The 2001 Major League Baseball season finished with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees in seven games for the World Series championship. The September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. pushed the end of the regular season from September 30 to October 7. Because of the attacks, the World Series was not completed until November 4. The 2001 World Series was the first World Series to end in November.
MLB used an unbalanced schedule for the first time since 1992 in the National League and 1978 in the American League. In all divisions except the NL Central and AL West each team played each of the other four teams in the same division 19 times. In the NL Central division foes met 16 or 17 times per season and in the AL West there were 19 or 20 games between each division foe.
This season included the Seattle Mariners tying the Major League regular season record of 116 wins, Barry Bonds breaking Mark McGwire 's single-season home run record, and what some commentators described as a “patriotic return” of baseball following a week-long suspension of games after the September 11 attacks.
Standings
American League
AL Central
Team
W
L
Pct.
GB
Home
Road
(3) Cleveland Indians
91
71
.562
—
44–36
47–35
Minnesota Twins
85
77
.525
6
47–34
38–43
Chicago White Sox
83
79
.512
8
46–35
37–44
Detroit Tigers
66
96
.407
25
37–44
29–52
Kansas City Royals
65
97
.401
26
35–46
30–51
National League
NL East
Team
W
L
Pct.
GB
Home
Road
(3) Atlanta Braves
88
74
.543
—
40–41
48–33
Philadelphia Phillies
86
76
.531
2
47–34
39–42
New York Mets
82
80
.506
6
44–37
38–43
Florida Marlins
76
86
.469
12
46–34
30–52
Montreal Expos
68
94
.420
20
34–47
34–47
NL Central
Team
W
L
Pct.
GB
Home
Road
(1) Houston Astros
93
69
.574
—
44–37
49–32
(4) St. Louis Cardinals
93
69
.574
—
54–28
39–41
Chicago Cubs
88
74
.543
5
48–33
40–41
Milwaukee Brewers
68
94
.420
25
36–45
32–49
Cincinnati Reds
66
96
.407
27
27–54
39–42
Pittsburgh Pirates
62
100
.383
31
38–43
24–57
NL West
Team
W
L
Pct.
GB
Home
Road
(2) Arizona Diamondbacks
92
70
.568
—
48–33
44–37
San Francisco Giants
90
72
.556
2
49–32
41–40
Los Angeles Dodgers
86
76
.531
6
44–37
42–39
San Diego Padres
79
83
.488
13
35–46
44–37
Colorado Rockies
73
89
.451
19
41–40
32–49
Postseason
Bracket
Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.
MLB statistical leaders
The Anaheim Angels hosting the season's eventual American League Champions New York Yankees in August 2001 at Edison International Field of Anaheim .
1 All-time single-season home runs record
Managers
±hosted the MLB All Star Game
Milestones
Batters
Miscellaneous
Cleveland Indians :
Tied a major league record by becoming the third team to overcome a 12-run deficit on August 5, the largest deficit ever overcome to win. The Indians were in a 12-run deficit twice, 12–0 after the third inning, and 14–2 after the fifth inning. The Indians would go on to win the game 15–14 in extra innings, following a walk-off in the bottom of the 11th in a win over the Seattle Mariners .[ 4] [ 5]
Detroit Tigers :
Tied a modern (1900–present) major league record set in 1978 for most runs scored in the ninth inning, by scoring 13 runs against the Texas Rangers on August 8.[ 6]
Awards
Other awards
Player of the Month
Pitcher of the Month
Rookie of the Month
Home field attendance and payroll
Team name
Wins
%±
Home attendance
%±
Per game
Est. payroll
%±
Seattle Mariners [ 8]
116
27.5%
3,507,326
20.3%
43,300
$74,720,834
23.5%
San Francisco Giants [ 9]
90
−7.2%
3,311,958
−0.2%
40,888
$63,280,167
17.8%
New York Yankees [ 10]
95
9.2%
3,264,907
6.9%
40,811
$112,787,143
21.1%
Cleveland Indians [ 11]
91
1.1%
3,175,523
−8.1%
39,694
$93,360,001
21.3%
Colorado Rockies [ 12]
73
−11.0%
3,166,821
−3.9%
39,097
$71,541,334
17.1%
St. Louis Cardinals [ 13]
93
−2.1%
3,109,578
−6.8%
37,922
$79,373,333
28.7%
Baltimore Orioles [ 14]
63
−14.9%
3,094,841
−6.1%
38,686
$74,279,540
−9.8%
Los Angeles Dodgers [ 15]
86
0.0%
3,017,143
4.8%
37,249
$109,105,953
23.8%
Houston Astros [ 16]
93
29.2%
2,904,277
−5.0%
35,855
$60,612,667
18.2%
