The sport of baseball—given its definitive form in the United States in the late 19th century—is popular throughout the world, though until 2006 it was organized internationally only for Little League players (children ages 5-18). Little League Baseball was founded in Pennsylvania in 1939. The first Little League World Series was in 1947, and the first Little League outside the US was organized in British Columbia in 1951. Baseball is especially popular in Japan and Latin America; it is also one of the national sports of the US.
On a professional level, the premier event of baseball in the Us is the World Series of Major League Baseball, in which the first team to win four games wins the Series. In fact, the Series is not contested on an international level, but rather it is played between the leading team of the National League (NL; formed 1876) and the leading team of the American League (AL; formed 1900 and including, from 1977, one Canadian team). In 2006 the inaugural World Baseball Classic, a competition featuring national teams, was held in Japan, Puerto Rico, and the US. The team from Japan beat Cuba’s team in the finals. The second competition is scheduled for early 2009.
Professional baseball began in Japan in 1936. Teams are organized into two leagues of six teams each. The seven-game Japan Series, first played in 1950, is contested between the leading team of the Central League (CL) and the leading team of the Pacific League (PL). The modern Caribbean Series began in 1970 with the winning team from each league in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
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American League |
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East Division |
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Central Division |
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West Division |
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GAMES |
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GAMES |
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GAMES |
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CLUB |
WON |
LOST |
BACK |
CLUB |
WON |
LOST |
BACK |
CLUB |
WON |
LOST |
BACK |
|
Boston1 |
96 |
66 |
- |
Cleveland1 |
96 |
66 |
- |
Los Angeles1 |
94 |
68 |
- |
|
New York1 |
94 |
68 |
2 |
Detroit |
88 |
74 |
8 |
Seattle |
88 |
74 |
6 |
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Toronto |
83 |
79 |
13 |
Minnesota |
79 |
83 |
17 |
Oakland |
76 |
86 |
18 |
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Baltimore |
69 |
93 |
27 |
Chicago |
72 |
90 |
24 |
Texas |
75 |
87 |
19 |
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Tampa Bay |
66 |
96 |
30 |
Kansas City |
69 |
93 |
27 |
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National League |
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East Division |
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Central Division |
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West Division |
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GAMES |
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GAMES |
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GAMES |
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CLUB |
WON |
LOST |
BACK |
CLUB |
WON |
LOST |
BACK |
CLUB |
WON |
LOST |
BACK |
|
Philadelphia1 |
89 |
73 |
- |
Chicago1 |
85 |
77 |
- |
Arizona1 |
90 |
72 |
- |
|
New York |
88 |
74 |
1 |
Milwaukee |
83 |
79 |
2 |
Colorado1 |
90 |
73 |
% |
|
Atlanta |
84 |
78 |
5 |
St. Louis |
78 |
84 |
7 |
San Diego |
89 |
74 |
1% |
|
Washington |
73 |
89 |
16 |
Houston |
73 |
89 |
12 |
Los Angeles |
82 |
80 |
8 |
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Florida |
71 |
91 |
18 |
Cincinnati |
72 |
90 |
13 |
San Francisco |
71 |
91 |
19 |
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Pittsburgh |
68 |
94 |
17 |
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World Series
|
YEAR |
WINNING TEAM |
LOSING TEAM |
RESULTS |
|
1903 |
Boston Americans (AL) |
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) |
5-3 |
|
1904 |
not held |
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1905 |
New York Giants (NL) |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
4-1 |
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1906 |
Chicago White Sox (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-2 |
|
1907 |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
4-01 |
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1908 |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
4-1 |
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1909 |
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
4-3 |
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1910 |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-1 |
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1911 |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-2 |
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1912 |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-31 |
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1913 |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-1 |
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1914 |
Boston Braves (NL) |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
