Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
George Brett was, for lack of a better word, a throwback. He didn’t wear batting gloves at all, preferring the feel of his bat. There were times he’d have a huge wad of chaw in his cheek (though that’s not something to emulate, kids!). He wore his emotions on his sleeve. Just ask umpire Tim McClelland about that; he was the home-plate umpire who had to weather Brett’s fury when he called him out for excessive pine tar. All of this added up to a Hall of Famer, and here are the reasons why.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus, we'll send you other unbelievable stories from baseball's past.
3,000 Hits Club: Brett’s Historic Milestone
Brett owed his hitting success to one man: Hitting instructor Charlie Lau. The hitting guru, who worked with the Royals legend when he was a minor leaguer, showed him things like his batting stance, with the weight back on one foot and the release of the top hand after contact. It worked, and on September 30, 1992, Brett became just the 18th player in MLB history to notch 3,000 hits. Ironically, Lau likely hadn’t worked with him on baserunning, since he promptly got picked off.
1980 AL MVP: The Year Brett Ruled Baseball
Brett’s 1980 season was the stuff of legend: a .390 batting average, 24 homers, and 118 RBIs, and he did it all while missing 45 games. If social media had been around then, the nation would have been captivated by his efforts to hit .400, which would have been the first time since Ted Williams.
Batting Titles in Three Decades: A Feat for the Ages
No one else in history can say they won batting titles in three different decades, but Brett can: 1976, ’80, and ’90. There were times when he was head and shoulders above everyone else.
13-Time All-Star: Always Among the Game’s Elite
Thirteen All-Star nods—most players dream of one. His fellow ballplayers recognized that they were in the presence of greatness.
1985 World Series Champion: Royals’ Crown Jewel
Brett was the heart and soul of the Royals when they captured their first World Series in 1985. The victory was a sweet redemption for the heartbreak of losing the 1980 World Series, a series in which Brett famously had to leave Game 2 due to painful hemorrhoids. After a minor procedure back then, he quipped that his “problems are behind me.” In 1985, the problem of not being a World Champion was finally behind him, too.
Over 1,500 RBIs: Driving Home the Point
With 1,596 career RBIs, Brett was a master at bringing runners home, whether it was a scorching double or a clutch single, or even a monster home run. Royals fans knew that if he came up with runners on base, chances were good that he’d get them across.
Silver Slugger Awards: Power with Polish
Brett claimed three Silver Slugger Awards, which were proof he had both the power and consistency to dominate at the plate. This was another testament to his hitting prowess.
Five-Time Top Five MVP Finisher: Consistent Greatness
Brett didn’t just have one magical season; he finished in the top five for MVP voting five times. Kansas City fans would shudder at the thought of him not being in the lineup.
Gold Glove Winner: Brett’s Underrated Defense
Brett’s bat got the headlines, but his glove quietly won games. He was no Ted Williams, only intent on hitting. He put together some really nice defensive years, and won a Gold Glove.
Career .305 Batting Average: The Mark of a Hitter
No, George Brett couldn’t hit with his eyes closed as this screengrab might suggest. He could rake, though, maintaining a .305 career average. Opposing fans were the ones who would close their eyes when he’d hit.
88.6 WAR: A Stathead’s Dream Number
For fans fluent in sabermetrics, Brett’s 88.6 career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is pure baseball brilliance. It’s a number that cements his place among the all-time greats—no asterisks, no debate.
Hall of Fame Induction: First Ballot, No Doubt
In 1999, Brett was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, receiving over 98% of the vote. The people who left him off the list must have been Yankee fans still sore about his dominance over Goose Gossage.