Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw winds up during his Game 4 of baseball’s NL Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in this Oct. 7, 2014, file photo.NEW YORK – Clayton Kershaw became the first pitcher to win the National League MVP award in nearly a half-century, coasting an easy victory Thursday.
Mike Trout was a unanimous pick for the AL honor after finishing second the previous two years. The 23-year-old became the fifth-youngest MVP in major league history and the youngest unanimous selection.
Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace, breezed past Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton and Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen for the NL award.
Bob Gibson in 1968 was the previous pitcher to be the NL MVP. Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander won the AL MVP in 2011.
“To have people think you mean that much to your team, it really is a huge honor,” Kershaw said on the MLB Network telecast.