65 Fun Facts About 2023 MLB Season

Which franchise won the 2023 World Series, the first championship in its history?

The Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks for the franchise's first title; the club began as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961 and moved to Arlington for the 1972 season.

How many games did the 2023 World Series last?

The Series went 5 games: the teams split the opening pair in Arlington, then the visitors won three straight in Phoenix. It was only the third World Series between two wild-card teams, after 2002 and 2014.

Who was named 2023 World Series MVP, becoming the first player to win the award in both leagues?

His first World Series MVP came with the Dodgers in 2020. He hit .286 with three home runs and six RBI in the Series, including a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 1.

Who hit the walk-off home run in the 11th inning of Game 1 of the 2023 World Series?

Adolis García's walk-off homer in the 11th gave him 22 RBI for the postseason, breaking David Freese's 2011 record. An oblique injury in Game 3 knocked him off the roster before Game 4.

Which manager won his fourth World Series in 2023, only the third to win one in each league?

Bruce Bochy won three titles with the Giants between 2010 and 2014 before adding a fourth in 2023; Sparky Anderson and Tony La Russa are the only other managers to win the World Series in both leagues.

Which reliever won his third straight World Series in 2023, each with a different team?

Will Smith was on the title-winning roster in 2021, 2022 and 2023 with three different clubs, starting with Atlanta, the first player ever to win three straight World Series with three franchises.

What was Texas's record-setting road record in the 2023 postseason?

Texas went 11–0 away from home across every round of the 2023 postseason, the most road wins ever in a single postseason, and clinched the championship on the road in Arizona.

Which player won his second unanimous AL MVP in 2023, the first person ever to win two unanimous MVPs?

Shohei Ohtani, also unanimous in 2021, led the AL in home runs while posting a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts in 2023, and took his third straight Edgar Martínez Award as best designated hitter.

Who won the 2023 National League MVP, making it the first year both MVPs were chosen unanimously?

Ronald Acuña Jr. led the majors with 217 hits, 149 runs and 383 total bases while batting .337 for the Braves, adding the Hank Aaron Award and The Sporting News Player of the Year.

The 2023 NL MVP hit 41 homers and stole how many bases, creating MLB's first 40–70 season?

The total was 73, a modern-era Braves record, one more than Otis Nixon's 72 in 1991; the MVP had reached the 40–40 club on September 22, joining Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano.

Which pitcher won the 2023 NL Cy Young Award, his second, having taken the AL version in 2018?

Blake Snell's 2.25 ERA led the majors in 2023, though so did his 99 walks; he then declined the Padres' $20.325 million qualifying offer and signed with the Giants the next spring.

Who won the 2023 American League Cy Young Award by unanimous vote?

Gerrit Cole posted a 2.63 ERA with 222 strikeouts, finishing with a complete-game shutout of Toronto, and had started the All-Star Game, the first Yankee to do so since Roger Clemens in 2001.

Who won the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year Award?

Gunnar Henderson won unanimously, taking all 30 first-place votes, after batting .255 with 82 RBI and 100 runs scored; he also won a Silver Slugger as the AL's utility player.

Who won the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year Award?

Corbin Carroll, a unanimous pick, was the first rookie ever with 25 home runs and 50 stolen bases, and had signed an eight-year, $111 million extension in March after just 32 big-league games.

Who won the 2023 National League Manager of the Year Award?

Skip Schumaker, hired to replace Don Mattingly, reached the playoffs in his first season as a manager, helped by a 33–14 record in one-run games; he left the job after the 2024 season.

Which manager won the 2023 American League Manager of the Year Award after a 101-win season?

Brandon Hyde's Baltimore club improved from 83 wins to 101 and won its first AL East title since 2014, while also setting an AL record for consecutive series without being swept.

Which Yankees pitcher threw the 24th perfect game in MLB history on June 28, 2023?

