2004 Major League Baseball season

The 2004 Major League Baseball season ended when the Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game World Series sweep. The Red Sox championship ended an 86-year-long drought known as the Curse of the Bambino. The Red Sox were also the first team in MLB history and the third team from a major North American professional sports league ever to come back from a 3–0 postseason series deficit and win. This happened in the ALCS against the New York Yankees.

The Montreal Expos would play their last season in Montreal, before relocating to Washington DC, becoming the Washington Nationals in 2005.

Statistical leaders Statistic American League National League AVG Ichiro Suzuki SEA .372 Barry Bonds SF .362 HR Manny Ramírez BOS 43 Adrián Beltré LAD 48 RBI Miguel Tejada BAL 150 Vinny Castilla COL 131 Wins Curt Schilling BOS 21 Roy Oswalt HOU 20 ERA Johan Santana MIN 2.61 Jake Peavy SD 2.27 SO Johan Santana MIN 265 Randy Johnson AZ 290 SV Mariano Rivera NYY 53 Armando Benítez FLAJason Isringhausen STL 47 SB Carl Crawford TB 59 Scott Podsednik MIL 70

Standings

American League

National League

Postseason

2004 was the last postseason until 2020 where both LCS went to 7 games.

Bracket

Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.

Managers

American League Team Manager CommentsAnaheim AngelsMike SciosciaBaltimore OriolesLee MazzilliBoston Red SoxTerry FranconaWon the World SeriesChicago White SoxOzzie GuillénCleveland IndiansEric WedgeDetroit TigersAlan TrammellKansas City RoyalsTony PeñaMinnesota TwinsRon GardenhireNew York YankeesJoe TorreOakland AthleticsKen MachaSeattle MarinersBob MelvinTampa Bay Devil RaysLou PiniellaTexas RangersBuck ShowalterToronto Blue JaysJohn Gibbons

National League Team Manager CommentsArizona DiamondbacksBob BrenlyReplaced during the season by Al PedriqueAtlanta BravesBobby CoxChicago CubsDusty BakerCincinnati RedsDave MileyColorado RockiesClint HurdleFlorida MarlinsJack McKeonHouston Astros±Jimy WilliamsReplaced during the season by Phil GarnerLos Angeles DodgersJim TracyMilwaukee BrewersNed YostMontreal ExposFrank RobinsonNew York MetsArt HowePhiladelphia PhilliesLarry BowaPittsburgh PiratesLloyd McClendonSt. Louis CardinalsTony La RussaWon the National League pennantSan Diego PadresBruce BochySan Francisco GiantsFelipe Alou ±hosted the MLB All Star Game

Milestones Batters Ken Griffey Jr. (CIN): Became the 20th player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 20. Barry Bonds (SF): Became the third player in Major League history to hit 700 home runs in the third inning against the San Diego Padres on September 17. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): Broke the Major League record for single-season hits with 262 hits, breaking George Sisler's 84-year-old record of 257.

Pitchers Perfect games

Randy Johnson (AZ): Pitched the 17th perfect game in Major League history and the first in franchise history on May 18 against the Atlanta Braves. Johnson threw 117 pitches and struck out thirteen in the 2–0 victory.

Other pitching accomplishments Randy Johnson (AZ): Became the fourth member of the 4,000 strikeout club by striking out Jeff Cirillo of the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning on June 29. Greg Maddux (CHC): Became the 22nd member of the 300-win club, defeating the San Francisco Giants on August 7, winning 8–4. Jeff Weaver (LAD): Tied a Major League record by becoming the seventh pitcher to hit three consecutive batters by pitch, the first since , in a game against the Atlanta Braves on August 21.

Miscellaneous There were a total of 80 walk-off home runs, which was then the MLB single-season record until .

Awards

Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the YearJason Bay (PIT)Bobby Crosby (OAK)Cy Young AwardRoger Clemens (HOU)Johan Santana (MIN)Manager of the YearBobby Cox (ATL)Buck Showalter (TEX)Most Valuable PlayerBarry Bonds (SF)Vladimir Guerrero (ANA)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcherGreg Maddux (CHC)Kenny Rogers (TEX)CatcherMike Matheny (STL)Iván Rodríguez (DET)1st BaseTodd Helton (COL)Darin Erstad (ANA)2nd BaseLuis Castillo (FLA)Bret Boone (SEA)3rd BaseScott Rolen (STL)Eric Chavez (OAK)ShortstopCesar Izturis (LAD)Derek Jeter (NYY)OutfieldAndruw Jones (ATL)Jim Edmonds (STL)Steve Finley (AZ/LAD)Torii Hunter (MIN)Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)Vernon Wells (TOR)Silver Slugger AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcher/Designated HitterLiván Hernández (MON) David Ortiz (BOS)CatcherJohnny Estrada (ATL)Víctor Martínez (CLE)Iván Rodríguez (DET)1st BaseAlbert Pujols (STL)Mark Teixeira (TEX)2nd BaseMark Loretta (SD)Alfonso Soriano (TEX)3rd BaseAdrián Beltré (LAD)Melvin Mora (BAL)ShortstopJack Wilson (PIT)Miguel Tejada (BAL)OutfieldBobby Abreu (PHI)Barry Bonds (SF)Jim Edmonds (STL)Vladimir Guerrero (ANA)Manny Ramirez (BOS)Gary Sheffield (NYY)

