MVP Profile: George Burns, 1926

First Baseman, Cleveland Indians

Age:  33

5^th season with Indians (4^th complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 180

Prior to 1926:

Born in Niles, Ohio, Burns also lived in Tioga, Pennsylvania (hence his nickname, “Tioga George”) and Philadelphia. He dropped out of Philadelphia Central High School at age 16 and at 20 signed with Quincy of the Central Association in 1913 for $150 per month. He played for two other teams in the same league during the season, hit well, and finished up the year in the Class A Western League with the Sioux City Packers. His contract was bought by the Detroit Tigers in 1914 where he became the regular first baseman and batted .291 with 22 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs, and 57 RBIs. Less adept in the field, Burns led all AL first basemen with 30 errors.  He had a difficult relationship with manager Hugh Jennings during his Detroit tenure, which came to an end after four seasons in 1917, a year in which he slumped badly at the plate and batted .226. Burns was dealt to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1918, where he filled a need for a first baseman. He led the AL with 178 hits and 236 total bases in the war-shortened season and batted .352 with 70 RBIs. Off to a slow start at bat in 1919 Burns had difficulty in the field as well and manager Connie Mack gave him a trial in the outfield, where his lack of speed was a liability. He ended up hitting .296 with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 8 home runs, and 57 RBIs for the last-place A’s. Burns started the 1920 season with the A’s and was sold to the Indians for $10,000. Primarily used as a backup to starting first baseman Doc Johnston, he appeared in 44 games with the Indians, who won the AL pennant. Burns contributed a .268 batting average and additionally three hits in the World Series victory over Brooklyn. Still a backup to Johnston in 1921 he batted .361 while playing in 84 games. In the offseason, his first stint with the Indians came to an end when Burns was traded to the Boston Red Sox along with two other players for veteran first baseman Stuffy McInnis. Playing regularly at first base he hit .306 in 1922 with a career-high 12 home runs while knocking in 73 RBIs. He also led all AL first basemen with 20 errors as well. “Tioga George” followed up by hitting .328 in 1923 with 47 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and 82 RBIs. He again topped AL first basemen with 16 errors, although he achieved that rarest of defensive plays, an unassisted triple play, in a September game against his former team, the Indians, making him one of only two first basemen to date to perform the feat in a major league game. In 1924 Burns was dealt back to the Indians where he became the starting first baseman and batted .310 with 37 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, and 68 RBIs. He had another strong performance in 1925, hitting .336 with 41 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs, and 79 RBIs.  

1926 Season Summary

Appeared in 151 games

1B – 151

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 657 [14]

At Bats – 603 [6]

Runs – 97 [9]

Hits – 216 [1, tied with Sam Rice]

Doubles – 64 [1]

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 4

RBI – 115 [3]

Bases on Balls – 28

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 33

Stolen Bases – 13 [10, tied with Fred Haney, Lu Blue & Eddie Collins]

Caught Stealing – 7 [19, tied with twelve others]

Average - .358 [4]

OBP - .394 [14, tied with Earl Sheely]

Slugging Pct. - .494 [7]

Total Bases – 298 [5]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 8 [3, tied with Joe Sewell, Homer Summa & Jimmy Dykes]

Sac Hits – 18

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading doubles were +11 ahead of runner-up Al Simmons

Midseason snapshot: HR – 3, RBI – 57, AVG – .362, OBP – .393

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Most hits, game – 4 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 15 games

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 6 AB) at Phila. A’s 5/21 – 13 innings, (in 4 AB) at St. Louis Browns 5/27, (in 5 AB) vs. Detroit 6/2, (in 3 AB) at NY Yankees 7/12

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Detroit 6/2, vs. NY Yankees 8/6, vs. Washington 9/12, vs. Phila. A’s 9/27

Fielding

Chances – 1617

Put Outs – 1499

Assists – 99

Errors – 19

DP – 122

Pct. - .988

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: League Award

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

George Burns, Clev..: 63 pts. - 98% share

Johnny Mostil, ChiWS: 33 pts. – 52% share

Herb Pennock, NYY: 32 pts. – 50% share

Sam Rice, Wash.: 18 pts. – 28% share

Harry Heilmann, Det.: 16 pts. – 25% share

Heinie Manush, Det.: 16 pts. – 25% share

Al Simmons, PhilaA.: 16 pts. – 25% share

(Ineligible for consideration as prior AL League Award winners: George Sisler, StLB; Babe Ruth, NYY; Walter Johnson, Wash.; Roger Peckinpaugh, Wash.)

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Indians went 88-66 to finish second in the AL, 3 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in doubles (333) and fewest batter strikeouts (321). The team rode a late-August, early-September 9-game winning streak to briefly challenge the Yankees down the stretch.

Aftermath of ‘26:

Burns followed up with another strong season in 1927, batting .319 with 51 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, and 78 RBIs. With his role diminishing in 1928, he was traded to the New York Yankees in September. For the year he appeared in 86 games and hit .254 with 5 home runs and 30 RBIs. Little used by the Yankees in 1929, Burns was sold to the Philadelphia A’s where he finished his career as backup to star first baseman Jimmie Foxx. Overall for his major league career he batted .307 with 2018 hits that included 444 doubles, 72 triples, and 72 home runs as well as 954 RBIs. In his two stints with Cleveland he compiled 853 hits, 230 doubles, 20 triples, 22 home runs, and 432 RBIs. He twice led the AL in hits and his 64 doubles in 1926 stood as the major league record until 1931. Following the end of his major league career Burns played and managed in the Pacific Coast League before leaving organized baseball in 1939 to become a deputy sheriff in the Seattle area. He died at age 84 in 1978.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.

