2006 Major League Baseball season

2006 MLB season
League	Major League Baseball
Sport	Baseball
Duration	April 2, 2006 – October 27, 2006
Regular Season
Season MVP	AL: Justin Morneau (MIN) NL: Ryan Howard (PHI)
League Postseason
AL champions	Detroit Tigers
AL runners-up	Oakland Athletics
NL champions	St. Louis Cardinals
NL runners-up	New York Mets
World Series
Champions	St. Louis Cardinals
Runners-up	Detroit Tigers
World Series MVP	David Eckstein (STL)

The 2006 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 a non-strike season 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.

Final standings

American League

AL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	97	65	0.599	—	50–31	47–34
Toronto Blue Jays	87	75	0.537	10	50–31	37–44
Boston Red Sox	86	76	0.531	11	48–33	38–43
Baltimore Orioles	70	92	0.432	27	40–41	30–51
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	61	101	0.377	36	41–40	20–61

AL Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Minnesota Twins	96	66	0.593	—	54–27	42–39
Detroit Tigers	95	67	0.586	1	46–35	49–32
Chicago White Sox	90	72	0.556	6	49–32	41–40
Cleveland Indians	78	84	0.481	18	44–37	34–47
Kansas City Royals	62	100	0.383	34	34–47	28–53

AL West	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Oakland Athletics	93	69	0.574	—	49–32	44–37
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	89	73	0.549	4	45–36	44–37
Texas Rangers	80	82	0.494	13	39–42	41–40
Seattle Mariners	78	84	0.481	15	44–37	34–47

National League

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Mets	97	65	0.599	—	50–31	47–34
Philadelphia Phillies	85	77	0.525	12	41–40	44–37
Atlanta Braves	79	83	0.488	18	40–41	39–42
Florida Marlins	78	84	0.481	19	42–39	36–45
Washington Nationals	71	91	0.438	26	41–40	30–51

NL Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	83	78	0.516	—	49–31	34–47
Houston Astros	82	80	0.506	1½	44–37	38–43
Cincinnati Reds	80	82	0.494	3½	42–39	38–43
Milwaukee Brewers	75	87	0.463	8½	48–33	27–54
Pittsburgh Pirates	67	95	0.414	16½	43–38	24–57
Chicago Cubs	66	96	0.407	17½	36–45	30–51

NL West	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
San Diego Padres	88	74	0.543	—	43–38	45–36
Los Angeles Dodgers	88	74	0.543	—	49–32	39–42
San Francisco Giants	76	85	0.472	11½	43–38	33–47
Arizona Diamondbacks	76	86	0.469	12	39–42	37–44
Colorado Rockies	76	86	0.469	12	44–37	32–49

Postseason

• American League Champion – Detroit Tigers
• National League Champion – St. Louis Cardinals
• World Series Champion – St. Louis Cardinals

• Postseason – October 3 to 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.

• Postseason MVPs
  • World Series MVP – David Eckstein
  • ALCS MVP – Plácido Polanco
  • NLCS MVP – Jeff Suppan

All-Star game

• All-Star Game, July 11 at PNC Park – American League, 3–2; Michael Young, MVP
  • Century 21 Home Run Derby, July 10 – Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

Awards

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award	National League	American League
Rookie of the Year	Hanley Ramírez (FLA)	Justin Verlander (DET)
Cy Young Award	Brandon Webb (ARI)	Johan Santana (MIN)
Manager of the Year	Joe Girardi (FLA)	Jim Leyland (DET)
Most Valuable Player	Ryan Howard (PHI)	Justin Morneau (MIN)
Gold Glove Awards
Position	National League	American League
Pitcher	Greg Maddux (CHC/LAD)	Kenny Rogers (DET)
Catcher	Brad Ausmus (HOU)	Iván Rodríguez (DET)
1st Base	Albert Pujols (STL)	Mark Teixeira (TEX)
2nd Base	Orlando Hudson (ARI)	Mark Grudzielanek (KC)
3rd Base	Scott Rolen (STL)	Eric Chavez (OAK)
Shortstop	Omar Vizquel (SF)	Derek Jeter (NYY)
Outfield	Carlos Beltrán (NYM) Mike Cameron (SD) Andruw Jones (ATL)	Torii Hunter (MIN) Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) Vernon Wells (TOR)
Silver Slugger Awards
Position	National League	American League
Pitcher/Designated Hitter	Carlos Zambrano (CHC)	David Ortiz (BOS)
Catcher	Brian McCann (ATL)	Joe Mauer (MIN)
1st Base	Ryan Howard (PHI)	Justin Morneau (MIN)
2nd Base	Chase Utley (PHI)	Robinson Canó (NYY)
3rd Base	Miguel Cabrera (FLA)	Joe Crede (CWS)
Shortstop	José Reyes (NYM)	Derek Jeter (NYY)
Outfield	Carlos Beltrán (NYM) Matt Holliday (COL) Alfonso Soriano (WAS)	Jermaine Dye (CWS) Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) Manny Ramirez (BOS)

Other awards

• Comeback Players of the Year: Jim Thome (Designated hitter, CWS, American); Nomar Garciaparra (First baseman, LAD, National).
• Hank Aaron Award: Derek Jeter (NYY, American); Ryan Howard (PHI, National).
• Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Carlos Delgado (NYM).
• Rolaids Relief Man Award: Francisco Rodríguez (LAA, American); Trevor Hoffman (SD, National).
• Delivery Man of the Year (Best Reliever): Mariano Rivera (NYY).

