuan Dragons
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Rod Carew Ferguson Jenkins Tony Lazzeri Gaylord Perry Bill Veeck Most Valuable Player Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles, SS (AL) Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves, 3B (NL) Cy Young Award Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox (AL) Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves (NL) Rookie of the Year Chuck Knoblauch, Minnesota Twins, 2B (AL) Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros, 1B (NL) Manager of the Year Award Tom Kelly, Minnesota Twins (AL) Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves (NL) Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Marta Hiczewski, Buffalo Bisons, American Association Gold Glove Award Don Mattingly (1B) (AL) Roberto Alomar (2B) (AL) Robin Ventura (3B) (AL) Cal Ripken Jr. (SS) (AL) Ken Griffey Jr. (OF) (AL) Kirby Puckett (OF) (AL) Devon White (OF) (AL) Tony Peña (C) (AL) Mark Langston (P) (AL) Will Clark (1B) (NL) Ryne Sandberg (2B) (NL) Matt Williams (3B) (NL) Ozzie Smith (SS) (NL) Barry Bonds (OF) (NL) Tony Gwynn (OF) (NL) Andy Van Slyke (OF) (NL) Tom Pagnozzi (C) (NL) Greg Maddux (P) (NL)
MLB statistical leaders American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat AVG Julio Franco TEX .341 Terry Pendleton ATL .319 HR Jose Canseco OAKCecil Fielder DET 44 Howard Johnson NYM 38 RBI Cecil Fielder DET 133 Howard Johnson NYM 117 Wins Scott Erickson MINBill Gullickson DET 20 Tom Glavine ATLJohn Smiley PIT 20 ERA Roger Clemens BOS 2.62 Dennis Martínez MON 2.39
Major league baseball final standings
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Toronto Blue Jays 91 71 .562 -- 2nd Boston Red Sox 84 78 .519 7.0 2nd Detroit Tigers 84 78 .519 7.0 4th Milwaukee Brewers 83 79 .512 8.0 5th New York Yankees 71 91 .438 20.0 6th Baltimore Orioles 67 95 .414 24.0 7th Cleveland Indians 57 105 .352 34.0 West Division 1st Minnesota Twins 95 67 .586 -- 2nd Chicago White Sox 87 75 .537 8.0 3rd Texas Rangers 85 77 .525 10.0 4th Oakland Athletics 84 78 .519 11.0 5th Seattle Mariners 83 79 .512 12.0 6th Kansas City Royals 82 80 .506 13.0 7th California Angels 81 81 .500 14.0
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Pittsburgh Pirates 98 64 .605 -- 2nd St. Louis Cardinals 84 78 .519 14.0 3rd Chicago Cubs 77 83 .481 20.0 4th Philadelphia Phillies 78 84 .481 20.0 5th New York Mets 77 84 .478 20.5 6th Montreal Expos 71 90 .441 26.5 West Division 1st Atlanta Braves 94 68 .580 -- 2nd Los Angeles Dodgers 93 69 .574 1.0 3rd San Diego Padres 84 78 .519 10.0 4th San Francisco Giants 75 87 .463 19.0 5th Cincinnati Reds 74 88 .457 20.0 6th Houston Astros 65 97 .401 29.0
Managers
American League Team Manager CommentsBaltimore Orioles Frank RobinsonReplaced during the season by Johnny OatesBoston Red SoxJoe Morgan California Angels Doug RaderReplaced during the season by Buck RodgersChicago White SoxJeff Torborg Cleveland Indians John McNamara Replaced during the season by Mike HargroveDetroit Tigers Sparky Anderson Kansas City Royals John Wathan Replaced during the season by Hal McRaeMilwaukee BrewersTom TrebelhornMinnesota Twins Tom Kelly Won the World SeriesNew York Yankees Stump Merrill Oakland Athletics Tony La Russa Seattle Mariners Jim Lefebvre Texas Rangers Bobby ValentineToronto Blue Jays Cito Gaston Replaced temporarily by Gene Tenace while undergoing treatment for a herniated disc, Won American League East
National League Team Manager CommentsAtlanta Braves Bobby CoxWon National League pennantChicago CubsDon Zimmer Replaced during the season by Jim EssianCincinnati Reds Lou PiniellaHouston AstrosArt Howe Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Lasorda Montreal Expos Buck Rodgers Replaced during the season by Tom RunnelsNew York Mets Bud Harrelson Replaced during the season by Mike CubbagePhiladelphia PhilliesNick LeyvaReplaced during the season by Jim FregosiPittsburgh Pirates Jim LeylandWon National League EastSt. Louis Cardinals Joe Torre San Diego Padres Greg Riddoch San Francisco Giants Roger Craig
Events
January January 6 – Alan Wiggins, former leadoff hitter for the San Diego Padres and a key member of their 1984 pennant run, becomes the first baseball player known to die of AIDS. He was 32. January 7 Pete Rose is released from Marion Federal Penitentiary after serving a five-month sentence for tax evasion. The Oakland Athletics sign infielder Vance Law. January 8 – Rod Carew, Gaylord Perry and Ferguson Jenkins are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, with Carew becoming the 22nd player to be named in his first year of eligibility. January 10 – The Baltimore Orioles trade outfielder Steve Finley, and pitchers Pete Harnisch and Curt Schilling to the Houston Astros for power hitting first baseman Glenn Davis. The deal backfires as an injury-prone Davis never plays an entire season over the course of the next three years and Finley, Harnisch, and Schilling all go on to become star players. January 22 – The Atlanta Braves sign veteran catcher Mike Heath. January 25 – The Texas Rangers sign relief pitcher Goose Gossage. January 30 – The Atlanta Braves sign Deion Sanders, making Sanders a two sport athlete. Sanders also played for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL at the time of his signing with the Braves.
