George Brett

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Brett's career was defined by dramatic turning points and historic milestones. In 1976, he won his first batting title, edging out Rod Carew (.331) and Lyman Bostock (.323) with a .333 average. The following year, he engaged in a bench-clearing brawl after a hard tag by Graig Nettles during Game 2 of the ALCS. His most famous season came in 1980 when he chased .400, reaching a high mark of .407 on August 26 before finishing at .390, the highest average for a third baseman since Ted Williams in 1941 (Williams was an outfielder). He also hit three home runs in an LCS game during the 1978 playoffs against the Yankees, though Bob Robertson and Reggie Jackson had done so before him.

In Their Own Story

On June 10, 1980, Brett tore a ligament in his foot while attempting to steal second and missed a month of play. Upon returning after the All-Star Break on July 10, he hit .494 (42-for-85) in his first 21 games back. By August 26, his average climbed to .407 after going 5-for-5 in Milwaukee. Although a slump in late September dropped him below the magic number, he rallied in the final week, going 10-for-19 to finish at .390 (175 hits in 449 at-bats). This performance earned him 17 of 28 first-place MVP votes. Beyond his hitting, Brett was a fierce competitor who hit three home runs off Catfish Hunter in Game 3 of the 1978 ALCS and led the Royals to their first pennant in 1980 by sweeping the Yankees.

Reader's Guide

To understand George Brett's legacy, one must look at his specific achievements across different eras. He began as a shortstop in the minors before shifting to third base, where he remained for over 15 years thanks to his powerful arm. His minor league path included stops with Billings (1971), San Jose (1972), and Omaha (1973) before debuting on August 2, 1973. In the majors, he replaced Paul Schaal as the starter in 1974 and worked with hitting coach Charley Lau to fix his swing, leading to a .282 average that year. Brett's brother Ken also reached the majors, pitching in the 1967 World Series at age 19. After retiring from playing, Brett returned as interim hitting coach on May 30, 2013, stepping down on July 25 to resume his role as vice president of baseball operations.

Did You Know?

• Rod Carew was the first American League player to win a batting title in three different decades; Brett later accomplished the same feat (Tony Gwynn also did so in the National League).
• In 1980, Brett finished with a .390 average (175 hits in 449 at-bats), the highest single-season mark for a third baseman since Ted Williams in 1941 (Williams was an outfielder, not a third baseman).
• During the 1976 ALCS Game 5, Brett hit an inside-the-park home run, but his first batting title was secured during the regular season with a .333 average, beating Rod Carew (.331) and Lyman Bostock (.323).
• Brett's brother Ken pitched in the 1967 World Series at age 19, while brothers John and Bobby had brief minor league careers.
• In 2015, Brett won his second World Series ring when the Royals defeated the New York Mets in five games.