Texas Rangers [ 17]
73
2.8%
2,831,021
9.4%
34,525
$88,633,500
25.2%
Atlanta Braves [ 18]
88
−7.4%
2,823,530
−12.7%
34,858
$91,936,166
8.5%
Milwaukee Brewers [ 19]
68
−6.8%
2,811,041
78.6%
34,704
$43,886,833
17.6%
Chicago Cubs [ 20]
88
35.4%
2,779,465
−0.4%
34,314
$64,715,833
6.9%
Arizona Diamondbacks [ 21]
92
8.2%
2,736,451
−7.0%
33,783
$85,082,999
5.0%
New York Mets [ 22]
82
−12.8%
2,658,330
−5.8%
32,819
$93,174,428
17.2%
Boston Red Sox [ 23]
82
−3.5%
2,625,333
1.5%
32,412
$110,035,833
37.6%
Pittsburgh Pirates [ 24]
62
−10.1%
2,464,870
40.9%
30,430
$57,760,833
84.4%
San Diego Padres [ 25]
79
3.9%
2,378,128
1.1%
29,360
$39,182,833
−28.8%
Oakland Athletics [ 26]
102
12.1%
2,133,277
33.0%
26,337
$33,810,750
1.9%
Anaheim Angels [ 27]
75
−8.5%
2,000,919
−3.2%
24,703
$47,735,167
−9.4%
Detroit Tigers [ 28]
66
−16.5%
1,921,305
−21.2%
23,720
$53,416,167
−10.4%
Toronto Blue Jays [ 29]
80
−3.6%
1,915,438
12.3%
23,359
$76,895,999
67.0%
Cincinnati Reds [ 30]
66
−22.4%
1,879,757
−27.1%
23,207
$48,986,000
4.5%
Minnesota Twins [ 31]
85
23.2%
1,782,929
78.2%
22,011
$24,130,000
37.7%
Philadelphia Phillies [ 32]
86
32.3%
1,782,054
10.5%
22,001
$41,663,833
−12.3%
Chicago White Sox [ 33]
83
−12.6%
1,766,172
−9.3%
21,805
$65,653,667
106.8%
Kansas City Royals [ 34]
65
−15.6%
1,536,371
−1.8%
18,968
$35,422,500
42.2%
Tampa Bay Devil Rays [ 35]
62
−10.1%
1,298,365
−10.4%
16,029
$56,980,000
−9.9%
Florida Marlins [ 36]
76
−3.8%
1,261,226
3.5%
15,765
$35,762,500
75.8%
Montreal Expos [ 37]
68
1.5%
642,745
−30.6%
7,935
$35,159,500
6.6%
Television coverage
This was the first 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 . Sister network FX also aired Saturday primetime games. Thursday night games moved from Fox Sports Net to Fox Family . Fox Family also aired selected Division Series games. This was the last season that Fox Sports broadcast regular season games on either Fox Family or FX.
See also
2001 Nippon Professional Baseball season
References
^ "Barry Bonds Statistics and History" . Baseball-Reference.com . Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2010 .
^ "Barry Bonds Career Home Runs" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved April 27, 2026 .
^ "Rickey Henderson Statistics and History" . Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010 .
^ "Seattle Mariners vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: August 5, 2001" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 17, 2026 .
^ "Super comebacks: MLB's most unreal rallies" . MLB.com . Retrieved March 17, 2026 .
^ DeRosa, Theo. "The most runs scored in each inning, from the 1st to the 26th(!)" . MLB.com . Retrieved April 20, 2026 .
^ "Clemente Award to NYers" . Newsday . October 29, 2001. But in an unprecedented decision, Major League Baseball gave out a second Clemente award to the residents of New York City, for their actions since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
^ "Seattle Mariners Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Colorado Rockies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Houston Astros Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Milwaukee Brewers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Arizona Diamondbacks Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Toronto Blue Jays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Tampa Bay Rays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Florida Marlins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
^ "Washington Nationals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020 .
External links
Pre-modern era
Beginnings
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
Competition
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
NL monopoly
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
Modern era
See also
AL East AL Central
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Kansas City
Minnesota
AL West
NL East
Atlanta
Florida
New York
Philadelphia
Montréal
NL Central NL West
Arizona
Colorado
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco