Sport: Baseball Inducted: 1980 Country: United States Born: March 1, 1925 in Spartanburg, South Carolina
In 1953,
the Cleveland Indians' Al Rosen was Major League Baseball's
first-ever unanimous selection as Most Valuable Player.
Having played parts of seasons from 1947 to 1949, Rosen became
the Indians' full-time third baseman in 1950 and proceeded
to knock in 100 or more runs for five consecutive seasons
(1950 to 1954). He led the American League in RBIs in 1952
(105) and 1953 (145).
Rosen was American League home run champion twice. In 1950,
considered his rookie season, he hammered 37 roundtrippers
and became the first American League rookie to win the home
run title. He again captured the long ball championship in
1953 with 43 homers, just missing the coveted Triple Crown
when his .336 batting average fell .0011 short of winning
the American League batting title.
Rosen led the American League in total bases in 1952 and
1953, and in slugging percentage in 1953. Four consecutive
times he was elected to the Major League All-Star Game (from
1952 to 1955), clubbing two home runs and five RBIs in the
1954 contest. Persistent injuries forced Rosen's premature
retirement following the Al "Flip" Rosen 1956
season.
