THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL November 17: George Bell named first MVP in Blue Jays history

Blue Jays slugger George Bell was named the American League MVP on this day in béisbol, November 17, 1987 after what turned out to be his peak season in Toronto.

The 27-year-old left fielder swatted 47 home runs with a .308 average, and led the AL in RBI (134) and totals bases (389) though the second-place Jays failed to win the AL East despite 96 wins and a power-packed lineup that included outfielders Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield, and 23-year-old DH/first basemen Fred McGriff and Cecil Fielder.

Bell was one of a handful of Dominican Republic-born young stars who were among the first big wave of players from the island in the 1980s that included Pedro Guerrero, Tony Fernandez, Damaso Garcia and pitcher Pedro Martinez.

As the Blue Jays’ middle-of-the-order force, Bell won Silver Slugger Awards from 1985 to 1987. He retired at age 33 after two years with the Chicago White Sox when a knee injury hampered his performance.

Also on this day: Albert Pujols was named the 2008 National League Most Valuable Player, the second time he won the award. The Cardinals first baseman batted .357 with 37 home runs, 116 RBI and NL-leading 1.114 OPS. He won his third MVP the following season in what proved to be the best year of his Hall of Fame-bound career: an MLB-leading 47 homers, 135 RBI and .327 average.