Angels gather franchise's MVPs to honor 2014 winner Trout
Hitting coach Baylor, Guerrero join slugger for on-field ceremony
ANAHEIM -- The Angels had their three American League Most Valuable Players together on the field for Saturday's ceremony to honor the 2014 winner, center fielder Mike Trout.
He was joined, before the Angels played the Rangers at Angel Stadium, by 1979 MVP Don Baylor (the Angels' hitting instructor) and 2004 MVP Vladimir Guerrero.
Angels skipper Mike Scioscia, who managed Trout and Guerrero and has Baylor on his coaching staff, was asked if the three have a common denominator, besides being great players.
"There is, although it might manifest in different ways, as far as the individuals," Scioscia said. "To play at that level, you have to have a confidence that's second to none. All of them had that.
"They all had the ability to bring it every day, which is hard to do, and have that much success. Young players should be inspired by being able to watch how Mike Trout plays the game."
Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, a three-time NL MVP with the Cardinals, said he didn't meet Guerrero until they played against each other in the Major Leagues. They're both from the Dominican Republic, but Guerrero, 40, is five years older than Pujols, who moved to Kansas City when he was 16.
"A nice man, from a nice family," Pujols said of his first on-field encounter with Guerrero, when Pujols was a rookie playing left field. "His mother used to cook for us in Montreal. And his brother, Wilton, played with us in St. Louis."
Pujols was 25 when he won his first MVP. Baylor was 30 when he won MVP for leading the Angels to their first division title and postseason appearance. Guerrero was 29 when he became the Angels' second MVP. Trout was in his age-22 season (he turned 23 in August).
Asked what it's like to be regarded as the game's best player at a young age, Pujols said: "You have ask Mike that question," but added: "For me, it was not like that to me. I didn't think of myself that way. I was blessed with the opportunity to play baseball, and my goal has always been to help 25 guys accomplish one thing, to win a World Series. I had a lot of great players with me in St. Louis [who were older] and helped me.
"They kept me grounded. Mike has a way about him, that he does the same thing."