Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves (4-2); Pat Borders, MVP
American League Championship Series MVP: Roberto Alomar National League Championship Series MVP: John Smoltz All-Star Game, July 14 at Jack Murphy Stadium: American League, 13–6; Ken Griffey Jr., MVP
Other champions Caribbean World Series: Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico) College World Series: Pepperdine Japan Series: Seibu Lions over Yakult Swallows (4-3) Korean Series: Lotte Giants over Binggrae Eagles Big League World Series: Broward County, Florida Junior League World Series: Tucson, Arizona Little League World Series: Long Beach, California; title awarded following loss to team from Zamboanga City, Mindanao, Philippines, which was later disqualified Senior League World Series: Pingtung, Taiwan Summer Olympic Games at Barcelona, Spain: Cuba (Gold), Chinese Taipei (Silver), Japan (Bronze) Taiwan Series: Brother Elephants
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Rollie Fingers Bill McGowan Hal Newhouser Tom Seaver Most Valuable Player Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics (AL) Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) Cy Young Award Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics (AL) Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs (NL) Rookie of the Year Pat Listach, Milwaukee Brewers (AL) Eric Karros, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics (AL) Lee Smith, St. Louis Cardinals (NL) Manager of the Year Tony La Russa, Oakland Athletics (AL) Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Tammy Felker-White, Portland Beavers, Pacific Coast League Gold Glove Award Don Mattingly (1B) (AL) Roberto Alomar (2B) (AL) Robin Ventura (3B) (AL) Cal Ripken Jr. (SS) (AL) Ken Griffey Jr. (OF) (AL) Kirby Puckett (OF) (AL) Devon White (OF) (AL) Iván Rodríguez (C) (AL) Mark Langston (P) (AL) Mark Grace (1B) (NL) José Lind (2B) (NL) Terry Pendleton (3B) (NL) Ozzie Smith (SS) (NL) Barry Bonds (OF) (NL) Andy Van Slyke (OF) (NL) Larry Walker (OF) (NL) Tom Pagnozzi (C) (NL) Greg Maddux (P) (NL)
MLB statistical leaders American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat AVG Edgar Martínez SEA .343 Gary Sheffield SD .330 HR Juan González TEX 43 Fred McGriff SD 35 RBI Cecil Fielder DET 124 Darren Daulton PHI 109 Wins Kevin Brown TEXJack Morris TOR 21 Tom Glavine ATLGreg Maddux CHC 20 ERA Roger Clemens BOS 2.41 Bill Swift SF 2.08
Major League Baseball final standings
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Toronto Blue Jays 96 66 .593 -- 2nd Milwaukee Brewers 92 70 .568 4.0 3rd Baltimore Orioles 89 73 .549 7.0 4th Cleveland Indians 76 86 .469 20.0 4th New York Yankees 76 86 .469 20.0 6th Detroit Tigers 75 87 .463 21.0 7th Boston Red Sox 73 89 .451 23.0 West Division 1st Oakland Athletics 96 66 .593 -- 2nd Minnesota Twins 90 72 .556 6.0 3rd Chicago White Sox 86 76 .531 10.0 4th Texas Rangers 77 85 .475 19.0 5th California Angels 72 90 .444 24.0 5th Kansas City Royals 72 90 .444 24.0 7th Seattle Mariners 64 98 .395 32.0
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Pittsburgh Pirates 96 66 .593 -- 2nd Montreal Expos 87 75 .537 9.0 3rd St. Louis Cardinals 83 79 .512 13.0 4th Chicago Cubs 78 84 .481 18.0 5th New York Mets 72 90 .444 24.0 6th Philadelphia Phillies 70 92 .432 26.0 West Division 1st Atlanta Braves 98 64 .605 -- 2nd Cincinnati Reds 90 72 .556 8.0 3rd San Diego Padres 82 80 .506 16.0 4th Houston Astros 81 81 .500 17.0 5th San Francisco Giants 72 90 .444 26.0 6th Los Angeles Dodgers 63 99 .389 35.0
Managers
American League Team Manager CommentsBaltimore OriolesJohnny OatesBoston Red SoxButch HobsonCalifornia AngelsBuck Rodgersafter a May bus accident John Wathan was acting manager for the remainder of the seasonChicago White SoxGene LamontCleveland IndiansMike HargroveDetroit TigersSparky AndersonKansas City RoyalsHal McRaeMilwaukee BrewersPhil GarnerMinnesota TwinsTom KellyNew York YankeesBuck ShowalterOakland AthleticsTony La RussaWon American League WestSeattle MarinersBill PlummerTexas RangersBobby Valentinewas replaced during the season by Toby HarrahToronto Blue JaysCito GastonWon the World Series
