There are MLB players you associate with a specific team. Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles) is an example, as is George Brett (Kansas City Royals), the subject of this remembrance. Brett played MLB from 1973 to 1993, all with the Royals.
George Brett led the American League (AL) in hits in 1975 and 1976, and he won the AL batting title in 1976 with a .333 average. He added power to his hitting when he slugged 22 home runs in 1977. More importantly, Brett was a key player in the team’s success: the Royals won three straight AL West division titles from 1976 to 1978. They
Brett had his best season in 1980 when he was voted the AL MVP. He had a monster season, batting a league-leading .390 average with 24 home runs and 118 RBIs. He also led the AL in on-base percentage (.454), slugging percentage (.664), and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.118).
Testimony to Brett’s greatness is evidenced in the fact that he won AL batting titles in three different decades: the 1970s (1976), the 1980s (1980), and the 1990s (1990).
Brett also led the AL in hits three times (1975, 1976, 1979), triples three times (1975, 1976, 1979), doubles twice (1978, 1990), slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging percentage three times (1980, 1983, 1985).
His career postseason numbers are extraordinary: .337 average with 10 home runs and 23 runs batted in. He is also a member of the MLB 3000 hit club, having achieved that level in 1992. Brett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, six years after he retired from the game.
What’s the best way to describe Brett’s standing in the game? I think he’s one of the greatest contact hitters of all time.
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The original version of this article was published on Anthony’s blog.