Rookie of the Year: Tommy Helms, 1966

Third Baseman, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  25 (May 5)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 165

Prior to 1966:

A North Carolina native, Helms gained early exposure to baseball as batboy for the semipro team that his father managed in Leaksville. At West Mecklenburg High School in the Charlotte area, he achieved all-city recognition in both baseball and basketball. A star shortstop he signed with the Reds right after turning 18. First assigned to Palatka of the Class D Florida State League in 1959, Helms appeared in 56 games and batted .252. Back with Palatka in 1960 he raised his batting average to .292 with 33 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, and 69 RBIs. In 1961 he moved up to Topeka of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (better known as the Three-I) League where he hit .277 with 57 RBIs. Helms was with the Macon Peaches of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1962 where he batted .340 and teamed well defensively at shortstop with second baseman Pete Rose, his future roommate with the Reds. The next stop was San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1963 where he hit .225. Helms spent 1964 in San Diego as well and his average jumped to .309 with 25 doubles, 9 triples, and 7 home runs. He received a late-season call-up to the Reds and struck out in his lone at bat. Helms started the 1965 season with San Diego and hit .319 in 96 games. A late-season injury to star shortstop Leo Cardenas led to Helms returning to the Reds where he appeared in 21 games and batted .381. The initial plan for 1966, with Cardenas healthy again, was to play the sure-handed Helms at second base while Pete Rose shifted to third but they traded places at midseason.  

1966 Season Summary

Appeared in 138 games

3B – 113, 2B – 20, PH – 5

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 578

At Bats – 542

Runs – 72

Hits – 154

Doubles – 23

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 9

RBI – 49

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 31

Stolen Bases – 3

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .284

OBP - .315

Slugging Pct. - .380

Total Bases – 206

GDP – 16 [8, tied with Ron Santo, Bill Mazeroski & Lou Johnson]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 7 [20, tied with eleven others]

Sac Flies – 3

Midseason snapshot: HR – 6, RBI – 23, AVG – .303, OBP - .327

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Atlanta 5/24, (in 4 AB) at Philadelphia 6/9, (in 4 AB) vs. Chi. Cubs 7/27

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 1 on nine occasions

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 5

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Houston 7/31

Pinch-hitting – 3 of 5 (.600) with 1 R

Fielding (3B)

Chances – 331

Put Outs – 110

Assists – 208

Errors – 13

DP - 16

Pct. - .961

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

NL ROY Voting:

Tommy Helms, Cin.: 12 of 20 votes, 60% share

Sonny Jackson, Hou.: 3 votes, 15% share

Tito Fuentes, SF: 2 votes, 10% share

Randy Hundley, ChiC.: 1 vote, 5% share

Larry Jaster, StL.: 1 vote, 5% share

Cleon Jones, NYM: 1 vote, 5% share

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Reds went 76-84 to finish seventh in the NL, 18 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds were 37-46 in July when manager Don Heffner was replaced by Dave Bristol. Following a 16-3 spurt after the change at the helm, the club was 39-38 the rest of the way.  

Aftermath of ‘66:

With Pete Rose shifted to the outfield in 1967 Helms took over at second base where he was an All-Star performer until he had to fill in at shortstop for the injured Leo Cardenas. Overall he batted .274 and was solid in the field. Helms was used almost exclusively at second base in 1968, a season which he hit .288 and once again merited selection as an All-Star. Following a lesser season in 1969 in which he hit .269, he topped NL second basemen with 107 double plays in Cincinnati’s 1970 pennant-winning season while his batting average dropped to .237. Helms was a .258 hitter in 1971 while he also led league second basemen with 872 chances, 395 put outs, and 130 DPs. After the season he was traded to the Houston Astros along with 1B Lee May and utilityman Jimmy Stewart as part of a major deal in which the Reds obtained five players that included 2B Joe Morgan, RHP Jack Billingham, and OF Cesar Geronimo, who would all play key roles in Cincinnati’s future success. Helms played well for the Astros initially, batting .259 with 60 RBIs in ’72 as Houston battled the Reds for supremacy in the NL West. In 1973 he hit .287 with a career-high 61 RBIs and remained one of the NL’s better defensive second basemen. Helms batted .279 with 5 home runs and 50 RBIs in 1974 but lost his starting job to Rob Andrews in 1975 and hit just .207 in 64 games. Dealt to Pittsburgh in the offseason Helms saw action at second and third base while being utilized mostly as a pinch-hitter in 1976, batting .276 while appearing in 62 games. Sold to Oakland in the offseason, he was dealt back to the Pirates in the spring of 1977. He lasted until June as a bench player before he was released and picked up by the Boston Red Sox, who utilized him mostly as a Designated Hitter over the remainder of his last major league season. Overall for his major league career, Helms hit .269 with 1342 hits that included 223 doubles, 21 triples, and 34 home runs. He drove in 477 RBIs and scored 414 runs. With the Reds he batted .269 with 858 hits that included 145 doubles, 12 triples, and 18 home runs along with 274 RBIs. Helms was a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove recipient. Following his retirement, he coached for the Texas Rangers and the Reds, twice serving as interim manager. He later managed minor league teams. Helms was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1979 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.   

