Former Players Make It Big
From Babe Ruth League Grad to Major League Superstar
Hundreds of players who are currently playing professional baseball began their career in their
local Babe Ruth League. These figures tacked on to former Major League players who at one
time played in Babe Ruth leagues, makes Babe Ruth League, Inc. one of the best represented
youth baseball programs in Major League Baseball.
Babe Ruth League proudly notes that 2014 was a banner year for some of its former players:
Angels’ Mike Trout Named American league mvp
Best player in baseball? That’s what a lot of people are saying about Millville,
New Jersey Babe Ruth League graduate Mike Trout, who just won his first
MVP award. Trout hits for average, hits for power, steals bases, steals home
runs from opposing batters, steals the spotlight on a team with many
outstanding players and inspires fans to wear silly fish-shaped hats. Trout, 23,
became the youngest unanimous
winner of the award and third
youngest to win it behind Vida Blue
and Cal Ripken, Jr. He is the third Angels player to be
selected MVP, joining Don Baylor and Vladimir
Guerrero. And he is the first player since Mickey
Mantle to win the award after two consecutive secondplace finishes.
The Angels posted the best record in the Major Leagues
this season. Trout hit a career-high 36 home runs and
led the league in runs scored (115) and runs batted in (111). He also led the league in extrabase hits, the first player to lead the AL in runs, RBIs and extra-base hits since Ken Griffey in
1997. He is the first player ever to hit 75 home runs, steal 75 bases and score 300 runs in his
first 400 career games.
In addition, Trout won a Silver Slugger Award for the outfield, an Aaron Award, and a Players
Choice Award for Outstanding Player.
Is Mike Trout the best player in baseball? Maybe? It seems Trout has been the best player in
baseball every single day he has been in the Majors. He is so good. Keep watching.
Congratulations to the following Babe Ruth graduates who won a Rawlings Gold Glove:
Zack Greinke From
Apoka, FL
Dustin Pedroia From
Woodland, CA
Congratulations to the following Babe Ruth graduates who won a Silver Slugger Award:
Michael Brantley
From Fort Pierce, FL
Madison Bumgarner
From Hickory, NC
Ian Desmond From
Sarasota, FL
Anthony Rendon
From Lamar, TX
Madison Bumgarner also won the NLCS MVP and World Series MVP awards.
Jimmy Rollins From
Oakland, CA
Congratulations to Jimmy Rollins for winning the Roberto Clemente Award.
The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes those who best represent the game
through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and
community involvement. Rollins has long supported J-Roll’s Aces, a charitable
ticket program, and the J-Roll’s Readers program, each of which is dedicated to
directly working with and enhancing the lives of inner-city students. Rollins has
also hosted major fundraisers to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. This season, Rollins passed Mike Schmidt and
became the franchise’s all-time hits leader.
Babe Ruth League is proud to recognize the achievements attained by our many graduates.
Their efforts are worthy of praise. Motivation involves a willingness to take chances, to
overcome obstacles, to explore choices and to assume responsibility for decisions. Motivation
leads to personal development with the end result being success. For a complete list of Babe
Ruth League players currently listed on Major League rosters, please visit
www.baberuthleague.org or refer to the Media Guide. If you know of anyone who played at the
local league level that is presently on a Major League roster, please send their name, local
league affiliation and Major League team to Babe Ruth League, Inc., attention Theresa Cleary,
P.O. Box 5000, Trenton, NJ 08638 or email [email protected].