Clayton Kershaw becomes first pitcher in 46 years to win NL MVP
NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw wins MVP, too
For the first time in 46 years, a pitcher is the National League's Most Valuable Player.
Just 24 hours after winning his third (and second consecutive) NL Cy Young Award as the league's best pitcher, Clayton Kershaw took home the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award as the Baseball Writers' Association of America's top player at any postition in the NL.
Kershaw's 2014 was nothing short of spectacular: he led all MLB pitchers in wins, ERA, CG, ERA+, FIP, WHIP and K/BB. Also, he threw a no-hitter in June that is the second-best nine-inning performance by any pitcher ever.
And -- if all that wasn't enough for you -- he hit a triple, stole a base and went first-to-third on Bryce Harper.
Kershaw is the 22nd pitcher to win an MVP (though three guys won it twice, so it's the 25th time it's happened) and the first to do so in the NL since Bob Gibson won it with the 1968 Cardinals.
For those of you keeping score at home, Kershaw's got 98 days to enjoy his emphatic 2014 campaign before pitchers and catchers report and he starts his quest for the only trophy in baseball not currently resting atop his fireplace.