For the second time in the nation's history, a president's son followed in his father's footsteps as George W. Bush (Jr.) was sworn in as the United State's 43rd leader.
On September 11 the world changed forever as two hijacked airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center's twin towers and a third airplane hit the Pentagon in Washington DC. A fourth plane was brought down before reaching its intended target by a heroic group of passengers in a field in western Pennsylvania. In the end, over 3,300 innocent people were killed and the United States along with a collalition of over sixty countries declared war on terrorism.
The New York Yankees weren't the only baseball team from the Bronx that played well in 2001, only to come up short in the end. The Little League team from the South Bronx stole the show at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but was later disqualified after it was discovered that star pitcher Danny Almonte was actually a fifteen year-old ringer.
Baltimore Orioles icon "Iron Man" Cal Ripken re-enacted the final scene from "The Natural" with a dramatic home run blast in the third inning off of Chan Ho Park during his final All-Star Game appearance.
Despite losing three of their greatest players (Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez) the resilient Seattle Mariners set the record for most wins in a season for an American League club, bettering the mark of one-hundred fourteen set by the already legendary 1998 Yankees. Japanese sensation Ichiro Suzuki sweetens the deal by winning Rookie of the Year as well as the Most Valuable Player.
The New York Yankees' Mike Mussina comes within one batter of perfection, but Carl Everett's two-out, ninth-inning single spoiled the Moose's bid for a perfect game. In the end, the right-handed veteran finished with a one-hitter and the Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox at Fenway.
A new era of baseball in Pittsburgh began with the opening of PNC Park resembling the classic stadiums of old. The park served as the fifth home for the Buccos replacing Three Rivers Stadium, which had replaced the sacred grounds at Forbes Field. Unfortunately, Pirate legend Willie Stargell died the evening before its Opening Day casting a dark shadow over the debut festivities.
Barry Bonds of the Giants broke St. Louis Cardinals' slugger Mark McGwire's single-season home run record. Before an ecstatic throng at San Francisco's Pac Bell Park, the Hall-of-Fame-bound outfielder took Chan Ho Park deep for No. 71. He would later go on to reset the record at seventy-three.
In one of the most exciting editions of the World Series, the adolescent Arizona Diamondbacks beat the 3x defending champion New York Yankees after Luis Gonzalez lined a Series-winning single off closer Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 7.
Major League Baseball rose to the occasion as part of the post 9/11 healing process. After taking center stage with patriotic tributes throughout the remainder of the regular season, the national pastime returned to the Big Apple to host the World Series. With the city's emotions running high and the American flag pulled from the wreckage of the World Trade Center flying overhead, President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch symbolizing the unwavering strength of America.
The 1-2 pitching combination of Arizona Diamondbacks Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson results in the first World Series Co-Most Valuable Players.
The 2001 season ended bittersweet as fans say goodbye to two future hall-of-famers in Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres and Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles.
The Baseball Hall of Fame congratulated its newest inductees including Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield, Hilton Smith and Bill Mazeroski (who finally opened the door for defensive players).
"People will come out to see great players, but you know you're looking at a very special player when they come out like this just to watch him (Mark McGwire) take batting practice." - Dave Parker
2001 National League Player ReviewHitting Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Name | Team | # | Top 25 |
Base on Balls | Barry Bonds | San Francisco | 177 | Top 25 |
Batting Average | Larry Walker | Colorado | .350 | Top 25 |
Doubles | Lance Berkman | Houston | 55 | Top 25 |
Hits | Rich Aurilia | San Francisco | 206 | Top 25 |
Home Runs | Barry Bonds | San Francisco | 73 | Top 25 |
On Base Percentage | Barry Bonds | San Francisco | .515 | Top 25 |
