▁short stop ▁to ▁win ▁a ▁batt ing ▁title ▁since ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁in ▁the ▁AL ▁since ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁At ▁age ▁ 2 0 ▁years , ▁ 1 1 ▁months , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁young est ▁short stop ▁in ▁All - Star ▁Game ▁history . ▁He ▁also ▁led ▁the ▁AL ▁in ▁runs ▁( 1 4 1 ), ▁total ▁bases ▁( 3 7 9 ), ▁and ▁doubles ▁( 5 4 ) ▁and ▁ranked ▁among ▁the ▁league ▁leaders ▁in ▁base ▁hits ▁( 2 nd , ▁ 2 1 5 ), ▁extra ▁base ▁hits ▁( 2 nd , ▁ 9 1 ), ▁multi - hit ▁games ▁( 3 rd , ▁ 6 5 ), ▁sl ug ging ▁( 4 th , ▁. 6 3 1 ), ▁R BI ▁( 8 th , ▁ 1 2 3 ), ▁and ▁on - base ▁percentage ▁( 8 th , ▁. 4 1 4 ). ▁Rod rig uez ▁posted ▁the ▁highest ▁tot als ▁ever ▁for ▁a ▁short stop ▁in ▁runs , ▁hits , ▁doubles , ▁extra ▁base ▁hits , ▁and ▁sl ug ging , ▁and ▁tied ▁most ▁total ▁bases , ▁and ▁established ▁Seattle ▁club ▁records ▁for ▁average , ▁runs , ▁hits , ▁doubles , ▁and ▁total ▁bases , ▁in ▁a ▁season ▁that ▁statistical ▁anal yst s ▁consider ▁the ▁best ▁ever ▁by ▁a ▁short stop . ▁ ▁The ▁Sport ing ▁News ▁and ▁Associ ated ▁Press ▁selected ▁Rod rig uez ▁as ▁their ▁Major ▁League ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year . ▁He ▁finished ▁second ▁to