George Brett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Brett |
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Brett in 2017
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| Third baseman / Designated hitter / First baseman | |||
| Born: May 15, 1953 Glen Dale, West Virginia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 2, 1973, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1993, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .305 | ||
| Hits | 3,154 | ||
| Home runs | 317 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,596 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1999 | ||
| Vote | 98.2% (first ballot) | ||
George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953) is a famous American former professional baseball player. He played for 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. All his career was spent with the Kansas City Royals.
Brett is known for his amazing hitting skills. He has 3,154 career hits, which is the second most by any third baseman in MLB history. He is one of only five players ever to get 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a .300 career batting average.
He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He is the only player in MLB history to win a batting title in three different decades. George Brett also helped the Royals win the 1985 World Series. Later, he won another World Series ring in 2015 when the Royals won again.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
George Brett was born in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He was the youngest of four brothers in a family that loved sports. His older brother, Ken Brett, became a major league pitcher. His other brothers, John and Bobby, also played baseball in the minor leagues.
The Brett family moved to El Segundo, California, near Los Angeles. George grew up wanting to play baseball just like his older brothers. He finished high school in 1971. That same year, the Kansas City Royals picked him in the baseball draft.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting in the Minor Leagues
George Brett began his professional career as a shortstop. But he soon moved to third baseman because of his strong throwing arm. He played for teams like the Billings Mustangs and the San Jose Bees. By 1973, he was playing for the Omaha Royals.
Joining the Kansas City Royals (1973–1993)
First Years in the Big Leagues
The Royals called Brett up to the major leagues on August 2, 1973. He played his first game against the Chicago White Sox. In 1974, he became the team's starting third baseman. He worked with batting coach Charley Lau to improve his hitting. This helped him become a much better player. He finished that year with a .282 batting average.
Becoming a Star Player (1975–1979)
In 1975, Brett hit over .300 for the first time. He led the league in hits and triples. Then, in 1976, he won his first batting title with a .333 average. He beat out three other players on the very last day of the season!
From May 8 to May 13, 1976, Brett had three or more hits in six games in a row. This set a major league record. He was also chosen for his first of 13 All-Star teams. The Royals won their division three years in a row, often playing against the New York Yankees in the playoffs.
In 1977, Brett became a power hitter, hitting 22 home runs. In 1978, he hit three home runs in one playoff game against the Yankees. This was a rare feat! In 1979, he had another great season, hitting .329 and leading the league in hits and triples.
The Amazing 1980 Season
The year 1980 was one of George Brett's best. He won the American League MVP award. He batted an incredible .390, which is a modern record for a third baseman. Many people watched to see if he could hit .400 for the whole season, a feat not achieved since 1941.
Brett also had 118 runs batted in (RBI) in only 117 games. This means he averaged more than one RBI per game. He started the season slowly but heated up in June and July. He hit .494 in July, even after missing a month due to a foot injury. His batting average was still above .400 as late as September 19. He finished the season at .390.
1980 Postseason Success
In the 1980 postseason, Brett led the Royals to their first American League pennant. They swept the Yankees in three games. This was a big win because the Yankees had beaten the Royals in the playoffs before. In Game 3, Brett hit a huge home run far into the stands at Yankee Stadium.
The Royals then played in the 1980 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Brett hit .375 in the series, but the Royals lost in six games. During the series, Brett had to leave a game due to a health issue. He had minor surgery and famously said, "my problems are all behind me."
The Pine Tar Incident
One of the most famous moments in Brett's career was the "Pine Tar Incident" on July 24, 1983. In a game against the Yankees, Brett hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning. This put the Royals ahead.
However, the Yankees manager said that the pine tar on Brett's bat was too long. Pine tar is a sticky substance players use for grip. The umpires measured the bat, and the pine tar was longer than allowed. The umpire called Brett out, which meant the Yankees won the game.
Brett was very angry and rushed out of the dugout. The Royals protested the decision. The American League president agreed that the home run should count. So, the game was continued later from the point of the home run, and the Royals ended up winning!
World Series Champions in 1985
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In 1985, Brett had another fantastic season. He helped lead the Royals to their second American League Championship. He batted .335 with 30 home runs and 112 RBI. He also won his only Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense at third base. He finished second in the AL MVP voting.
Brett was named the MVP of the 1985 playoffs against the Toronto Blue Jays. He had an amazing Game 3, hitting two home runs and a double. The Royals came back from being down in the series to win.
In the 1985 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Brett hit .370. The Royals again came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. This was the first World Series championship in their history!
Later Career and Retirement (1986–1993)
In 1988, Brett moved to first base to help prevent injuries. He still had a great season, hitting .306 with 24 home runs. In 1990, after a slow start, he had a strong finish. He batted .386 for the rest of the season and won his third batting title with a .329 average. This made him the only player to win batting titles in three different decades.
Brett played three more seasons, mostly as a designated hitter. In 1992, he reached the amazing milestone of 3,000 career hits. He retired after the 1993 season. In his very last at-bat, he hit a single. His final game was also the last game ever played at Arlington Stadium.
Hall of Fame Recognition
George Brett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He received a very high percentage of votes (98.2%). This was one of the highest voting percentages in baseball history at the time. His number 5 jersey was retired by the Royals on May 14, 1994. He was only the second player in Royals history to have his number retired.
George Brett's Legacy
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| George Brett's number 5 was retired by the Kansas City Royals in 1994. |
George Brett's 3,154 career hits are the second most by a third baseman. He is considered one of the best third basemen of all time. In 1999, he was ranked among the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He is one of only five players in MLB history with 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a .300 career batting average.
Brett was also an excellent hitter in the postseason. In 43 playoff games, he batted .337 with 10 home runs.
A photo of George Brett signing baseballs inspired the New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde's 2013 song "Royals." This song later won a Grammy Award.
The Mendoza Line
George Brett helped make the phrase "Mendoza Line" famous. This term is used in baseball to describe a batting average below .200. This is usually considered a very low average for a major league player. The phrase comes from shortstop Mario Mendoza, who often had a batting average around .200.
Brett mentioned the Mendoza Line in an interview. This was then picked up by ESPN and became a well-known phrase in sports.
After Baseball
After his playing career, George Brett became a vice president for the Royals. He has also worked as a part-time coach and special instructor. He helps young players develop their skills. He also runs a baseball equipment company called Brett Bros. with his brothers.
Brett has continued to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He has supported this cause since the mid-1980s.
In 2013, Brett became a batting coach for the Royals for a short time. Later that year, he became the vice president of baseball operations. In 2015, he received an award for his support of U.S. military service members.
Brett has also appeared as himself in TV shows like Modern Family and Brockmire. He is also a guest on the podcast Pardon My Take.
Team Ownership
In 1998, George Brett and his brother Bobby tried to buy the Kansas City Royals. While that didn't happen, Brett is now a principal owner of the Tri-City Dust Devils. This is a minor league baseball team. He and his brother Bobby also own other minor league baseball teams and a hockey team.
Personal Life
In 1992, George Brett married Leslie Davenport. They live in Mission Hills, Kansas. They have three sons named Jackson, Dylan, and Robin.
See also
In Spanish: George Brett para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball annual batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
