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By Kent Larsen
Mormon Kent Named Baseball MVP
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -- With the baseball season ended and the World
Series a fading memory, the votes of baseball sportswriters have been
counted, giving LDS Church member Jeff Kent the Most Valuable Player award
for the National League. Kent is a 9-year veteran second baseman for the San
Francisco Giants. He had a fantastic season, batting .334 and hitting 33
home runs and earning a major league record for the most RBIs by a second
baseman over a four-year period. He also became popular enough to be voted
on the National League's all-star team.
The award is Kent's first MVP, and one of two won by San Francisco Bay-area
teams, since the Oakland A's Jason Giambi won the American League's MVP this
year. This is the first time since 1959 that both awards were won in the
same geographical region.
Kent is not the first Mormon to win the MVP award. Atlanta Braves star Dale
Murphy won the National League MVP award in 1982 and 1983. Murphy is a
candidate for baseball's Hall of Fame, but is not considered likely to be
elected.
Source:
Bay Area has baseball magic of its own
Portland OR Oregonian (AP) 18Nov00 S2
By Greg Beacham: Associated Press
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