KANSAS CITY, Mo. . -- Miguel Cabrera became the 15th player to win baseballs Triple Crown on Wednesday night, the reluctant superstar thrust into the spotlight after joining an elite list that includes Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig. The Detroit Tigers slugger topped the American League with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBIs, becoming the first Triple Crown winner in the majors since Bostons Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Cabreras achievement wasnt assured until the Yankees pinch-hit for Curtis Granderson in their 14-2 rout of the Boston Red Sox. Granderson had homered twice to reach 43 for the year, tied with the Rangers Josh Hamilton and one shy of Cabrera. Cabrera went 0 for 2 against the Royals before leaving in the fourth inning to a standing ovation. He finished the regular season hitting four points higher than Angels rookie Mike Trout, his toughest competition for AL MVP. Cabrera was the runaway leader with 139 RBIs. "I am glad that he accomplished this while leading his team to the American League Central title," Yastrzemski said in a statement. "I was fortunate enough to win this award in 1967 as part of the Red Sox Impossible Dream Team." Commissioner Bud Selig also offered his congratulations, calling the Triple Crown "a remarkable achievement that places him amongst an elite few in all of baseball history." The crowd at Kauffman Stadium gave Cabrera a standing ovation before he flied out in the first inning. He struck out in the fourth but remained in the game, allowing Leyland to remove him with two outs to another standing ovation from thousands of appreciate fans. Cabrera high-fived his teammates as he entered the Detroit dugout, then walked back to the top step and waved his helmet. When the feat became official, it was displayed on the centre-field scoreboard to another standing ovation. "I would say without question hes enjoyed it. How could you not enjoy what hes done if youre a baseball player?" Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before the game. "I would also add to that I doubt very much, knowing him, that he necessarily enjoys all the extra attention, and all the extra conversations he has to have. Its kind of out of his realm in personality, to be honest with you." Cabreras pursuit of history has occurred largely in the dark, though, overshadowed by thrilling pennant races, the sheer enormity of the NFL -- even the presidential election. An event that in other years might dominate headlines has been mostly cast aside. "The entire baseball world should be here right now," said Tigers ace Justin Verlander, the reigning AL MVP, who may soon watch that award get handed off to his teammate. Perhaps part of the void has to do with Cabreras very nature. Hes not the boisterous sort, never one to crave attention. He would rather hang out with a couple of buddies than stand in front of a pack of television cameras, answering countless questions about what makes him one of the games most complete hitters. "Hes not a talkative guy," Tigers catcher Alex Avila said. "One, he doesnt speak English that well, but two, he lets his ability carry through." It takes a special breed to hit for average, power and in clutch situations, which is why there have only been 15 players to achieve baseballs version of the Triple Crown, an honour roll that includes iconic players such as Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig. Williams and Rogers Hornsby each accomplished the feat twice. Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez never accomplished it, failing to win the batting title, and countless other Hall of Fame players have fallen short of one of sports rarest feats. To put it in perspective, consider horse racings Triple Crown. The last thoroughbred to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in the same year was Affirmed in 1978, more than a full decade after Yastrzemskis magical summer in Boston. Whether its on par with Johnny Vander Meers consecutive no-hitters, Jack Nicklaus 18 major championships in golf, Joe DiMaggios 56-game hitting streak or Brett Favres consecutive games streak at quarterback is open to interpretation, and perhaps some bar-room debate. Those who have witnessed it firsthand certainly have their opinions. "Its pretty amazing," said the Royals Alex Gordon, who has watched the drama unfold from his spot in left field. "Honestly, his numbers are like that every year. He has a great average, great home runs, great RBIs. Hes a guy who can pull this off, and its great for the game." Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval said he was particularly proud that the Triple Crown would be accomplished by a fellow Venezuelan. Cabrera is from Maracay, along the Caribbean coast. "Im excited for the country and for the fans that support us every single day. Its a big deal in Venezuela right now," Sandoval said. "Its exciting, especially because of all the things that have happened in his career." Yes, it seems that every fairytale these days carries a troublesome footnote. In Cabreras case, it stems from spring training last year, when he was involved in an ugly drunken driving incident. According to authorities in St. Lucie County, Fla., Cabrera refused to co-operate, directed an obscene gesture at police and even dared them to shoot him. The Tigers have been careful to keep him from having to discuss his personal issues, but by all accounts, Cabrera has been a model player ever since. This year, he is the Tigers nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player "who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement." "This clubhouse wouldnt be quite as good without him," Leyland said. While the Triple Crown was assured, the MVP award is not. On one hand, Cabrera is on the footstep of history, having dominated the major statistical categories favoured by traditionalists, the ones that count toward the Triple Crown. On the other hand, Trout is being championed by new-school baseball thought, number crunchers who rely on more obscure measures such as WAR (Wins Above Replacement), derived from several other statistics designed to judge a players overall contribution to a team. Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline said it would be "a shame" if Cabrera didnt win the leagues most coveted award, while Royals manager Ned Yost offered a similar sentiment. "I think theyre both fantastic players, tremendous players, both of them," Yost said, "but if Cabrera wins the Triple Crown, he has to be the MVP, absolutely." [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-josh-freeman-jersey-... Freeman Jersey . 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But how about this: Dale Earnhardt Jr. left the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Sprint Cup Series points lead.CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Nigeria scored late to beat Namibia 1-0 while South Africa escaped with a home draw against Ethiopia in World Cup qualifying on Sunday. Libya claimed a 1-1 draw in Togo in the first round of group games, while Mali lost away to Benin in one of the surprises of the weekend. Spain-based striker Ikechukwu Uche found the net in the 80th minute to give Nigeria a Group F victory over a resilient Namibia in a game relocated to Calabar because of recent bomb blasts in the Nigerian central city of Kaduna. Uches winner took Nigeria, under new coach and former captain Stephen Keshi, top of Group F even though it began qualifying without the English Premier League trio of Jon Obi Mikel, Peter Odemwingie and Taye Taiwo. Skipper Joseph Yobo was also unavailable with injury. South Africa, the last World Cup host, needed a 77th-minute equalizer in a Group A game to earn a point after Salahdin Saids powerful shot had put the Ethiopians ahead in the 30th in Rustenburg. Said hammered his shot into the roof of the net at Royal Bafokeng 2010 World Cup stadium. Striker Katlego Mphela saved a point for Bafana Bafana 13 minutes before time, but coach Pitso Mosimanes South Africa has still not won in nine games. "It was not a good performance from us," Mosimane said. "Credit to them, they played well. We still have 15 points in the campaign to play for." Kalenn Damessi put Togo ahead in the eighth minute at Stade de Kegue in Lome. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-adam-hayward-jersey-... Hayward Jersey. Ahmed Zouay levelled seven minutes later for a morale-boosting start to Libyas quest to follow up its recent surprise African Cup appearance with a place at the World Cup. Mali couldnt recover after Razak Omotoyossi scored in Cotonou for a 1-0 win, taking Benin to the top of Group H alongside Algeria with a shock win over the third-place winner at the African Cup of Nations in February. Uganda drew 1-1 in Angola after Emmanuel Okwi equalized three minutes from time for the visitors. Niger and recent African Cup co-host and quarterfinalist Gabon drew 0-0, while Guinea won 1-0 in Zimbabwe through a 25th-minute goal at National Stadium in Harare by Stuttgarts Ibrahima Traore. Zimbabwe interim coach Rahman Gumbo was missing a host of players after they were suspended for their roles in a match-fixing scandal that has rocked the game in the southern African country. After the first weekend of games in Africas main qualifying competition, Central African Republic is the surprise leader of Group A ahead of South Africa and Ethiopia. Nigeria took control of Group F, with Kenya and Malawi joint second. Guinea joined Egypt at the top of Group G. Libya and Togo trail Cameroon in Group I. The 10 group winners will play off at the end of next year for five places at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. ' ' '