WHAT HAPPENED: First baseman Chris Davis set the Baltimore Orioles' single-season franchise home run record by smashing 53 in 2013, breaking Brady Anderson's mark of 50 set in 1996. He also led the major leagues in home runs, having the best season of his career by far, while also driving in 138 runs and becoming a nationally known player.
SIGNIFICANCE: Davis was just the fourth left-handed hitter in American League history to hit 53 or more homers and drive in 138 or more runs. He's just the second Baltimore player to reach 50 homers in a season, and was just the third MLB player to record 50 home runs and 40 doubles in a season. Davis also competed in his first Home Run Derby, started his first All-Star Game, and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in August.
MEMORABLE QUOTE: "I always thought 40 was a big number," Davis said. "Never dreamed of hitting 50 home runs, much less breaking the single-season record. But it's one of those things where if I didn't have the guys in front of me and behind me in the lineup I would have never been here."
UPDATE: Davis finished third in the AL Most Valuable Player voting behind Detroit's Miguel Cabrera and Los Angeles' Mike Trout. Davis won MLB's Greatest in Baseball Yearly award for Breakout Hitter of the Year. Davis is under Baltimore's control for the next two seasons, but he has said he would like to sign a long-term extension with the club. He will likely receive a large raise in arbitration for next season if Baltimore does not work out an extension with him.
