San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds is named 2001 N L Most Valuable Player 

San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds is named 2001 N L Most Valuable Player 

ByBaseball

2001 – San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds is named National League Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers Association of America with 30 of 32 first-place votes. Bonds, who hit .328 with an all-time record 73 home runs and 137 RBI, wins the award for an unprecedented fourth time. Previously, he was awarded as a Pittsburgh Pirates member in 1990 and 1992 and with the Giants in 1993. Three-time MVP Award winners include Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial and Mike Schmidt, all of them Hall of Famers.

“The welfare, recreation, prestige, prosperity, trade and commerce of the people of the community are at stake. The Twins brought the community together with Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls. The Twins are one of the few professional sports teams in town where a family can afford to take their children to enjoy a hot dog and peanuts and a stadium. The vital public interest, or trust, of the Twins substantially outweighs any private interest.” – HARRY SEYMOUR CRUMP, Hennepin County District Judge ruling that thwarts the baseball owners’ plan to eliminate two major league teams next season. In a four-page decision, Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump rules the Twins must continue to play the home portion of their games at the Metrodome next season and prohibits Twins owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team unless the new owner also agrees to play next season’s games in the team’s current ballpark. The lower court decision, which is likely to be appealed, is the result of MLB’s decision to contract two teams, one of which is likely to be Minnesota.

ByBaseball

“The welfare, recreation, prestige, prosperity, trade and commerce of the people of the community are at stake. The Twins brought the community together with Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls. The Twins are one of the few professional sports teams in town where a family can afford to take their children to enjoy a hot dog and peanuts and a stadium. The vital public interest, or trust, of the Twins substantially outweighs any private interest.” – HARRY SEYMOUR CRUMP, Hennepin County District Judge ruling that thwarts the baseball owners’ plan to eliminate two major league teams next season. In a four-page decision, Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump rules the Twins must continue to play the home portion of their games at the Metrodome next season and prohibits Twins owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team unless the new owner also agrees to play next season’s games in the team’s current ballpark. The lower court decision, which is likely to be appealed, is the result of MLB’s decision to contract two teams, one of which is likely to be Minnesota.

2001 – A Minnesota judge issues a temporary injunction that orders the Twins to play their full home schedule and prevents owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team to anyone who will move it. While this ruling will be appealed, it will be difficult to get the injunction overturned in enough time to contract the Twins for a potential 2002 season.

ByBaseball

2001 – A Minnesota judge issues a temporary injunction that orders the Twins to play their full home schedule and prevents owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team to anyone who will move it. While this ruling will be appealed, it will be difficult to get the injunction overturned in enough time to contract the Twins for a potential 2002 season.

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemenswins the American League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemenswins the American League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time

ByBaseball

2001 – New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, who posted a 20-3 record with 213 strikeouts and a 3.51 ERA, wins the American League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time. Previously, Clemens captured the award with the Red Sox in 1986, 1987 and 1991, and the Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998. He becomes the first Yankees pitcher to win the award since 1978 when Ron Guidry copped the honor. In the 2004 season, Clemens will win his seventh Cy Young in the National League with the Houston Astros.

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2001 – Former Astro Ken Caminiti is arrested on drug possession charges. The infielder had previously battled alcoholism and will admit the following year that he used steroids in his MVP season with San Diego. He would die in 2004 of heart failure. 

ByTom

2001 – Former Astro Ken Caminiti is arrested on drug possession charges. The infielder had previously battled alcoholism and will admit the following year that he used steroids in his MVP season with San Diego. He would die in 2004 of heart failure. 

Larry Bowa, with an 86-76 record, is named the National League Manager of the Year, becoming the first manager in Philadelphia Phillies history to win the award. In his first year at the helm, Philadelphia improved by 21 games finishing the season two games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.

ByBaseball

Larry Bowa, with an 86-76 record, is named the National League Manager of the Year, becoming the first manager in Philadelphia Phillies history to win the award. In his first year at the helm, Philadelphia improved by 21 games finishing the season two games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.

For the second time in his career, Seattle Mariners skipper Lou Piniella is named the American League Manager of the Year. Piniella, the only person to appear on every ballot, guided to the Mariners to an historical 116 victories which tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs as the winningest team in major league history.

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For the second time in his career, Seattle Mariners skipper Lou Piniella is named the American League Manager of the Year. Piniella, the only person to appear on every ballot, guided to the Mariners to an historical 116 victories which tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs as the winningest team in major league history.

Pitcher Randy Johnson wins his fourth Cy Young Award

Pitcher Randy Johnson wins his fourth Cy Young Award

ByThis Day in Baseball

2001 – Pitcher Randy Johnson, who posted a 21-6 record with a 2.49 ERA and 372 strikeouts, wins his fourth Cy Young Award, his third straight as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Previously, Johnson also won the honor in 1995 with Seattle, and is the second pitcher to win three consecutive Cy Young awards, joining Greg Maddux who won four in a row from 1992-1995.

Although disappointed not to win the award unanimously, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who led the American League with a .350 batting average, is named Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria, Ohio Chronicle-Telegram votes for C.C. Sabathia, who posted a 17-4 record, as his top choice, stating the nine years of professional experience in Japan made Suzuki less of a rookie than Cleveland pitcher Sabathia.

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Although disappointed not to win the award unanimously, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who led the American League with a .350 batting average, is named Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria, Ohio Chronicle-Telegram votes for C.C. Sabathia, who posted a 17-4 record, as his top choice, stating the nine years of professional experience in Japan made Suzuki less of a rookie than Cleveland pitcher Sabathia.

One year after playing Class-A baseball, Albert Pujols, who hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI, is named the National League Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA. The St. Louis Cardinals freshman set NL rookie marks in RBI, total bases (360) and extra-base hits (88) and fell one home run shy of tying the NL rookie record of 38 established by Frank Robinson in 1956 as a member of the Cincinnati Redlegs.

ByBaseball

One year after playing Class-A baseball, Albert Pujols, who hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI, is named the National League Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA. The St. Louis Cardinals freshman set NL rookie marks in RBI, total bases (360) and extra-base hits (88) and fell one home run shy of tying the NL rookie record of 38 established by Frank Robinson in 1956 as a member of the Cincinnati Redlegs.