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 pitcher Bartolo Colón, who led the American League with 21 wins, receives the Cy Young Award. Colón is the second pitcher in Angels history to win the award. Dean Chance was the winner in 1964, back when there was one award for the two leagues. Colón receives 17 of 28 first-place votes cast and finishes with 118 points. Closer Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees finishes second with 8 first-place votes and 68 points, while Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins, who was the 2004 winner, is third with 3 first-place votes and 51 points.
Commissioner Bud Selig has made it clear he doesn’t want instant replay. Even Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who had a dreadful call go against his team in the American League Championship Series, says to leave calls to the human element of umpiring. That, however, won’t stop general managers from debating the issue this week.
The New York Yankees let Tino Martinez go, declining their $3 million option on the popular first baseman. Martinez returned to New York in 2005 and hit .241 in part-time duty with 17 home runs and 49 RBI. He was a staple in the Yankees’ lineup from 1996 to 2001, helping the team to four World Series championships and five American League pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense.
Jason Bay, who hit .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI, becomes the first Pittsburgh Pirates player, as well as the first Canadian, to win the 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 reliever Scott Williamson is named Rookie of the Year in the 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.
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