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

MVP Profile: Nellie Fox, 1959

Second Baseman, Chicago White Sox

Age:  31

10^th season with White Sox

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 160

Prior to 1959:

A native of St. Thomas, Pennsylvania Jacob Nelson Fox (he went by his middle rather than first name) was the son of a carpenter and hard-playing amateur second baseman. Nicknamed “Pug” as a youth, Fox was drawn to soccer as well as baseball. He played baseball in high school as well as American Legion ball. Following a 1944 spring training tryout, he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics at age 16. Assigned to the Lancaster Red Roses of the Class B Interstate League where he played at first base and in the outfield, Fox batted .325 in 24 games before moving on to Jamestown of the Class D PONY League where, in 56 games he hit .304 with no home runs and 11 doubles. Back with Lancaster in 1945 he moved to second base and batted .314 with 19 doubles, 19 triples, and one home run. Fox spent 1946 in the military and upon his return to baseball in 1947 he was again with Lancaster where he hit .281 in 55 games. He received a brief call-up to the A’s and had a walk and no hits in four plate appearances. Fox was next assigned to Lincoln of the Class A Western League in 1948 where he led the league with 179 hits and batted .311. Earning another late-season call-up to the A’s he hit .154 in three games. Fox spent all of 1949 with the A’s as a backup to veteran Pete Suder at second base and appeared in 88 games and batted .255. Underwhelmed with his lack of production as a major league hitter, the A’s traded him to the White Sox in the offseason. Initially backing up star second baseman Cass Michaels in 1950, Fox moved into the starting lineup after Michaels was dealt in May. He went on to hit just .247. Hardly a lock to make the club in 1951, Fox, who was always known for his hustle, determination, and enthusiasm, worked hard to improve his mechanics at second base as well as his hitting technique and bunting (at which he became very adept). It all led to a breakout year in which he batted .313 with 32 doubles, 12 triples, 4 home runs, and 55 RBIs. He also was an All-Star for the first time. Sure-handed in the field he became much more adept at turning double plays in combination with shortstop Chico Carrasquel. The ”Mighty Mite” followed up by hitting .296 in 1952 while leading the AL in at bats (648) and hits (192) that included 25 doubles and 10 triples. In the field he led the league’s second basemen in chances (852), put outs (406), and assists (433). In addition to being an All-Star he finished seventh in AL MVP balloting. Typically seen with a chew of tobacco tucked into his cheek, Fox was a durable and consistent performer who remained a top player throughout the decade.  From 1951 to ’58 the spray-hitting Fox led the AL in hits four times, with a high of 201 in 1954 and he was an All-Star during all eight seasons. Defensively he led all AL second basemen in total chances and put outs seven times and assists and double plays four times apiece. He picked up a new and highly talented double play partner in shortstop Luis Aparicio in 1956. The White Sox, who emphasized speed, defense, and pitching finished third five times consecutively from 1952 to ’56 and second to the Yankees in 1957 and ’58.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

2B – 156

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 717 [1]

At Bats – 624 [1]

Runs – 84 [13]

Hits – 191 [2]

Doubles – 34 [2, tied with Frank Malzone]

Triples – 6 [7, tied with five others]

Home Runs – 2

RBI – 70

Bases on Balls – 71 [11, tied with Rocky Colavito]

Int. BB – 8 [3, tied with Rocky Colavito & Joe DeMaestri]

Strikeouts – 13

Stolen Bases – 5

Caught Stealing – 6 [6, tied with Bill Tuttle & Earl Torgeson]

Average - .306 [4]

OBP - .380 [7]

Slugging Pct. - .389

Total Bases – 243 [14]

GDP – 6

Hit by Pitches – 7 [5, tied with Harmon Killebrew, Hector Lopez & Frank Bolling]

Sac Hits – 9 [9, tied with Jerry Lumpe, Cal McLish & Hal Brown]

Sac Flies – 5 [11, tied with seven others]

League-leading plate appearances were +31 ahead of runner-up Luis Aparicio

League-leading at bats were +12 ahead of runner-up Luis Aparicio

Midseason snapshot: HR - 1, RBI - 41, AVG - .330, OBP - .404

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 7 AB) at Detroit 4/10 – 14 innings

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 7 AB) at Detroit 4/10 – 14 innings, (in 4 AB) at Baltimore 6/13

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Kansas City A’s 4/22

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances - 827

Put Outs – 364

Assists – 453

Errors – 10

DP – 93

Pct. - .988

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. LA Dodgers)

PA – 28, AB – 24, R – 4, H – 9, 2B – 3,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 4, IBB – 0, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .375, OBP - .464, SLG -.500, TB – 12, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Gold Glove

All-Star (started for AL at 2B in both games)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Nellie Fox, ChiWS.: 295 pts. - 16 of 24 first place votes, 88% share

Luis Aparicio, ChiWS.: 255 pts. – 8 first place votes, 76% share

Early Wynn, ChiWS.: 123 pts. – 37% share

Rocky Colavito, Clev.: 117 pts. – 35% share

Tito Francona, Clev.: 102 pts. – 30% share

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White Sox went 94-60 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians, their first pennant in 40 years. They led the league in triples (46), stolen bases (113) & fewest batter strikeouts (634). The White Sox moved into first place for good on July 28 but still had to fend off the Indians, solidifying their lead with a late-August four-game sweep of Cleveland. Lost World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of ‘59:

Fox followed up with another typically strong season with the third place White Sox in 1960, batting .289 and leading the AL in plate appearances (684), at bats (605), and triples (10). He also led the league’s second basemen in chances (872), put outs (412), assists (447), and double plays (126). His performance began to drop off in 1961 at age 33 as his batting average fell to .251. His average rose to .267 in 1962 and he had one last All-Star season with the White Sox in 1963 after which he was traded to the Houston Colt .45s. Fox hit .265 for Houston in 1964 and, with the renamed Astros in 1965, he lost his starting job to the up-and-coming Joe Morgan and was released in July, ending his playing career. The scrappy overachiever batted .288 overall with 2663 hits that included 355 doubles, 112 triples, and 35 home runs. He also accumulated 790 RBIs and scored 1279 runs. Rarely striking out (he only did so 216 times in 9232 at bats, with a season high of 18 in 1953), with the White Sox for 14 years he hit .291 with 2470 hits, including 335 doubles, 104 triples, and 35 home runs, as well as 740 RBIs and 1187 runs scored. He was a 15-time All-Star and received three Gold Gloves. Following retirement as a player he coached for the expansion Washington Senators/Texas Rangers. Fox died of cancer in 1975 at age 47, 22 years before his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The White Sox retired his #2. 

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.

MVP Profile: Gabby Hartnett, 1935

Catcher, Chicago Cubs

Age:  34

13^th season with Cubs

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1935:

Born in Rhode Island, Hartnett was raised in Millville, Massachusetts, where his father played semipro baseball. Nicknamed “Dowdy” in his youth, he became a member of the town baseball team where he impressed as a catcher with his strong throwing arm. Hartnett first played professionally for the Worcester Boosters of the Class A Eastern League in 1921 at age 20 and he appeared in all 100 of the team’s games and batted .264. Offered a $2500 contract to sign with the Cubs, he made the team in spring training for the 1922 season and served as a backup to starting catcher Bob O’Farrell. Quiet at this point in his life, especially with sportswriters, he was ironically nicknamed “Gabby” by reporters, a name he would grow into as he displayed a more gregarious personality over time. Hartnett appeared in 31 games in ’22 and batted just .194 in 72 at bats with no home runs and 4 RBIs. He played well defensively when called upon, thus allowing him to stay with the Cubs in 1923, when he was much improved as a hitter as his batting average rose to .268 and he hit 8 home runs. He also became the preferred catcher for star RHP Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander. An injury to O’Farrell opened the door for Hartnett in 1924 and he hit .299 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs while appearing in 111 games. A fast start in 1925 led to his setting a new home run record for major league catchers with 24, also producing another 67 RBIs and a .289 batting average. He hit .275 in 1926 while his home run total dropped to 8 and continued to be outstanding defensively as he threw out 61 percent of baserunners who attempted to steal on him and ranked third among NL catchers in both assists (86) and put outs (307, tied with Pittsburgh’s Earl Smith). Hartnett rebounded offensively in 1927 as he batted .294 with 10 home runs and 80 RBIs. He hit .302 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs in 1928 and picked up another nickname, “Old Tomato Face”, due to his increasingly ruddy complexion. Hartnett suffered a setback in 1929 due to an injury to his throwing arm that limited him to one appearance behind the plate and 25 pinch-hitting appearances during the season, in which he batted .273. The Cubs won the NL pennant and Hartnett struck out in each of his pinch-hitting at bats in the World Series loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. He recovered in 1930 to play in 141 games (136 as catcher) and batted .339 with 37 home runs and 122 RBIs. He also led NL catchers in put outs (646), assists (68), and fielding percentage (.989). While the home runs dropped to 8 in 1931, he still hit a respectable .282 and remained among the top defensive catchers. In addition to his formidable throwing ability, Hartnett used his size to excellent advantage in blocking the plate.  The Cubs won the NL pennant in 1932 and Hartnett contributed 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .271 batting average offensively, and was second in the NL in put outs (484), third in assists (75), and first in percentage of runners thrown out stealing (64 %) defensively. Hartnett hit .313 in the World Series loss to the Yankees. In 1933 he was a participant in the first All-Star Game in a year in which he batted .276 with 16 home runs and 88 RBIs and continued to rank among the league leaders as a defensive catcher. Hartnett had another strong season in 1934 as he hit .299 with 22 home runs and 90 RBIs, and he was the starting catcher for the NL in the All-Star Game.

