Winning baseball’s MVP Award usually has a lot more to do with your bat than your glove. Even so, some of the men who take home the MVP Award also have the added hardware of a Gold Glove. Added to it, these men have won the Silver Slugger Award. Seasons full of accolades, these are the five most reason times this Triple Crown of Awards has happened.
2009 – Joe Mauer
The 2009 season for catcher Joe Mauer was a very impressive one. Not only did he win the MVP, a Gold Glove, and the Silver Slugger he also managed to win a batting title with a .365 average. This was one of the best overall seasons a catcher has ever had and Mauer has the trophies to prove it.
2008 – Dustin Pedroia
In his third professional season second baseman Dustin Pedroia won the Triple Crown of Awards. This remains the only season he won the MVP and the Silver Slugger Award too. He accomplished this by leading the league in runs, hits, and doubles. This season was also his first Gold Glove Award of his career. He earned that by committing only 6 errors all season for a .992 fielding percentage.
2007 – Jimmy Rollins
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins had a breakthrough season in 2007 when he hit 30 home runs and drove in 94 runs from the leadoff spot while playing in all 162 games for the Philadelphia Phillies. Deservedly so Rollins took home three awards necessary to complete the trifecta. Since that 2007 season he has only again won the Gold Glove while not coming close to the other two awards.
2001 – Ichiro Suzuki
Coming over from Japan for his first season playing in Major League Baseball, Ichiro Suzuki immediately proved he belonged. He led the league in hits, stolen bases, and won the batting title on his way to earning the Triple Crown of Awards in 2001. In fact, Suzuki added one more to this as he also managed to take him the American League Rookie of the Year.
1999 – Ivan Rodriguez
Following five straight seasons of winning the Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger, catcher Ivan Rodriguez finally added an MVP Award to his resume to complete the trinity. Somehow the only category Rodriguez was the league leader in was double plays grounded into. This was not a big deal as he hit a career high 35 home runs with 113 RBIs and a .335 average on his way to winning the 1999 MVP. Of course his defensive skills are known to anyone who has ever even touched a baseball glove and no numbers could ever do justice how well he played behind the plate.
Sources:
Baseball Almanac
Baseball Reference
More from this contributor:
Ian Kinsler Vs. Dustin Pedroia: Who’s the Better Second Baseman?
Baseball America’s Top Prospects: How Many #1’s Are Hall of Fame Worthy?
First Overall MLB Draft Picks and the Hall of Fame