National League Team Manager CommentsAtlanta BravesBobby CoxWon the National League pennantChicago CubsJim LefebvreCincinnati RedsLou PiniellaHouston AstrosArt HoweLos Angeles DodgersTommy LasordaMontreal ExposTom Runnellswas replaced during the season by Felipe AlouNew York MetsJeff TorborgPhiladelphia PhilliesJim FregosiPittsburgh PiratesJim LeylandWon National League EastSt. Louis CardinalsJoe TorreSan Diego PadresJim RigglemanSan Francisco GiantsRoger Craig
Events
January January 2 – The Boston Red Sox sign free agent pitcher Frank Viola. January 6 - The New York Yankees signed outfielder Danny Tartabull as a free agent. January 7 – Pitchers Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Seaver finishes with a record 98.8% of the votes cast. Pete Rose, ineligible because of his ban from baseball (otherwise this year does not become his first year of eligibility), receives 41 write–in votes. January 8 - The Atlanta Braves signed Steve Lyons as a free agent. January 10 - The Chicago White Sox acquired Second Baseman Steve Sax from the New York Yankees in exchange for pitchers Domingo Jean, Bob Wickman and Melido Perez January 17 - The Oakland Athletics signed pitcher Ron Darling as a free agent. January 21 - The New York Yankees signed free agent catcher Mike Stanley. January 22 - The California Angels signed pitcher Bert Blyleven as a free agent. January 27 – The Oakland Athletics sign free agent relief pitcher Goose Gossage The Cleveland Indians signed free agent third baseman Brook Jacoby. January 31 – The Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Barry Bonds to a one-year contract worth $4.7 million, the largest-ever one-year deal.
February February 2 - The California Angels signed infielder Ken Oberkfell as a free agent. February 12 - The Montreal Expos signed catcher Rick Cerone as a free agent. February 19 – The Boyfriend episode of Seinfeld debuts on NBC, featuring very special guest star Keith Hernandez. February 20 – The Simpsons episode, Homer at the Bat airs featuring guest appearances by Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, José Canseco, Don Mattingly, Darryl Strawberry and Mike Scioscia. February 23 - The Milwaukee Brewers signed infielder Scott Fletcher as a free agent. February 27 – One hundred forty-nine players file for salary arbitration. Of the 21 who have a hearing, the players win ten and lose eleven. New York Mets pitcher David Cone receives a record $4.25 million award.
March March 2 – Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg becomes the highest-paid player in major league history when he agrees to a four-year contract extension worth $28.4 million. March 9 - Outfielder John Moses returns to Seattle by signing a free agent contract with the Mariners. March 10 - The Kansas City Royals trade outfielder Kirk Gibson to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Neal Heaton. March 15 – Dwight Evans is released by the Baltimore Orioles, ending his 20-year career. March 17: The Minnesota Twins trade highly regarded prospect pitcher Denny Neagle to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher John Smiley. Pitcher Hal Newhouser and umpire Bill McGowan are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. March 20 - The Detroit Tigers signed free agent pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. March 26 – The Milwaukee Brewers trade Gary Sheffield and minor league pitcher Geoff Kellogg to the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Ricky Bones, infielder John Valentin and minor league prospect Matt Mieske March 28 - The Texas Rangers signed Steve Balboni as a free agent. March 30 – In one of the biggest cross-town trades in Chicago baseball history, the Chicago Cubs trade George Bell to the Chicago White Sox, while the Sox send Sammy Sosa to the Cubs.
