Houston Astros: Jose Altuve: Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
Houston Astros second baseman and 2017 American League MVP, honored as Sports Illustrated 2017 Sportsperson of the Year.
The Houston Astros and Jose Altuve keep pulling in the hardware, with the 2017 AL Most Valuable Player earning yet another prestigious award.
A World Series title, an MVP award, and now, 2017 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.
Not a bad calendar year for Jose Altuve. Not bad at all.
Chris Stone, Editorial Director of Sports at Time Inc., praised both J.J. Watt and Jose Altuve — co-winners of the award — not only for their play on the field but off it, as well.
“We will remember 2017 as much for what athletes strove to achieve off the field as for what they achieved on it… J.J. and José represent two very different paths, they both led to the same destination: #HoustonStrong.”
SI: The personal journey of the Astros second baseman is an inspirational one, a classic tale of an underestimated athlete overcoming the longest of odds.
In August of this year, Hurricane Harvey left the city of Houston in ruins, devastating a nation. However, men such as Jose Altuve and J.J. Watt both took a stand, reaching out to those less fortunate.
Altuve’s generosity is nothing new, an active part of the Houston community from day one of is arrival.
He is grateful for his time in Houston, expressing those mutual emotional feelings to Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci.
“The city of Houston has treated me really good. I felt at that time that I owed them something. So when they were having a hard time, I wanted to give something back to them.”
The five foot, six inch Altuve plays much more massive than his actual size, earning every inch of what he’s accomplished to this date.
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Altuve, from Venezuela, had a unique journey to the Major Leagues, one that almost did not come to fruition.
Against all the odds, Jose Altuve proved that size matters not, with his big heart being the source of his success.
The Houston Astros followed the trend of championship teams.
“We’re going to Disneyland.”
Altuve showed, once again, the real sportsman he was off the baseball diamond, sharing a “magical moment” with a Houston Astros fan, one the young man will never forget.
.@JoseAltuve27 ran into a HUGE fan from Venezuela and they shared a magical moment when Jose gave him his hat. https://t.co/884XHPDs1g
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 4, 2017
The Houston Astros took a chance on an under the radar kid from Venuezla, and it paid off, giving them a World Series title. More importantly, Altuve has given Houston itself a renewed sense of hope.
Next: Astros celebrate World Series title in epic fashion
The AL MVP looks to lead the Houston Astros back to the World Series in 2018, but, if the team never returns to the Fall Classic, the 2017 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year has already done enough for the city of Houston to last many lifetimes.