Altuve, Verlander share Babe Ruth Award as postseason co-MVPs
Jose Altuve and Justin Verlander "literally" love each other, and now they literally share an award together.
The Houston Astros teammates each enjoyed stellar playoff runs for the World Series champion, and on Wednesday they were voted co-winners of the Babe Ruth Award as MVPs of the postseason by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, according to the Associated Press.
They'll receive the award at the BBWAA gala dinner in New York City on Jan. 28.
Verlander joined Houston in a trade from the Detroit Tigers with seconds to spare before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline, and his acquisition all but made the difference in lifting the team to its first World Series title. Over the Astros' playoff run he made six appearances - five of them starts - and crafted a 4-1 record with a 2.21 ERA while striking out 38 to just eight walks. Opponents hit just .177 against him over the Astros' three playoff series.
The 34-year-old's signature moment of the playoffs came during the ALCS against the Yankees, when he posted a paltry 0.56 ERA and struck out 21 over his two starts in the series - one of which featured seven shutout innings; the other a complete-game masterpiece. Verlander was named ALCS MVP for his efforts.
Altuve, who also took home several honors in the Players Choice Awards on Wednesday, slashed .310/.388/.634 with seven homers, 14 RBIs, nine extra-base hits, and 14 runs scored in 18 playoff games. In Game 1 of the ALDS against Boston he tied a postseason record by slugging three homers, and also plated four runs during the wild Game 5 of the World Series.
Verlander and Altuve are the second pair of teammates to share the Babe Ruth Award, joining co-winners Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks.
Initially established as a World Series MVP trophy in 1949 - seven years before the official World Series MVP was first presented - the Babe Ruth Award was changed to honor overall playoff performance beginning in 2007.
The New York BBWAA also honored another Astros player, outfielder George Springer, with the Arthur and Milton Richman You Gotta Have Heart award in recognition of him overcoming a severe stutter en route to big-league stardom.