San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bondswins the National League Most Valuable Player  for a record seventh time

San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bondswins the National League Most Valuable Player  for a record seventh time

ByThis Day in Baseball

San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who is the only player to be the National League Most Valuable Player more than three times, is named by the Baseball Writers Association of America for a record seventh time, including an unprecedented fourth consecutive season. Bonds finished 2004 with a .362 batting average, 45 home runs and 101 RBI. Winning the honor at the age of 40, Bonds surpasses Willie Stargell (39) as the oldest player to win the award.

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Johan Santana (20-6, 265, 2.61), winning the American League top pitching honor with 28 first-place votes, becomes the 18th unanimous Cy Young winner selected by the BBWAA. The 25 year-old Venezuelan southpaw joins Jim Perry (1970) and Frank Viola (1988) as the only Twin hurlers to earn the award.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Johan Santana (20-6, 265, 2.61), winning the American League top pitching honor with 28 first-place votes, becomes the 18th unanimous Cy Young winner selected by the BBWAA. The 25 year-old Venezuelan southpaw joins Jim Perry (1970) and Frank Viola (1988) as the only Twin hurlers to earn the award.

The BBWAA selects Bobby Cox as the National League Manager of the Year. Although the team lost Greg Maddux, Gary Sheffield, Javy López and Vinny Castilla to free agency, the Atlanta Braves, with a 96-58 record under Cox, still captured their 13th straight, and unexpected, NL East division flag.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The BBWAA selects Bobby Cox as the National League Manager of the Year. Although the team lost Greg Maddux, Gary Sheffield, Javy López and Vinny Castilla to free agency, the Atlanta Braves, with a 96-58 record under Cox, still captured their 13th straight, and unexpected, NL East division flag.

9 Players are inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame including Wade Boggs and Dennis Eckersley
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9 Players are inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame including Wade Boggs and Dennis Eckersley

ByThis Day in Baseball

Bill Carrigan, skipper of the 1915-16 World Series champion teams, infielders Billy Goodman (1947-57) and Pete Runnels (1958-62), southpaw Bruce Hurst (1980-88), Pawtucket Red Sox owner Ben Mondor, and former GM Haywood Sullivan are inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. Also enshrined for their contributions to the team are Cooperstown Hall of Famers Wade Boggs (1982-92), Jimmy Collins (1901-07), and right-hander Dennis Eckersley (1978-84).

Joining Seattle Mariners new manager, Mike Hargrove, Don Baylor is named the team’s batting coach, replacing Paul Molitor. The former major league manager became available after the Mets announced a new coaching staff would be put in place to work with recently-hired pilot Willie Randolph.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Joining Seattle Mariners new manager, Mike Hargrove, Don Baylor is named the team’s batting coach, replacing Paul Molitor. The former major league manager became available after the Mets announced a new coaching staff would be put in place to work with recently-hired pilot Willie Randolph.

Roger Clemens becomes the oldest pitcher to win the Cy Young Award

Roger Clemens becomes the oldest pitcher to win the Cy Young Award

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Roger Clemens (18-4, 218, 2.98), after coming out of retirement to pitch for his hometown team, becomes the oldest hurler to win the Cy Young Award. The 42 year-old ‘Rocket’ has received the honor a record seven times and becomes the first to win the award with four different teams: Red Sox (1986-87, 1991), Blue Jays (1997-98), Yankees (2001), and the Astros (2004).

Bobby Crosby wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award

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Receiving 27 of 28 first-place votes, Bobby Crosby (.239, 22, 64) wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award. The Oakland shortstop, who is the son of former big leaguer infielder Ed Crosby, joins Harry Byrd (1952), Jose Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Walt Weiss (1988), and Ben Grieve (1998) as the sixth A’s freshman to be honored by the BBWAA.

Jason Bay becomes the first Pittsburgh Pirates and Canadian, to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award

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Jason Bay, who hit .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI, becomes the first Pittsburgh Pirates player, as well as the first Canadian, to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs

Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs

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2004 – After refusing a $60 million, four-year contract extension from the Boston Red Sox the previous winter, Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, the team he was traded to in 2004, for $8 million. The All-Star shortstop, who is coming off an injury-plagued season, can increase the value of the contract up to $11 million with bonus incentives based on performance and playing time.

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The Mets introduced Willie Randolph as the franchise’s 18th manager. The long-time Yankee second baseman and third base coach becomes the first black to manage in New York.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Mets introduced Willie Randolph as the franchise’s 18th manager. The long-time Yankee second baseman and third base coach becomes the first black to manage in New York.