The Twins introduce 37-year-old Rocco Baldelli as their new manager, taking over for local legend Paul Molitor. He has been a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays for the past four seasons, after a rare disease cut short his playing career.
The Blue Jays also name a manager, settling on long-time coach and minor league manager Charlie Montoyo, whose post-playing career has all been in the Tampa Bay Rays system.
The Astros win a World Series game for the first time in franchise history as they defeat the Dodgers, 7 – 6, in 11 innings in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series. The Dodgers seem headed for a win as they lead, 3 – 2, in the top of the 9th, but closer Kenley Jansen surrenders a solo homer to Marwin Gonzalez to tie it, and in the 10th, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa hit back-to-back shots off Josh Fields to give Houston a 5 – 3 lead. Ken Giles cannot nail down the win, however, as he gives up a solo homer to Yasiel Puig and a run-scoring single to Kiké Hernandez. In the 11th, the Astros again score two, on a two-run blast by George Springer off Brandon McCarthy, and while Charlie Culberson hits the eighth homer of the game off Chris Devenski with two outs in the bottom of the 11th, the Dodgers fall short by one run. The 8 homers set a World Series record, while the 5 hit in extra innings are a record for any game, postseason or regular season.
The Mets announce that Mike Piazza, believed by many to be the best offensive backstop in baseball history, will have his number 31 retired during the season. The Cooperstown-bound catcher’s digits will join Tom Seaver (41), Casey Stengel (37), and Gil Hodges (14) above the left-field wall at Citi Field.
The Indians win Game 1 of the World Series, 6 – 0 over the Cubs, who are making their first appearance in the Fall Classic since 1945. Corey Kluber pitches 6 scoreless innings during which he strikes out 9, while the Indians score twice off Jon Lester in the bottom of the 1st, on a dribbler by Jose Ramirez that travels barely 20 feet, and when Brandon Guyer is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Roberto Perez later homers twice to put the game away.
2014 – The Giants even the World Series with an 11 – 4 win over the Royals in Game 4. They score 9 runs between the 5th and 7th innings to run away with the game, as Yusmeiro Petit claims the win with another great performance in long relief with three scoreless innings, his third such win of the postseason.
Three Giants pitchers – Madison Bumgarner, Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo – combine on a two-hitter as San Francisco shuts out Detroit, 2 – 0, in Game 2 of the 2012 World Series. The Giants play small ball, scoring their first run on a double play grounder in the 7th after a bunt single by Gregor Blanco loads the bases, and their second in the 8th on three walks and a sacrifice fly.
The 2012 NPB draft is held. Only one team, the Nippon Ham Fighters, take the biggest name as Shohei Otani (timed at 99 mph in high school) is widely expected to go to the US, making it a wasted pick if he doesn’t sign; the Fighters will wind up signing Otani, however. On the other hand, four teams put in for Shintaro Fujinami, with the Hanshin Tigers winning the lottery. Three teams take Nao Higashima, with the Softbank Hawks getting his rights.
John Farrell emerges from the 18 candidates interviewed by Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos to replace Cito Gaston, the team’s recently retired manager. The former Boston pitching coach’s reputation of working well with youthful hurlers is thought to be a real asset for the team’s new skipper, given Toronto’s talented young rotation.
2010 – Lotte Giants corner infielder Dae-ho Lee, winner of the Triple Crown, is named Korea Baseball Organization MVP for 2010. The Rookie of the Year award goes to Doosan Bears catcher Eui-ji Yang, the fourth straight winner from Doosan.