Mookie Betts was named AL MVP on Thursday, capping an incredible season for the Boston Red Sox outfielder.
Betts won essentially the highest individual and team honors of a season by taking home the league MVP award weeks after his team won the World Series. On top of that, Betts also won a Gold Glove award for his stellar defense, as well as a Silver Slugger award for being the best hitting player at his position.
According to Chris Cotillo, Betts joins Mike Schmidt (in 1980) as the only players to win those three awards and the World Series in the same season.
Betts won MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and World Series. Only other major-leaguer to ever do that is Mike Schmidt in 1980.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) November 15, 2018
Betts led the AL in runs (129), batting average (.346) and slugging percentage (.640), all of which were career-high marks. His 47 doubles, 32 homers, 30 stolen bases, 81 walks and 1.078 were also the best marks of his career.
What drove Betts to achieve the excellent season? He says his goal is to be the best right fielder ever.
Mookie Betts on his development as a RF on MLB Network awards show: ‘I’m a hard worker. I want to be the best to ever play right field.’ A rare admission of grand ambitions.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) November 15, 2018
He’s off to a great start in his career, though he has a long way to go to match the likes of Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, and of course Babe Ruth.
