Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals (4–3); Frank Viola, MVP
American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP National League Championship Series: Jeffrey Leonard, MVP All-Star Game, July 14 at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum: National League, 2–0 (13 innings); Tim Raines, MVP
Other champions Caribbean World Series: Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico) College World Series: Stanford Japan Series: Seibu Lions over Yomiuri Giants (4–2) Korean Series: Haitai Tigers over Samsung Lions Big League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Junior League World Series: Rowland Heights, California Little League World Series: Hua Lian, Taiwan Pan American Games: Cuba over USA Senior League World Series: Athens, Ohio
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Ray Dandridge Catfish Hunter Billy Williams Most Valuable Player George Bell, Toronto Blue Jays, OF (AL) Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs, OF (NL) Cy Young Award Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox (AL) Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia Phillies (NL) Rookie of the Year Mark McGwire, Oakland Athletics, 1B (AL) Benito Santiago, San Diego Padres, C (NL) Manager of the Year Award Sparky Anderson, Detroit Tigers (AL) Buck Rodgers, Montreal Expos (NL) Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Leslie Leary, Auburn Astros, New York–Penn League Gold Glove Award Don Mattingly (1B) (AL) Frank White (2B) (AL) Gary Gaetti (3B) (AL) Tony Fernández (SS) (AL) Jesse Barfield (OF) (AL) Gary Pettis (OF) (AL) Kirby Puckett (OF) (AL) Bob Boone (C) (AL) Mark Langston (P) (AL) Keith Hernandez (1B) (NL) Ryne Sandberg (2B) (NL) Terry Pendleton (3B) (NL) Ozzie Smith (SS) (NL) Eric Davis (OF) (NL) Andre Dawson (OF) (NL) Tony Gwynn (OF) (NL) Mike LaValliere (C) (NL) Rick Reuschel (P) (NL)
MLB statistical leaders American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat AVG Wade Boggs BOS .363 Tony Gwynn SD .370 HR Mark McGwire OAK 49 Andre Dawson CHC 49 RBI George Bell TOR 134 Andre Dawson CHC 137 Wins Roger Clemens BOS & Dave Stewart OAK 20 Rick Sutcliffe CHC 18 ERA Jimmy Key TOR 2.76 Nolan Ryan HOU 2.76
Major League Baseball final standings
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Detroit Tigers 98 64 .605 -- 2nd Toronto Blue Jays 96 66 .593 2 3rd Milwaukee Brewers 91 71 .562 7 4th New York Yankees 89 73 .549 9 5th Boston Red Sox 78 84 .481 20 6th Baltimore Orioles 67 95 .414 31 7th Cleveland Indians 61 101 .377 37 West Division 1st Minnesota Twins 85 77 .525 -- 2nd Kansas City Royals 83 79 .512 2 3rd Oakland Athletics 81 81 .500 4 4th Seattle Mariners 78 84 .481 7 5th Chicago White Sox 77 85 .475 8 6th California Angels 75 87 .463 10 6th Texas Rangers 75 87 .463 10
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st St. Louis Cardinals 95 67 .586 -- 2nd New York Mets 92 70 .568 3 3rd Montreal Expos 91 71 .562 4 4th Philadelphia Phillies 80 82 .494 15 4th Pittsburgh Pirates 80 82 .494 15 6th Chicago Cubs 76 85 .472 18.5 West Division 1st San Francisco Giants 90 72 .556 -- 2nd Cincinnati Reds 84 78 .519 6 3rd Houston Astros 76 86 .469 14 4th Los Angeles Dodgers 73 89 .451 17 5th Atlanta Braves 69 92 .429 20.5 6th San Diego Padres 65 97 .401 25
Draft
Events
January
January 5 – The New York Yankees acquire pitcher Pete Filson and infielder Randy Velarde from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for pitcher Scott Nielsen and minor-league infielder Mike Soper. January 6 – The second off-season of the collusion era resumes when right-hander Jim Clancy, a 14-game winner, agrees to return to the Toronto Blue Jays and infielder Phil Garner remains a member of the Houston Astros. Both had been part of the free-agent class of November 12, 1986. The signings occur two days before a deadline that will bar free-agent players from negotiating with their 1986 teams until May 1, 1987. January 7 – The Baltimore Orioles sign four-time former American League All-Star shortstop Rick Burleson, 35, granted free agency from the California Angels last November 12. January 8 The Angels re-sign two veteran starting players who had been granted free agency on November 12: third baseman Doug DeCinces and left-fielder Brian Downing. Both players are 36 and return to the defending AL West champions at today's signing deadline. The New York Yankees re-sign two November 12 veteran free agents: pitcher Tommy John, 43, and second baseman Willie Randolph, 32, on "deadline day." John will win 13 games and Randolph will make the All-Star team for the 1987 Yankees. Free-agent and starting catcher Ernie Whitt returns to the Toronto Blue Jays, accepting a "lesser contract" rather than wait until May 1 to re-open negotiations with the team. An "original Blue Jay," Whitt, 34, will start 113 games for Toronto in 1987, his 11th season. The Cincinnati Reds trade starting center-fielder Eddie Milner to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Frank Williams and two minor-league hurlers, Timber Mead and Mike Villa. January 9 The expiration of the "sign, sit out, or split" deadline imposed by the collusion-era CBA leaves these marquee November 12 free agents unable to continue contract talks with their 1986 teams until May 1: Doyle Alexander and Bob Horner (Atlanta Braves); Bob Boone (California Angels); André Dawson and Tim Raines, both future Hall of Famers (Montreal Expos); Rich Gedman (Boston Red Sox); Ron Guidry (New York Yankees); and Lance Parrish (Detroit Tigers). The eight have declined salary arbitration and opted to "test the market"—but have received no offers from teams other than their own. The Minnesota Twins sign relief pitcher Juan Berenguer, who had been unconditionally released by the San Francisco Giants last December 19. Berenguer will win eight of nine decisions and add four saves for the surprising 1987 Twins. January 14 – The Baseball Writers' Association of America elects outfielder Billy Williams (354 votes) and pitcher Catfish Hunter (315) to the Hall of Fame. January 19 – The St. Louis Cardinals sign veteran left-handers Ken Dayley and Dave LaPoint; the Redbirds had unconditionally released Dayley on December 17; former Cardinal LaPoint had been released by the San Diego Padres on December 18. January 20 Left-hander Vida Blue returns to the site of his brilliant early career when the Oakland Athletics sign him as a free agent. Now 37, he had been granted freedom to test the market on November 12, 1986, after spending the past two seasons with the cross-bay San Francisco Giants. With Oakland, Blue had dazzled baseball with his breakthrough season (24–8, 1.72), and the 1971 American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Awards; he then posted two other 20-win seasons through , and won three World Series rings. However, one month from today, Blue will abruptly retire from the game. The Milwaukee Brewers obtain outfielder Brad Komminsk from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Dion James. January 23 – Peter Bavasi steps down as president of the Cleveland Indians, months after the franchise's most successful season, on- and off- the field, since . Bavasi, 44, spent two seasons as the Indians' chief executive and, despite 1986's results, proved to be an unpopular figure among fans and media. January 30 – The Chicago Cubs trade third baseman Ron Cey to the Oakland Athletics for infielder Luis Quiñones.
