Dec 23, 2019

Rookie of the Year: Bob Horner, 1978

Third Baseman, Atlanta Braves


Age:  21 (Aug. 6)
Bats – Both, Throws – Right
Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1978:
Born in Kansas, Horner moved with his family to southern California, and later Arizona, where he was a shortstop at Apollo High School in Glendale. Drafted by the Oakland A’s in 1975, he chose instead to attend Arizona State Univ. He was shifted to second base as a freshman and hit the first 9 of his then-record career 58 home runs. Horner played third base in his sophomore and junior seasons. As a junior in 1978 he batted .412 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs and was the first recipient of the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best amateur player. He was chosen by the Braves with the first overall pick in the ’78 amateur draft and signed and bypassed the minor leagues to move directly into the Atlanta lineup.

1978 Season Summary
Appeared in 89 games
3B – 89

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting
Plate Appearances – 359
At Bats – 323
Runs – 50
Hits – 86
Doubles – 17
Triples – 1
Home Runs – 23 [11, tied with four others]
RBI – 63
Bases on Balls – 24
Int. BB – 2
Strikeouts – 42
Stolen Bases – 0
Caught Stealing – 0
Average - .266
OBP - .313
Slugging Pct. - .539 [Non-qualifying]
Total Bases – 174
GDP – 7
Hit by Pitches – 2
Sac Hits – 1
Sac Flies – 9 [6, tied with Jack Clark & Willie Montanez]

Midseason snapshot: HR – 4, RBI – 15, AVG – .267, SLG - .500

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 9/9
Longest hitting streak – 10 games
Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. Montreal 7/28, (in 4 AB) vs. Montreal 7/29, (in 4 AB) at Chi. Cubs 8/14, (in 5 AB) vs. St. Louis 8/25
HR at home – 19
HR on road – 4
Multi-HR games – 4
Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. St. Louis 8/25
Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding
Chances – 293
Put Outs – 81
Assists – 199
Errors – 13
DP - 17
Pct. - .956

Awards & Honors:
NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

NL ROY Voting:
Bob Horner, Atl.: 12 of 23 votes, 50% share
Ozzie Smith, SD: 8 votes, 33% share
Don Robinson, Pitt.: 3 votes, 13% share

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Braves went 69-93 to finish sixth (last) in the NL Western Division, 26 games behind the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers while leading the league in fewest hits (1313) and lowest batting average (.244). While finishing in the cellar for the third straight year the Braves received a midseason lift due to the arrival of Horner and LHP Larry McWilliams.

Aftermath of ‘78:
Horner followed up his impressive rookie season by hitting .314 in 1979 with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs. When he got off to a poor start in 1980, batting just .059 after ten games, owner Ted Turner ordered his demotion to the minors. Horner sought legal recourse, while fans and media complained about the move, and eventually the Braves reinstated him. He went on to hit .268 with 35 home runs and 89 RBIs in 124 games. Struggling with his weight and injuries during the strike-interrupted 1981 season, Horner dropped to 15 home runs and 42 RBIs with a .277 average. The Braves topped the NL West in 1982, and despite an elbow injury, Horner, who was an All-Star for the only time in his career, contributed a .261 average with 32 home runs and 97 RBIs. He batted only .091 as the Braves were swept by the Cardinals in the NLCS. Signing a contract extension that provided incentives if he kept his weight under 215 pounds, he was hitting .303 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs in 1983 when he broke his right wrist in August and was lost for the remainder of the season. Horner broke the same wrist again in May of 1984 while diving for a foul ball and again was lost for the rest of the year. In 32 games he hit .274 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. Lacking range at third base, Horner was shifted to first base during the 1985 season, during which his numbers rebounded to .267 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs. He hit another 27 home runs in 1986, which included a record-tying four in one game against Montreal, which was won by the Expos, making Horner just the second major league player to perform the feat in a game that his team lost. He also ended up with 87 RBIs and a .273 average. A free agent in the offseason, Horner was unable to come to terms on a suitable contract and signed with the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League for one year at $2 million. Popular in Japan, he batted .327 in 93 games with 31 home runs and 73 RBIs. Resisting a lucrative offer to stay in Japan, Horner returned to the National League with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988, who hoped he could adequately replace departed free agent Jack Clark. A shoulder injury limited him to 60 games. Invited to spring training by the Baltimore Orioles in 1989 he chose to retire. For his major league career, Horner batted .277 with 1047 hits that included 169 doubles, 8 triples, and 218 home runs. He further compiled 685 RBIs and scored 560 runs. With the Braves he batted .278 with 994 hits, 160 doubles, 7 triples, 215 home runs, 652 RBIs, and 545 runs scored. A one-time All-Star, he finished in the top ten in league MVP voting once as well. Horner was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