1935 Season Summary

Appeared in 116 games

C – 110, PH – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 461

At Bats – 413

Runs – 67

Hits – 142

Doubles – 32 [16, tied with Bill Terry]

Triples – 6

Home Runs – 13 [13]

RBI – 91 [9]

Bases on Balls – 41

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 46

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .344 [3]

OBP - .404 [4]

Slugging Pct. - .545 [5]

Total Bases – 225

GDP – 13 [11, tied with eight others]

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: HR – 8, RBI – 42, AVG - .329, SLG PCT - .551

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Brooklyn 5/13, (in 5 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 6/29, (in 4 AB) at Phila. Phillies 8/18

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 6

Most home runs, game – 1 on thirteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Cincinnati 6/4

Pinch-hitting – 1 of 3 (.333) with 1 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 563

Put Outs – 477

Assists – 77

Errors – 9

DP – 11

Pct. - .984

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. Detroit)

PA – 25, AB – 24, R – 1, H – 7, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 0, IBB – N/A, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .292, OBP - .292, SLG - .417, TB – 10, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Gabby Hartnett, ChiC.: 75 pts. - 94% share

Dizzy Dean, StLC.: 66 pts. – 83% share

Arky Vaughan, Pitt.: 45 pts. – 56% share

Billy Herman, ChiC.: 38 pts. – 48% share

Joe Medwick, StLC.: 37 pts. – 46% share

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Cubs went 100-54 to win the NL pennant by 4 games over the St. Louis Cardinals while leading the league in runs scored (847), doubles (303), walks drawn (464), batting (.288), and OBP (.347). A 21-game September winning streak propelled them to the pennant. Lost World Series to the Detroit Tigers, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of ‘35:

Hartnett continued to be a top offensive and defensive catcher in 1936 and ’37 who finished second in NL MVP voting in the latter year. Midway through the 1938 season with the Cubs running third in the NL pennant race, Hartnett became player/manager of the club and rallied them to within a half-game of first-place Pittsburgh on Sept. 28 when in the second game of a three-game series against the Pirates and with the score tied and darkness descending on Chicago, Hartnett hit a dramatic walk-off home run long remembered as “the homer in the gloaming” that fueled a Chicago sweep. The Cubs won the pennant and the 37-year-old player manager caught 83 games and contributed 10 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .274 batting average. The World Series resulted in a loss to the Yankees and Hartnett remained as player/manager in 1939 and ’40 after which he was fired having compiled a 203-176 managerial record with the one pennant. Overall with the Cubs he hit .297 with 1867 hits that included 391 doubles, 64 triples, and 231 home runs. He also knocked in 1153 RBIs. He signed with the New York Giants to be a player/coach in 1941 and batted .300 with 5 home runs and 26 RBIs while appearing in 64 games in his final season. For his complete major league career, he hit .297 with 1912 hits that included 396 doubles, 64 triples, and 236 home runs, along with 1179 RBIs and his 1787 appearances at catcher with the Cubs and Giants were a major league record at the time. Hartnett was a six-time All-Star and finished in the Top 10 of NL MVP voting four times, winning once. He became a minor league manager for five years following his retirement as a player and much later became a coach and scout with the Kansas City Athletics. He died on his 72^nd birthday in 1972, 17 years after his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.

Rookie of the Year: Carlton Fisk, 1972

Catcher, Boston Red Sox

Age:  24

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200

Prior to 1972:

Born in Vermont and raised in Charlestown, New Hampshire, Fisk was a member of an athletically talented family who picked up the nickname “Pudge” during childhood as a result of his stocky build. A basketball star in high school, he once scored 42 points and pulled down 38 rebounds in a regional playoff game. The intensely competitive Fisk and his brothers also excelled in baseball, playing American Legion as well as high school ball. Moving on to the University of New Hampshire, where he led the freshman basketball team to an undefeated record, he was chosen by the Red Sox in the first round of the 1967 amateur draft. Determining that he could not make it to the NBA, Fisk signed with Boston. He spent 1968 with the Waterloo Hawks of the Class A Midwest League and batted .338 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs. Moving up to Pittsfield of the Class AA Eastern League in 1969 he appeared in 97 games and hit .243 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs, earning himself a September call-up to the Red Sox. He appeared in two games and was 0-for-5 in his first taste of major league action. He was back in the Eastern League in 1970, this time assigned to Pawtucket where he produced 12 home runs and 44 RBIs along with a .229 batting average. Fisk advanced to the Louisville Colonels of the Class AAA International League in 1971 where he refined his leadership skills and his defensive catching ability. Also he hit .263 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. In another late-season trial with the Red Sox Fisk hit .313 in 14 games. Slated to be Boston’s third-string catcher heading into the ’72 season, he took over the starting job when veteran Duane Josephson was injured in the early going.   

1972 Season Summary

Appeared in 131 games

C – 131, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 514

At Bats – 457

Runs – 74 [11]

Hits – 134

Doubles – 28 [6, tied with Amos Otis, Dick Allen & Graig Nettles]

Triples – 9 [1, tied with Joe Rudi]

Home Runs – 22 [7, tied with Bobby Darwin & Norm Cash]

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 52

Int. BB – 6

Strikeouts – 83 [14, tied with Don Buford]

Stolen Bases – 5

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .293 [8, tied with Amos Otis]

OBP - .370 [7]

Slugging Pct. - .538 [2]

Total Bases – 246 [6, tied with Bob Oliver & George Scott]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 4 [18, tied with fifteen others]

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 0

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 6, HR – 15, RBI - 36, AVG - .310, SLG PCT - .624

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Most hits, game – 3 on seven occasions

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

Most HR, game – one on 22 occasions

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 9

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Texas 8/27

Pinch-hitting/running – 1 run scored

Fielding

Chances – 933

Put Outs – 846

Assists – 72

Errors – 15

DP - 10

Pct. - .984

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

Gold Glove

4th in AL MVP voting (96 points, 29% share)

AL ROY Voting:

Carlton Fisk, Bos.: 24 of 24 votes, 100% share

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Red Sox went 85-70 to finish second in the AL Eastern Division, a half game behind the division-winning Detroit Tigers while leading the league in runs scored (640), doubles (229), triples (34), slugging (.376), and total bases (1958). Due to a players’ strike in April that delayed the start of the season and caused 86 games to be cancelled,  teams played an unequal number of games, and the Red Sox came up a half-game short of winning their division despite a second-half surge that propelled them past the Orioles and Yankees and was largely fueled by the play of Fisk and RHP Luis Tiant.

