Jim Leyland, who led the eventual AL champion Tigers in his first year at the helm to their first winning season since 1993, is named the American League Manager of the Year. The veteran skipper received 19 of the writers’ 28 first-place votes, easily outdistancing the Twins’ Ron Gardenhire for the award.

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Jim Leyland, who led the eventual AL champion Tigers in his first year at the helm to their first winning season since 1993, is named the American League Manager of the Year. The veteran skipper received 19 of the writers’ 28 first-place votes, easily outdistancing the Twins’ Ron Gardenhire for the award.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols earns the National League MVP Award

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols earns the National League MVP Award

ByThis Day in Baseball

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols earns the National League MVP Award, edging Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones. Pujols was among the NL leaders in most hitting categories and finished with a .330 batting average, 41 home runs and 117 RBI in guiding the Cardinals to the league’s best record at 100-62. He receives 18 of 31 first-place votes in balloting conducted by the BBWAA, outpointing Jones 378-351. Jones hit .263 and led the league with 51 home runs and 128 RBI. He won his eighth consecutive Gold Glove as the Braves claimed their 14th consecutive division title despite playing 18 rookies and losing third baseman Chipper Jones for about a third of the season because of injuries.

Alex Rodriguez wins the American League MVP Award for the second time in three seasons

Alex Rodriguez wins the American League MVP Award for the second time in three seasons

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Alex Rodriguez wins the American League MVP Award for the second time in three seasons. The Yankees’ third baseman edges out David Ortiz, the Red Sox DH, fueling the controversy that a designated hitter is not considered an all-around player by many of the baseball writers who vote for the honor.

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After months of deadlock, leaders of Major League Baseball and the players union reach an agreement to clean up a performance-enhancing drug scandal that has tarnished the nation’s pastime and left lawmakers worried about young athletes imitating the wrong role models. It will require baseball players to submit to several drug tests each year, during and between seasons, and will impose lengthy suspensions for steroid and amphetamine use. Repeat offenders can be banned for life. The agreement, which must be ratified by both the players and baseball owners, is similar to a proposal offered earlier this year by commissioner Bud Selig.

ByThis Day in Baseball

After months of deadlock, leaders of Major League Baseball and the players union reach an agreement to clean up a performance-enhancing drug scandal that has tarnished the nation’s pastime and left lawmakers worried about young athletes imitating the wrong role models. It will require baseball players to submit to several drug tests each year, during and between seasons, and will impose lengthy suspensions for steroid and amphetamine use. Repeat offenders can be banned for life. The agreement, which must be ratified by both the players and baseball owners, is similar to a proposal offered earlier this year by commissioner Bud Selig.

Joe Maddon, becoming the fourth manager in the team’s brief history, is selected by the Devil Rays to replace Lou Piniella. The former Angels bench coach believes, despite the club’s poor record and having the lowest payroll in baseball, the young talented team, based on his computer-generated analysis, can start a winning tradition in Tampa Bay.

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Joe Maddon, becoming the fourth manager in the team’s brief history, is selected by the Devil Rays to replace Lou Piniella. The former Angels bench coach believes, despite the club’s poor record and having the lowest payroll in baseball, the young talented team, based on his computer-generated analysis, can start a winning tradition in Tampa Bay.

Hideki Matsui and the New York Yankees agree on a four-year contract worth $52 million to the Japanese outfielder. The sides faced a November 15 deadline after which Matsui would go on waivers and be prevented from rejoining New York until May 15th of next year.

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Hideki Matsui and the New York Yankees agree on a four-year contract worth $52 million to the Japanese outfielder. The sides faced a November 15 deadline after which Matsui would go on waivers and be prevented from rejoining New York until May 15th of next year.

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.

A lawsuit by former Montreal Expos owners against Major League Baseball and former majority owner Jeffrey Loria is struck down by arbitrators, ending legal moves to keep the Expos in Montréal, QC.

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A lawsuit by former Montreal Expos owners against Major League Baseball and former majority owner Jeffrey Loria is struck down by arbitrators, ending legal moves to keep the Expos in Montréal, QC.

Diamondbacks bench coach Bob Melvin is selected to be the Mariners’ twelfth manager in franchise history

ByThis Day in Baseball

Diamondbacks bench coach Bob Melvin is selected to be the Mariners’ twelfth manager in franchise history. The 41 year-old former major league catcher is replacing Lou Piniella, who asked to be released from his contract with Seattle to take a job closer to his home as the Devil Rays’ skipper next season.

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemenswins the American League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemenswins the American League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time

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2001 – New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, who posted a 20-3 record with 213 strikeouts and a 3.51 ERA, wins the American League Cy Young Award for an unprecedented sixth time. Previously, Clemens captured the award with the Red Sox in 1986, 1987 and 1991, and the Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998. He becomes the first Yankees pitcher to win the award since 1978 when Ron Guidry copped the honor. In the 2004 season, Clemens will win his seventh Cy Young in the National League with the Houston Astros.