MLB 2001 Season Starting Line-ups Quiz

Answer: Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians finished their 2001 season as winners of the American League Central Division with a 91-71 record. The highlight of the regular season for Cleveland was August 5th, when they completed what has become known as "The Impossible Return" against the Seattle Mariners. Cleveland came from 12 runs down in the 7th inning to win the game in extra innings.

The Mariners finished the season tied for the most wins in MLB history with the 1906 Chicago Cubs at 116 wins, making that loss even more disappointing. Cleveland would face Seattle in the American League Division series, where the Mariners would get revenge for that devastating loss by winning the series three games to two.

Answer: St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals went 93-69 and tied the Houston Astros for the National League Central title. St. Louis was awarded a wild card spot in the postseason, while Houston claimed the division title with the better head-to-head record against St. Louis. The Cards were knocked out of the National League Division series by the eventual World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks.

Answer: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers finished the 2001 season in third place in the National League Western Division, despite being 10 games over .500 at 86-76. Los Angeles placed behind the San Francisco Giants led by Barry Bond, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who would go on to win the World Series in seven games over the New York Yankees.

Answer: Minnesota Twins

Minnesota finished their 2001 campaign in second place in the American League Central Division behind the Cleveland Indians. The Twins finished with a record of 85-77, six games behind Cleveland. Minnesota would fail to clinch a postseason spot, as the Oakland A's would run away with the American League wild card with 102 wins.

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati had a rough 2001 season, finishing the year tied for the fourth worst record in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers at 66-96. The Reds finished fourth in the National League Central division, with only the Pittsburgh Pirates finishing with a worse record in the division. Pittsburgh finished tied with the worst record in baseball with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, with both teams finishing at 62-100.

Answer: Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves were National League Eastern division champions in 2001 with a record of 88-74. Despite having the worst record among all playoff teams, the Braves still clinched their seventh straight NL East title. They would sweep the Houston Astros three games to none in the National League Divisional series, before falling to the World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Championship series.

Answer: Texas Rangers

The 2001 season was not a good one to the Texas Rangers, as they would finish last in the American League Western division with a 73-89. The only bright spot for the Rangers in 2001 was the American League home run title coming to Texas via Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez mashed 52 home runs for the Rangers in 2001, second only to Barry Bonds' record setting mark of 73 with the San Francisco Giants.

Answer: Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers finished fourth in the National League Central Division with a 68-94 record. Only the Reds and Pirates finished the season with a worse record in the NL Central. There were six teams in the NL Central until the divisions were realigned to place the Houston Astros in the AL West for the 2013 season.

Answer: San Diego Padres

San Diego finished 2001 fourth in the National League Western division with a 79-83 record. The NL West as a division finished as the strongest in the National League, with all 5 teams in the division finishing with at least 70 wins, the only NL division to do so.

The AL West was the strongest division in 2001, with the same claim of the only AL division with each team having at least 70 wins.

Answer: Chicago Cubs

The Cubs missed out on the 2001 postseason finishing third in the National League Central division, behind division champion Houston, and wild card winner St. Louis. Sammy Sosa of the Cubs finished the season as the RBI leader of the National League with 160, the only silver lining to a disappointing 2001 season for Chicago.