SDSU Alumnus Strasburg Wins World Series MVP
Strasburg joins Kawhi Leonard, who was named NBA Finals MVP in June.
Already one of San Diego State University’s most celebrated former student-athletes, alumnus Stephen Strasburg was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2019 World Series Wednesday following the Washington Nationals’ 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 7.
The championship is the first in the 51-year history of the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise.
Strasburg, who pitched for the Aztecs from 2007 to 2009, went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts and one relief appearance, including victories in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series. In Game 2, he threw six innings and allowed two runs. In Game 6, he threw 8 1/3 innings and also gave up two runs. SDSU now boasts the reigning World Series MVP and NBA Finals MVP, won by SDSU alumnus Kawhi Leonard in June.
A consensus first-team All-American selection in 2008 and 2009, Strasburg was selected Mountain West Pitcher of the Year in two consecutive seasons, while also holding SDSU records for most strikeouts in a game (23), in a season (195) and in a career (375).
Strasburg is one of only two players in school history to win the Golden Spikes Award, which is given annually by USA Baseball to the nation’s top amateur baseball player. In 2009, Strasburg compiled a 13-1 record with a 1.32 earned run average in 15 starts. In his final home start, Strasburg threw a no-hitter and struck out 17 Air Force batters in a dominant performance before being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
Strasburg was inducted into the Aztec Hall of Fame in 2014..
