2016 – The Rockies hire former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black to be their new skipper. A year ago, Black had been selected by the Nationals to manage them, but the two sides had been unable to come to terms on salary.
Five million fans turn out for the Cubs’ World Series victory parade in downtown Chicago, IL, 108 years in the making. The Chicago River is dyed in blue to celebrate the long-awaited title.
The Diamondbacks hire Torey Lovullo as their new manager. It is his first official managing job in the majors, but he filled in ably with the Red Sox when John Farrell was fighting cancer during the second half of 2015.
Eddie Carnett, the Oldest Living MLB Player dies in Ringling, OK, a couple of weeks after turning 100. His title passes on to 98-year-old Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr.
2016 – In the first trade of the off-season, the Tigers send OF Cameron Maybin to the Angels in return for P Victor Alcantara.
November 2, 2016, in an epic game 7, the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years by defeating Cleveland, 8 – 7, in Game 7, making up a three games to one deficit in. Dexter Fowler hits a lead-off homer off Corey Kluber, but the Indians manage to tie…
2016 – The Cubs force a decisive Game 7 in the 2016 World Series with a 9 – 3 win over the Indians at Progressive Field in Game 6. Kris Bryant opens the scoring with a solo homer off Josh Tomlin in the 1st, and later in the inning Addison Russell adds a two-run double on a ball that falls between CF Tyler Naquin and RF Lonnie Chisenhall. Russell adds a grand slam in the 3rd as Chicago builds an insurmountable lead and cruises to the finish.
2016 – The Cubs remain alive in the 2016 World Series with a 3 – 2 win over Cleveland in Game 5. The Indians score first, on a solo homer by Jose Ramirez off Jon Lester in the 2nd but Chicago scores 3 against Trevor Bauer in the 4th. Aroldis Chapman gets the final 8 outs to record the save.
The Indians win Game 4 of the World Series, 7 – 2, over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, behind the pitching of Corey Kluber. The Cubs take an early lead in the 1st, but it does not last as Carlos Santana homers off John Lackey in the 2nd, and a couple of errors by Kris Bryant lead to another run. The Indians put the game away with a three-run homer by Jason Kipnis off Travis Wood in the 7th.
Major League Baseball honors its top relievers, as Zach Britton of the Orioles wins the Mariano Rivera Award as the best relief pitcher in the AL, while Kenley Jansen is the winner of the equivalent honor, the Trevor Hoffman Award, in the NL.