Josh Hamilton wins 2010 American League most valuable player award
On Tuesday 23 November, Josh Hamilton, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers was named the American League Most Valuable Player for 2010. The award is voted on annually by the Baseball Writers’
Association of America (BBWA). Hamilton received 22 of a possible 28 first place votes for the award. He finished second on four other ballots for 358 points in the voting.
Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers finished second in the voting with 262 points and five first place votes. Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees finished third in the voting, garnering
229 points. Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays finished fourth, with the one remaining first place vote and 165 points.
2010 was a good season for Hamilton and the Rangers. The team finished in first place in the American League West Division and went to the World Series for the first time in franchise
history. The Rangers fell to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, bowing out in five games.
Hamilton missed most of September due to fractured ribs, but his play up to that point was impressive enough to secure the MVP award. He led the A.L. with a batting average of .359 and
a slugging percentage of .633. Hamilton finished the season with 32 home runs, 100 RBI’s and a .411 on base percentage.
Hamilton has come a long way from the player that was almost out of baseball due to struggles with drugs and alcohol. Earlier in his career, after an injury, he became addicted to alcohol
and cocaine and did not play from 2003 to 2005. The Cincinnati Reds who selected him in the 2006 Rule 5 draft gave him a second chance. The Rule 5 draft occurs every year at the Winter Meeting of all major league baseball general managers. The Reds traded
Hamilton to the Rangers in 2007.
"I think I lose sight of things and I think if I didn't reflect a little ego might start sneaking in there and that's one thing I don't want to happen, so I do reflect and I think about
where I was at my lowest time and how God has brought me through that and sustained me," Hamilton said. "It's just awesome to think about where I am at this moment and where I was."
In addition to winning the A.L. MVP, Hamilton was one of three outfielders to take home the 2010 Silver Slugger award. The Silver Slugger goes to the best offensive player at their position
and is voted on by the major league coaches and general managers. Hamilton also took home the MVP award for his play against the New York Yankees during the American League Championship Series.
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