THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL October 22: Yordan Alvarez wins 2021 ALCS MVP with 4-for-4 Game 6

Yordan Alvarez took home the ALCS MVP award on this day in béisbol, October 22, 2001 after going 4-for-4 in a Game 6 Astros win over the Red Sox.

The DH from La Tunas, Cuba hit a single, 2 doubles and a triple in the clincher that sent Houston to the World Series. Overall, Alvarez had 12 hits in the series including a home run, with 6 RBI. The 2019 Rookie of the Year was coming off a star-making season, slamming 33 HR with 107 RBI.

Houston would go on to lose the Fall Classic to the Washington Nationals in seven games in a series that turned into a coming out party for 20-year-old Nats outfielder Juan Soto, who hit three homers and drove in seven runs.

Also on this day: In 2024, Fernando Valenzuela died a few days before his 64th birthday. The Dodgers icon was one of the most popular players in the team’s history after debuting in 1981 at age 19 and spurring the “Fernandomania” craze, going 13-7 in a strike-shortened season and winning Rookie of the Year, the Cy Young Award — and a Silver Slugger.

In 2011, Albert Pujols had three homers among his five hits and knocked in six runs in a 16-7 World Series Game 3 victory against the Rangers. The Cardinals first baseman’s three dingers tied Babe Ruth (who did it twice) and Reggie Jackson for most home runs in a World Series game.

Flickr user thatlostdog–, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball illustration