The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, in their fourth year of existence, looked to improve on their 2000 season. They had to contend in what was a strong National League West.
Arizona had the best one-two pitching combination in the majors: Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, who combined for 43 victories. Outfielder Luis Gonzalez slugged 57 home runs. They finished the regular season with a record of 92-70, which was good enough for the division title.
In the playoffs, they won their NLDS matchup vs. St. Louis on a walk-off hit by Tony Womack. They defeated the Braves in five games in the NLCS. In the World Series, they won a dramatic seven-game series against the New York Yankees on a walk-off hit by Gonzalez, against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The Arizona Diamondbacks became the fastest expansion franchise in Major League history to win a World Series title in just their fourth season. The championship remains the only one won by an Arizona-based sports team.
Offseason
November 2, 2000: Ken Huckaby was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
December 8, 2000: Mark Grace signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
December 15, 2000: Midre Cummings was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
March 8, 2001: Mike Mohler was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Spring training
The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks held their 4th spring training at Tucson Electric Park in Tucson, Arizona.
Regular season
Randy Johnson recorded 20 strikeouts in nine innings against the Cincinnati Reds on May 8, 2001. Johnson shares the record with Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, and most recently Max Scherzer.
On July 19, 2001, Johnson set another record when the previous night's game against the San Diego Padres was delayed by two electrical explosions that knocked out a light tower in Qualcomm Stadium. When the game resumed the following day, Johnson replaced the original starter Curt Schilling in the top of the third inning. He pitched the next seven innings and struck out 16 Padres. Johnson set a new record for strikeouts in a relief appearance, a record that was set 88 years previously by Walter Johnson, who struck out 15 batters in 111⁄3 innings on July 25, 1913.
Johnson went on to win 20 games for the second time in his career while striking out over 300 hitters for the fourth consecutive year. On October 2, 2001, Randy Johnson earned his 200th career win.
Opening Day starters
Jay Bell
David Dellucci
Steve Finley
Luis Gonzalez
Mark Grace
Damian Miller
Randy Johnson
Matt Williams
Tony Womack
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions
June 5, 2001: Dan Uggla was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the 2001 amateur draft. The player signed June 6, 2001.
June 5, 2001: Ian Kinsler was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 26th round of the 2001 amateur draft, but did not sign.
Roster
Game log
Player stats
Batting
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Post season
NLDS
Arizona wins the series, 3-2
NLCS
World series
Game 1
October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
Game 2
October 28, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
Game 3
October 30, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York
Game 4
October 31, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York City
Game 5
November 1, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York
Game 6
November 3, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
Game 7
November 4, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
Game log
Notes:
Game times
Umpires
Awards and honors
Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, Pitchers, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, Pitchers, World Series Most Valuable Player
Craig Counsell, National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player
Luis Gonzalez, National League Silver Slugger Award
Randy Johnson, National League Cy Young Award
Curt Schilling, Hutch Award
Curt Schilling, Pitcher, Roberto Clemente Award
2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
League leaders
Luis Gonzalez
#3 in NL in home runs (57)
#3 in NL in RBI (142)
#3 in NL in slugging percentage (.688)
#4 in NL in runs scored (128)
Randy Johnson
Led MLB in ERA (2.49)
Led MLB in strikeouts (372)
#3 in NL in wins (21)
Curt Schilling
Led MLB in wins (22)
Led NL in complete games (6)
#2 in NL in ERA (2.98)
#2 in NL in strikeouts (293)
Media
Local TV
Local Cable TV
Local Radio
-Some 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks radio network games broadcast on alternate flagship station KKLT-FM because of broadcast conflict with the (Phoenix Suns) of the (NBA) and the (Arizona Cardinals) of the (NFL).
Farm system
References
External links
Arizona Diamondbacks official web site Archived January 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
2001 Arizona Diamondbacks team at Baseball Reference
2001 Arizona Diamondbacks team page at www.baseball-almanac.com