X-Nico

16 unusual facts about 2006 in baseball


Chevrolet Avalanche

A 2007 Avalanche was given away to the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Michael Young.

Corey Koskie

While the Brewers acquired a veteran infielder with a solid glove and bat to anchor their very young infield, Koskie's later seasons were marred by injuries, including missing most of the 2006 season with post-concussion syndrome.

Dan Uggla

Uggla began the 2006 season with the Marlins and had his first major league hit just three days later when he singled off Houston Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte.

Dom Chiti

2006 marked his first season as Rangers bullpen coach.

Jackson Senators

After the CBL disbanded, Jackson was left without a league for the 2006 season.

Jo-Jo Reyes

In 2006, Reyes went 8-1 with a 2.99 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 13 starts for Rome.

Juan Encarnación

Encarnación finished the 2006 season, his first with the Cardinals, batting .278 with 19 home runs and 79 RBI for the Cards, with 6 steals.

Mark Connor

Connor served as the bullpen coach of the Rangers from 2003–2005, and became the team's pitching coach in 2006.

Mike Quade

He was named to the Sun Belt Conference "All-time baseball team" as part of the Conference's 30th anniversary celebration in January 2006.

Mike Sarbaugh

In 2006, he became skipper of the Kinston Indians and won the league championship.

Reading Red Sox

Since 1967, the Philadelphia Phillies have based their AA affiliate in the city; it led the Eastern League in attendance in 2006.

Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings

In late 2005, United League Baseball announced that the WhiteWings would resume play as the first charter member of the new league in 2006.

Ron Jackson

The 2006 season marked his 18th year as a major league or minor league hitting coach, and his fourth with the Boston Red Sox.

Steve Finley

In 2006, at the age of 41, Finley became the oldest player ever to play more than 100 games in center field.

Steve Swetonic

As of 2006, Swetonic has one of the lowest ERA (3.81) of any major league pitcher coming out of University of Pittsburgh with more than 100 innings, behind Bob Malloy (3.26) and Doc Medich (3.77).

Víctor Santos

After two years with Milwaukee, he made an unusual route via the Kansas City Royals and the Rule 5 draft onto the major-league roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2006 season.