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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. 

Dec 17, 2019

Rookie of the Year: Neftali Feliz, 2010

Pitcher, Texas Rangers


Age:  22 (May 2)
Bats – Right, Throws – Right
Height: 6’3”    Weight: 235

Prior to 2010:
A native of Azua in the Dominican Republic, where he attended Sofia Benitez High School and developed into a pitching prospect, Feliz signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2005 for a $100,000 bonus at age 17 and first pitched for the Dominican Braves before moving on to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2006 where he appeared in 11 games (5 of them starts) and was 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA and 42 strikeouts over the course of 29 innings. In 2007 he was traded to the Rangers in July and saw action at the Rookie and Class A levels, where he went a combined 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 42.1 innings pitched. Used exclusively as a starting pitcher in 2008, Feliz was 6-3 with Clinton of the Class A Midwest League and had a 2.52 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 82 innings and, moving on to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Class AA Texas League he further compiled a 4-3 record with a 2.98 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 45.1 innings. He advanced to Oklahoma City of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 2009 and, starting 13 of his 25 games, was 4-6 with a 3.49 ERA and 75 strikeouts. Called up to the Rangers in August, Feliz relieved in 20 games and produced a 1-0 record with a 1.74 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 31 innings. An aggressive competitor with an excellent fastball, he was developing his changeup and curveball. He replaced the faltering Frank Francisco as the bullpen closer early during the 2010 season.

2010 Season Summary
Appeared in 70 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching
Games – 70 [11, tied with four others]
Games Started – 0
Complete Games – 0
Wins – 4
Losses – 3
PCT - .571 [Non-qualifying]
Saves – 40 [3]
Shutouts – 0
Innings Pitched – 69.1
Hits – 43
Runs – 21
Earned Runs – 21
Home Runs – 5
Bases on Balls – 18
Strikeouts – 71
ERA – 2.73 [Non-qualifying]
Hit Batters – 5
Balks – 0
Wild Pitches – 5

Midseason Snapshot: 1-2, ERA - 3.82, G – 39, SV – 23, SO - 42 in 37.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 3 on five occasions

Fielding
Chances – 5
Put Outs – 3
Assists – 2
Errors – 0
DP – 0
Pct. - 1.000

Postseason Pitching:
G – 7 (ALDS vs. Tampa Bay – 2 G; ALCS vs. NY Yankees – 3 G; World Series vs. San Francisco – 2 G)
GS – 0, CG – 0, Record – 0-0, PCT – .000, SV – 1, ShO – 0, IP – 7.1, H – 3, R – 1, ER – 1, HR – 1 BB – 5, SO – 11, ERA – 1.23, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0

Awards & Honors:
AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA
All-Star

AL ROY Voting (Top 4):
Neftali Feliz, Tex.: 122 pts. – 20 of 28 first place votes, 87% share
Austin Jackson, Det.: 98 pts. – 8 first place votes, 70% share
Danny Valencia, Min.: 12 pts. –  9% share
Wade Davis, TB: 11 pts. – 8% share

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Rangers went 90-72 to finish first in the AL Western Division by 9 games over the Oakland Athletics. Won ALDS over the Tampa Bay Rays, 3 games to 2 & ALCS over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 2 for the first league pennant in franchise history. Lost World Series to the San Francisco Giants, 4 games to 1.