Domingo Germán retired all 27 batters he faced, the first perfect game by a Dominican-born pitcher and the majors' first in eleven years; five weeks later he was placed on the restricted list after a clubhouse incident.

Under the 2023 pitch clock, how many seconds did a pitcher have between pitches with bases empty?

Pitchers had 15 seconds with the bases empty and more with a runner on; batters had to be alert in the box with eight seconds left, and the clock cut average game time by 24 minutes.

The 2023 rule changes enlarged first, second and third base from 15 inches square to how many?

The bases grew to 18 inches square, trimming the distance between first and second by 4.5 inches to cut collisions and encourage steals; stolen bases jumped to 3,503, the most since 1987.

Under 2023 MLB rules, how many pickoff 'disengagements' may a pitcher make per plate appearance before risking a balk?

The count resets if a runner advances. A third disengagement that fails to record an out is called a balk and every runner moves up a base.

Which team opened 2023 with 13 straight wins, tying the modern-era record for the best start to a season?

The Tampa Bay Rays matched the 13–0 starts of the 1982 Braves and 1987 Brewers, homered in each of their first 22 games, a record, and won their first 14 home games.

Which team lost 112 games in 2023, the most in the majors that year?

The Oakland Athletics finished 50–112, a .309 winning percentage that was the franchise's worst since 1919, and started the year 10–45 while drawing the lowest attendance in the majors.

In November 2023, MLB owners unanimously approved the Athletics' relocation to which city?

Las Vegas was approved 30–0 at the owners' meeting on November 16, 2023, five months after Nevada's governor signed a $380 million stadium-funding bill for a ballpark on the Strip.

The Braves tied the single-season team record with how many home runs in 2023?

Atlanta's 307 home runs matched the single-season record set in 2019, and its .501 team slugging percentage was the first above .500 in major-league history.

How many regular-season games did the Braves win in 2023, the most in the majors?

Atlanta's 104 wins earned a first-round bye, but the Braves lost the Division Series 3–1 for the second straight year, in the sixth straight season they won the NL East.

Opening Day 2023 had all 30 teams playing on the same day, the first time since which year?

All 30 clubs opened on March 30, 2023, the first common Opening Day since 1968; it was also the first season of a balanced schedule, with every team meeting every other and just 52 division games.

Where did the Giants and Padres play a two-game 'MLB World Tour' series in April 2023?

Mexico City's Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium, home of the Diablos Rojos, hosted the Giants and Padres on April 29–30, 2023, the first regular-season MLB games in the capital's thin air at about 7,300 feet.

Which city hosted the 2023 All-Star Game, at T-Mobile Park?

Seattle hosted for the third time, after the 1979 game at the Kingdome and 2001 at the same ballpark under its old name, Safeco Field; the National League won 3–2, with Elias Díaz of the Rockies named MVP.

The NL's 3–2 win in the 2023 All-Star Game was its first since which year?

The NL's previous win had come in 2012; the AL then won nine straight. Elias Díaz of the Rockies hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth and became the first Colorado player named All-Star Game MVP.

Who won the 2023 Home Run Derby, joining his father as the first father-son pair to win it?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. beat Randy Arozarena 25–23 in the final; his father had won the 2007 Derby, making them the first father-son pair to win it.

Japan won the 2023 World Baseball Classic by beating which defending champion 3–2 in the final?

Japan beat the United States 3–2 in the final for a record third title, going unbeaten through the tournament; total attendance of more than 1.3 million was the highest in the event's history.

Whom did Japan's closer strike out to end the 2023 World Baseball Classic final?

Mike Trout, the US captain, went down swinging on a full-count sweeper from his Angels teammate, who was named tournament MVP; the final drew one of the largest baseball television audiences ever.

Whose ninth-inning double gave Japan a walk-off win in the 2023 World Baseball Classic semifinal?

Munetaka Murakami, the 2022 Central League Triple Crown winner, lined a ninth-inning double off the wall to score the tying and winning runs for a 6–5 walk-off semifinal win, a day before the final.

