Joining Don Mattingly (Yankees, 1987), Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles, 1991), Frank Thomas (White Sox, 1995), Jeff Bagwell (Astros, 1995), and Manny Ramirez (Red Sox, 2002), Cardinal first baseman Albert Pujols becomes the sixth player to get a perfect score (100) in the annual player rankings. The Elias Sports Bureau rating, which was created as part of the settlement of the 1981 strike to determine compensation for the loss of a free agent, takes into account a player’s plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, home runs, and RBIs compared to others playing the same position during the two past seasons.

Silas Simmons, the oldest baseball player who ever lived, passes away at St. Petersburg’s Westminster Suncoast retirement community in Florida. The 111 year-old was a southpaw hurler in the Negro Leagues for 17 years and played for the Homestead Grays, New York Lincoln Giants, and Cuban All-Stars.

After leading the Padres to two consecutive NL West titles, Bruce Bochy, with a year left on his contract, leaves San Diego, to become the manager of the division rival, San Francisco Giants. The 51 year-old skipper, who compiled a 951-975 (.494) record during his 12 seasons in the Friars dugout, signs a three-year deal worth approximately $6 million.

Seven months after negotiations began, the Players’ Association and MLB officials come to terms on a five-year collective bargaining agreement. The longest accord in baseball history, which will end in 2011, ensures the game will have a span of 16 years without a work stoppage

Extending his scoreless streak to 24.1 postseason innings, dating back to 2003 with the Twins, Kenny Rogers blanks the Cardinals for eight innings when the Tigers beat the Cardinals 3-1 to even the World Series at a game apiece. The “Gambler’s” recent playoff success comes under suspicion as TV cameras spot an unknown dark spot on the right-hander’s pitching hand in the first frame, which he claims to be only mud.

The Spiezios become the first father-and-son combination in baseball history to have appeared in a World Series game as a player for the same franchise. Scott, the Cardinals’ current second baseman, and his father, Ed, a third baseman for the 1967 club, both played for in the Fall Classic for winning Redbird teams.