2006 Major League Baseball season
In 2006, the Major League Baseball season ended with the National League's St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series with the lowest regular season victory total in history. The American League continued its domination at the All-Star Game by winning its fourth straight game; the A.L. has won nine of the last ten contests (the 2002 game was a tie). This season, the Atlanta Braves failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 1990. Individual achievements included Barry Bonds who, despite questions surrounding his alleged steroid use and involvement in the BALCO scandal, surpassed Babe Ruth for second place on the career home runs list.
Major league baseball final standings
† Won the wild card for its respective league.
‡ Awarded division championship based on 13–5 season series edge over the Dodgers.
|
|
|
Postseason
- Postseason - October 3 to October 27
|
Division Series
TV: ESPN/FOX |
|
League Championship Series
TV: FOX |
|
World Series
TV: FOX |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
New York Yankees |
1 |
|
|
4 |
Detroit Tigers |
3 |
|
|
|
4 |
Detroit Tigers |
4 |
|
|
American League |
|
|
3 |
Oakland Athletics |
0 |
|
|
2 |
Minnesota Twins |
0 |
|
|
3 |
Oakland Athletics |
3 |
|
|
|
|
AL4 |
Detroit Tigers |
1 |
|
|
NL3 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
4 |
|
1 |
New York Mets |
3 |
|
|
4 |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
New York Mets |
3 |
|
National League |
|
|
3 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
4 |
|
|
2 |
San Diego Padres |
1 |
|
|
3 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
3 |
|
Click on any series score to link to that series' page.
Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series.
The American League champion had home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the AL victory in the 2006 All-Star Game.
All-Star game
Awards
Award |
National League |
American League |
Most Valuable Player |
Ryan Howard, PHI |
Justin Morneau, MIN |
Cy Young |
Brandon Webb, ARI |
Johan Santana, MIN |
Manager of the Year |
Joe Girardi, FLA |
Jim Leyland, DET |
Rookie of the Year |
Hanley Ramirez, FLA |
Justin Verlander, DET |
Relief Man of the Year |
Trevor Hoffman, SD |
Francisco Rodríguez, LAA |
Comeback Player of the Year |
Nomar Garciaparra, LAD |
Jim Thome, CWS |
Hank Aaron Award |
Ryan Howard, PHI |
Derek Jeter, NYY |
Sammy Sosa, CHC |
Roberto Clemente Award |
Carlos Delgado, NYM
|
- Gold Glove Awards:
- AL: Kenny Rogers (P), Iván Rodríguez (C), Mark Teixeira (1B), Mark Grudzielanek (2B), Eric Chavez (3B), Derek Jeter (SS), Torii Hunter (OF), Ichiro Suzuki (OF), Vernon Wells (OF)
- NL: Greg Maddux (P), Brad Ausmus (C), Albert Pujols (1B), Orlando Hudson (2B), Scott Rolen (3B), Omar Vizquel (SS), Carlos Beltrán (OF), Mike Cameron (OF), Andruw Jones (OF)
Statistical leaders
|
|
American League |
National League |
Type |
Name |
Stat |
Name |
Stat |
AVG |
Joe Mauer, MIN |
.347 |
Freddy Sanchez, PIT |
.344 |
HR |
David Ortiz, BOS |
54 |
Ryan Howard, PHI |
58 |
RBI |
David Ortiz, BOS |
137 |
Ryan Howard, PHI |
149 |
Wins |
Johan Santana, MIN
Chien-Ming Wang, NYY |
19 |
Aaron Harang, CIN
Derek Lowe, LAD
Brad Penny, LAD
John Smoltz, ATL
Brandon Webb, ARI
Carlos Zambrano, CHC |
16 |
ERA |
Johan Santana, MIN |
2.77 |
Roy Oswalt, HOU |
2.98 |
SO |
Johan Santana, MIN |
245 |
Aaron Harang, CIN |
216 |
SV |
Francisco Rodríguez, LAA |
47 |
Trevor Hoffman, SD |
46 |
SB |
Carl Crawford, TB |
58 |
José Reyes, NYM |
64 |
|
Milestones
300-300 Club members
Home Runs
The following players reached major home run milestones in 2006:
- May 21 — reached 714 career homers, tying Babe Ruth for second all time
- May 28 — reached 715 career homers, passing Ruth for second all time
400 career homers
300 career homers
200 career homers
Entry into the top 500
Pitching
Hitting
- Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals become only the fourth player to join the 40-40 Club, joining José Canseco, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez when he stole his 40th base of the season on September 16. Six days later he became the first person ever to reach 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 40 doubles in one season.
See also
2006 in baseball
2006 MLB season by team
|
|
AL East |
|
|
AL Central |
|
|
AL West |
|
|
NL East |
|
|
NL Central |
|
|
NL West |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-modern era |
Beginnings
|
|
|
Competition
|
|
|
NL monopoly
|
|
|
|
Modern era |
Deadball era
|
|
|
Liveball era
|
|
|
Wartime
|
|
|
Postwar
|
|
|
Expansion
|
|
|
Division play
|
|
|
Wildcard
|
|
|
Expanded wildcard
|
|
|
|
See also |
|
|