Mike Trout named unanimous 2014 American League MVP
Trout Becomes Third Youngest Player in American League History to Win the Award
ANAHEIM, CA - Angels outfielder Mike Trout today was named the 2014 American League Most Valuable Player in an announcement made Thursday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). At 23 years and 52 days old at the end of the season, Trout is the third youngest A.L. player ever to win the award behind only Oakland's Vida Blue (22 years, 64 days) and Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr. (23 years, 39 days) - ELIAS.
Trout finished as the unanimous winner, garnering 420 points in the balloting process (30 1st place votes). He finished 191 points ahead of second place finisher Victor Martinez of the Detroit Tigers (229 points). Trout becomes just the 18th unanimous winner in the MVP voting process (10th in A.L. history) and the youngest ever to accomplish the feat. After finishing second in the MVP voting in both 2012 and 2013, Trout becomes just the fourth A.L. player to finish in the Top 2 of the MVP ballots in three or more consecutive seasons, joining Mickey Mantle (1960-62), Yogi Berra (1953-56) and Hal Newhouser (1944-46) - STATS.
The 23-year-old is the third player in Angels' history to earn the award, joining Vladimir Guerrero in 2004 and Don Baylor in 1979. The Angels are now one of three American League franchises since 2004 to have two different players win MVP honors, joining the Detroit Tigers (Justin Verlander in 2011 and Miguel Cabrera in 2012 & 2013) and Minnesota Twins (Justin Morneau in 2006 and Joe Mauer in 2009).
Trout completed the 2014 campaign batting .287 (173/602) with 115 runs scored, 39 doubles, nine triples, 36 home runs and 111 RBI. The Halo center fielder set career highs in home runs (T4th in A.L.), RBI (1st in A.L.) and extra base hits (84, 1st in A.L.) and matched his career bests in doubles (6th in A.L.) and triples (3rd in A.L.). He became the fourth player since 1901 with 115 runs scored, 35 doubles, five triples and 35 home runs in their age-22-year-old season or younger, joining Alex Rodriguez (1998), Joe DiMaggio (1937) and Hal Trosky (1934).
Trout was named to his third consecutive All-Star Game in 2014 and received the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award after going 2-for-3 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored. With his 2014 A.L. MVP honors, Trout becomes just the sixth player to ever win All-Star and League MVPs in the same season, joining Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991, Rogers Clemens in 1986, Steve Garvey in 1974, Willie McCovey in 1969 and Maury Wills in 1962.
A native of Millville, N.J., Trout is just the third major leaguer born in the Garden State to be named MVP, joining Brooklyn's Don Newcombe (1949) and St. Louis' Joe Medwick (1932).
At 23-years old, Trout's resume now includes an A.L. MVP Award (2014), an A.L. Rookie of the Year Award (2012), three All-Star Game nominations (2012-14), an All-Star Game MVP (2014), three Silver Slugger Awards (2012-14) and an A.L. Hank Aaron Award (2014).
Attached to the original email, media members can find a quote sheet with comments from Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, General Manager Jerry Dipoto, 2004 MVP Vladimir Guerrero, 1979 MVP and current Angels Hitting Coach Don Baylor, Assistant Hitting Coach Dave Hansen, Minor League Hitting Coordinator Paul Sorrento, three-time MVP Albert Pujols and 2010 A.L. MVP Josh Hamilton.