April April 1 – Mike Heath is released by the Atlanta Braves. April 2 – In what would turn out to be a one sided trade, the Philadelphia Phillies acquire Curt Schilling from the Houston Astros for relief pitcher Jason Grimsley. Schilling plays a role in the Phillies World Series run, whereas Grimsley never appears in a single game for the Astros. April 5 – Less than a month after he is released by the Kansas City Royals, Kevin Seitzer signs a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Texas Rangers sign a pair of free agents. Pitcher Floyd Bannister and catcher John Russell. April 6: A crowd of 44,568 sees the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Cleveland Indians 2–0 in the first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Rick Sutcliffe hurls the shutout for Baltimore. The Texas Rangers overcome an 8–3 deficit to defeat the Seattle Mariners 12–10. The Rangers score nine runs in the eighth inning as a stunned Kingdome crowd watched on. April 10 – Dave Eiland makes it into the record books in an unusual way. He hits a home run in his first at bat, thus becoming the first pitcher who gave up a home run to the first batter he ever faced (Paul Molitor) and hit a home run in his very own first plate appearance. Eiland gave up the homer to Molitor as a member of the New York Yankees in 1988. April 28 - The Cincinnati Reds sign catcher Scott Bradley a free agent.
May May 4 - The Chunichi Dragons of the Japan Central League purchase the contract of outfielder Alonzo Powell from the Seattle Mariners. May 5 – The Pittsburgh Pirates release Kirk Gibson. May 8 – Butch Henry, a pitcher for the Houston Astros, hits an inside the park home run for his first career hit. He connects off Pirates pitcher Doug Drabek and Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds fails to field the ball. It would be the only home run of Henry's career. May 9 – At Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals come back from deficits of 9-0 and 11–3 to win 12–11 over the Atlanta Braves. May 21 – The California Angels team bus is involved in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. Eleven people are injured, the most serious being Buck Rodgers, the Angels manager. He would miss the next 90 games of the season. May 22 – The Montreal Expos fire manager Tom Runnels and name Felipe Alou as the team's new manager. May 27 – The Atlanta Braves, at the time in last place, defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 9–3. The upset win sparks the Braves, who go on a 78–37 run and win the NL West. May 30 – Scott Sanderson of the New York Yankees gets the W in the Yankees 8–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The victory allows Sanderson to become the ninth pitcher to have defeated all (at the time) 26 teams in the major leagues. Nolan Ryan, Tommy John, Don Sutton, Mike Torrez, Rick Wise, Gaylord Perry, Doyle Alexander, and Goose Gossage were the others to accomplish the feat.
June June 1 – The MLB draft is held. Phil Nevin, Paul Shuey, B.J. Wallace, Jeffrey Hammonds, and Chad Mottola all go off the board before the New York Yankees select shortstop Derek Jeter. June 3 – The Detroit Tigers sell the contracts of pitcher Fernando Valenzuela and infielder Rick Renteria to Jalisco of the Mexican League. June 5 – Eddie Murray of the New York Mets drives in two runs in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This allows Murray to tie Mickey Mantle as the all-time RBI leader among switch hitters. Murray would break the record the following day. June 8 – Steve Howe of the New York Yankees is banned from baseball for life by Commissioner Fay Vincent. Howe was arrested earlier in the year for striking a light pole with his vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. The trial was postponed to May, and Howe took a plea deal on a charge of attempted drug possession. June 9 - The New York Yankees and New York Mets exchange pitchers, as the Mets send Tim Burke to the Yankees in exchange for Lee Guetterman.