KC Royals: Anniversary of George Brett’s 3rd batting title

What made this title historic is that Brett would become the first, and still only, player to win a batting title in three different decades.

By this point in his career, Brett was regulated to first base and designated hitter primarily, having relinquished the hot corner to Kevin Seitzer.  Three of the previous four seasons Brett had not eclipsed the .300 mark and he would not do so again his final three.

Another crazy aspect of this story is that Brett was hitting .248 as late as May 25th but went on a tear the second half of the season producing a nearly .400 clip.  It was a pretty close race as he edged Rickey Henderson who would finish with a .325 average. On top of the best hitter in the American League, he also led the majors in doubles with 45.

It would be the last season that Brett led the league in any category and his finest year since that 1985 season that brought the World Series trophy to Kansas City. A seventh-place finish in the MVP race, the fifth time he was in the top 10 in this voting, capped the otherwise disappointment that was the Royals season.

The 1990 season probably saved his career average to stay above the .300 mark.  If he would have collected roughly 30 fewer hits and batted closer to how he did the last three years he may have finished at .298 or .299.  Not that takes away the Hall of Fame career, but that is a nice resume builder.

Brett would go on to eclipse 3,000 hits in 1992 and had a nice final year swatting 19 home runs and finishing his career in a game against another legend, Nolan Ryan.  Chances are he will stand alone in winning a batting title in three different decades and that is a fitting tribute to the longevity and greatness of King George.