Champions
Major League Baseball World Series: Detroit Tigers over San Diego Padres (4–1); Alan Trammell, MVP
American League Championship Series MVP: Kirk Gibson National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Garvey All-Star Game, July 10 at Candlestick Park: National League, 3–1; Gary Carter, MVP
Other champions Amateur World Series: Cuba Caribbean World Series: Águilas del Zulia (Venezuela) College World Series: Cal State-Fullerton Japan Series: Hiroshima Toyo Carp over Hankyu Braves (4–3) Korean Series: Lotte Giants over Samsung Lions Big League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Junior League World Series: Pearl City, Hawaii Little League World Series: Seoul National, Seoul, South Korea Senior League World Series: Altamonte Springs, Florida Summer Olympic Games at Los Angeles (demonstration sport): Japan (1st), United States (2nd), Chinese Taipei (3rd)
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Luis Aparicio Don Drysdale Rick Ferrell Harmon Killebrew Pee Wee Reese Most Valuable Player Willie Hernández, Detroit Tigers, P (AL) Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs, 2B (NL) Cy Young Award Willie Hernández, Detroit Tigers (AL) Rick Sutcliffe, Chicago Cubs (NL) Rookie of the Year Alvin Davis, Seattle Mariners, 1B (AL) Dwight Gooden, New York Mets, P (NL) Manager of the Year Award Sparky Anderson, Detroit Tigers (AL) Jim Frey, Chicago Cubs (NL) Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league) Mildred Boyenga, Waterloo Indians, Midwest League Gold Glove Award (P) Ron Guidry, New York Yankees (AL); Joaquín Andújar, St. Louis Cardinals (NL) (C) Lance Parrish, Detroit Tigers (AL); Tony Peña, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) (1B) Eddie Murray, Baltimore Orioles (AL); Keith Hernandez, New York Mets (NL) (2B) Lou Whitaker, Detroit Tigers (AL); Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs (NL) (3B) Buddy Bell, Texas Rangers (AL); Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (NL) (SS) Alan Trammell, Detroit Tigers (AL); Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals (NL) (OF) Dwight Evans, Boston Red Sox (AL); André Dawson, Montreal Expos (NL) (OF) Dwayne Murphy, Oakland Athletics (AL); Bob Dernier, Chicago Cubs (NL) (OF) Dave Winfield, New York Yankees (AL); Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves (NL)
MLB statistical leaders American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat AVG Don Mattingly NYY .343 Tony Gwynn SD .351 HR Tony Armas BOS 43 Dale Murphy ATLMike Schmidt PHI 36 RBI Tony Armas BOS 123 Gary Carter MONMike Schmidt PHI 106 Wins Mike Boddicker BAL 20 Joaquín Andújar STL 20 ERA Mike Boddicker BAL 2.79 Alejandro Peña LAD 2.48
Major league baseball final standings
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Detroit Tigers 104 58 .642 -- 2nd Toronto Blue Jays 89 73 .549 15.0 3rd New York Yankees 87 75 .537 17.0 4th Boston Red Sox 86 76 .531 18.0 5th Baltimore Orioles 85 77 .525 19.0 6th Cleveland Indians 75 87 .463 29.0 7th Milwaukee Brewers 67 94 .416 36.5 West Division 1st Kansas City Royals 84 78 .519 -- 2nd California Angels 81 81 .500 3.0 2nd Minnesota Twins 81 81 .500 3.0 4th Oakland Athletics 77 85 .475 7.0 5th Chicago White Sox 74 88 .457 10.0 5th Seattle Mariners 74 88 .457 10.0 7th Texas Rangers 69 92 .429 14.5
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Chicago Cubs 96 65 .596 -- 2nd New York Mets 90 72 .556 6.5 3rd St. Louis Cardinals 84 78 .519 12.5 4th Philadelphia Phillies 81 81 .500 15.5 5th Montreal Expos 78 83 .484 18.0 6th Pittsburgh Pirates 75 87 .463 21.5 West Division 1st San Diego Padres 92 70 .568 -- 2nd Atlanta Braves 80 82 .494 12.0 2nd Houston Astros 80 82 .494 12.0 4th Los Angeles Dodgers 79 83 .488 13.0 5th Cincinnati Reds 70 92 .432 22.0 6th San Francisco Giants 66 96 .407 26.0
Events
January January 5 – The New York Yankees sign pitcher Phil Niekro, a future Baseball Hall of Famer who won 268 games during his two decades (–) with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Niekro, 44, was unconditionally released by the Braves last October 7. January 6 – The San Diego Padres sign future Cooperstown inductee Goose Gossage, 32. The fireballing relief pitcher and seven-time MLB All-Star had been granted free agency from the Yankees last November 7. January 8 – Another member of November's free agent class, second baseman Julio Cruz, decides to return to the Chicago White Sox. Cruz' mid-June acquisition helped spark the ChiSox to the 1983 AL West title. January 10 Luis Aparicio, Don Drysdale and Harmon Killebrew are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The Toronto Blue Jays sign relief pitcher Dennis Lamp, granted free agency from the Chicago White Sox last November.
January 17 – Tim Belcher, the #1 overall selection in the June 1983 amateur draft who spurned the low-paying Minnesota Twins' contract offer, is selected first overall by the New York Yankees in the secondary phase of the 1984 January amateur draft. The right-handed pitcher signs on January 31, but his tenure as a Yankee will be a very brief one. January 20 The Chicago White Sox select New York Mets' pitching legend Tom Seaver from the available player pool as compensation for the loss of Type-A free-agent Dennis Lamp on January 10. The Mets' ownership and front office, who believed it was unnecessary to protect a 39-year-old pitcher, are described as "distraught" and "devastated" by the White Sox' maneuver. Says general manager Frank Cashen: "We made a calculated and regrettable gamble." Says a shocked Seaver: "My alternatives are to retire, or not to report and wait for the White Sox to trade me, or to negotiate a contract and play in Chicago. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do." Continuing his chase of Ty Cobb's all-time hits record, free-agent Pete Rose, 42, signs with the Montreal Expos. Rose is 202 hits short of Cobb's mark. January 26 – Outfielder Steve Henderson, who was granted free agency from the Seattle Mariners last November 7, signs a one-year, $400,000 contract to return to the Mariners.
