Alfonso Soriano hits his 13th leadoff home run of the season to establish a new major league mark. The Yankees second baseman shared the record with Brady Anderson, who led off with 12 round-trippers for the 1996 Orioles.

Alfonso Soriano hits his 13th leadoff home run of the season to establish a new major league mark. The Yankees second baseman shared the record with Brady Anderson, who led off with 12 round-trippers for the 1996 Orioles.

Greg Maddux, with Atlanta beating the Marlins, 8-0, becomes the first pitcher to win at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons. The Braves’ righty, who pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit en route to his 288th career victory, had shared the record with Cy Young.

Greg Maddux, with Atlanta beating the Marlins, 8-0, becomes the first pitcher to win at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons. The Braves’ righty, who pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit en route to his 288th career victory, had shared the record with Cy Young.

Unlike this season when the Montreal Expos played twenty-five percent of their home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the players vote to play their entire 2004 home schedule in Montreal. The major league owners, who collectively own the franchise, have been considering moving the Expos permanently to Washington D.C., Portland, Oregon or Monterrey, Mexico, or continuing the present format by having the team split home games between different locations. The players’ vote will have no effect, as the team will once again play a number of home games in Puerto Rico in 2004, before moving permanently to Washington in 2005.

Unlike this season when the Montreal Expos played twenty-five percent of their home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the players vote to play their entire 2004 home schedule in Montreal. The major league owners, who collectively own the franchise, have been considering moving the Expos permanently to Washington D.C., Portland, Oregon or Monterrey, Mexico, or continuing the present format by having the team split home games between different locations. The players’ vote will have no effect, as the team will once again play a number of home games in Puerto Rico in 2004, before moving permanently to Washington in 2005.

Second baseman Marcus Giles hits a home run off Brad Penny’s 3-2 pitch, as the Atlanta Braves tie the National League record by having six players hit at least 20 home runs in a season. Along with Giles, Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Vinny Castilla equal the mark established by Eddie Mathews (32), Hank Aaron (32), Joe Torre (27), Felipe Alou (23), Mack Jones (31) and Gene Oliver (21) of the 1965 Milwaukee Braves.

Second baseman Marcus Giles hits a home run off Brad Penny’s 3-2 pitch, as the Atlanta Braves tie the National League record by having six players hit at least 20 home runs in a season. Along with Giles, Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Vinny Castilla equal the mark established by Eddie Mathews (32), Hank Aaron (32), Joe Torre (27), Felipe Alou (23), Mack Jones (31) and Gene Oliver (21) of the 1965 Milwaukee Braves.

Roy Halladay, en route to capturing the American League Cy Young Award, pitches his fourth consecutive complete game when the Blue Jays beat Detroit at Tiger Stadium, 6-0. ‘Doc’ will finish the season 22-7 with eight of the victories coming from his nine complete games.

Roy Halladay, en route to capturing the American League Cy Young Award, pitches his fourth consecutive complete game when the Blue Jays beat Detroit at Tiger Stadium, 6-0. ‘Doc’ will finish the season 22-7 with eight of the victories coming from his nine complete games.

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2003 – Richard Hidalgo blasts three homers and drives in five to lead a 14-4 slugfest over the Rockies at Coors Field . Adam Everett, Morgan Ensberg and Jeff Kent join him in the home run derby. Jeriome Robertson wins his 15th, a Houston rookie record, to keep the Astros 1-1/2 games ahead of Chicago in the N.L. Central race. 

2003 – Richard Hidalgo blasts three homers and drives in five to lead a 14-4 slugfest over the Rockies at Coors Field . Adam Everett, Morgan Ensberg and Jeff Kent join him in the home run derby. Jeriome Robertson wins his 15th, a Houston rookie record, to keep the Astros 1-1/2 games ahead of Chicago in the N.L. Central race. 

Rafael Palmeiro joins Jimmie Foxx as the only players to hit 35 homers and drive in 100 runs in nine consecutive seasons. The Hall of Famer Foxx accomplished the feat playing for the A’s and Red Sox from 1932 to 1940.

Rafael Palmeiro joins Jimmie Foxx as the only players to hit 35 homers and drive in 100 runs in nine consecutive seasons. The Hall of Famer Foxx accomplished the feat playing for the A’s and Red Sox from 1932 to 1940.

Thousands of Hanshin Tigers fans jump off the Ebisubashi Bridge into the Dotonbori River in celebration when their hometown heroes clinch the Central League title for the first time in 18 years. The plunge into the murky river when the team wins has become a local ritual for its fans.

Thousands of Hanshin Tigers fans jump off the Ebisubashi Bridge into the Dotonbori River in celebration when their hometown heroes clinch the Central League title for the first time in 18 years. The plunge into the murky river when the team wins has become a local ritual for its fans.

Rafael Palmeiro joins Jimmie Foxx as the only players to hit 35 homers and drive in 100 runs in nine consecutive seasons. The Hall of Famer Foxx accomplished the feat playing for the A’s and Red Sox from 1932 to 1940.

Rafael Palmeiro joins Jimmie Foxx as the only players to hit 35 homers and drive in 100 runs in nine consecutive seasons. The Hall of Famer Foxx accomplished the feat playing for the A’s and Red Sox from 1932 to 1940.

Thousands of Hanshin Tigers fans jump off the Ebisubashi Bridge into the Dotonbori River in celebration as their hometown heros clinch the Central League title for first time in 18 years. It has become a local ritual to jump into the murky river when the team wins.

Thousands of Hanshin Tigers fans jump off the Ebisubashi Bridge into the Dotonbori River in celebration as their hometown heros clinch the Central League title for first time in 18 years. It has become a local ritual to jump into the murky river when the team wins.