Which pitcher was taken first overall in the 2023 MLB draft?

Paul Skenes, the LSU right-hander who had just won the College World Series, went to Pittsburgh, which had won the first-ever draft lottery; the opening rounds were held at Lumen Field in the All-Star host city.

Which team signed the reigning AL MVP to a record 10-year deal in December 2023?

The Los Angeles Dodgers gave him $700 million over ten years, the largest contract in North American sports at the time, with most of the money deferred to 2034–2043.

How much of the record 10-year contract signed in December 2023 was deferred per season, payable from 2034 to 2043?

Of the $70M annual value, $68M was deferred each season, leaving $2 million a year in salary from 2024 to 2033; the structure was the player's idea, to give the club room to spend on teammates.

How many homers did the 2023 AL leader, the first Japanese-born champion, hit?

The leader finished with 44, five clear of the runner-up, despite not playing after September 3 because of an oblique strain, and after tearing his elbow ligament in August, which ended his pitching for the year.

Who did the Angels' two-way star shut out and homer twice against on July 27, 2023?

The Detroit Tigers managed one single in the opener, the first complete game and first shutout of his career, with eight strikeouts and three walks, and then watched him homer twice in the nightcap.

Which slugger became the fastest ever to 250 career home runs in September 2023, in 810 games?

He broke Ryan Howard's mark of 855 games. In the same week his teammate hit his 400th career homer, and both did it in a Yankees season that ended without a playoff spot.

Which Reds rookie hit for the cycle in June 2023, the first Cincinnati player since 1989?

Elly De La Cruz, the youngest to hit for the cycle since César Cedeño in 1972, did it on June 23; Statcast timed him and Bobby Witt Jr. as baseball's fastest runners at 30.5 feet per second.

Who led the majors in runs batted in during the 2023 season?

Matt Olson drove in 139 runs for Atlanta, breaking Eddie Mathews' 1953 franchise record of 135; he also led the majors with 54 home runs.

Which Astros pitcher threw the franchise's first no-hitter by a left-hander, on August 1, 2023?

Framber Valdez faced the minimum 27 batters despite issuing a walk, striking out seven in a 2–0 win over Cleveland; it was the 16th no-hitter in franchise history and the first by one of its left-handers.

Michael Lorenzen threw a 124-pitch no-hitter on August 9, 2023, in one of his first starts for which team?

It was the Philadelphia Phillies' 14th no-hitter and first since 2015, thrown against Washington a week after he arrived at the trade deadline, in his first home start for the club.

Which team ended a record 18-game postseason losing streak in the 2023 Wild Card Series?

The Minnesota Twins ended the streak when Royce Lewis homered in back-to-back at-bats to open Game 1 against Toronto; the club's last postseason win had come in the 2004 ALDS and its last series win in 2002.

Which Dodgers starter recorded just one out in Game 1 of the 2023 NLDS against Arizona, his shortest start ever?

Clayton Kershaw gave up six runs on six hits while recording one out, as the underdog Diamondbacks went on to sweep the 100-win favorites; he had won his 200th career game earlier that season.

In Game 3 of the 2023 NLDS, Arizona became the first team to hit how many home runs in one postseason inning?

Four solo homers, by Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Christian Walker, came off Lance Lynn in the third inning of Game 3, completing a Division Series sweep.

Which Athletics rookie broke Kenny Lofton's AL rookie stolen-base record with 67 steals in 2023?

Esteury Ruiz stole 67 bases, one more than Kenny Lofton's 1992 mark; he had come from Milwaukee the previous winter in the three-team deal that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta.

Which Dodger set the record for most RBIs by a leadoff hitter in a season, finishing 2023 with 107?

Mookie Betts passed Charlie Blackmon's 2017 record of 103 while playing right field, second base and shortstop, and finished second in NL MVP voting with 39 home runs.

