2007 Major League Baseball season

This article is about the 2007 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 2007 in baseball.
2007 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
Duration April 1, 2007 – October 28, 2007
Regular Season
Season MVP AL: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
NL: Jimmy Rollins (PHI)
League Postseason
AL champions Boston Red Sox
  AL runners-up Cleveland Indians
NL champions Colorado Rockies
  NL runners-up Arizona Diamondbacks
World Series
Champions Boston Red Sox
  Runners-up Colorado Rockies
World Series MVP Mike Lowell (BOS)

The 2007 Major League Baseball season began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series; the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, which was won by the Mets, 6–1. The regular season concluded with seven teams entering the postseason who had failed to reach the 2006 playoffs including all National League teams, with only the New York Yankees returning; a dramatic one-game playoff between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres; and the largest September collapse for a leading team in baseball history, with the Mets squandering a 7-game lead with 17 to play, losing on the final day of the regular season, and the Philadelphia Phillies capturing the National League East for the first time since 1993. The season ended on October 28, with the Boston Red Sox sweeping the 2007 World Series over the Rockies, four games to none.

A special exhibition game known as the "Civil Rights Game" was played on March 31 in AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians to celebrate the history of civil rights in the United States. The 2007 season commemorates the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's entry into the game, breaking the color barrier.

Major league baseball final standings

American League

AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
(1) Boston Red Sox 96 66 0.593 51–30 45–36
(4) New York Yankees 94 68 0.580 2 52–29 42–39
Toronto Blue Jays 83 79 0.512 13 49–32 34–47
Baltimore Orioles 69 93 0.426 27 35–46 34–47
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 66 96 0.407 30 37–44 29–52
AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
(2) Cleveland Indians 96 66 0.593 51–29 45–37
Detroit Tigers 88 74 0.543 8 45–36 43–38
Minnesota Twins 79 83 0.488 17 41–40 38–43
Chicago White Sox 72 90 0.444 24 38–43 34–47
Kansas City Royals 69 93 0.426 27 35–46 34–47
AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
(3) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 94 68 0.580 54–27 40–41
Seattle Mariners 88 74 0.543 6 49–33 39–41
Oakland Athletics 76 86 0.469 18 40–41 36–45
Texas Rangers 75 87 0.463 19 47–34 28–53

National League

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
(2) Philadelphia Phillies 89 73 0.549 47–34 42–39
New York Mets 88 74 0.543 1 41–40 47–34
Atlanta Braves 84 78 0.519 5 44–37 40–41
Washington Nationals 73 89 0.451 16 40–41 33–48
Florida Marlins 71 91 0.438 18 36–45 35–46
NL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
(3) Chicago Cubs 85 77 0.525 44–37 41–40
Milwaukee Brewers 83 79 0.512 2 51–30 32–49
St. Louis Cardinals 78 84 0.481 7 43–38 35–46
Houston Astros 73 89 0.451 12 42–39 31–50
Cincinnati Reds 72 90 0.444 13 39–42 33–48
Pittsburgh Pirates 68 94 0.420 17 37–44 31–50
NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
(1) Arizona Diamondbacks 90 72 0.556 50–31 40–41
(4) Colorado Rockies 90 73 0.552 ½ 51–31 39–42
San Diego Padres 89 74 0.546 47–34 42–40
Los Angeles Dodgers 82 80 0.506 8 43–38 39–42
San Francisco Giants 71 91 0.438 19 39–42 32–49

The 90 wins by the Diamondbacks and Rockies were the fewest to lead the NL since 1959, with the exception of the strike-shortened seasons of 1981, 1994 and 1995. No NL team won or lost 95 games for the first time since 1983.

Also, this was the second consecutive season in which no team won at least 60% of its games, the first time that this has happened in Major League Baseball history.

Postseason

  Division Series
(ALDS, NLDS)
League Championship Series
(NLCS, ALCS)
World Series
                           
  1  Boston Red Sox 3  
3  Los Angeles Angels 0  
  1  Boston Red Sox 4  
American League
  2  Cleveland Indians 3  
2  Cleveland Indians 3
  4  New York Yankees 1  
    AL  Boston Red Sox 4
  NL  Colorado Rockies 0
  1  Arizona Diamondbacks 3  
3  Chicago Cubs 0  
  1  Arizona Diamondbacks 0
National League
  4  Colorado Rockies 4  
2  Philadelphia Phillies 0
  4  Colorado Rockies 3  

Stats

American League

Batting leaders

Stat Player Total
AVG Magglio Ordóñez (DET) .363
HR Alex Rodriguez (NYY) 54
RBI Alex Rodriguez (NYY) 156
R Alex Rodriguez (NYY) 143
H Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) 238
SB Carl Crawford (TB)
Brian Roberts (BAL)
50

Pitching leaders

Stat Player Total
W Josh Beckett (BOS) 20
L Daniel Cabrera (BAL) 18
ERA John Lackey (LAA) 3.01
SO Scott Kazmir (TB) 239
IP C. C. Sabathia (CLE) 241
SV Joe Borowski (CLE) 45