Aftermath of ‘72:

Fisk followed up with another All-Star season in 1973, although his average dropped to .246 and his home runs rose to 26 and RBIs to 71. He also became known for his aggressiveness that led to several hard collisions and fights. A collision at home plate in 1974 nearly brought Fisk’s career to a premature end as he suffered torn ligaments in his left knee that required surgery. At the time of his injury he had appeared in 52 games and was batting .299 with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs. His return to action was delayed in 1975 when he suffered a broken arm due to being hit by a pitch during a spring training game. Fisk finally returned to the lineup in June and in 79 games he batted .331 with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs. The Red Sox won the AL pennant and Fisk contributed a key moment with his dramatic 12^th inning game-winning home run in Game 6 of the World Series against the Reds. He continued to be a key contributor to the club through 1980 although an elbow injury in 1979 limited him to 91 games, with only 39 of his appearances at catcher and 42 as Designated Hitter. He hit .272 with just 10 home runs as a result and his defense was missed behind the plate. Fisk returned to All-Star status in 1980 and batted .289 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs. Eligible for free agency, the Red Sox failed to tender a contract offer on time and Fisk signed with the Chicago White Sox. He continued to be an outstanding performer and team leader with his new club, helping to develop a group of young pitchers who fueled an AL West-winning run in 1983 when Fisk also contributed 26 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .289 batting average. In 1985 he had his best season for home runs (37) and RBIs (107) and was awarded a Silver Slugger for the first time. Despite several contract disputes, Fisk remained with the White Sox until he was released during the 1993 season, thus ending his career, at which time he was major league baseball’s all-time leader in games at catcher (since surpassed).  Overall, he batted .269 with 2356 hits that included 421 doubles, 47 triples, and 376 home runs. He also accumulated 1330 RBIs and 128 stolen bases. With Boston he hit .284 with 1097 hits, 207 doubles, 33 triples, 162 home runs, and 568 RBIs. Fisk was an 11-time All-Star (9 with Boston) and won one Gold Glove and three Silver Sluggers and finished in the Top 10 in AL MVP voting four times. He appeared as a catcher in 2226 of his 2499 total games. “Pudge” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000. The Red Sox retired his #27 and the White Sox the #72 he wore with them.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

Cy Young Profile: Mike Cuellar, 1969

Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Age:  32 (May 8)

1st season with Orioles

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 165

Prior to 1969:

A native of Cuba, Cuellar pitched on weekends while a member of the Cuban Army in 1954-55 and was quite successful. In 1956 he pitched in the Independent League in Nicaragua and was 10-3 with a 2.95 ERA. Performing well as a relief pitcher in the Cuban Winter League during the 1956-57 season, the thin southpaw was signed by the Cincinnati Reds. He was assigned to the Havana Sugar Kings of the Class AAA International League for the ’57 season and in his first outing vs. Montreal he struck out seven straight batters in a relief appearance.  Primarily pitching out of the bullpen (16 of his 44 appearances were starts) Cuellar produced an 8-7 record with a 2.44 ERA. Back with Havana in 1958, he started 29 of his 40 games and went 13-12 with a 2.77 ERA. Cuellar started the 1959 season with the Reds but was ineffective in two relief appearances and was returned to Havana and, utilized exclusively as a starter, he was 10-11 with a 2.80 ERA for a club that went on to win the Junior World Series. Cuellar was still with the Sugar Kings in 1960, who were forced to move to Jersey City due to the political situation in Cuba. Cuellar was 6-9 with a 4.56 ERA. He remained in Class AAA in 1961, playing for Jersey City and then Indianapolis of the American Association. Overall he appeared in 33 games with an unimpressive 4-11 record and 4.58 ERA. Cuellar spent 1962 in the Class AA Mexican League with the Monterrey Sultanes. In the meantime, his contract had been dealt to Detroit and Cleveland but he appeared to be stuck in the minor leagues while playing winter ball throughout Latin America while travel to and from Cuba became problematic. The situation improved for Cuellar in 1964 when he moved on to the St. Louis Cardinals system. Having learned to throw a screwball over the winter, he was 6-1 in 10 starts for the Jacksonville Suns of the International League before the Cardinals called him up in June. He appeared in 32 games for St. Louis, starting 7 of them, and produced a 5-5 record with a 4.50 ERA for the NL pennant winners. Not used in the World Series, he found himself back with Jacksonville in 1965 where he was 9-1 with a 2.51 ERA until he was traded to the Houston Astros in June. Finally in the major leagues to stay at age 28, Cuellar added a curveball to his repertoire and appeared in 25 games for the Astros, starting four of them, and was 1-4 with a 3.54 ERA. He broke out in 1966 when he went 12-10 for the 72-90 Astros and ranked second in the NL with a 2.22 ERA while starting 28 of his 38 games and accumulating 227.1 innings pitched with 175 strikeouts. Cuellar had his first All-Star season in 1967 as he posted a 16-11 record with a 3.03 ERA, 16 complete games, and 203 strikeouts in 246.1 innings pitched. He struggled with arm problems in 1968 and his record dropped to 8-11 with a 2.74 ERA. In the offseason the Astros traded him to the Orioles along with two minor league players for OF/1B/C Curt Blefary.