4-0 |
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1915 |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
Philadelphia Phillies (NL) |
4-1 |
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1916 |
Boston Red Sox (al) |
Brooklyn Robins (NL) |
4-1 |
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1917 |
Chicago White Sox (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-2 |
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1918 |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-2 |
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1919 |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
Chicago White Sox (AL) |
5-3 |
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1920 |
Cleveland Indians (Al) |
Brooklyn Robins (NL) |
5-2 |
|
1921 |
New York Giants (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
5-3 |
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1922 |
New York Giants (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-01 |
|
1923 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-2 |
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1924 |
Washington Senators (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-3 |
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1925 |
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) |
Washington Senators (AL) |
4-3 |
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1926 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-3 |
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1927 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Pittsburgh Pirates (Nl) |
4-0 |
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1928 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-0 |
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1929 |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-1 |
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1930 |
Philadelphia Athletics (al) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-2 |
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1931 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
Philadelphia Athletics (AL) |
4-3 |
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1932 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-0 |
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1933 |
New York Giants (NL) |
Washington Senators (AL) |
4-1 |
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1934 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
4-3 |
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1935 |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-2 |
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1936 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-2 |
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1937 |
New York Yankees (al) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-1 |
|
1938 |
New York Yankees (al) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-0 |
|
1939 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
4-0 |
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1940 |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
4-3 |
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1941 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
4-1 |
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1942 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-1 |
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1943 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-1 |
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YEAR |
WINNING TEAM |
LOSING TEAM |
RESULTS |
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1944 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
St. Louis Browns (AL) |
4-2 |
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1945 |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
Chicago Cubs (NL) |
4-3 |
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1946 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
4-3 |
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1947 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
4-3 |
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1948 |
Cleveland Indians (AL) |
Boston Braves (NL) |
4-2 |
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1949 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
4-1 |
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1950 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Philadelphia Phillies (NL) |
4-0 |
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1951 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
New York Giants (NL) |
4-2 |
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1952 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
4-3 |
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1953 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
4-2 |
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1954 |
New York Giants (NL) |
Cleveland Indians (AL) |
4-0 |
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1955 |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-3 |
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1956 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) |
4-3 |
