2002 MLB

1. Garrett Anderson: Had the go-ahead three run double in Game Seven of the World Series.

He was an All-Star (RBI)  Silver Slugger and finished 4^th in MVP voting.

Anderson led the American League in doubles (56).

In the regular season he was 4^th in RBI (123), and total bases.  He was also 6^th in hits with 195.

Anderson hit .306 with 29 HR and 93 runs.

He was 3-4 in Game Two of the ALDS including game tying HR in the 8^th as Angels tied series 1-1.

He hit .389 with 4 RBI and 5 runs scored as Anaheim eliminated the 4-time reigning AL Champions New York.

In the ALCS Anderson helped the Angels clinch the pennant going 5-12 (.415), with a RBI and run scored in each of their wins in Games 3, 4 and 5.

The Angels leftfielder added 2 RBIs in Anaheim’s Game Two 11-10 win to tie the World Series at one game each.

The Angels won 99 games and the Wild Card. They advanced to the ALCS for the first time since 1986 after beating the Yankees in four. They moved on to their first World Series winning the ALCS five games in over Minnesota.

They won the Fall Classic in seven over San Francisco.

2. Albert Pujols: Was 2^nd in the MVP voting.

He finished 2nd in RBI (127), and runs (118).

He was also in the top 5 in NL in hits, and total bases.

“The Machine” batted .314 and slugged 34 HR.

In the division series, he hit .300 with 3 RBI and 3 runs as the Cardinals swept defending champion Arizona.

Pujols showed his versatility playing significant time at first base, third and left field.

In eight postseason games Pujols had a hit in seven, drove in five runs and scored five more.

St. Louis won the Central and 97 games. They were 2^nd in the NL in runs scored. 

They eventually fell to the Giants in the NLCS.

3. Vladimir Guerrero: Was an All-Star (1-2 R), Silver Slugger and 4^th in the MVP voting.

He led the NL in hits (204), total bases, and plate appearances.

He was 2^nd in WAR for position players, and 3^rd in batting (.336).

Vlad was 5^th in HR (39), RBI (111), 4^th in steals (40), and OPS.

The Expos rightfielder showed off his arm by leading all NL OFs with 14 assists.

He was named Player of the Month in April (.379 28 RBI).

Montreal finished with 83 wins, their first .500 in six years. They were 2^nd in the NL East.

2002 NBA

1. Shaquille O’Neal: He was the Finals MVP for the 3^rd straight year.

He averaged 36-12-2.8 blk 59% FG and 67% FT as the Lakers swept the Nets.

He was named First team All-NBA, and finished 3^rd in the MVP voting.

O’Neal was 2^nd scoring (27.2) lead the league in FG% (58%), and was 5^th in field goals.

He also averaged 10 boards and 2 blocks per game (67 games).

 Shaq had 40 double doubles in 67 games (51-16 record).

 He had 31-14 in Game Two of 1^st round vs. Portland while shooting 12-20 FGs and 7-9 FTs.

O’Neal averaged 38 PPG 14 RPG 3 BPG 51%FG 75% FT in Game Six and Seven vs. Sacramento to help advance to the Finals.

The Lakers escaped past the Kings in a dramatic seven game series.

LA won 58 games and their 3^rd straight title. They went 15-4 in the playoffs. The Lakers were 3^rd in the NBA with 101 PPG. 

2. Tim Duncan: Was the MVP of the regular season.

He made All-NBA and All-Defense (4^th straight season).

Duncan was Player of the Month in December and April. He was a starting forward for the West All-Stars.

He played in all 82 games, and led the NBA in total rebounds and free throws.

The power forward was 5^th in scoring (25.5), second in rebounding (12.7), and 4^th in blocks (2.5 ).

Duncan played 40 minutes per game, 51% FG 80% FT and almost 4 assists per game.

He had 67 dbl-dbls.

He averaged 24-11-4-6 blks in Games 3 and 4 to close out Seattle.

Duncan had 27 points 17 rebounds 5 assists and 5 blocks in only win in 2^nd round vs. LA.

The MVP averaged 27-14-4-4.3 blocks (playoff leading) in nine playoff games.

San Antonio won 58 games, the Midwest Division and had the #2 seed in the West. They were knocked out by LA in the 2^nd round. The Spurs had the league’s best defense (90 PPG).

3. Jason Kidd: Was 1^st team All-NBA, 1^st All-Defense and 2^nd in the MVP.

He was named Player of Month in November and was the starting PG for the East in the All-Star game.

Kidd played in 82 games, and averaged 14.7 ppg, 10 apg and 7.3 rpg and 2 steals per game.

He was 2^nd in APG and 3^rd in SPG.

Kidd had 44 double-doubles and eight triple doubles in regular season.

He averaged 19-8-9 in 20 playoff games. 

He carried New Jersey with 31-8-7-4 steals in a 2 OT elimination Game 5 vs. Indiana.

The Nets point guard averaged 23.5 PPG 10.5 APG 9 RPG 2.5 SPG in Game 4-5 to knock out Charlotte.

He had 15-13-13 Game 6 clincher vs. Boston.

Kidd followed that with another triple double (23-10-10) in a 5 point loss to LA in Game One.

He averaged 21 points,10 assists, seven rebounds and 2.3 steals in the Finals vs. Lakers.

The Nets doubled their wins after adding J-Kidd in 2002. They won an East best 52 games, and the conference title for the first ever.