RBI | Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 160 | Top 25 |
Runs | Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 146 | Top 25 |
Slugging Average | Barry Bonds | San Francisco | .863 | Top 25 |
Stolen Bases | Juan Pierre | Colorado | 46 | Top 25 |
Jimmy Rollins | Philadelphia | |||
Total Bases | Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 425 | Top 25 |
Triples | Jimmy Rollins | Philadelphia | 12 | Top 25 |
Statistic | Name | Team | # | Top 25 |
2001 National League Pitcher ReviewPitching Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Name | Team | # | Top 25 |
Complete Games | Curt Schilling | Arizona | 6 | Top 25 |
ERA | Randy Johnson | Arizona | 2.49 | Top 25 |
Games | Steve Kline | St. Louis | 89 | Top 25 |
Saves | Robb Nen | San Francisco | 45 | Top 25 |
Shutouts | Greg Maddux | Atlanta | 3 | Top 25 |
Javier Vazquez | Montreal | |||
Strikeouts | Randy Johnson | Arizona | 372 | Top 25 |
Winning Percentage | Roy Oswalt | Houston | .824 | Top 25 |
Wins | Curt Schilling | Arizona | 22 | Top 25 |
Matt Morris | St. Louis | |||
Statistic | Name | Team | # | Top 25 |
2001 National LeagueTeam Standings |
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East | Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB | Payroll |
Atlanta Braves | 88 | 74 | .543 | 0 | $91,851,587 | |
Philadelphia Phillies | 86 | 76 | .531 | 2 | $41,664,167 | |
New York Mets | 82 | 80 | .506 | 6 | $93,174,428 | |
Florida Marlins | 76 | 86 | .469 | 12 | $35,504,167 | |
Montreal Expos | 68 | 94 | .420 | 20 | $34,774,500 | |
Central | Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB | Payroll |
Houston Astros | 93 | 69 | .574 | 0 | $60,382,667 | |
St. Louis Cardinals | 93 | 69 | .574 | 0 | $77,270,855 | |
Chicago Cubs | 88 | 74 | .543 | 5 | $64,015,833 | |
Milwaukee Brewers | 68 | 94 | .420 | 25 | $43,089,333 | |
Cincinnati Reds | 66 | 96 | .407 | 27 | $45,227,882 | |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 62 | 100 | .383 | 31 | $52,698,333 | |
West | Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB | Payroll |
Arizona Diamondbacks | 92 | 70 | .568 | 0 | $81,206,513 | |
San Francisco Giants | 90 | 72 | .556 | 2 | $63,332,667 | |
Los Angeles Dodgers | 86 | 76 | .531 | 6 | $108,980,952 | |
San Diego Padres | 79 | 83 | .488 | 13 | $38,333,117 | |
Colorado Rockies | 73 | 89 | .451 | 19 | $71,068,000 | |
National League Team Standings |
2001 National League Team ReviewHitting Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Team | # |
Base on Balls | San Diego | 678 |
Batting Average | Colorado | .292 |
Doubles | Florida | 325 |
Hits | Colorado | 1,663 |
Home Runs | San Francisco | 235 |
On Base Percentage | Colorado | .354 |
Runs | Colorado | 923 |
Slugging Average | Colorado | .483 |
Stolen Bases | Philadelphia | 153 |
Triples | Colorado | 61 |
2001 National League Team ReviewPitching Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Team | # |
Complete Games | Arizona | 12 |
ERA | Atlanta | 3.59 |
Fewest Hits Allowed | Arizona | 1,352 |
Fewest Home Runs Allowed | San Francisco | 145 |
Fewest Walks Allowed | New York | 438 |
Saves | Houston | 48 |
New York | ||
Shutouts | New York | 14 |
Strikeouts | Chicago | 1,344 |
Seasonal Events: All-Star Game | All-Star Game | All-Star Game | World Series Navigation: Year in Review Menu | Previous Season | Next Season Miscellaneous: A.L. Leaderboard Retirements | Rookies List Average Salary: $2,654,403.00 Minimum Salary: $200,000.00 |
The Chicago Cubs began playing National League baseball in 1876 and this particular pitching staff set the franchise record for most strikeouts during a single season with 1,344.
On October 4, 1999, the Cincinnati Reds were shutout 5-to-0 by the New York Mets in a one game playoff that cost them a postseason berth. The Reds were not shutout again, for a National League record 208 games, until May 24, 2001 when the Chicago Cubs beat them 3-to-0 behind a 1 hit / 1 walk Jon Leiber gem.
Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants had one of the most amazing seasons by any player in Major League history and Baseball Almanac is pleased to list a handful of his accomplishments in 2001: On April 17, 2001, Bonds joined the 500 Home Runs Club and set new single season records for fastest to reach 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 home runs before breaking the all-time single season mark. Bonds also broke Babe Ruth's record for slugging percentage in a season, Roger Maris' record for home runs in a season by a left-handed hitter, and at his age became the oldest player to reach 50, 60, and 70 as well as the oldest player to lead the Major Leagues in home runs.