2006 Major League Baseball season

This article is about the 2006 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 2006 in baseball.
2006 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
Duration April 2, 2006 – October 27, 2006
Regular Season
Season MVP AL: Justin Morneau (MIN)
NL: Ryan Howard (PHI)
League Postseason
AL champions Detroit Tigers
  AL runners-up Oakland Athletics
NL champions St. Louis Cardinals
  NL runners-up New York Mets
World Series
Champions St. Louis Cardinals
  Runners-up Detroit Tigers
World Series MVP David Eckstein (STL)

The 2006 Major League Baseball season ended with the National League's St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series with the lowest regular season victory total in a non-strike season in history. The American League continued its domination at the All-Star Game by winning its fourth straight game; the A.L. has won nine of the last ten contests (the 2002 game was a tie). This season, the Atlanta Braves failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 1990. Individual achievements included Barry Bonds who, despite questions surrounding his alleged steroid use and involvement in the BALCO scandal, surpassed Babe Ruth for second place on the career home runs list.

Final standings

American League

AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
(1) New York Yankees 97 65 0.599 50–31 47–34
Toronto Blue Jays 87 75 0.537 10 50–31 37–44
Boston Red Sox 86 76 0.531 11 48–33 38–43
Baltimore Orioles 70 92 0.432 27 40–41 30–51
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 61 101 0.377 36 41–40 20–61
AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
(2) Minnesota Twins 96 66 0.593 54–27 42–39
(4) Detroit Tigers 95 67 0.586 1 46–35 49–32
Chicago White Sox 90 72 0.556 6 49–32 41–40
Cleveland Indians 78 84 0.481 18 44–37 34–47
Kansas City Royals 62 100 0.383 34 34–47 28–53
AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
(3) Oakland Athletics 93 69 0.574 49–32 44–37
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 89 73 0.549 4 45–36 44–37
Texas Rangers 80 82 0.494 13 39–42 41–40
Seattle Mariners 78 84 0.481 15 44–37 34–47

National League

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
(1) New York Mets 97 65 0.599 50–31 47–34
Philadelphia Phillies 85 77 0.525 12 41–40 44–37
Atlanta Braves 79 83 0.488 18 40–41 39–42
Florida Marlins 78 84 0.481 19 42–39 36–45
Washington Nationals 71 91 0.438 26 41–40 30–51
NL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
(3) St. Louis Cardinals 83 78 0.516 49–31 34–47
Houston Astros 82 80 0.506 44–37 38–43
Cincinnati Reds 80 82 0.494 42–39 38–43
Milwaukee Brewers 75 87 0.463 48–33 27–54
Pittsburgh Pirates 67 95 0.414 16½ 43–38 24–57
Chicago Cubs 66 96 0.407 17½ 36–45 30–51
NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
(2) San Diego Padres 88 74 0.543 43–38 45–36
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers 88 74 0.543 49–32 39–42
San Francisco Giants 76 85 0.472 11½ 43–38 33–47
Arizona Diamondbacks 76 86 0.469 12 39–42 37–44
Colorado Rockies 76 86 0.469 12 44–37 32–49

Postseason

  Division Series
TV: ESPN/FOX
League Championship Series
TV: FOX
World Series
TV: FOX
                           
  1  New York Yankees 1  
4  Detroit 3  
  4  Detroit 4  
American League
  3  Oakland 0  
2  Minnesota 0
  3  Oakland 3  
    AL  Detroit 1
  NL  St. Louis 4
  1  New York Mets 3  
4  Los Angeles Dodgers 0  
  1  New York Mets 3
National League
  3  St. Louis 4  
2  San Diego 1
  3  St. Louis 3  

Click on any series score to link to that series' page.
Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series.
The American League champion had home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the AL victory in the 2006 All-Star Game.

All-Star game

Awards

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the YearHanley Ramírez (FLA)Justin Verlander (DET)
Cy Young AwardBrandon Webb (ARI)Johan Santana (MIN)
Manager of the YearJoe Girardi (FLA)Jim Leyland (DET)
Most Valuable PlayerRyan Howard (PHI)Justin Morneau (MIN)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
PitcherGreg Maddux (CHC/LAD)Kenny Rogers (DET)
CatcherBrad Ausmus (HOU)Iván Rodríguez (DET)
1st BaseAlbert Pujols (STL)Mark Teixeira (TEX)
2nd BaseOrlando Hudson (ARI)Mark Grudzielanek (KC)
3rd BaseScott Rolen (STL)Eric Chavez (OAK)
ShortstopOmar Vizquel (SF)Derek Jeter (NYY)
OutfieldCarlos Beltrán (NYM)
Mike Cameron (SD)
Andruw Jones (ATL)
Torii Hunter (MIN)
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)
Vernon Wells (TOR)
Silver Slugger Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher/Designated HitterCarlos Zambrano (CHC) David Ortiz (BOS)
CatcherBrian McCann (ATL)Joe Mauer (MIN)
1st BaseRyan Howard (PHI)Justin Morneau (MIN)
2nd BaseChase Utley (PHI)Robinson Canó (NYY)
3rd BaseMiguel Cabrera (FLA)Joe Crede (CWS)
ShortstopJosé Reyes (NYM)Derek Jeter (NYY)
OutfieldCarlos Beltrán (NYM)
Matt Holliday (COL)
Alfonso Soriano (WAS)
Jermaine Dye (CWS)
Vladimir Guerrero (LAA)
Manny Ramirez (BOS)