February February 5 – The Cleveland Indians trade veteran third baseman Toby Harrah and a player to be named later (PTBNL) (pitcher Rick Browne) to the New York Yankees for pitcher George Frazier, outfielder Otis Nixon, and a PTBNL (pitcher Guy Elston). The Yankees plan to platoon Harrah, 35 and a four-time former AL All-Star, with left-handed-hitting team captain and 5x All-Star Graig Nettles, 39. February 7 – The Oakland Athletics lose Type-A free agent Tom Underwood when the veteran left-handed pitcher signs with the Baltimore Orioles. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement that followed the 1981 MLB strike, Oakland is entitled to compensation from a pool of players designated by all MLB clubs who have opted into pursuing Type-A free agents. February 8 – The controversial Type-A free agent compensation provision in the CBA, which frustrated the New York Mets last month, now thwarts Gotham's American League team. One day after Tom Underwood's departure, the Athletics select pitcher Tim Belcher from the New York Yankees as repayment. Belcher, the #1 overall pick in the 1983 June draft who went unsigned by the tight-fisted Minnesota Twins, had been chosen by the Yankees three weeks earlier, on January 17, in the 1984 January draft's secondary phase; he had then inked a Bombers' contract on January 31. But because the Yankees' compensation draft protected list did not contain Belcher's name—it had been submitted on January 13, when Belcher was still an amateur free agent—the coveted young right-hander is considered eligible for the lottery. Outraged, the Yankees protest to the Commissioner's Office; the Major League Baseball Players Association is also angered by the situation. But Belcher's agent, Scott Boras, declines to file a grievance, and Lee MacPhail, now chair of the MLB Player Relations Committee, rules in Oakland's favor. Ironically, Belcher never pitches for the Athletics; they trade him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in and he'll win 146 games over 14 seasons for seven MLB clubs."Tim Belcher." Baseball Reference. February 17 – The Houston Astros sign free-agent former NL All-Star J.R. Richard, who is continuing his comeback attempt after suffering a stroke in July . Richard, now 33, went 107–71 (3.15) in 238 games over ten seasons for the Astros and fanned over 300 batters in a season twice before his illness. He had sat out , then made 21 appearances during and in Houston's farm system trying to regain his effectiveness before being granted free agency last November 7. However, Richard's 1984 comeback attempt will end when the Astros release him April 27. February 21 – After placing him on waivers 11 days earlier, the Los Angeles Dodgers release outfielder Dusty Baker, 34, after his eighth season with the team. He will accept a spring training invitation from the San Francisco Giants. February 27 – The Montreal Expos trade seven-time All-Star Al Oliver to the Giants for pitchers Fred Breining and Andy McGaffigan (PTBNL) and outfielder Max Venable. Oliver, 37, led the National League in hits (204), doubles (43), runs batted in (109), and batting average (.331) in , and was the NL's starting first baseman in the 1983 Midsummer Classic.
March March 3 – MLB owners unanimously elect Peter Ueberroth to a five-year term as the sixth Commissioner of Baseball, after agreeing to strengthen the powers of the office. Ueberroth, 46, is the president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. After the Summer Olympics (July 28 through August 12, 1984) conclude, Ueberroth will begin his term as Commissioner on October 1, with incumbent Bowie Kuhn remaining on the job until then.
March 8 – Shortstop Pee Wee Reese and catcher Rick Ferrell are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Reese hit .269 in 16 seasons with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers; Ferrell batted .281 and set an American League record for games caught (1,806; since broken by Carlton Fisk) over 18 seasons for the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators. March 17 – Future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, a six-time 20-game-winner who went 284–226 (3.34) over 19 MLB seasons, is released by the Chicago Cubs, for whom he won 167 contests. The 41-year-old captured the National League Cy Young Award and was named to three NL All-Star teams. March 24 – In perhaps the most eventful transaction of the 1984 season, the Detroit Tigers acquire relief pitcher Willie Hernández, along with platoon first baseman Dave Bergman, from the defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies for young outfielder Glenn Wilson and catcher John Wockenfuss. Southpaw Hernández, 29, will become Detroit's shutdown closer, posting a 9–3 (1.92) record and 32 saves in a league-leading 80 games pitched; he'll be selected an All-Star, win the American League MVP and Cy Young awards, and a World Series championship ring. March 26 In the larger of two deals they make today, the Chicago Cubs obtain pitcher Porfi Altamirano and outfielders Bob Dernier and Gary Matthews from the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Bill Campbell and outfielder/first baseman Mike Diaz. Matthews, 33, becomes the Cubs' left-fielder and a clubhouse presence, and leads the NL in on-base percentage. Dernier, 27, takes over the center-field job, steals 45 bases, and scores 94 runs, third on the team. The Cubs also pick up veteran relief pitcher Tim Stoddard, 31, from the Oakland Athletics for two minor-league players, pitcher Stan Kyles and outfielder Stan Broderick. Stoddard will win ten games and save seven others (second only to Lee Smith's 33) coming out of the Chicago bullpen in 1984. March 29 – On the same day that they drop outfielder Mitchell Page, the Athletics sign Dave Kingman, released on January 30 by the New York Mets.