CABRERA’S KING
Tiger first winner of Triple Crown since 1967; Yanks win AL East, A’s West,
KANSAS CITY, MO.— Miguel Cabrera became the 15th player to win baseball’s Triple Crown on Wednesday night, the reluctant superstar thrust into the spotlight after joining an elite list that includes Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig.
Cabrera’s milestone wasn’t official until the Yankees pinch hit for Curtis Granderson in their game against Boston. Granderson had homered twice to reach 43 for the year, tied with the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton and one shy of Cabrera.
Cabrera went 0 for 2 against the Royals before leaving in the fourth inning to a standing ovation. He finished the regular season with a .330 average, four points better the Angels’ Mike Trout, his biggest competition for MVP. Cabrera was the runaway leader with 139 RBIs.
Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski was the last player to achieve the Triple Crown in 1967.
“I am glad that he accomplished this while leading his team to the American League Central title,” Yastrzemski said in a statement. “I was fortunate enough to win this award in 1967 as part of the Red Sox’s ‘Impossible Dream Team.’ ”
The crowd at Kauffman Stadium gave Cabrera a standing ovation before he flied out in the first inning. He struck out in the fourth but stayed in the game, allowing manager Jim Leyland to remove him with two outs to another standing ovation from thousands of appreciative fans. Cabrera high-fived his teammates as he entered the Detroit dugout, then walked back to the top step and waved his helmet. When the milestone became official, it was displayed on the centre-field scoreboard to another standing ovation. “I would say without question he’s enjoyed it. How could you not enjoy what he’s done if you’re a baseball player?” Leyland said before the game. It takes a special breed to hit for average, power and in clutch situations, which is why only 14 other players have won the Triple Crown. “It’s pretty amazing,” said the Royals’ Alex Gordon, who’s watched the drama unfold from his spot in left field. “Honestly, his numbers are like that every year. He has a great average, great home runs, great RBIs. He’s a guy who can pull this off, and it’s great for the game.”