Who became the first MLB player to play regular-season games in five countries, completing the set in London in 2023?

Paul Goldschmidt had played in Australia (Sydney with Arizona in 2014), Monterrey in 2019 and Canada before the 2023 London Series added England to his list of five countries.

Which member of the 500-homer and 3,000-hit clubs played his final season with the Tigers in 2023?

Miguel Cabrera, the all-time leader in home runs and hits by a Venezuelan player, won three straight AL batting titles from 2011 to 2013; the club kept him on as a special assistant.

Who won his 200th career game on September 18, 2023, and retired at season's end?

Adam Wainwright threw seven scoreless innings to beat Milwaukee 1–0 for No. 200 that night, having announced before the season that it would be his last; all 200 wins came with one club.

2023 was the first MLB season in which teams were allowed to do what with their uniforms?

Teams could wear sponsor advertising patches on sleeves for the first time, with the Diamondbacks (Avnet), Red Sox (MassMutual), Reds (Kroger) and Yankees (Starr Insurance) among the first sellers.

Which defending champion did Texas beat in seven games in the 2023 ALCS, the first LCS between same-state teams?

The Houston Astros lost every home game as the road team won all seven, only the second best-of-seven series in MLB history where that happened; both times the visiting Game 7 starter was Max Scherzer.

With how many regular-season wins did Arizona reach the 2023 World Series, fewest since 2006?

Arizona's 84 wins were the fewest for a pennant winner since the 2006 champions' 83; the club had lost 110 games in 2021 and came back from 0–2 down to win the NLCS in seven.

Which outfielder hit three homers and drove in eight in his first game of 2023?

Trayce Thompson homered three times against Arizona on April 1, 2023, the club's third game of the season, driving in eight runs; he had joined the club from San Diego in a June 2022 trade for cash.

The 2023 World Series set what unwanted viewership record?

The Series averaged about 9.1 million viewers, the least-watched ever on television, and Game 3 was the least-watched World Series game ever; analysts blamed the clubs' small national followings and a Friday-night opener.

Who threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the 2023 World Series?

George W. Bush, once a managing partner of the home club, threw the first pitch in Arlington before Game 1; Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré did the honors before Game 2.

Before the 2023 season Texas signed which ace to a five-year, $185M contract?

Jacob deGrom made only six starts before needing Tommy John surgery in June; the club then traded for Max Scherzer, Jordan Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman in-season to patch the staff.

Which manager retired after the 2023 season at age 74?

Dusty Baker had finally won his first World Series as a manager the year before, in his 25th season; his last game was a Game 7 loss in the ALCS.

Which two teams played the 2023 MLB London Series at London Stadium in June?

The Cardinals and Cubs split the series at London Stadium on June 24–25, 2023, the second London Series after the Yankees and Red Sox in 2019.

Which Cardinals rookie opened 2023 with a 12-game hitting streak, a feat last done before age 21 in 1912?

Jordan Walker hit safely in his first 12 games, something last done before age 21 by Eddie Murphy in 1912; the streak ended April 13 against Pittsburgh.

Which Brave's 'atta boy, Harper' quip set up Bryce Harper's stare-down in the 2023 NLDS?

Orlando Arcia's 'atta boy, Harper' after Harper was doubled off first to end Game 2 reached reporters; Harper answered by homering twice in Game 3, staring at Arcia as he rounded the bases.

Who won the 2023 American League Comeback Player of the Year award?

Liam Hendriks, the White Sox closer, returned in May after treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, then needed Tommy John surgery in August; Cody Bellinger took the NL award.

Who won the 2023 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award?

Félix Bautista saved 33 games with a 1.48 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 61 innings for Baltimore before a torn elbow ligament ended his season in late August.

Who won the 2023 National League batting title with a .354 average?

Luis Arraez hit .354 in 2023, a year after winning the AL title at .316, the first player to win batting titles in different leagues in consecutive seasons; he batted over .400 into late June.