American League battling title named after Twins legend Rod Carew
SAN DIEGO, CA (KMSP) - Minnesota Twins legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew was surprised ahead of the MLB All-Star game Tuesday night. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced the batting titles will bow be known as the Rod Carew Award for the American League and the Tony Gwynn Award for the National League.
Rod Carew survived a massive heart attack last year. The 70-year-old is currently waiting for a heart transplant and wears a left ventricular assist device.
Carew won seven batting titles while he was in the league.
Tony Gwynn spent his entire 20 season career with the Padres and won eight batting titles. He died in 2014 of salivary gland cancer.