2006 Major League Baseball season

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.

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 – October 27, 2006
Draft
Top draft pick	Luke Hochevar
Picked by	Kansas City Royals
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)

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 1½ 44–37 38–43 Cincinnati Reds 80 82 0.494 3½ 42–39 38–43 Milwaukee Brewers 75 87 0.463 8½ 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 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

Bracket

	Division Series (ALDS, NLDS)					League Championship Series (NLCS, ALCS)					World Series
	1	NY Yankees	1
	4	Detroit	3
						4	Detroit	4
	American League
						3	Oakland	0
	2	Minnesota	0
	3	Oakland	3
											AL4	Detroit	1
											NL3	St. Louis	4
	1	NY Mets	3
	4	Brooklyn Dodgers	0
						1	NY Mets	3
	National League
						3	St. Louis	4
	2	San Diego	1
	3	St. Louis	3

• Postseason MVPs
  • World Series MVP – David Eckstein
  • ALCS MVP – Plácido Polanco
  • NLCS MVP – Jeff Suppan

All-Star game

• All-Star Game, July 11 at PNC Park – American League, 3–2; Michael Young, MVP
  • Century 21 Home Run Derby, July 10 – Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

Awards

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award	National League	American League
Rookie of the Year	Hanley Ramírez (FLA)	Justin Verlander (DET)
Cy Young Award	Brandon Webb (ARI)	Johan Santana (MIN)
Manager of the Year	Joe Girardi (FLA)	Jim Leyland (DET)
Most Valuable Player	Ryan Howard (PHI)	Justin Morneau (MIN)
Gold Glove Awards
Position	National League	American League
Pitcher	Greg Maddux (CHC/LAD)	Kenny Rogers (DET)
Catcher	Brad Ausmus (HOU)	Iván Rodríguez (DET)
1st Base	Albert Pujols (STL)	Mark Teixeira (TEX)
2nd Base	Orlando Hudson (ARI)	Mark Grudzielanek (KC)
3rd Base	Scott Rolen (STL)	Eric Chavez (OAK)
Shortstop	Omar Vizquel (SF)	Derek Jeter (NYY)
Outfield	Carlos Beltrán (NYM) Mike Cameron (SD) Andruw Jones (ATL)	Torii Hunter (MIN) Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) Vernon Wells (TOR)
Silver Slugger Awards
Position	National League	American League
Pitcher/Designated Hitter	Carlos Zambrano (CHC)	David Ortiz (BOS)
Catcher	Brian McCann (ATL)	Joe Mauer (MIN)
1st Base	Ryan Howard (PHI)	Justin Morneau (MIN)
2nd Base	Chase Utley (PHI)	Robinson Canó (NYY)
3rd Base	Miguel Cabrera (FLA)	Joe Crede (CHW)
Shortstop	José Reyes (NYM)	Derek Jeter (NYY)
Outfield	Carlos Beltrán (NYM) Matt Holliday (COL) Alfonso Soriano (WSH)	Jermaine Dye (CHW) Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) Manny Ramirez (BOS)

Other awards

• Comeback Players of the Year: Jim Thome (Designated hitter, CHW, American); Nomar Garciaparra (First baseman, LAD, National).
• Hank Aaron Award: Derek Jeter (NYY, American); Ryan Howard (PHI, National).
• Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Carlos Delgado (NYM).
• Rolaids Relief Man Award: Francisco Rodríguez (LAA, American); Trevor Hoffman (SD, National).
• Delivery Man of the Year (Best Reliever): Mariano Rivera (NYY).

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

Statistic	American League		National League
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

• Reggie Sanders — June 10
• Steve Finley — June 14

Home Runs

The following players reached major home run milestones in 2006:

Barry Bonds' countdown to 715

• May 21 — reached 714 career homers, tying Babe Ruth for second all time
• May 28 — reached 715 career homers, passing Ruth for second all time

400 career homers

• Mike Piazza — April 26
• Carlos Delgado — August 22

300 career homers

• Jeromy Burnitz — April 4
• Moisés Alou — April 13
• Reggie Sanders — June 10 (also joining the 300–300 club)
• Steve Finley — June 14 (also joining the 300–300 club)

200 career homers

• Jeff Conine — April 16
• Magglio Ordóñez — April 29
• Eric Chavez — May 2
• Jermaine Dye — May 14
• Carlos Lee — May 24
• Phil Nevin — June 19
• Lance Berkman — June 21
• Carl Everett — June 21
• Nomar Garciaparra — June 25
• David Ortiz — June 29
• Alfonso Soriano — August 13
• Bobby Abreu — August 22
• Carlos Beltrán — August 26

Entry into the top 500

• Trot Nixon on April 5 with his 126th career homer
• Jason Varitek on June 13 with his 126th career homer
• Vernon Wells on June 14 with his 126th career homer
• Aubrey Huff on July 1 with his 126th career homer
• Raúl Ibañez on July 15 with his 126th career homer
• Mark Teixeira on August 19 with his 127th career homer

Pitching

• Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres broke Lee Smith's record of 478 Saves on September 24, 2006 at Petco Park.

Hitting

• Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals become only the fourth player to join the 40–40 Club, joining José Canseco, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez when he stole his 40th base of the season on September 16. Six days later he became the first person ever to reach 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 40 doubles in one season.

Other achievements

• Matt Holliday hit the longest home run of the season in MLB against the San Francisco Giants on September 19 with an official distance of 443 feet (135 m); HitTracker estimated it at 496 feet (151 m).[1]

Events

• April 3 – The Florida Marlins set a modern major-league record by starting six rookies in their opening day 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros.[2]

See also

• 2006 Nippon Professional Baseball season

References

1. Beinhoff, Drew (September 20, 2006). "You gotta love Matt Holliday". Real Clear Sports. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
2. "Charlton's Baseball Chronology". www.baseballlibrary.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2013.

External links

• 2006 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference

See also

2006 in baseball