Player of the Month

Month	American League	National League
April	Jason Giambi	Albert Pujols
May	Alex Rodriguez	Jason Bay
June	Joe Mauer	David Wright
July	David Ortiz	Chase Utley
August	Travis Hafner	Ryan Howard
September	Robinson Canó	Ryan Howard

Pitcher of the Month

Month	American League	National League
April	José Contreras	Greg Maddux
May	CC Sabathia	Jason Schmidt
June	Johan Santana	Chris Young
July	John Lackey	Carlos Zambrano
August	Esteban Loaiza	Derek Lowe
September	Johan Santana	Roy Oswalt

Rookie of the Month

Month	American League	National League
April	Jonathan Papelbon	Prince Fielder
May	Justin Verlander	Josh Johnson
June	Francisco Liriano	Josh Johnson Dan Uggla
July	Francisco Liriano	Josh Barfield
August	Nick Markakis	Chris Duncan
September	Boof Bonser	Aníbal Sánchez

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

Managers

American League

Team	Manager	Comments
Baltimore Orioles	Sam Perlozzo
Boston Red Sox	Terry Francona
Chicago White Sox	Ozzie Guillén
Cleveland Indians	Eric Wedge
Detroit Tigers	Jim Leyland	Won the ALCS,Replacing Alan Trammell
Kansas City Royals	Buddy Bell
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	Mike Scioscia
Minnesota Twins	Ron Gardenhire
New York Yankees	Joe Torre
Oakland Athletics	Ken Macha (Macha Was Replaced By Bob Geren)
Seattle Mariners	Mike Hargrove
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	Joe Maddon
Texas Rangers	Buck Showalter (Showalter Was Replaced With Ron Washington)
Toronto Blue Jays	John Gibbons

National League

Team	Manager	Comments
Arizona Diamondbacks	Bob Melvin
Atlanta Braves	Bobby Cox
Chicago Cubs	Dusty Baker (Baker Was Replaced By Lou Piniella)
Cincinnati Reds	Jerry Narron
Colorado Rockies	Clint Hurdle
Florida Marlins	Joe Girardi (Girardi Was Replaced By Fredi González)
Houston Astros	Phil Garner
Los Angeles Dodgers	Grady Little
Milwaukee Brewers	Ned Yost
New York Mets	Willie Randolph
Philadelphia Phillies	Charlie Manuel
Pittsburgh Pirates±	Jim Tracy
St. Louis Cardinals	Tony La Russa	Won the World Series
San Diego Padres	Bruce Bochy (Bochy Was Replaced By Bud Black)
San Francisco Giants	Felipe Alou (Alou Was Replaced By Bruce Bochy)
Washington Nationals	Frank Robinson (Robinson Was Replaced By Manny Acta)

±hosted the MLB All Star Game

Milestones

300–300 Club members

• Reggie Sanders — June 10
• Steve Finley — June 14

Home Runs

The following players reached major home run milestones in 2006:

Barry Bonds' countdown to 715

• 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

• Mike Piazza — April 26
• Carlos Delgado — August 22

300 career homers

• Jeromy Burnitz — April 4
• Moisés Alou — April 13
• Reggie Sanders — June 10 (also joining the 300–300 club)
• Steve Finley — June 14 (also joining the 300–300 club)

200 career homers

• Jeff Conine — April 16
• Magglio Ordóñez — April 29
• Eric Chavez — May 2
• Jermaine Dye — May 14
• Carlos Lee — May 24
• Phil Nevin — June 19
• Lance Berkman — June 21
• Carl Everett — June 21
• Nomar Garciaparra — June 25
• David Ortiz — June 29
• Alfonso Soriano — August 13
• Bobby Abreu — August 22
• Carlos Beltrán — August 26

Entry into the top 500

• Trot Nixon on April 5 with his 126th career homer
• Jason Varitek on June 13 with his 126th career homer
• Vernon Wells on June 14 with his 126th career homer
• Aubrey Huff on July 1 with his 126th career homer
• Raúl Ibáñez on July 15 with his 126th career homer
• Mark Teixeira on August 19 with his 127th career homer

Pitching

• Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres broke Lee Smith's record of 478 Saves on September 24, 2006 at Petco Park.

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.

Other achievements

• Matt Holliday hit the longest home run of the season in MLB against the San Francisco Giants on September 19 with an official distance of 443 feet (135 m); HitTracker estimated it at 496 feet (151 m).^[1]

Events

• April 3 - The Florida Marlins set a modern major-league record by starting six rookies in their opening day 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Beinhoff, Drew (September 20, 2006). "You gotta love Matt Holliday". Real Clear Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2014. 
2. ↑ "Charlton's Baseball Chronology". www.baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 

See also

2006 in baseball

2006 MLB season by team AL East Baltimore Boston New York Tampa Bay Toronto AL Central Chicago Cleveland Detroit Kansas City Minnesota AL West Los Angeles Oakland Seattle Texas NL East Atlanta Florida New York Philadelphia Washington NL Central Chicago Cincinnati Houston Milwaukee Pittsburgh St. Louis NL West Arizona Colorado Los Angeles San Diego San Francisco 2006 All-Star Game 2006 World Series

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