February February 4 – The 12 members of the board of directors of the Hall of Fame vote unanimously to ban Pete Rose from the ballot. Now Rose becomes eligible again only if the MLB commissioner reinstates him by December 2005. February 15 – The Montreal Expos sign Ron Hassey. Hassey would be the catcher for Denny Martinez's perfect game in July of the 1991 season. February 17 – The New York Yankees release pitcher Dave LaPoint. February 26 – New York Yankees second baseman Tony Lazzeri and major league owner Bill Veeck are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. February 28 – Players win just seven of seventeen in arbitration cases, yet the average award over all seventeen cases, equates to a 104% salary increase. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Doug Drabek receives a record $3.35 million.
March March 11 – Attempting a comeback after seven years retired, 45-year old Jim Palmer starts an exhibition game for the Baltimore Orioles against the Boston Red Sox. Palmer gives up five hits and two runs in two innings of work, and it is revealed he has a torn hamstring after the start. Palmer retires from baseball permanently two days later. March 14 – The California Angels trade Dante Bichette to the Milwaukee Brewers for Dave Parker March 18 – Bo Jackson is released by the Kansas City Royals. March 28 – Fernando Valenzuela is released by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
April April 1 – The New York Mets release outfielder Terry Puhl April 3 – Bo Jackson is signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox. April 5 – After spending the previous seven seasons in Japan, Warren Cromartie returns to the states when he signs a contract with the Kansas City Royals. April 7 The Chicago Cubs trade Mitch Williams to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Bob Scanlon and Chuck McElroy. After being released by the Yankees, Dave LaPoint is signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies. He is released less than two weeks later. April 8: Just hours before the first pitch of the baseball season, MLB averts an umpires strike by reaching agreement with the Major League Umpires Association on a new four-year contract. Darryl Kile makes his MLB debut, coming on in relief of pitcher Jim Clancy in the Houston Astros 6-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. April 9 – Chuck Knoblauch makes his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins, going 0-3 and drawing one walk in the Twins 7-2 loss to Oakland. April 11 – Junior Ortiz throws out Rickey Henderson when Henderson attempts to steal second base. Henderson was attempting to break Lou Brock's stolen base record. Henderson later hurts his calf in the game and is forced to leave. April 18 – The new Comiskey Park opens across the street from where the original stands in Chicago. A sold-out stadium sees the Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago White Sox, 16–0. April 21 – The Chicago Cubs score five runs in the top of the eleventh inning, but the Pittsburgh Pirates come back with six runs in the bottom of the inning for the victory. It is the greatest extra-innings comeback, in terms of runs, in Major League history. April 23 – Nick Leyva is dismissed as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the first of several managers fired during the season.
May May 1: Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers records his seventh no-hitter, striking out Roberto Alomar for the final out in a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics records his 939th stolen base, eclipsing Lou Brock's all-time record. May 9 – Andy Hawkins is released by the New York Yankees. May 21 – Don Zimmer is fired as manager of the Chicago Cubs and replaced by Joe Altobelli for one game, then Jim Essian. Zimmer is the second manager fired during the 1991 season. May 22 – John Wathan is fired as manager of the Kansas City Royals and replaced by Hal McRae. Wathan is the third manager fired in less than one month. May 23 – By stealing second base from pitcher Ron Darling and catcher Rick Cerone of the New York Mets, Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs becomes the third player in baseball history to record 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases. As of this date, the only other members of the 300-300 club are Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays. On the same day, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene throws a no-hitter, and the Baltimore Orioles fire Frank Robinson and replace him with Johnny Oates. Robinson is the fourth manager fired on the season, and the third fired in three days.
June June 2 – The Texas Rangers sign Steve Balboni. June 3 – Buck Rodgers becomes the fifth managerial casualty of the season, and the third in the National League East. Tom Runnells replaces Rodgers as the new Montreal Expos manager. June 10 – The National League votes to choose Miami, Florida, and Denver, Colorado, to form baseball teams for the 1993 season. They beat out Orlando, Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Buffalo, New York. June 16 – At Stade Olympique Stadium, Otis Nixon of the Atlanta Braves becomes the first player to collect six stolen bases in a single game. Nixon goes 3-for-5 at the plate and steals second and third bases after all three hits in the first, third, and ninth innings. He eventually scores in the former two innings but is stranded on third as the tying run in the ninth, as Ron Gant strikes out for the final out, as the Montreal Expos defeat the Braves 7-6. June 17 – Danny Heep is released by the Atlanta Braves. June 20 – Ivan Rodriguez cracks the starting line-up for the Texas Rangers and makes his MLB debut, going one for four at the plate, while driving in two runs. Behind the plate, Rodriguez throws out Joey Cora and Warren Newson during their respective attempts to steal second base. June 28 – Days after being released by the Milwaukee Brewers, Dave LaPoint signs with the Chicago Cubs, making the Cubs the fourth team that LaPoint had pitched for since spring training.
July