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1957 |
Milwaukee Braves (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-3 |
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1958 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Milwaukee Braves (NL) |
4-3 |
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1959 |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
Chicago White Sox (AL) |
4-2 |
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1960 |
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-3 |
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1961 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
4-1 |
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1962 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
San Francisco Giants (NL) |
4-3 |
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1963 |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-0 |
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1964 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-3 |
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1965 |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
Minnesota Twins (AL) |
4-3 |
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1966 |
Baltimore Orioles (AL) |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
4-0 |
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1967 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
4-3 |
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1968 |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-3 |
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1969 |
New York Mets (NL) |
Baltimore Orioles (AL) |
4-1 |
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1970 |
Baltimore Orioles (AL) |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
4-1 |
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1971 |
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) |
Baltimore Orioles (AL) |
4-3 |
|
1972 |
Oakland Athletics (AL) |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
4-3 |
|
1973 |
Oakland Athletics (AL) |
New York Mets (NL) |
4-3 |
|
1974 |
Oakland Athletics (AL) |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
4-1 |
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1975 |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
4-3 |
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1976 |
Cincinnati Reds (nl) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-0 |
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1977 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
4-2 |
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1978 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
4-2 |
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1979 |
Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) |
Baltimore Orioles (AL) |
4-3 |
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1980 |
Philadelphia Phillies (NL) |
Kansas City Royals (AL) |
4-2 |
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1981 |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-2 |
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1982 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
Milwaukee Brewers (AL) |
4-3 |
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1983 |
Baltimore Orioles (AL) |
Philadelphia Phillies (NL) |
4-1 |
|
1984 |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
San Diego Padres (NL) |
4-1 |
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1985 |
Kansas City Royals (AL) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-3 |
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1986 |
New York Mets (NL) |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
4-3 |
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1987 |
Minnesota Twins (AL) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-3 |
|
1988 |
Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) |
Oakland Athletics (AL) |
4-1 |
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1989 |
Oakland Athletics (AL) |
San Francisco Giants (NL) |
4-0 |
|
1990 |
Cincinnati Reds (NL) |
Oakland Athletics (AL) |
4-0 |
|
1991 |
Minnesota Twins (AL) |
Atlanta Braves (NL) |
4-3 |
|
1992 |
Toronto Blue Jays (AL) |
Atlanta Braves (nl) |
4-2 |
|
1993 |
Toronto Blue Jays (AL) |
Philadelphia Phillies (NL) |
4-2 |
|
1994 |
not held |
|
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|
1995 |
Atlanta Braves (NL) |
Cleveland Indians (AL) |
4-2 |
|
1996 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
Atlanta Braves (NL) |
4-2 |
|
1997 |
Florida Marlins (NL) |
Cleveland Indians (AL) |
4-3 |
|
1998 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
San Diego Padres (NL) |
4-0 |
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1999 |
New York Yankees (al) |
Atlanta Braves (NL) |
4-0 |
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2000 |
New York Yankees (AL) |
New York Mets (NL) |
4-1 |
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2001 |
Arizona Diamondbacks (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-3 |
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2002 |
Anaheim Angels (AL) |
San Francisco Giants (NL) |
4-3 |
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2003 |
Florida Marlins (NL) |
