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4 Feb 2008
Heavyweights: A Look Back at 2004
2006-01-17 09:24
by Ken Arneson

Here at Catfish Stew, we followed the MLB Heavyweight Championships during the 2005 season. This is where we treat the MLB championships like boxing: if you beat the champ, you're the new champ. The A's ended up being the 2005 Heavyweight of the Year, with the most title bout victories. The final champ was the World Series Champs, the Chicago White Sox.

Now I'm going to go back and look at previous Heavyweight seasons. We'll begin with 2004. 2004 was dominated by the Houston Astros, who grabbed the title on August 30, and then steamrolled through the entire month of September. They won both the Heavyweight of the Year, and the Final Champ honors.

The "pivot game" took place on June 17, when the Cardinals beat the A's 5-4. Jim Mecir coughed up three runs in the bottom of the ninth without retiring a batter. (Shortly thereafter, because of late-inning failures such as this, the A's traded for Octavio Dotel.) The schedule never gave the American League another opportunity to fight for the crown.

2004 Heavyweight of the Year: Houston Astros
Final 2004 Regular Season Champ: Houston Astros

2004 Heavyweight Standings:

 W  L Team
34 13 HOU
22 20 FLO
21 27 CIN
20 10 ATL
19 19 PIT
13 14 SLN
11 13 MON
 4  9 ARI
 4 14 MIL
 6  3 OAK
 3 10 NYN
 2  1 SFN
 2  5 PHI
 0  3 COL