February
February 2 – The Toronto Blue Jays trade second baseman Dámaso García and pitcher Luis Leal to the Atlanta Braves for right-hander Craig McMurtry. García, 29, is a two-time former American League All-Star but a knee injury will sideline him for the entire 1987 season. February 3 – The Minnesota Twins acquire ace closer Jeff Reardon and catcher Tom Nieto from the Montreal Expos for pitchers Neal Heaton, Yorkis Pérez and Al Cardwood and catcher Jeff Reed. Reardon will win eight games and save 31 others for the 1987 Twins. February 4 – Lefty Atlee Hammaker, who missed the entire 1986 season with his second rotator cuff surgery, returns to the San Francisco Giants as a free agent. The former All-Star and National League ERA king, 29, will win ten games for the 1987 Giants. February 5 – The Giants add another southpaw, Joe Price, granted free agency from the Cincinnati Reds on November 12. February 6 – The Cleveland Indians sign catcher Rick Dempsey, 37, granted free agency from the Baltimore Orioles, also last November 12, after 11 seasons in Baltimore. February 12 – The Orioles sign third baseman and reigning World Series MVP Ray Knight, granted free agency from the New York Mets as part of the "Class of 1986". He reportedly signs for $600,000—which is $200,000 less than what the Mets had offered him before free agency. February 13 The Houston Astros sign left-hander Juan Agosto, unconditionally released by the Minnesota Twins last December 20. Catcher Rick Cerone returns to the New York Yankees after a two-year absence; he had been granted free agency from the Milwaukee Brewers on November 12. February 16 – The Montreal Expos sign right-hander Pascual Pérez as a free agent. He had sat out last season after his April 1, 1986, release from the Atlanta Braves. Known for unpredictable behavior and struggles with drug addiction, Pérez will be recalled from Triple-A on August 22 and pitch brilliantly for the Expos, posting a 7–0 (2.30) record in ten starts through season's end. February 17 – The Cincinnati Reds obtain left-hander Guy Hoffman from the Chicago Cubs for infielder Wade Rowdon. February 20 The Major League Baseball Players Association files a new grievance—soon to be dubbed "Collusion II"—contending that the 26 MLB owners are acting in concert to hinder the bargaining power of the free-agent "Class of 1986," reducing salary and contract term offers, and restricting their ability to change teams. A previous grievance focusing on November 1985's free agents was filed one year ago. The Minnesota Twins acquire utility infielder Al Newman from the Montreal Expos for minor-league pitcher Mike Shade. Newman will win two World Series rings (, ) as a Twin. February 23 – On the third day of spring training workouts in Fort Myers, Florida, Dick Howser resigns as manager of the Kansas City Royals. Battling brain cancer, Howser underwent surgeries in July and December 1986 with the goal of returning to the Royals' bench, but extreme fatigue takes its toll. Billy Gardner, former Minnesota Twins skipper, succeeds him. Howser will undergo brain surgery a third time in March; he succumbs at 51 on June 17. (See Deaths, below.) February 24 – Darrell Evans, who led the Detroit Tigers with 29 homers in 1986 before being released on December 20, agrees to return to the Tigers on an estimated $525,000 contract—a 33% pay cut."Darrell Evans (Salaries)." Baseball Reference. With collusion now an open secret, the 39-year-old veteran reportedly had no other teams interested in signing him. February 25 Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth suspends San Diego Padres pitcher LaMarr Hoyt for the full 1987 season. Hoyt had been arrested on drug possession charges three times during 1986, and was sentenced to 45 days in jail on December 16. An arbitrator will cut Hoyt's suspension to sixty days on June 16 and order the Padres to reinstate him; the team, however, will release him unconditionally the next day. Hoyt will face a new drug possession charge in his native South Carolina in December 1987. Strikeout-prone slugger Steve Balboni agrees to return to the Kansas City Royals for a reported 20% pay increase."Steve Balboni (Salaries)." Baseball Reference. Balboni, a free agent, had been released by the Royals on December 22. February 27 – Right-hander Bryn Smith, who slipped from 18 wins in to ten last season, then was released by the Montreal Expos on December 20, signs a free agent contract to return to the club for 1987. He takes a 33% pay cut."Bryn Smith (Salaries)." Baseball Reference.
March