2005 Major League Baseball season


The 2005 Major League Baseball season was notable for the league's new steroid policy in the wake of the BALCO scandal, which enforced harsher penalties than ever before for steroid use in Major League Baseball. Several players, including veteran Rafael Palmeiro, were suspended under the new policy. Besides steroids it was also notable that every team in the NL East division finished the season with at least 81 wins. Additionally it was the first season featuring a baseball team in Washington, D.C. after more than 4 decades, with the Washington Nationals having moved from Montreal.
The Anaheim Angels changed their name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The season ended when the Chicago White Sox defeated the Houston Astros in a four-game sweep in the World Series, winning their first championship since 1917.
As of the 2019 season, this is the last season in which no no-hit games were pitched; 2005 was also only the 6th year since 1949 in which no such games were thrown.

Major league baseball final standings

The standings in the National League East were quite notable because all the teams in that division finished with at least a.500 record. The San Diego Padres' record of 82–80 was also notable as it was the worst ever by a division champion in a full-length season.

American League

National League

Postseason

The playoffs began on October 4, and ended on October 26. For more information, see the following articles:

Statistical leaders

Batting

Team

Individual

Pitching

Team

Individual

Managers

[American League]

[National League]

±hosted the MLB All Star Game

Awards and honors

Other awards

Pitcher of the Month

Rookie of the Month

Events

• April 29 - The highly anticipated matchup of Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros vs. Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs took place at Minute Maid Park, two of the most acclaimed pitchers of the modern era. Both Clemens and Maddux had 300 career wins at this point in their careers, a feat that is arguably impossible for modern era pitchers to achieve since the advent of middle and closing relief rosters. The Cubs went on to win the game 3-2.