National League

Batting leaders

Stat Player Total
AVG Matt Holliday (COL) .340
HR Prince Fielder (MIL) 50
RBI Matt Holliday (COL) 137
R Jimmy Rollins (PHI) 139
H Matt Holliday (COL) 216
SB José Reyes (NYM) 78

Pitching leaders

Stat Player Total
W Jake Peavy (SD) 19
L Kip Wells (STL) 17
ERA Jake Peavy (SD) 2.54
SO Jake Peavy (SD) 240
IP Brandon Webb (ARI) 236 13
SV José Valverde (ARI) 47

Accomplishments

Barry Bonds surpasses Hank Aaron

Barry Bonds, left fielder for the San Francisco Giants, surpassed Hank Aaron as the all-time home run leader in Major League Baseball history with his 756th career home run off Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning of their game August 7 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. The 3–2 pitch with one out and nobody on base was hit at 8:51 PM US PDT and according to hittrackeronline.com was estimated to have gone 422 feet. However, the Nationals came back and won the game, 8–6. Through his final home game (and last game of the season) on September 26 and before the postseason Bonds has hit 762 home runs. Five days earlier, the Giants announced that Bonds would end his MLB career, due to ending a relationship of all fourteen seasons.

As for the baseball that was hit for the record, Queens, New York resident and Mets fan Matt Murphy, 22, who survived a near riot while en route to Australia and stopped over to watch the game on a lark, put the ball up for auction online. The winning bidder was fashion designer Marc Ecko, who purchased the baseball for $752,467 (US), and then let fans decide what to do with it in an internet poll by either outright donating the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame unbranded, donating it with an asterisk attached as many people believe Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs (including steroids) to further break the record, or have the baseball sent into outer space. The vote decided that an asterisk would be added, and the ball donated to Cooperstown. In an interview that aired on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann on November 1 and 2, Bonds stated to interviewer Jim Gray that if the ball were to be put on display with the asterisk, he would boycott his own Hall of Fame induction if he were elected.

Other career milestones

Team milestones

Other accomplishments

No-hitters

Three no-hitters were pitched during the 2007 regular season. This is the most in a single season since the three pitched in 2001. All three no-hitters in 2007 were in the American League, which is the most in a single league since the record-tying 1991 season when the two leagues combined for seven no-hitters (4 AL, 3 NL).

Fielding

Hitting

Other accomplishments

All-Star game

On July 10, 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, the American League defeated the National League by a score of 5–4. The victory was the tenth consecutive (excluding the 2002 tie) for the AL, and their eleven-game unbeaten streak matches only the NL's streak from 1972 to 1982 in All-Star history.

Ceremonial games

Jackie Robinson

On April 15, Major League Baseball celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the debut of Jackie Robinson at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, breaking the color barrier. Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. asked Robinson's widow, Rachel, and commissioner Bud Selig for permission to wear Robinson's number 42 in honor of him. He was granted permission, and Selig later said that any player who wanted to wear number 42 on his jersey could. The jersey was worn without the players' name on the back, as was the case when Robinson played with the Brooklyn Dodgers. All jerseys that were worn were auctioned off with all the proceeds donated to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, an organization which awards scholarships to African-American high school graduates to further themselves in colleges academically.

The Dodgers, Cardinals, and Brewers elected to have the entire team wear number 42 in his honor. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Phillies, and Astros were also scheduled to share that honor, but their games were postponed due to rain. The Phillies and Astros honored Robinson on April 23 when they made up their postponed game as originally planned, while the Pirates waited until April 27 to honor Robinson by wearing #42 as a team against the Reds.

Larry Doby

On August 10, the Cleveland Indians paid tribute to Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Every player on the Indians wore number 14, the number Doby wore during his career with the Indians.

Farewells

The Nationals played their final game at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on September 23, beating the Phillies 5–3. The team's new home, Nationals Park, formally opened on March 30, 2008.

Retiring players

Craig Biggio
Biggio joined the 3,000 hit club during the 2007 season, and became the first player to be called out in the same play that they got their 3000th hit. He was tagged out while trying to stretch his hit into a double. He announced his retirement on July 24, about a month after achieving the milestone. He finished his career with 668 doubles, good for 5th all-time at the time he retired. In the penultimate game of his career, on September 29, he was brought in as a catcher, playing the position for the first time in 15 years.
Jeff Conine
Conine, then of the New York Mets, announced his retirement on September 20, right before their last road trip to visit the Florida Marlins. The Marlins, fans of which refer to him as "Mr. Marlin", honored him for his contribution to their two World Series titles in 1997 and 2003. Ironically, losses to the Marlins contributed to the Mets failing to make the playoffs.
Mike Lieberthal
Shawn Green

