The World of Baseball

There are certain players you think about when it comes to certain teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). Some of these players are Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles and Tony Gwynn Sr. of the San Diego Padres. They spent their entire career with one franchise. When you talk about the Kansas City Royals, one player comes to mind. His name is George Brett. Brett played 21 seasons (1973-1993), all with the Royals.

George Brett came up to MLB in 1973. He led the American League (AL) in hits in 1975 and 1976. Brett won the AL batting title in 1976 (.333 average). He added some power to his hitting with 22 home runs in 1977. Brett helped the Royals win three straight AL West division titles from 1976 to 1978. They would lose to the New York Yankees each time in the AL Championship Series.

Brett would have his best season in 1980. He hit for a .390 average, which led the AL, with 24 home runs and 118 runs batted in. Brett also led the AL in on-base percentage (.454), slugging percentage (.664), and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.118). He won the 1980 AL MVP.

Brett won three AL batting titles in three different decades (1976, 1980, 1990). He led the AL in hits three times (1975, 1976, 1979). Brett led the AL in triples three times (1975, 1976, 1979) and doubles twice (1978, 1990). He topped the AL in slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage three times (1980, 1983, 1985). Brett has a career .337 average in the postseason with 10 home runs and 23 runs batted in.

George Brett became a member of the 3,000 hit club in 1992. He retired after the 1993 season. Brett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He is regarded as one of the greatest contact hitters of all time.