In 2004, Vladimir Guerrero (who signed with the Angels as a free agent over the winter) carried the Angels to their first divisional championship in 18 seasons. Vladi’s monster night of the season came on June 2 against the Red Sox. Facing Sox ace Pedro Martinez and company, Guerrero went 4-for-4 with 2 HR, a double, 2 runs, and 9 RBI. His three run blast against Mike Timlin in the sixth put the Angels up for good as they coasted to a 10-7 win.
Even more important was his torrid September, in which he batted .371 with 10 HR, 23 RBI, and 24 runs scored to win the AL Player of the Month Award. During the final week alone, he batted .560 with 6 home runs, 9 runs, and 11 RBI against the Rangers and the A’s as the Angels went from one game down to winning the division by a single game.
Vladi finished the year with 39 HR, 126 RBI, a team record and league leading 124 runs, a LL 366 total bases, 15 stolen bases, and a .337 BA. He received 21 of 28 first place votes to win the Angels’ second MVP Award. He also made the All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award.
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