2001 Arizona Diamondbacks season

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 11$1⁄3$ 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

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.

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

NLDS
Arizona wins the series, 3-2

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:


 * All times in Mountain Standard Time.

Awards and honors
2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
 * 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

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)

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).