Game Logs

20040406: MON 3, FLO 4.  Champ: FLO.
20040407: MON 3, FLO 2.  Champ: MON.
20040408: MON 0, FLO 3.  Champ: FLO.
20040409: PHI 3, FLO 4.  Champ: FLO.
20040410: PHI 3, FLO 5.  Champ: FLO.
20040411: PHI 1, FLO 3.  Champ: FLO.
20040413: FLO 5, MON 0.  Champ: FLO.
20040414: FLO 9, MON 0.  Champ: FLO.
20040415: FLO 3, MON 0.  Champ: FLO.
20040416: FLO 4, ATL 5.  Champ: ATL.
20040417: FLO 1, ATL 4.  Champ: ATL.
20040418: FLO 2, ATL 3.  Champ: ATL.
20040420: ATL 2, CIN 3.  Champ: CIN.
20040421: ATL 9, CIN 5.  Champ: ATL.
20040422: ATL 3, CIN 5.  Champ: CIN.
20040423: CIN 6, PIT 4.  Champ: CIN.
20040424: CIN 9, PIT 7.  Champ: CIN.
20040425: CIN 0, PIT 6.  Champ: PIT.
20040426: CIN 5, PIT 2.  Champ: CIN.
20040427: CIN 8, MIL 9.  Champ: MIL.
20040428: CIN 9, MIL 10.  Champ: MIL.
20040430: PIT 4, MIL 2.  Champ: PIT.
20040501: PIT 8, MIL 7.  Champ: PIT.
20040502: PIT 4, MIL 3.  Champ: PIT.
20040504: PIT 3, HOU 4.  Champ: HOU.
20040505: PIT 2, HOU 6.  Champ: HOU.
20040506: PIT 2, HOU 5.  Champ: HOU.
20040507: HOU 5, ATL 3.  Champ: HOU.
20040508: HOU 4, ATL 5.  Champ: ATL.
20040509: HOU 2, ATL 1.  Champ: HOU.
20040511: FLO 1, HOU 6.  Champ: HOU.
20040512: FLO 5, HOU 2.  Champ: FLO.
20040513: FLO 3, HOU 2.  Champ: FLO.
20040514: FLO 3, SLN 6.  Champ: SLN.
20040515: FLO 0, SLN 4.  Champ: SLN.
20040516: FLO 3, SLN 2.  Champ: FLO.
20040518: HOU 9, FLO 2.  Champ: HOU.
20040519: HOU 10, FLO 2.  Champ: HOU.
20040520: HOU 2, FLO 6.  Champ: FLO.
20040521: ARI 5, FLO 6.  Champ: FLO.
20040522: ARI 2, FLO 11.  Champ: FLO.
20040523: ARI 4, FLO 3.  Champ: ARI.
20040524: ARI 5, FLO 13.  Champ: FLO.
20040525: FLO 2, CIN 5.  Champ: CIN.
20040526: FLO 3, CIN 0.  Champ: FLO.
20040527: FLO 5, CIN 2.  Champ: FLO.
20040528: NYN 1, FLO 2.  Champ: FLO.
20040529: NYN 2, FLO 3.  Champ: FLO.
20040530: NYN 6, FLO 8.  Champ: FLO.
20040531: CIN 9, FLO 7.  Champ: CIN.
20040601: CIN 7, FLO 6.  Champ: CIN.
20040602: CIN 3, FLO 1.  Champ: CIN.
20040604: MON 4, CIN 2.  Champ: MON.
20040605: MON 3, CIN 6.  Champ: CIN.
20040606: MON 5, CIN 6.  Champ: CIN.
20040607: CIN 2, OAK 13.  Champ: OAK.
20040608: CIN 6, OAK 10.  Champ: OAK.
20040609: CIN 8, OAK 17.  Champ: OAK.
20040611: PIT 1, OAK 6.  Champ: OAK.
20040612: PIT 11, OAK 12.  Champ: OAK.
20040613: PIT 3, OAK 13.  Champ: OAK.
20040615: OAK 4, SLN 8.  Champ: SLN.
20040616: OAK 2, SLN 6.  Champ: SLN.
20040617: OAK 4, SLN 5.  Champ: SLN.  (Pivot game)
20040618: CIN 3, SLN 4.  Champ: SLN.
20040619: CIN 2, SLN 9.  Champ: SLN.
20040620: CIN 6, SLN 0.  Champ: CIN.
20040622: CIN 4, NYN 7.  Champ: NYN.
20040623: CIN 6, NYN 4.  Champ: CIN.
20040624: CIN 6, NYN 2.  Champ: CIN.
20040625: PIT 4, CIN 6.  Champ: CIN.
20040626: PIT 1, CIN 0.  Champ: PIT.
20040627: PIT 14, CIN 4.  Champ: PIT.
20040628: SLN 1, PIT 2.  Champ: PIT.
20040629: SLN 0, PIT 3.  Champ: PIT.
20040630: SLN 5, PIT 6.  Champ: PIT.
20040702: MIL 1, PIT 8.  Champ: PIT.
20040702: MIL 2, PIT 13.  Champ: PIT.
20040703: MIL 3, PIT 5.  Champ: PIT.
20040704: MIL 2, PIT 6.  Champ: PIT.
20040705: PIT 3, FLO 1.  Champ: PIT.
20040706: PIT 3, FLO 6.  Champ: FLO.
20040707: PIT 4, FLO 3.  Champ: PIT.
20040708: PIT 1, MON 2.  Champ: MON.
20040709: PIT 11, MON 0.  Champ: PIT.
20040710: PIT 0, MON 4.  Champ: MON.
20040711: PIT 1, MON 2.  Champ: MON.
20040715: MON 0, ATL 8.  Champ: ATL.
20040716: MON 5, ATL 1.  Champ: MON.
20040717: MON 2, ATL 6.  Champ: ATL.
20040718: MON 5, ATL 16.  Champ: ATL.
20040719: PHI 2, ATL 4.  Champ: ATL.
20040720: PHI 4, ATL 3.  Champ: PHI.
20040721: FLO 1, PHI 2.  Champ: PHI.
20040722: FLO 10, PHI 8.  Champ: FLO.
20040723: FLO 1, MON 2.  Champ: MON.
20040724: FLO 2, MON 6.  Champ: MON.
20040725: FLO 4, MON 6.  Champ: MON.
20040726: NYN 10, MON 19.  Champ: MON.
