Headline Event of the Year The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan (5–3) wins the Classic, defeating Cuba (5–3) in the single championship game. Korea at 6–1 has the best overall Classic record. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions World Series Champion – St. Louis Cardinals Postseason – October 3 to October 27 Click on any series score to link to that series' page. Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series. The American League champion had home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the AL victory in the 2006 All-Star Game. Postseason MVPs World Series MVP – David Eckstein ALCS MVP – Plácido Polanco NLCS MVP – Jeff Suppan All-Star Game, July 11 at PNC Park – American League, 3–2; Michael Young, MVP Century 21 Home Run Derby, July 10 – Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies Other champions Minor League Baseball Triple-A Championship: Tucson Sidewinders (Diamondbacks) def. Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) International League: Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) def. Rochester Red Wings (Twins) Pacific Coast League: Tucson Sidewinders (Diamondbacks) def. Round Rock Express (Astros) Mexican League: Leones de Yucatán AA Eastern League: Portland Sea Dogs Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits Texas League: Corpus Christi Hooks A-Advanced California League: Inland Empire 66ers Carolina League: Kinston Indians Florida State League: St. Lucie Mets Class A Midwest League: West Michigan Whitecaps South Atlantic League: Lakewood BlueClaws Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League: Staten Island Yankees Northwest League: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Rookie Appalachian League: Danville Braves Gulf Coast League: GCL Red Sox Pioneer League: Missoula Osprey Independent baseball leagues Alaska Baseball League: Peninsula Oilers American Association: Fort Worth Cats Atlantic League: Lancaster Barnstormers Canadian-American Association: Quebec Capitales Frontier League: Evansville Otters Golden Baseball League: Reno Silver Sox Northern League: Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks United League Baseball: Alexandria Aces Amateur College World Series Division I: Oregon State def. North Carolina Division II: Tampa def. Cal State Chico Division III: Marietta def. Wheaton (MA) NAIA: Lewis-Clark State def. Cumberland Youth Big League World Series: District 13 (Thousand Oaks, California) Junior League World Series: El Campo LL (El Campo, Texas) Little League World Series: Northern Little League (Columbus, Georgia) Senior League World Series: Paraguana LL (Punto