7 thoughts on “Great Moments in MVP Voting”

  1. Incredible that you found this. I’m curious – how did you come across this artyfact? Just browsing around the MVP leaders over the years or did someone else find it? What were the voters thinking?

  2. Trying to get my annual “Path to Cooperstown” column for THT in shape, albeit after an election-induced late head start. The next installment is the catchers.
    I assume the voters gave him some sort of credit for intangible contributions to Lonborg or something.

  3. Crank, what that meant was some writers knew he was on the way out, and they liked him. Especially in 1967, everyone knew that Yaz was the universes’ MVP.
    More interesting, look at the totals. Kaline finished 4th in the AL (Mickey in his prime might have beaten Yaz that year, but nobody else), and Clemente 3rd. I still think Kaline was better, but it’s nice to see the writers at the time had them sort of up there together.

  4. Crank: I know its off topic, but how did Marty Marion win the 1944 MVP batting .267/.324/.362? I know he was a good defensinve SS, but to win MVP with with those numbers? Do you know the story behind that?

  5. 1. His defense. As my dad likes to point out, Marion was called “Mr. Shortstop” in the days when Reese, Rizzuto, Boudreau, Appling and Stevens were all in the league.
    2. The war. Competition was short.
    3. As often happened in the 40s and 50s, the voters didn’t feel like giving Musial another trophy.

  6. Alternative title: “sportswriters recognize Elston Howard’s hope and change during the turbulent year of 1967”. We know how professional writers set aside logic and standards when it comes to that kind of thing.

  7. I remember the ’67 season and series, but I guess I never looked to see who was 17th in the voting. QUESTION, CRANK: How many sportswriters would have had to vote for Ellie for him to finish 17th? One?

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