Aftermath of 2010:
After becoming the first major league rookie pitcher to record 40 saves in a season, Feliz followed up in 2011 with 32 saves and a 2-3 record and 71 strikeouts over 69.1 innings. The Rangers again won the AL pennant and Feliz failed to close out Game 6 of the World Series against St. Louis, surrendering a game-tying two-run triple in the ninth inning in the contest eventually won by the Cardinals, who also won the deciding seventh game. Moved into the starting rotation in 2012, he was 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA when he went on the disabled list with an arm injury and underwent “Tommy John” surgery, which cost him the remainder of the season. Still recovering from surgery in 2013, Feliz returned to the Rangers in September and appeared in six games with no decisions. In an injury-interrupted 2014 season, he split time between the set-up and closer roles and in 30 appearances ended up with a 2-1 record and 13 saves with a 1.99 ERA. In 2015 he was released in July and signed with the Detroit Tigers, finishing with a combined 3-4 tally and 10 saves and a 6.38 ERA. Feliz signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016, appeared in 62 games and posted a 4-2 record with two saves and a 3.52 ERA. He split 2017 between the Brewers and Royals and was a combined 2-5 with 8 saves and a 5.48 ERA in 49 appearances. Signing a minor league deal with Arizona for 2018, Feliz was 6-5 as a starter and reliever for the Reno Aces of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He was still toiling in the minors in 2019. For his major league career, Feliz posted a 21-19 record and 107 saves while appearing in 357 games, with a 3.49 ERA and 363 strikeouts over 389.1 innings pitched. With the Rangers he was 13-10 with 93 saves and 242 strikeouts over 261.1 innings. In 18 postseason games, he had no decisions and recorded 7 saves along with a 1.93 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 18 innings. Widely considered to be a tremendous pitching prospect during his rise to the major leagues, he showed great promise in his early seasons with the Rangers but has not been able to regain that form.


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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. 

Dec 13, 2019

Cy Young Profile: Tim Lincecum, 2008

Pitcher, San Francisco Giants


Age:  24 (June 15)
2nd season with Giants
Bats – Left, Throws – Right
Height: 5’11” Weight: 170

Prior to 2008:
Born in Bellevue, Washington, Lincecum was small and wiry growing up. Only 4’11” when he entered Renton’s Liberty High School but was surprisingly strong for his small stature. A growth spurt had him at nearly a foot taller by the time he was a junior and became a varsity pitcher. With a unique windup that resolved in a long stride forward on the mound prior to release, Lincecum compiled a 4-2 record in that first varsity season with a 0.73 ERA and 86 strikeouts over the course of 49 innings. He was 12-1 for a state championship team as a senior and he passed up an offer from the Chicago Cubs, who selected him in the 2003 amateur draft, to attend the Univ. of Washington. He continued his development in college and received the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best collegiate player in 2006, when he pitched 125.1 innings and posted a 12-4 tally with a 1.94 ERA and 199 strikeouts. He was the tenth overall selection by the Giants in that year’s amateur draft and Lincecum signed for a $2.025 million bonus. Playing for two teams at the Class A level in ’06 he pitched 31.2 innings and went 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 58 strikeouts. He advanced to Fresno of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 2007 and in five games posted a 4-0 record and 0.29 ERA with 46 strikeouts. Called up to the Giants in May Lincecum took over the spot in the rotation of injured RHP Russ Ortiz and compiled a 7-5 tally with a 4.00 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 146.1 innings pitched. Able to throw consistently at high velocity from his odd windup and despite his slender frame, his repertoire included a four-seam fastball, curve, changeup, and slider.


