Former Players Make It Big From League Grad to Major League Superstar

Hundreds of players who are currently playing professional began their career in their local . 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 .

Babe Ruth League proudly notes that 2014 was a banner year for some of its former players:

Angels’ Named mvp

Best player in baseball? That’s what a lot of people are saying about Millville, Babe Ruth League graduate Mike Trout, who just won his first MVP award. Trout hits for average, hits for power, steals bases, steals 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 and Cal Ripken, Jr. He is the third Angels player to be selected MVP, joining and . And he is the first player since to win the award after two consecutive second- place finishes.

The Angels posted the best record in the Major Leagues this . Trout 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 extra- base 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 for the , 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 day he has been in the Majors. He is so good. Keep watching. Congratulations to the following Babe Ruth graduates who won a Glove:

Zack Greinke From From Apoka, FL Woodland, CA

Congratulations to the following Babe Ruth graduates who won a Silver Slugger Award:

Madison Bumgarner From From Hickory, NC From Fort Pierce, FL Sarasota, FL From Lamar, TX

Madison Bumgarner also won the NLCS MVP and MVP awards.

Congratulations to for winning the Award. The 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 Jimmy Rollins From Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. This season, Rollins passed and Oakland, CA 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 , 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].