Awards

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the YearRyan Braun (MIL)Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
Cy Young AwardJake Peavy (SD)CC Sabathia (CLE)
Manager of the YearBob Melvin (ARI)Eric Wedge (CLE)
Most Valuable PlayerJimmy Rollins (PHI)Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
PitcherGreg Maddux (SD)Johan Santana (MIN)
CatcherRussell Martin (LAD)Iván Rodríguez (DET)
1st BaseDerrek Lee (CHC)Kevin Youkilis (BOS)
2nd BaseOrlando Hudson (ARI)Plácido Polanco (DET)
3rd BaseDavid Wright (NYM)Adrián Beltré (SEA)
ShortstopJimmy Rollins (PHI)Orlando Cabrera (LAA)
OutfieldCarlos Beltrán (NYM)
Jeff Francoeur (ATL)
Andruw Jones (ATL)
Aaron Rowand (PHI)
Torii Hunter (MIN)
Grady Sizemore (CLE)
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)
Silver Slugger Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher/Designated HitterMicah Owings (ARI) David Ortiz (BOS)
CatcherRussell Martin (LAD)Jorge Posada (NYY)
1st BasePrince Fielder (MIL)Carlos Peña (TB)
2nd BaseChase Utley (PHI)Plácido Polanco (DET)
3rd BaseDavid Wright (NYM)Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
ShortstopJimmy Rollins (PHI)Derek Jeter (NYY)
OutfieldCarlos Beltrán (NYM)
Matt Holliday (COL)
Carlos Lee (HOU)
Vladimir Guerrero (LAA)
Magglio Ordóñez (DET)
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)

Other awards

Player of the Month

Month American League National League
April Alex Rodriguez José Reyes
May Justin Morneau Prince Fielder
June Alex Rodriguez Alfonso Soriano
July Hideki Matsui Ryan Braun
August Magglio Ordóñez Mark Teixeira
September David Ortiz Matt Holliday

Pitcher of the Month

Month American League National League
April Roy Halladay John Maine
May Dan Haren Jake Peavy
June J. J. Putz Ben Sheets
July Érik Bédard Carlos Zambrano
August Andy Pettitte Jake Peavy
September Fausto Carmona Jake Peavy

Rookie of the Month

Month American League National League
April Hideki Okajima Josh Hamilton
May Dustin Pedroia Hunter Pence
June Brian Bannister Ryan Braun
July Billy Butler Ryan Braun
August Brian Bannister Troy Tulowitzki
September Jacoby Ellsbury James Loney

Apparel

Uniforms

Commemorative patches

Josh Hancock

Josh Hancock, a relief pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, died on April 29 in a car accident outside St. Louis, Missouri. The 29-year-old pitcher was killed within a couple of minutes after impact when the SUV he was driving crashed into a towing vehicle on Interstate 64. This marks the second time in five years that a Cardinals pitcher lost his life before a game, the other being Darryl Kile, who died suddenly on June 22, 2002. The team postponed their game scheduled for later that day against the Chicago Cubs to pay respect to Hancock.

A police report revealed that Hancock was intoxicated at the time of his fatal accident with a blood-alcohol level of 0.157, nearly double the legal limit in Missouri. Police also found 8.55 grams of marijuana along with a glass smoking pipe in his vehicle, although toxicology tests later proved no drugs were in his system except alcohol. In addition, Hancock was talking on a portable cellular telephone when the accident occurred and not wearing a seatbelt. An accident reconstruction team determined that Hancock was driving 68 mph in a 55 mph zone.[12]

Managers

American League

Team Manager Comments
Baltimore Orioles Dave Trembley Sam Perlozzo was fired during the season;
Trembley signed an extension through the 2008 season.
Boston Red Sox Terry Francona
Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillén
Cleveland Indians Eric Wedge
Detroit Tigers Jim Leyland
Kansas City Royals Buddy Bell Announced resignation effective at end of 2007 season;
Trey Hillman named new manager for 2008.
Los Angeles Angels Mike Scioscia
Minnesota Twins Ron Gardenhire
New York Yankees Joe Torre Torre rejected a one-year extension of his contract, which expired at the end of the 2007 season.
Joe Girardi named new manager for 2008.
Oakland Athletics Bob Geren
Seattle Mariners John McLaren Mike Hargrove resigned during the season;
McLaren will return for the 2008 season.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Joe Maddon
Texas Rangers Ron Washington
Toronto Blue Jays John Gibbons

National League

Team Manager Comments
Arizona Diamondbacks Bob Melvin
Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox
Chicago Cubs Lou Piniella
Cincinnati Reds Pete Mackanin Jerry Narron was fired during the season;
Dusty Baker takes over in 2008.
Colorado Rockies Clint Hurdle
Florida Marlins Fredi González
Houston Astros Cecil Cooper Phil Garner was fired during the season;
Cooper will return for the 2008 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers Grady Little Little resigned after the season;
Joe Torre named manager for 2008 on October 30.
Milwaukee Brewers Ned Yost
New York Mets Willie Randolph
Philadelphia Phillies Charlie Manuel
Pittsburgh Pirates Jim Tracy Tracy was fired after the season ended:
John Russell named manager November 5 for 2008 season.
St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa La Russa signed a new two-year contract October 22, through 2009.
San Diego Padres Bud Black
San Francisco Giants Bruce Bochy
Washington Nationals Manny Acta

See also

References

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