Cuba over USA (3-1) Taiwan Series: Brother Elephants over Sinon Bulls （4-2） Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Gary Carter Eddie Murray Most Valuable Player Alex Rodríguez, Texas Rangers, SS (AL) Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, OF (NL) Cy Young Award Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays (AL) Éric Gagné, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) Rookie of the Year Ángel Berroa, Kansas City Royals, SS (AL) Dontrelle Willis, Florida Marlins, P (NL) Manager of the Year Award Tony Peña, Kansas City Royals (AL) Jack McKeon, Florida Marlins (NL) Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league): Luchy Guerra, Los Angeles Dodgers, National League Statistical leaders Major league baseball final standings The asterisk denotes the club that won the wild card for its respective league. Events January January 7 – Gary Carter and Eddie Murray are elected into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. January 22 – After having been released by the Minnesota Twins at the close of the season, David Ortiz signs with the Boston Red Sox. February February 17 – Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler dies at the age of 23 of a heat stroke during spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A medical examiner found that Bechler's use of ephedra as a weight-loss supplement contributed to his death. Following this revelation, the Food and Drug Administration opened an inquiry, which resulted in the banning of ephedra products in the United States. March March 31 – In the first-ever game at the Great American Ball Park the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Cincinnati Reds 10-1. Ken Griffey Jr. collects the first hit in the stadium's history. April April 3 – At 27 years, 249 days of age, Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit 300 home runs. The Texas Rangers shortstop's fifth inning three-run blast surpasses Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx's mark who accomplishes the feat at 27 years, 328 days of age. April 4 – Sammy Sosa hits his 500th career home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Scott Sullivan in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park, becoming only the 18th player in major league history to hit 500 or more home runs, as well as the first Hispanic to do so. April 11 – The Montreal Expos defeat the New York Mets‚ 10–0‚ in their first of 22 home games they play in Puerto Rico this season. April 27