Josh Hamilton named AL MVP | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

In the latest chapter of an amazing story, Texas Rangers outfielderJosh Hamiltonwas honored Tuesday as the American League Most Valuable Player.

Hamilton, who lost four years of his career to drug and alcohol addiction, received 22 of the 28 first-place votes. He hit .359 with 32 home runs and 100 runs batted in, leading the major leagues in batting average, slugging percentage (.633) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.044).

Miguel Cabreraof the Detroit Tigers got five first-place votes and finished second, with Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees finishing third.Jose Bautistaof the Toronto Blue Jays got the lone remaining first-place vote and finished fourth.

No Angel was among the 20 players receiving votes. The ballot required voters to list 10 choices.

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Hamilton with the first overall pick of the 1999 draft, but a combination of injuries and suspensions derailed his career. In 2006, he played 15 games at the Class A level, his first competitive action in four years.

The Cincinnati Reds acquired him via the Rule 5 draft, forcing them to keep him in the major leagues or risk losing him. He hit .292 with 19 home runs in 2007. The Reds then traded him to the Rangers for pitcherEdinson Volquez. In Texas, Hamilton established himself as one of the game's elite players.

Source