The major league owners vote unanimously to extend baseball commissioner Bud Selig’s contract through 2006. The former Brewers’ owner, who had held the top spot on an interim basis since 1992, was given the title on a permanent basis midway through the 1998 season.

ByTom

The major league owners vote unanimously to extend baseball commissioner Bud Selig’s contract through 2006. The former Brewers’ owner, who had held the top spot on an interim basis since 1992, was given the title on a permanent basis midway through the 1998 season.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becomes only the second player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becomes only the second player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season

ByThis Day in Baseball

2001 – Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becomes only the second player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. Suzuki joins Boston Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn, who achieved this double distinction in 1975.

2001 – A Minnesota judge issues a temporary injunction that orders the Twins to play their full home schedule and prevents owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team to anyone who will move it. While this ruling will be appealed, it will be difficult to get the injunction overturned in enough time to contract the Twins for a potential 2002 season.

ByBaseball

2001 – A Minnesota judge issues a temporary injunction that orders the Twins to play their full home schedule and prevents owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team to anyone who will move it. While this ruling will be appealed, it will be difficult to get the injunction overturned in enough time to contract the Twins for a potential 2002 season.

“The welfare, recreation, prestige, prosperity, trade and commerce of the people of the community are at stake. The Twins brought the community together with Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls. The Twins are one of the few professional sports teams in town where a family can afford to take their children to enjoy a hot dog and peanuts and a stadium. The vital public interest, or trust, of the Twins substantially outweighs any private interest.” – HARRY SEYMOUR CRUMP, Hennepin County District Judge ruling that thwarts the baseball owners’ plan to eliminate two major league teams next season. In a four-page decision, Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump rules the Twins must continue to play the home portion of their games at the Metrodome next season and prohibits Twins owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team unless the new owner also agrees to play next season’s games in the team’s current ballpark. The lower court decision, which is likely to be appealed, is the result of MLB’s decision to contract two teams, one of which is likely to be Minnesota.

ByBaseball

“The welfare, recreation, prestige, prosperity, trade and commerce of the people of the community are at stake. The Twins brought the community together with Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls. The Twins are one of the few professional sports teams in town where a family can afford to take their children to enjoy a hot dog and peanuts and a stadium. The vital public interest, or trust, of the Twins substantially outweighs any private interest.” – HARRY SEYMOUR CRUMP, Hennepin County District Judge ruling that thwarts the baseball owners’ plan to eliminate two major league teams next season. In a four-page decision, Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump rules the Twins must continue to play the home portion of their games at the Metrodome next season and prohibits Twins owner Carl Pohlad from selling the team unless the new owner also agrees to play next season’s games in the team’s current ballpark. The lower court decision, which is likely to be appealed, is the result of MLB’s decision to contract two teams, one of which is likely to be Minnesota.

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2001 – Former Astro Ken Caminiti is arrested on drug possession charges. The infielder had previously battled alcoholism and will admit the following year that he used steroids in his MVP season with San Diego. He would die in 2004 of heart failure. 

ByTom

2001 – Former Astro Ken Caminiti is arrested on drug possession charges. The infielder had previously battled alcoholism and will admit the following year that he used steroids in his MVP season with San Diego. He would die in 2004 of heart failure. 

For the second time in his career, Seattle Mariners skipper Lou Piniella is named the American League Manager of the Year. Piniella, the only person to appear on every ballot, guided to the Mariners to an historical 116 victories which tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs as the winningest team in major league history.

ByBaseball

For the second time in his career, Seattle Mariners skipper Lou Piniella is named the American League Manager of the Year. Piniella, the only person to appear on every ballot, guided to the Mariners to an historical 116 victories which tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs as the winningest team in major league history.

Larry Bowa, with an 86-76 record, is named the National League Manager of the Year, becoming the first manager in Philadelphia Phillies history to win the award. In his first year at the helm, Philadelphia improved by 21 games finishing the season two games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.

ByBaseball

Larry Bowa, with an 86-76 record, is named the National League Manager of the Year, becoming the first manager in Philadelphia Phillies history to win the award. In his first year at the helm, Philadelphia improved by 21 games finishing the season two games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.

One year after playing Class-A baseball, Albert Pujols, who hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI, is named the National League Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA. The St. Louis Cardinals freshman set NL rookie marks in RBI, total bases (360) and extra-base hits (88) and fell one home run shy of tying the NL rookie record of 38 established by Frank Robinson in 1956 as a member of the Cincinnati Redlegs.

ByBaseball

One year after playing Class-A baseball, Albert Pujols, who hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI, is named the National League Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA. The St. Louis Cardinals freshman set NL rookie marks in RBI, total bases (360) and extra-base hits (88) and fell one home run shy of tying the NL rookie record of 38 established by Frank Robinson in 1956 as a member of the Cincinnati Redlegs.

Although disappointed not to win the award unanimously, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who led the American League with a .350 batting average, is named Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria, Ohio Chronicle-Telegram votes for C.C. Sabathia, who posted a 17-4 record, as his top choice, stating the nine years of professional experience in Japan made Suzuki less of a rookie than Cleveland pitcher Sabathia.

ByBaseball

Although disappointed not to win the award unanimously, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who led the American League with a .350 batting average, is named Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria, Ohio Chronicle-Telegram votes for C.C. Sabathia, who posted a 17-4 record, as his top choice, stating the nine years of professional experience in Japan made Suzuki less of a rookie than Cleveland pitcher Sabathia.