#18 1979 season – Don Baylor’s MVP Season

In 1979, Don Baylor led the Angels to their first divisional title with the team’s best offensive year to date. He got off to a blistering start, hitting an AL record 28 RBI in the month of April. “Groove” became so proficient at driving players in, that radio host Dick Enberg started referring to his RBI as “runs Baylored in.”

In one game (8/25/79) that epitomizes his season, Baylor set a team record by smashing 8 RBI (since surpassed), going 3 for 7 with 2 home runs, a double, and 3 runs scored, helping the Halos crush Toronto 24-2.

Baylor finished the season with 36 HR, a team record and league leading 139 RBI, a LL 120 runs, 22 stolen bases, and a .296 BA to capture 20 of a possible 28 first place MVP votes; the first Angel to win the award. He also won two “Player of the Month” Awards – in May and July – and made the All-Star team. Most important of all, he led the Angels into October for the first time in their history.