The Mets’ officially introduced Sandy Alderson as the team’s new general manager at a Citi Field news conference. The 62 year-old Harvard Law School graduate, who has served as the former president and GM of the A’s and chief executive officer of the Padres, is being allowed to leave his current administrative position with MLB to take the challenging role of rebuilding the directionless organization, that includes the hiring of a new manager for the team.

The Yankees pay tribute to Freddy Schuman, a fan favorite at the ballpark since 1988 due to his signs and the rhythmic banging of a spoon against a skillet, by putting some of his memorabilia inside Gate 4 at the Stadium, and with a moment of silence before Game 4 of the ALCS. The fans also show their appreciation of 85 year-old iconic “Freddy Sez” when they photographed friends banging his displayed pan, and with their chanting of “Fred-dy! Fred-dy!” during the contest against the Rangers.

The Mariners hire Eric Wedge to be the team’s new manager, Seattle’s seventh skipper since 2003. The former Cleveland field boss, out of baseball last season after spending seven seasons in the Tribe’s dugout, replaces Daren Brown, who had filled in on an interim basis for Don Wakamatsu, who was fired in August.

The Cardinals announce the signing of its long-time manager, keeping Tony La Russa in the Redbirds’ dugout for at least one more season, the skipper’s sixteenth with the club. The franchise has won eight division titles, two National League pennants, and a World Championship under the 66 year-old pilot, but this year’s team, heavily favored to win its division, collapsed during the final two months of the season, finishing five games behind Cincinnati.

The Rangers record their first playoff win at home in the 50-year history of the franchise when they take Game 2 of the ALDS, defeating the Yankees, 7-2. The Rangers Ballpark victory ends a ten-game postseason losing streak against New York that includes yesterday’s heartbreaking loss in which Texas had an early 5-0 lead over the Bronx Bombers.

In a widely anticipated hiring, the Braves sign Fredi Gonzalez to replace their long-time legendary manager Bobby Cox, who retired at the end of the season. Atlanta’s new skipper, who served as the team’s third-base coach from 2003-06, was unexpectedly fired in June by the Marlins, a move which may have been prompted by the benching of shortstop Hanley Ramirez for not hustling.

The Rangers, behind the complete-game effort by Cliff Lee, beat Tampa Bay, 5-1, in the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field for the team’s first playoff series victory in franchise history, the last major league club to accomplish the task. Texas, who will take on the Yankees for the AL flag, lost their three previous playoff appearances with first-round losses to the Bronx Bombers in 1996 and 1998-99.

The Giants, with their 3-2 victory over the Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS at Turner Field, advance to the National League Championship Series to play the Phillies. After the last out of the game, the San Francisco players come onto the field to salute the opposing manager, Bobby Cox, who is retiring after 29 years in the dugout.

Behind the solid starting pitching of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, the Phillies complete the franchise’s first playoff sweep when Hamels throws a complete-game, five-hit 2-0 NLDS victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Philadelphia will have an opportunity to become the first team to win three consecutive National League pennants since the war-time Cardinals raised flags from 1942 to 1944.

11 new players are named to the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame, including Luis Tiant, Fernando Valenzuela, Dennis Martinez and Edgar Martinez.