New York Yankees (AL) |
4-2 |
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2004 |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
4-0 |
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2005 |
Chicago White Sox (AL) |
Houston Astros (NL) |
4-0 |
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2006 |
St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
Detroit Tigers (AL) |
4-1 |
|
2007 |
Boston Red Sox (AL) |
Colorado Rockies (NL) |
4-0 |
Major League Baseball All-Time Records1
Research courtesy of Baseball Almanac, www.baseball-almanac.com.
|
|
PLAYERS/TEAMS |
NUMBER |
SEASON/DATE |
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Individual career records |
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|
|
Games played |
Pete Rose |
3,562 |
1963-86 |
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Consecutive games played |
Cal Ripken, Jr. |
2,632 |
1982-98 |
|
Batting average2 |
Ty Cobb |
.366 |
1905-28 |
|
Hits |
Pete Rose |
4,256 |
1963-86 |
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Doubles |
Tris Speaker |
792 |
1907-28 |
|
Triples |
Sam Crawford |
309 |
1899-17 |
|
Home runs |
Barry Bonds |
762 |
1986-2007 |
|
Runs |
Rickey Henderson |
2,295 |
1979-2003 |
|
Runs batted in |
Hank Aaron |
2,297 |
1954-76 |
|
Walks (batting) |
Barry Bonds |
2,558 |
1986-2007 |
|
Stolen bases |
Rickey Henderson |
1,406 |
1979-2003 |
|
Wins (pitching) |
Cy Young |
511 |
1890-1911 |
|
Earned run average3 |
Ed Walsh |
1.82 |
1904-17 |
|
Strikeouts (pitching) |
Nolan Ryan |
5,714 |
1966-93 |
|
Saves |
Trevor Hoffman4 |
524 |
1993-2007 |
|
No-hitters |
Nolan Ryan |
7 |
1966-93 |
|
Shutouts |
Walter Johnson |
110 |
1907-27 |
|
Wins (managing) |
Connie Mack |
3,731 |
1894-96; |
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1901-50 |
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Individual season records |
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|
|
|
Batting average5 |
Hugh Duffy |
.440 |
1894 |
|
Hits |
Ichiro Suzuki4 |
262 |
2004 |
|
Doubles |
Earl Webb |
67 |
1931 |
|
Triples |
Chief Wilson |
36 |
1912 |
|
Home runs |
Barry Bonds |
73 |
2001 |
|
Runs |
Billy Hamilton |
192 |
1894 |
|
Runs batted in |
Hack Wilson |
191 |
1930 |
|
Walks (batting) |
Barry Bonds |
232 |
2004 |
|
Stolen bases |
Hugh Nicol |
138 |
1887 |
|
Wins |
Charley Radbourn |
59 |
1884 |
|
Earned run average6 |
Tim Keefe |
0.86 |
1880 |
|
Strikeouts (pitching) |
Matt Kilroy |
513 |
1886 |
|
No-hitters |
4 players hold record |
2 |
|
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Saves |
Bobby Thigpen |
57 |
1990 |
|
Shutouts |
George Bradley; Grover Alexander 16 |
1876; 1916 |
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Individual game records7 |
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Hits |
Wilbert Robinson; Rennie Stennett 7 |
10 Jun 1892; 16 Sep 1975 |
|
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Doubles |
47 players hold record |
4 |
|
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Triples |
George Strief; Bill Joyce |
4 |
25 Jun 1885; 18 May 1897 |
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Home runs |
12 players hold record |
4 |
|
|
Runs |
Guy Hecker |
7 |
15 Aug 1886 |
|
Runs batted in |
Jim Bottomley; |
12 |
16 Sep 1924; 7 Sep 1993 |
|
|
Mark Whiten |
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Walks (batting) |
Walt Wilmot; Jimmie Foxx |
6 |
22 Aug 1891; 16 Jun 1938 |
|
Stolen bases |
George Gore; Billy Hamilton |
7 |
25 Jun 1881; 31 Aug 1894 |
|
Strikeouts (pitching) |
Roger Clemens (twice); |
20 |
29 Apr 1986 and |
|
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Kerry Wood4 |
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18 Sep 1996; 6 May 1998 |
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Team season records |
|
|
|
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World Series titles |
New York Yankees |
26 |
|
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Consecutive World Series titles |
New York Yankees |
5 |
1949-53 |
|
Games won |
Chicago Cubs; Seattle Mariners |
116 |
1906; 2001 |
|
Highest winning percentage |
St. Louis Maroons |
.832 |
1884 |
|
|
|
(94-19) |
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Batting average |
Philadelphia Phillies |
.349 |
1894 |
|
Doubles |
St. Louis Cardinals; |
373 |
1930; |
|
|
Boston Red Sox |
|
1997 |
|
Triples |
Baltimore Orioles |
153 |
1894 |
|
Home runs |
Seattle Mariners |
264 |
1997 |
|
Runs |
Boston Beaneaters |
1,220 |
1894 |
|
Runs batted in |
Boston Beaneaters |
1,043 |
1894 |
|
Walks (batting) |
Boston Red Sox |
835 |
1949 |
|
Stolen bases |
Philadelphia Athletics |
638 |
1887 |
|
Game records |
PLAYERS/TEAMS |
NUMBER |
SEASON/DATE |
|
Highest total score |
Chicago Cubs versus |
26 to 23 |
25 Aug 1922 |
|
|
Philadelphia Phillies |
(total 49) |
|
|
Longest nine-inning game |
New York Yankees versus |
4 hr 45 min |
18 Aug 2006 |
|
|
Boston Red Sox |
|
|
|
Longest extra-inning game (time) |
Chicago White Sox versus |
8 hr 6 min |
9 May 1984 |
|
|
Milwaukee Brewers |
|
|
|
Longest extra-inning game (innings) |
Brooklyn Dodgers versus |
26 innings |
1 May 1920 |
|
|
Boston Braves |
|
|
Caribbean Series
Held since 1949. Table shows results for past 40 years.