1969 Season Summary

Appeared in 39 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 39

Games Started – 39 [3, tied with Mel Stottlemyre]

Complete Games – 18 [3, tied with Sam McDowell]

Wins – 23 [2]

Losses – 11

PCT - .676 [9]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 5 [3]

Innings Pitched – 290.2 [3]

Hits – 213 [17, tied with Tom Murphy]

Runs – 94

Earned Runs – 77

Home Runs – 18

Bases on Balls – 79

Strikeouts – 182 [5, tied with Joe Coleman]

ERA – 2.38 [3]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 2 [2, tied with Denny McLain, Bob Locker & Jim Bouton]

Wild Pitches – 3

Midseason Snapshot: 10-9, ERA - 2.51, SO - 101 in 158 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 9 IP) at Washington 6/17

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Minnesota 8/10

Batting

PA – 113, AB – 103, R – 6, H – 12, 2B – 1, 3B – 2, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 0, SO – 43, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .117, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 8, SF – 2

Fielding

Chances – 56

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 45

Errors – 2

DP – 7

Pct. - .964

Postseason Pitching:

G – 3 (ALCS vs. Minnesota – 1 G; World Series vs. NY Mets – 2 G)

 GS – 3, CG – 1, Record – 1-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 24, H – 16, R – 5, ER – 4, HR – 2, BB – 5, SO – 20, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0, ERA – 1.50

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA (co-winner)

8^th in AL MVP voting (55 points, 16% share)

AL Cy Young voting:

Mike Cuellar, Balt.: 10 of 24 votes, 42% share

Denny McLain, Det.: 10 votes, 42% share

Jim Perry, Min.: 3 votes, 13% share

Dave McNally, Balt.: 1 vote, 4% share

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Orioles went 109-53 to finish first in the AL Eastern Division by 19 games over the Detroit Tigers. Won ALCS over the Minnesota Twins, 3 games to 0. Lost World Series to the New York Mets, 4 games to 1, with Cuellar going the distance in Game 1 to give the Orioles their only win of the Series.

Aftermath of ‘69:

Cuellar had another fine season in 1970, compiling a 24-8 record with a 3.48 ERA and 21 complete games. He was selected as an All-Star despite his typically slow start and wound up fourth in AL Cy Young voting. The Orioles again won the AL pennant and the ensuing World Series as well. Three of the starters won 20 games, with LHP Dave McNally matching Cuellar’s total of 24 and RHP Jim Palmer winning an even 20. He experienced difficulties in the postseason until going the distance to win the decisive fifth game of the World Series against Cincinnati. Known for his many superstitions as well as his pitching prowess, Cuellar was one of four 20-game winners for the Orioles in 1971 (RHP Pat Dobson joining Palmer, McNally, and Cuellar), posting a 20-9 record with a 3.08 ERA and another 21 complete games for 292.1 innings pitched in all. He was once more an All-Star. Baltimore won its third straight AL pennant but lost the World Series to the Pirates, with Cuellar losing both of his starts. The Orioles finished third in the AL East in 1972 although Cuellar contributed an 18-12 record with a 2.57 ERA and 17 complete games. He was 18-13 in 1973 with a 3.27 ERA and 267 innings pitched that included another 17 complete games while Baltimore returned to the top of the AL East. He had one last All-Star season in 1974, in which he put together a 22-10 tally with a 3.11 ERA and 20 complete games at age 37. The Orioles once again topped their division and Cuellar placed sixth in AL Cy Young voting. Age finally seemed to catch up to Cuellar in 1975 as he was 14-12 with a 3.66 ERA. The situation worsened considerably in 1976 as the 39-year-old Cuellar was 4-13 with 4.96 ERA and found himself consigned to the bullpen late in the season. Released afterward, he was signed by the California Angels for 1977 but he lasted just two games before being let go, thus finishing his major league career. He continued to pitch in the winter leagues until the age of 44 in 1983. For his major league career, Cuellar compiled a 185-130 record with a 3.14 ERA and 1632 strikeouts in 2808 innings pitched. He was 143-88 with the Orioles, with a 3.18 ERA and 1011 strikeouts over the course of 2028.1 innings. He was a four-time All-Star (three with Baltimore) and a four-time 20-game winner (all with Baltimore). While it took him many years to reach the major leagues, he became a highly effective control pitcher who was a key contributor to a strong team. In the postseason Cuellar was 4-4 with a 2.85 ERA. Following his retirement he became an instructor for the Orioles until his death from stomach cancer in 2010 at age 72.

