Ex-Addict Josh Hamilton Is AL's MVP

Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton is the runaway winner of the American League's MVP award. He got 22 first-place votes and 358 points in voting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Hamilton, who overcame eight trips to rehabilitation throughout his career for drug and alcohol addiction, led the major leagues in batting average (.359) and slugging percentage (.633), and he helped the Rangers reach their first World Series.

"I would say a 99% chance that this would never happen," Hamilton said, chuckling. "I mean, honestly, I think a lot of people would agree with that." After going on the disabled list in 2001 while in the minor leagues, he became addicted to alcohol and cocaine. He didn't play from 2003-05. "I do reflect. If I didn't reflect, 'I' might start sneaking in there, a little ego might start sneaking in there, and that's one thing I don't want to happen," Hamilton said. "So I do reflect and I think about where I was at my lowest time." (More Josh Hamilton stories.)