20040727: NYN 4, MON 2.  Champ: NYN.
20040728: NYN 4, MON 7.  Champ: MON.
20040729: NYN 10, MON 1.  Champ: NYN.
20040730: NYN 1, ATL 3.  Champ: ATL.
20040731: NYN 0, ATL 8.  Champ: ATL.
20040801: NYN 5, ATL 6.  Champ: ATL.
20040803: ATL 2, HOU 3.  Champ: HOU.
20040804: ATL 5, HOU 4.  Champ: ATL.
20040805: ATL 6, HOU 5.  Champ: ATL.
20040806: ATL 4, ARI 2.  Champ: ATL.
20040807: ATL 6, ARI 2.  Champ: ATL.
20040808: ATL 11, ARI 4.  Champ: ATL.
20040810: MIL 3, ATL 2.  Champ: MIL.
20040811: MIL 3, ATL 10.  Champ: ATL.
20040812: MIL 2, ATL 4.  Champ: ATL.
20040813: SLN 4, ATL 1.  Champ: SLN.
20040814: SLN 7, ATL 9.  Champ: ATL.
20040815: SLN 10, ATL 4.  Champ: SLN.
20040816: CIN 5, SLN 10.  Champ: SLN.
20040817: CIN 2, SLN 7.  Champ: SLN.
20040818: CIN 5, SLN 4.  Champ: CIN.
20040820: CIN 2, ARI 0.  Champ: CIN.
20040821: CIN 1, ARI 2.  Champ: ARI.
20040822: CIN 11, ARI 1.  Champ: CIN.
20040824: SLN 3, CIN 4.  Champ: CIN.
20040825: SLN 6, CIN 5.  Champ: SLN.
20040826: SLN 0, CIN 1.  Champ: CIN.
20040827: ARI 4, CIN 3.  Champ: ARI.
20040828: ARI 6, CIN 3.  Champ: ARI.
20040829: ARI 2, CIN 6.  Champ: CIN.
20040830: HOU 11, CIN 3.  Champ: HOU.
20040831: HOU 8, CIN 0.  Champ: HOU.
20040901: HOU 9, CIN 3.  Champ: HOU.
20040903: PIT 6, HOU 8.  Champ: HOU.
20040904: PIT 5, HOU 6.  Champ: HOU.
20040905: PIT 5, HOU 10.  Champ: HOU.
20040906: CIN 5, HOU 11.  Champ: HOU.
20040907: CIN 7, HOU 9.  Champ: HOU.
20040908: CIN 2, HOU 5.  Champ: HOU.
20040909: HOU 1, PIT 3.  Champ: PIT.
20040909: HOU 9, PIT 2.  Champ: HOU.
20040910: HOU 1, PIT 6.  Champ: PIT.
20040911: HOU 2, PIT 5.  Champ: PIT.
20040912: HOU 5, PIT 4.  Champ: HOU.
20040914: HOU 7, SLN 5.  Champ: HOU.
20040915: HOU 2, SLN 4.  Champ: SLN.
20040916: HOU 8, SLN 3.  Champ: HOU.
20040917: MIL 1, HOU 2.  Champ: HOU.
20040918: MIL 3, HOU 4.  Champ: HOU.
20040919: MIL 0, HOU 1.  Champ: HOU.
20040921: HOU 2, SFN 9.  Champ: SFN.
20040922: HOU 1, SFN 5.  Champ: SFN.
20040923: HOU 7, SFN 3.  Champ: HOU.
20040924: HOU 1, MIL 0.  Champ: HOU.
20040925: HOU 0, MIL 8.  Champ: MIL.
20040926: HOU 11, MIL 7.  Champ: HOU.
20040927: SLN 3, HOU 10.  Champ: HOU.
20040928: SLN 1, HOU 2.  Champ: HOU.
20040929: SLN 4, HOU 6.  Champ: HOU.
20041001: COL 2, HOU 4.  Champ: HOU.
20041002: COL 3, HOU 9.  Champ: HOU.
20041003: COL 3, HOU 5.  Champ: HOU.

Comments
2006-01-17 12:16:07
1.   De Ruijter
This year, didn't the Heavyweight crown go on into the playoffs (IE, so that Chicago defended it successfully against Houston in the Series)? And if so, shouldn't Boston be the heavyweight champ of 2004, beating St. Louis for it?

It's funny how two years in a row, the team who won an arbitrary title was also the Series champion.

2006-01-17 13:13:20
2.   Ken Arneson
The "Heavyweight of the Year" title goes to the team with the most regular season title bout victories. That's to separate it from the World Series champs, who everybody knows about already.

In 2004, the Astros ended the regular season as the champs. But of course, they didn't end up the post season as the champs. The 2005 season began with the Red Sox as the defending champion, since they won the 2004 World Series.

In 2005, the White Sox ended the regular season as the heavyweight champs, and then ended up winning the World Series, as well. I'm not sure how unusual that is, but we'll find out as I work backwards through this.

2006-01-17 13:15:39
3.   Ken Arneson
Reading that again, I'm not sure I answered your question. I'll try again.

If the last regular season champ doesn't make the playoffs, they abdicate their title to the team that wins the World Series. So each season begins with the previous World Series champs as the reigning champs.

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