2008 Season Summary
Appeared in 34 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching
Games – 34
Games Started – 33 [9, tied with ten others]
Complete Games – 2 [6, tied with six others]
Wins – 18 [2]
Losses – 5
PCT - .783 [1]
Saves – 0
Shutouts – 1 [7, tied with fifteen others]
Innings Pitched – 227 [3]
Hits – 182
Runs – 72
Earned Runs – 66
Home Runs – 11
Bases on Balls – 84 [7]
Strikeouts – 265 [1]
ERA – 2.62 [2]
Hit Batters – 6
Balks – 2 [5, tied with nine others
Wild Pitches – 17 [1, tied with Manny Parra]

League-leading winning pct. was +.024 ahead of runner-up Brandon Webb
League-leading strikeouts were +59 ahead of runners-up Edinson Volquez, Johan Santana & Dan Haren

Midseason Snapshot: 11-2, ERA - 2.57, SO - 135 in 129.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 13 (in 7 IP) vs. Arizona 7/26, (in 7 IP) vs. LA Dodgers 9/28
10+ strikeout games – 9
Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 7 IP) at San Diego 8/1, (in 7.2 IP) at Atlanta 8/17

Batting
PA – 81, AB – 70, R – 7, H – 11, 2B – 1, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 5, SO – 32, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .157, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 6, SF – 0

Fielding
Chances – 26
Put Outs – 9
Assists – 17
Errors – 0
DP – 1
Pct. - 1.000

Awards & Honors:
NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA
NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News
All-Star
23rd in NL MVP voting (9 points, 2% share)

NL Cy Young voting:
Tim Lincecum, SF: 137 pts. – 23 of 32 first place votes, 86% share
Brandon Webb, Ariz.: 73 pts. – 4 first place votes, 46% share
Johan Santana, NYM: 55 pts. – 4 first place votes, 34% share
Brad Lidge, Phila.: 10 pts. – 6% share
C.C. Sabathia, Mil.: 9 pts. – 1 first place vote, 6% share
Ryan Dempster, ChiC.: 4 pts. – 3% share

Giants went 72-90 to finish fourth in the NL Western Division, 12 games behind the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.

Aftermath of ‘08:
Lincecum followed up with another Cy Young-winning season in 2009 in which he produced a 15-7 record and 2.48 ERA, again leading the NL in strikeouts with 261. “The Freak” was again an All-Star and placed eighteenth in MVP voting. With a fine starting rotation that featured Lincecum, RHP Matt Cain, and LHP Jonathan Sanchez, the Giants won the NL West in 2010 and Lincecum contributed a 16-10 tally with a 3.43 ERA and league-leading 231 strikeouts. He was 3-1 in the postseason, including two wins in the World Series victory over Texas. San Francisco dropped to second place in 2011 and Lincecum’s record fell to 13-14 with a 2.74 ERA and 220 strikeouts, although he was an All-Star for the fourth straight year. Lincecum went 10-15 in 2012 with a 5.18 ERA and 190 strikeouts as the Giants returned to the top of the NL West. He started only one game in the postseason as the club won the NL pennant. Relegated to the bullpen during the World Series sweep of Detroit, he struck out eight of the 16 batters he faced in two relief appearances. He generated another losing record in 2013 at 10-14 although he threw a no-hitter against the Padres at San Diego. His ERA for the season was 4.37 and he struck out 193 batters. In 2014 Lincecum pitched another no-hitter against the Padres, this time at home. Otherwise it was a season that involved more struggles, that eventually forced his move to the bullpen, on the way to a 12-9 record with a 4.74 ERA, 134 strikeouts, and a league-leading 15 wild pitches. He started out well in 2015 but ended up with a 7-4 tally in just 15 starts and a 4.13 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels for 2016. He was a disappointing 2-6 for the Angels with a dreadful 9.16 ERA, and spent time back in Class AAA before being let go in August. After sitting out the 2017 season, Lincecum signed with the Texas Rangers in 2018, but went on the disabled list in the spring and never appeared with the Rangers, who released him during the season, thus ending his career. Overall during his major league career, Lincecum produced a 110-89 record with a 3.74 ERA and 1736 strikeouts over 1682 innings pitched. He was 108-83 with the Giants with a 3.61 ERA and 1704 strikeouts. He further compiled 10 complete games that included 7 shutouts and two no-hitters. In 13 postseason appearances he went 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 65 strikeouts over 56.1 innings. In addition to two Cy Young Awards, Lincecum was a four-time All-Star.

