MVP Card Answers
Card #1: This NY Yankee was the AL MVP in 2005, but he was also the
AL MVP in 2003 for the Texas Rangers.
Alex Rodriguez played his first major league baseball game at age 18 and became the starting shortstop for the Seattle Mariners at age 20. Nicknamed "A-Rod," he hit .358 with 36 homers in 1996, his first full season in the majors. Rodriguez played well for the Rangers (winning the American League MVP award in 2003), but the team finished last in its division for three straight years, and some felt that Rodriguez's mammoth contract had hobbled the team. In 2004 Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees, where he moved to third base to play alongside Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter.
Card #2: This 1983 AL MVP was known as baseball's "Ironman" while he played
for the Baltimore Orioles.
Cal Ripken earned the nickname "Iron Man" by playing in a record 2632 consecutive major league baseball games. The string ran from May 30, 1982 to September 19, 1998, when Ripken voluntarily sat out a game. The record was previously held by the legendary Lou Gehrig, who played in 2130 straight games; Ripken passed him on September 7, 1995. Ripken has played his entire major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, amassing more than 3000 hits and 400 home runs.
Card #3: This 1949 AL MVP was the first African-American to play in the Major
Leagues.
Jackie Robinson was the first African-American of the modern era to play in baseball's major leagues. Only white players were accepted in the major leagues until 1947, when Robinson was called up to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was named Rookie of the Year and went on to appear in six World Series in ten seasons with the Dodgers (1947-56). Other major league teams soon followed Brooklyn's lead and hired black players of their own. Robinson's stellar play, and his role in breaking the color barrier, led to his 1962 induction as the first African-American in baseball's Hall of Fame.
Card #4: This 2005 NL MVP is said to have the "Perfect Swing."
José Alberto Pujols (born January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball player with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is widely regarded as one of the best offensive players in the game and hits consistently for average and power. In recent years he has also become an above-average defensive player at first base. On August 5th, 2005, Pujols became the first player in Major League history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first five seasons. On August 31st of that year, he became the first Major League player since Ted Williams to reach the 100 RBI mark in each of his first five seasons.
