The Brewers hire Willie Randolph as bench coach to work with the team’s new manager Ken Macha. The 54 year-old former Mets manager compiled a 302-253 record during his 3+ years tenure in New York before being dismissed in June.
Former Boston players Bill Lee, Mo Vaughn, Mike Greenwell, Wes Ferrell, Frank Sullivan, and Everett Scott, as well as former scout George Digby and former executive Ed Kenney Sr., are inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. The team also recognizes Ted Williams’ homer in his last at-bat and Curt Schilling’s performance (bloody sock) in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS for their special significance in Red Sox history.
In front of 7,000 fans at Straub Park, Tampa Bay announces the team is changing its name from the Devil Rays to the Rays, revealing uniforms featuring the colors of Columbia blue, Navy blue, and gold with a yellow sunburst logo, that will replace the 11 year-old franchise’s original hues of green and blue and its insignia of a cartilaginous fish. Other options considered for names included the ‘Aces,’ ‘Bandits,’ ‘Cannons,’ ‘Dukes,’ ‘Stripes,’ and the ‘Nine,’ the personal favorite of team owner Stuart Sternberg.
Los Angeles Angels聽pitcher聽Bartolo Col贸n, who led the聽American League聽with 21 wins, receives the聽Cy Young Award. Col贸n is the second pitcher in Angels history to win the award.聽Dean Chance聽was the winner in聽1964, back when there was one award for the two leagues. Col贸n receives 17 of 28 first-place votes cast and finishes with 118 points.聽Closer聽Mariano Rivera聽of the聽New York Yankees聽finishes second with 8 first-place votes and 68 points, while聽Johan Santana聽of the聽Minnesota Twins, who was the聽2004聽winner, is third with 3 first-place votes and 51 points.
Commissioner聽Bud Selig聽has made it clear he doesn’t want聽instant replay. Even聽Angels聽manager聽Mike Scioscia, who had a dreadful call go against his team in the聽American League Championship Series, says to leave calls to the human element of聽umpiring. That, however, won’t stop聽general managers聽from debating the issue this week.
The聽New York Yankees聽let聽Tino Martinez聽go, declining their $3 million聽option聽on the popular first baseman. Martinez returned to New York in聽2005聽and hit .241 in part-time duty with 17 home runs and 49 RBI. He was a staple in the Yankees’ lineup from聽1996聽to聽2001, helping the team to four聽World Series聽championships and five聽American League聽pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense.
Jason Bay, who hit .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI, becomes the first聽Pittsburgh Pirates聽player, as well as the first聽Canadian, to win the聽National League Rookie of the Year Award.
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.
Jerry Manuel is selected by the BBWAA as the American League Manager of the Year. The White Sox skipper led his club to their first playoff appearance in seven years despite having the 21st lowest payroll of the 30 major league teams.
Cincinnati Reds聽reliever聽Scott Williamson聽is named聽Rookie of the Year聽in the聽National League. Williamson was not on the Reds’ roster at the beginning of the year, but ended with a 12-7 record, 19 saves, a 2.41 ERA, and 107 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!