Other awards

Player of the Month

Month American League National League
April Jason Giambi Albert Pujols
May Alex Rodriguez Jason Bay
June Joe Mauer David Wright
July David Ortiz Chase Utley
August Travis Hafner Ryan Howard
September Robinson Canó Ryan Howard

Pitcher of the Month

Month American League National League
April José Contreras Greg Maddux
May CC Sabathia Jason Schmidt
June Johan Santana Chris Young
July John Lackey Carlos Zambrano
August Esteban Loaiza Derek Lowe
September Johan Santana Roy Oswalt

Rookie of the Month

Month American League National League
April Jonathan Papelbon Prince Fielder
May Justin Verlander Josh Johnson
June Francisco Liriano Josh Johnson
Dan Uggla
July Francisco Liriano Josh Barfield
August Nick Markakis Chris Duncan
September Boof Bonser Aníbal Sánchez

Statistical leaders

  American League National League
Type Name Stat Name Stat
AVG Joe Mauer, MIN .347 Freddy Sanchez, PIT .344
HR David Ortiz, BOS 54 Ryan Howard, PHI 58
RBI David Ortiz, BOS 137 Ryan Howard, PHI 149
Wins Johan Santana, MIN
Chien-Ming Wang, NYY
19 Aaron Harang, CIN
Derek Lowe, LAD
Brad Penny, LAD
John Smoltz, ATL
Brandon Webb, ARI
Carlos Zambrano, CHC
16
ERA Johan Santana, MIN 2.77 Roy Oswalt, HOU 2.98
SO Johan Santana, MIN 245 Aaron Harang, CIN 216
SV Francisco Rodríguez, LAA 47 Trevor Hoffman, SD 46
SB Carl Crawford, TB 58 José Reyes, NYM 64

Managers

American League

Team Manager Comments
Baltimore Orioles Sam Perlozzo
Boston Red Sox Terry Francona
Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillén
Cleveland Indians Eric Wedge
Detroit Tigers Jim Leyland Won the ALCS,Replacing Alan Trammell
Kansas City Royals Buddy Bell
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Mike Scioscia
Minnesota Twins Ron Gardenhire
New York Yankees Joe Torre
Oakland Athletics Ken Macha (Macha Was Replaced By Bob Geren)
Seattle Mariners Mike Hargrove
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Joe Maddon
Texas Rangers Buck Showalter (Showalter Was Replaced With Ron Washington)
Toronto Blue Jays John Gibbons

National League

Team Manager Comments
Arizona Diamondbacks Bob Melvin
Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox
Chicago Cubs Dusty Baker (Baker Was Replaced By Lou Piniella)
Cincinnati Reds Jerry Narron
Colorado Rockies Clint Hurdle
Florida Marlins Joe Girardi (Girardi Was Replaced By Fredi González)
Houston Astros Phil Garner
Los Angeles Dodgers Grady Little
Milwaukee Brewers Ned Yost
New York Mets Willie Randolph
Philadelphia Phillies Charlie Manuel
Pittsburgh Pirates± Jim Tracy
St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa Won the World Series
San Diego Padres Bruce Bochy (Bochy Was Replaced By Bud Black)
San Francisco Giants Felipe Alou (Alou Was Replaced By Bruce Bochy)
Washington Nationals Frank Robinson (Robinson Was Replaced By Manny Acta)

±hosted the MLB All Star Game

Milestones

300–300 Club members

Home Runs

The following players reached major home run milestones in 2006:

Barry Bonds' countdown to 715

400 career homers

300 career homers

200 career homers

Entry into the top 500

Pitching

Hitting

Other achievements

Events

References

  1. Beinhoff, Drew (September 20, 2006). "You gotta love Matt Holliday". Real Clear Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  2. "Charlton's Baseball Chronology". www.baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved March 5, 2013.

See also

2006 in baseball

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