Headline events of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions, beating the New York Yankees, 4-2. The Detroit Tigers had one of the worst records in baseball history, going 43-119, a .265 winning percentage. The Chicago Cubs just missed advancing to their first World Series since 1945, as they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Marlins in the 2003 NLCS. The Oakland Athletics blew a 2-0 series lead against the Boston Red Sox in the 2003 ALDS, making it four straight years they lost the ALDS in 5 games, including an 0-9 mark in games in which they could have clinched the series. The Yankees beat the Red Sox in a thrilling ALCS, highlighted by Aaron Boone's walk-off home run in the 11th inning in Game 7 off of Tim Wakefield. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions World Series Champion – Florida Marlins Postseason – September 30 to October 25 Click on any series score to link to that series' page. Higher seed has home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series. American League has home field advantage during World Series as a result of the American League victory in the 2003 All-Star Game. American League is seeded 1-3/2-4 as a result of AL regular season champion (New York Yankees) and AL wild card (Boston Red Sox) coming from the same division. National League is seeded 1-3/2-4 as a result of NL regular season champion (Atlanta Braves) and NL wild card (Florida Marlins) coming from the same division. Postseason MVPs World Series MVP – Josh Beckett ALCS MVP – Mariano Rivera NLCS MVP – Iván Rodríguez All-Star Game, July 15 at U.S. Cellular Field – American League, 7-6; Garret Anderson, MVP Home Run Derby, July 14 – Garret Anderson, Anaheim Angels Other champions Canadian Baseball League: Calgary Outlaws by virtue of having best record at the All-Star break (truncated season) Caribbean World Series: Águilas Cibaeñas (Dominican Republic) College World Series: Rice Cuban National Series: Industriales def. Villa Clara European Championship: Netherlands over Greece (2-0) European Cup: Neptunus (Netherlands) over Rimini (Italy) Japan Series: Fukuoka Daiei Hawks over Hanshin Tigers (4-3) Korean Series: Hyundai Unicorns over SK Wyverns (4-3) Big League World Series: Easley, South Carolina Junior League World Series: La Mirada, California Little League World Series: Musashi-Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan Senior League World Series: Hilo, Hawaii Mexican League: Diablos Rojos del México Pan American Games: