Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson dies in Thousand Oaks, California at 76. Nicknamed “Captain Hook” for his tendency to remove his starting pitchers early in the game – now standard practice – he was the first manager to win over 100 games in a season in both leagues, and the first to lead teams from both leagues to World Championships, doing so with Cincinnati in 1975 and 1976, and with Detroit in 1984.

Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson dies in Thousand Oaks, California at 76. Nicknamed “Captain Hook” for his tendency to remove his starting pitchers early in the game – now standard practice – he was the first manager to win over 100 games in a season in both leagues, and the first to lead teams from both leagues to World Championships, doing so with Cincinnati in 1975 and 1976, and with Detroit in 1984.

Reminiscent of the scene when the team moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958, tens of thousands of Giants fans pay homage to their heroes as the city celebrates the accomplishment of the World Champions with a ticker-tape parade. First baseman Aubrey Huff delights the fans at Civic Center by pulling out his “rally thong” while addressing a raucous crowd at Civic Center.

Reminiscent of the scene when the team moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958, tens of thousands of Giants fans pay homage to their heroes as the city celebrates the accomplishment of the World Champions with a ticker-tape parade. First baseman Aubrey Huff delights the fans at Civic Center by pulling out his “rally thong” while addressing a raucous crowd at Civic Center.

Less surprisingly, Red Sox 3B Adrian Beltre also declines his option for 2011, in hope of securing a long-term contract following a great performance last year. Other players let go include Reds SS Orlando Cabrera and P Aaron Harang; Padres P Chris Young and C Yorvit Torrealba; Seattle P Erik Bedard and DH Russell Branyan; Tampa Bay P Dan Wheeler and IF Willy Aybar; and Washington 2B Adam Kennedy.

Less surprisingly, Red Sox 3B Adrian Beltre also declines his option for 2011, in hope of securing a long-term contract following a great performance last year. Other players let go include Reds SS Orlando Cabrera and P Aaron Harang; Padres P Chris Young and C Yorvit Torrealba; Seattle P Erik Bedard and DH Russell Branyan; Tampa Bay P Dan Wheeler and IF Willy Aybar; and Washington 2B Adam Kennedy.

With the onset of the off-season, teams need to make decisions on potential free agents. In a surprise move, the Rangers, fresh off their first American League pennant, part ways with one of the main players responsible for that title, DH Vladimir Guerrero, by declining his option for next season.

With the onset of the off-season, teams need to make decisions on potential free agents. In a surprise move, the Rangers, fresh off their first American League pennant, part ways with one of the main players responsible for that title, DH Vladimir Guerrero, by declining his option for next season.

Giants win first world series in San Francisco – Edgar Renteria ties record
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Giants win first world series in San Francisco – Edgar Renteria ties record

Edgar Renteria, who drove in the winning run for the Marlins against Cleveland in the 11th inning during Game 7 of the 1997 Fall Classic, joins Yankees legends Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra as only the fourth player in baseball history to collect two World Series-winning hits. The Series MVP’s three-run homer off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning leads to San Francisco’s 3-1 victory over the Rangers, bringing a World Championship to the Giants for the first time since 1954.