Other awards Edgar Martínez Award (Best designated hitter): David Ortiz (BOS) Hank Aaron Award: Manny Ramirez (BOS, American); Barry Bonds (SF, National). Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Edgar Martínez (SEA). Rolaids Relief Man Award: Mariano Rivera (NYY, American); Éric Gagné (LAD, National). Warren Spahn Award (Best left-handed pitcher): Johan Santana (MIN)

Player of the Month Month American League National League April Carlos Beltrán Barry Bonds May Melvin Mora Lance Berkman June Iván Rodríguez Jim Thome July Mark Teixeira Jim Edmonds August Ichiro Suzuki Barry Bonds September Vladimir Guerrero Adrián Beltré

Pitcher of the Month Month American League National League April Kevin Brown Roger Clemens May Mark Buehrle Jason Schmidt June Mark Mulder Carl Pavano July Johan Santana Russ Ortiz August Johan Santana Jake Peavy September Johan Santana Carlos Zambrano

Rookie of the Month Month American League National League April Gerald Laird Khalil Greene May Kevin Youkilis Terrmel Sledge June Bobby Crosby Jason Bay July Robb Quinlan Jason Bay August Frank Francisco Khalil Greene September Ross Gload Jason Bay

Home field attendance and payroll Team nameWinsHome attendanceEst. payrollNew York Yankees1010.0%3,775,2928.9%46,609$184,193,95020.6%Los Angeles Dodgers939.4%3,488,28311.1%43,065$92,902,001 −12.3%Anaheim Angels9219.5%3,375,67710.3%41,675$100,534,66727.2%San Francisco Giants91 −9.0%3,256,854 −0.2%39,718$82,019,166 −1.0%Philadelphia Phillies860.0%3,250,09243.8%40,125$93,219,16731.7%Chicago Cubs891.1%3,170,1547.0%38,660$90,560,00013.4%Houston Astros925.7%3,087,87225.8%38,122$75,397,0006.1%St. Louis Cardinals10523.5%3,048,4274.7%37,635$84,340,3330.7%San Diego Padres8735.9%3,016,75248.6%37,244$55,384,83322.5%Seattle Mariners63 −32.3%2,940,731 −10.0%35,863$81,515,834 −6.3%Boston Red Sox983.2%2,837,2944.2%35,028$127,298,50027.4%Baltimore Orioles789.9%2,744,01811.8%33,877$51,623,333 −30.1%Arizona Diamondbacks51 −39.3%2,519,560 −10.2%31,106$69,780,750 −13.5%Texas Rangers8925.4%2,513,68520.0%31,033$55,050,417 −46.8%Colorado Rockies68 −8.1%2,338,0690.2%28,865$65,445,167 −2.6%Atlanta Braves96 −5.0%2,327,565 −3.1%28,735$90,182,500 −15.1%New York Mets717.6%2,318,9518.3%28,629$102,035,970 −12.9%Cincinnati Reds7610.1%2,287,250 −2.9%28,238$46,915,250 −21.0%Oakland Athletics91 −5.2%2,201,516 −0.7%27,179$59,425,66718.2%Milwaukee Brewers67 −1.5%2,062,38221.3%25,462$27,528,500 −32.2%Chicago White Sox83 −3.5%1,930,537 −0.5%23,834$65,212,50027.8%Detroit Tigers7267.4%1,917,00440.1%23,667$46,832,000 −4.8%Minnesota Twins922.2%1,911,490 −1.8%23,599$53,890,000 −2.9%Toronto Blue Jays67 −22.1%1,900,0415.6%23,457$50,017,000 −2.4%Cleveland Indians8017.6%1,814,4014.9%22,400$34,319,300 −29.4%Florida Marlins83 −8.8%1,723,10532.2%21,539$42,143,042 −14.8%Kansas City Royals58 −30.1%1,661,478 −6.7%20,768$47,609,00017.5%Pittsburgh Pirates72 −4.0%1,580,031 −3.5%19,750$32,227,929 −41.2%Tampa Bay Devil Rays7011.1%1,274,91120.4%15,936$29,856,66752.1%Montreal Expos67 −19.3%749,550 −26.9%9,369$41,197,500 −20.7%

Television coverage This was the fourth season that national television coverage was split between ESPN and Fox Sports. ESPN and ESPN2 aired selected weeknight and Sunday night games, and selected Division Series playoff games. Fox televised Saturday baseball, the All-Star Game, selected Division Series games, both League Championship Series, and the World Series.

See also 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball season

References

External links 2004 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference