On Friday, we looked back at the champions and MVPs of the last 10 years in the four major U.S. sports. In keeping with that theme, here are MLB's WAR leaders this decade.
Go deeper: Nationals closer defends rejecting White House invite: "I just can’t do it"
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The Houston Astros used a camera to help steal signs during their 2017 championship season, pitcher Mike Fiers and three other unnamed former Astros told The Athletic (subscription).
How it worked: "A feed from a camera in center field, fixed on the opposing catcher's signs, was hooked up to a television monitor that was placed … in the tunnel that runs between the dugout and the clubhouse."
New York Mets' Pete Alonso. Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Mets 1B Pete Alonso and Astros DH Yordan Álvarez had historic seasons in 2019, and their efforts were recognized last night with runaway wins in the NL and AL Rookie of the Year Award voting.
The winners: Alonso won the midsummer Home Run Derby, then became the first rookie to win the full-season version, leading all of baseball with 53 bombs. Álvarez compiled the highest OPS ever for a rookie with at least 300 trips to the plate, while recording 27 HR and 78 RBI in just 87 games.
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Catcher Kurt Suzuki wears a "Make America Great Again" hat as he is embraced by President Trump at the White House, Nov. 4. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Eight players for the World Series champion Washington Nationals did not attend the team's visit to the White House Monday, according to the White House's list of expected attendees.
Driving the news: Pitcher Sean Doolittle last week told the Washington Post he would skip the event because of Trump's rhetoric. He joined the growing list of high-profile athletes to decline a White House invitation over the last few years because of political reasons.