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

MVP Profile: Bob Elliott, 1947

Third Baseman, Boston Braves

Age:  30

1^st season with Braves

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 185

Prior to 1947:

A native Californian, Elliott played football as well as baseball in school and went on to play semipro baseball in El Centro where he caught the attention of a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After signing with the Pirates he was assigned to Savannah of the Class B South Atlantic League where he batted .292 with 12 home runs and 84 RBIs in 1936 at age 19. Still with Savannah in 1937 the line-drive-hitting Elliott was a league all-star after again hitting .292 with 16 triples as well as 21 doubles and 9 home runs in 139 games. He moved up to Knoxville of the Class A-1 Southern Association in 1938 for 11 games before being returned to Savannah where he batted .325 with 30 doubles, 11 triples, and 12 home runs. He started the 1939 season with the Louisville Colonels of the Class AA American Association and was quickly promoted to Toronto of the Class AA International League where he hit .328 in 115 games with 27 doubles, 8 triples, and 7 home runs. Elliott was brought up to the Pirates in September where he batted .333 in 32 games with 3 home runs and 19 RBIs. Originally an outfielder, he spent the 1940 and ’41 seasons with the Pirates appearing primarily in right or center field. In his first full year in ’40 he hit .292 with 34 doubles, 11 triples, 5 home runs, and 64 RBIs. He made the NL All-Star team in 1941, a year in which he batted .273 with 24 doubles, 10 triples, 3 home runs, and 76 RBIs. Elliott was shifted to third base in 1942 and was again an All-Star in a year in which he hit .296 with 26 doubles, 7 triples, and 9 home runs with 89 RBIs. He also led all NL third basemen with 36 errors as he adjusted to his new position. In 1943 he batted .315 with 30 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, and 101 RBIs while showing improvement in the field. Rejected for World War II military service due to head injuries suffered while playing baseball, Elliott worked for an aircraft manufacturer in San Diego during the offseason. He was once again an All-Star in 1944 during a season in which he hit .297 with 28 doubles, 16 triples, and 10 home runs while driving in 108 runs. The highly consistent Elliott was a .290 hitter with 108 RBIs in 1945 but saw his production drop to .263 with 68 RBIs in 1946. In the offseason he was traded to the Braves along with catcher Hank Camelli for four players. A good but unspectacular player, Elliott was set to benefit from moving to a more hitter-friendly home venue in Boston’s Braves Field.

1947 Season Summary

Appeared in 150 games

3B – 147, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 645 [11]

At Bats – 555 [11]

Runs – 93 [12]

Hits – 176 [8]

Doubles – 35 [2]

Triples – 5

Home Runs – 22 [9]

RBI – 113 [4]

Bases on Balls – 87 [7, tied with Whitey Kurowski & Bill Nicholson]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 60 [10, tied with Connie Ryan]

Stolen Bases – 3

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .317 [2]

OBP - .410 [7]

Slugging Pct. - .517 [6]

Total Bases – 287 [6]

GDP – 15 [10, tied with Tommy Holmes, Frank Gustine & Eddie Miller]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: HR – 7, RBI – 52, AVG. - .301, SLG PCT – .466

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 5/8, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis Cards 8/26

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 15

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Pittsburgh 9/13

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 at NY Giants 5/11

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 2 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 451

Put Outs – 129

Assists – 302

Errors – 20

DP – 25

Pct. - .956

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Bob Elliott, BosB.: 205 pts. - 9 of 23 first place votes, 61% share

Ewell Blackwell, Cin.: 175 pts. – 2 first place votes, 52% share

Johnny Mize, NYG.: 144 pts. – 2 first place votes, 43% share

Bruce Edwards, Brook.: 140 pts. – 3 first place votes, 42% share

Jackie Robinson, Brook.: 106 pts. –1 first place vote, 32% share

(2 first place votes for Pee Wee Reese, Brook., who ranked eighth; 1 first place vote apiece for Larry Jansen, NYG, who ranked seventh, Dutch Leonard, Phila.P, who ranked 13th, Willard Marshall, NYG, who ranked 16^th & Dixie Walker, Brook., who ranked 19th)

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Braves went 86-68 to finish third in the NL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Dodgers while leading the league in doubles (265), sacrifice hits (129), and fewest batter strikeouts (502). It was the team’s highest finish and best record since 1916.    

Aftermath of ‘47:

Elliott was a solid contributor to the Braves in their 1948 pennant-winning season, receiving the nickname “Mr. Team” due to his key role in the lineup, batting .283 with 23 home runs and 100 RBIs while drawing an NL-leading 131 walks. He finished thirteenth in league MVP voting in addition to being an All-Star. Elliott remained with the Braves through 1951 until he was dealt to the New York Giants just prior to the 1952 season. After years of being a durable and productive player, he appeared in just 98 games for the Giants and batted .228 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. Released in the offseason, he went to spring training with the St. Louis Browns in 1953 and made the club as a part-time third baseman. He hit .250 in 48 games with the Browns until he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in June. Hindered by a leg injury, he produced only a .260 average for the White Sox the rest of the way and was released after the season, thus ending his major league career. Overall, he batted .289 with 2061 hits that included 382 doubles, 94 triples, and 170 home runs. He also compiled 1195 RBIs, 60 stolen bases, and scored 1064 runs. With the Braves he had a .295 batting average with 763 total hits, 145 doubles, 22 triples, and 101 RBIs. Elliott was a seven-time All-Star (three with the Braves) and in addition to his lone MVP award, finished in the top 10 three times. He went on to become a minor league manager for several years and managed in the majors with the Kansas City Athletics in 1960. The A’s were a poor club that finished last in the AL with a 58-96 record, after which he was let go. He died six years later in San Diego at age 49.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.