|
YEAR |
WINNING TEAM |
COUNTRY |
|
1969 |
not held |
|
|
1970 |
Magallanes Navigators |
VEN |
|
1971 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1972 |
Ponce Lions |
PUR |
|
1973 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1974 |
Caguas Creoles |
PUR |
|
1975 |
Bayamon Cowboys |
PUR |
|
1976 |
Hermosillo Orange Growers |
MEX |
|
1977 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1978 |
Mayaguez Indians |
PUR |
|
1979 |
Magallanes Navigators |
VEN |
|
1980 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1981 |
not held |
|
|
1982 |
Caracas Lions |
VEN |
|
1983 |
Arecibo Wolves |
PUR |
|
1984 |
Zulia Eagles |
VEN |
|
1985 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1986 |
Mexicali Eagles |
MEX |
|
1987 |
Caguas Creoles |
PUR |
|
1988 |
Escogido Lions |
DOM |
|
YEAR |
WINNING TEAM |
COUNTRY |
|
1989 |
Zulia Eagles |
VEN |
|
1990 |
Escogido Lions |
DOM |
|
1991 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1992 |
Mayaguez Indians |
PUR |
|
1993 |
Santurce Crabbers |
PUR |
|
1994 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
1995 |
San Juan Senators |
PUR |
|
1996 |
Culiacan Tomato Growers |
MEX |
|
1997 |
Northern Eagles |
DOM |
|
1998 |
Northern Eagles |
DOM |
|
1999 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
2000 |
Santurce Crabbers |
PUR |
|
2001 |
Cibao Eagles |
DOM |
|
2002 |
Culiacan Tomato Growers |
MEX |
|
2003 |
Cibao Eagles |
DOM |
|
2004 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
|
2005 |
Mazatlan Deer |
MEX |
|
2006 |
Caracas Lions |
VEN |
|
2007 |
Cibao Eagles |
DOM |
|
2008 |
Licey Tigers |
DOM |
Japan Series
Held since 1950. Table shows results for past 10 years.
|
YEAR |
WINNING TEAM |
LOSING TEAM |
RESULTS |
|
1998 |
Yokohama BayStars (CL) |
Seibu Lions (PL) |
4-2 |
|
1999 |
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (PL) |
Chunichi Dragons (CL) |
4-1 |
|
2000 |
Yomiuri Giants (CL) |
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (PL) |
4-2 |
|
2001 |
Yakult Swallows (CL) |
Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (PL) |
4-1 |
|
2002 |
Yomiuri Giants (CL) |
Seibu Lions (PL) |
4-0 |
|
2003 |
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (PL) |
Hanshin Tigers (CL) |
4-3 |
|
2004 |
Seibu Lions (PL) |
Chunichi Dragons (CL) |
4-3 |
|
2005 |
Chiba Lotte Marines (PL) |
Hanshin Tigers (CL) |
4-0 |
|
2006 |
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (PL) |
Chunichi Dragons (CL) |
4-1 |
|
2007 |
Chunichi Dragons (CL) |
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (PL) |
4-1 |
Little League World Series
The Little League World Series, first called the National Little League Tournament, was established in 1947. Table shows results for past 10 years.
|
YEAR |
WINNING TEAM/HOME |
RUNNER-UP |
SCORE |
|
1999 |
Hirakata/Osaka (JPN) |
Phenix City National/Phenix City AL |
5-0 |
|
2000 |
Sierra Maestra/Maracaibo (VEN) |
Bellaire/Bellaire TX |
3-2 |
|
2001 |
Kitasuna/Tokyo (JPN) |
Apopka National/Apopka FL |
2-1 |
|
2002 |
Valley Sports American/Louisville KY |
Sendai Higashi/Sendai (JPN) |
1-0 |
|
2003 |
Musashi-Fuchu/Tokyo (JPN) |
East Boynton Beach/Boynton Beach FL |
10-1 |
|
2004 |
Pabao/Willemstad (AHO) |
Conejo Valley/Thousand Oaks CA |
5-2 |
|
YEAR |
WINNING TEAM/HOME |
RUNNER-UP |
SCORE |
|
2005 |
West Oahu/Ewa Beach HI |
Pabao/Willemstad (AHO) |
7-6 |
|
2006 |
Columbus Northern/Columbus GA |
Kawaguchi/Kawaguchi City (JPN) |
2-1 |
|
2007 |
Warner Robins American/Warner |
Tokyo Kitasuna/Tokyo (JPN) |
3-2 |
|
|
Robins GA |
|
|
|
2008 |
Waipio/Waipahu HI |
Matamoros/Matamoros (MEX) |
12-3 |