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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.  

Dec 9, 2019

Cy Young Profile: Gaylord Perry, 1978

Pitcher, San Diego Padres


Age:  40 (Sept. 15)
1st season with Padres
Bats – Right, Throws – Right
Height: 6’4”    Weight: 205

Prior to 1978:
A native of Williamston, North Carolina, Perry played football and basketball as well as baseball. in high school. He started out as a third baseman who began pitching in tandem with his older brother Jim (who also went on to have a long major league career) with great success (he compiled a high school record of 33-5). After high school he signed with the San Francisco Giants for a $60,000 bonus. He was first assigned to St. Cloud of the Class C Northern League in 1958, where he was 9-5 with a 2.39 ERA. He had a more difficult time in 1959 with Corpus Christi of the Class AA Texas League, compiling a 10-11 record with a 4.05 ERA. Perry was back in the Texas League in 1960, this time with the Rio Grande Valley Giants. His record was a mediocre 9-13, but he led the league with a 2.82 ERA. He moved on to Tacoma of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1961, where he was outstanding with a 16-10 tally and a 2.55 ERA. Making it to the Giants in 1962 as a reliever and spot starter, Perry struggled and was 1-6 with a 6.25 ERA when he was sent down to Tacoma in June. Back in the PCL, Perry was 10-7 with a 2.48 ERA. His fastball was highly effective and he returned to the Giants, who were locked in a hot pennant race with the Dodgers. He ended up posting a 3-1 major league record with a 5.23 ERA. In 1963 with the Giants, he was a seldom-used reliever who appeared in 31 games, four of them starts, and went 1-6 with a 4.03 ERA. Following a strong Dominican League performance in the winter, Perry learned how to throw a spitball during the spring from RHP Bob Shaw. The illegal pitch was in wide use and Perry developed it along with a slider to supplement his fastball and curve. Appearing in 44 games in 1964 (19 of them starts) he was 12-11 with a 2.75 ERA and 155 strikeouts. In 1965, still utilized as a starter and reliever, Perry dropped to 8-12 with a 4.19 ERA and 170 strikeouts. In 1966, having adjusted from a three-quarters pitching motion to straight over-the-top, he added a hard slider to his repertoire (in addition to his regular slider) and moved firmly into the starting rotation. He delivered a 21-8 record with a 2.99 ERA and 201 strikeouts. He was also an All-Star selection for the first time. His ERA was 2.61 in 1967 although his record dropped to 15-17 with 230 strikeouts. By this point he had added an elaborate ritual of hand motions to distract from how he was applying foreign substances to the ball to throw the spitball. In 1968 Perry’s record was only 16-15 despite a 2.45 ERA that included a no-hitter against the pennant-winning Cardinals (whose RHP Ray Washburn returned the favor the next day). Now part of an effective one-two punch with RHP Juan Marichal, the staff ace, Perry continued in 1969 with a 19-14 record and 2.49 ERA with 233 strikeouts. He also compiled 26 complete games and a league-leading 325.1 innings pitched. Routinely checked by umpires for foreign substances, he remained highly effective and unsanctioned. Perry had a big year in 1970, as he added a forkball to his repertoire, in which he went 23-13 to lead the NL in wins, along with a 3.20 ERA and 214 strikeouts. He again topped the circuit with 328.2 innings pitched that included 23 complete games and 5 shutouts. The Giants won the NL West in 1971 and Perry contributed a 16-12 mark with a 2.76 ERA and 158 strikeouts. He was 1-1 in the only postseason action of his career. In the offseason Perry was dealt to the Cleveland Indians along with shortstop Frank Duffy for LHP Sam McDowell. He had an excellent year for his new team in 1972, producing a 24-16 record with a 1.92 ERA , 29 complete games, and 234 strikeouts and received the AL Cy Young Award as a result. Allegations of throwing illegal pitches continued to follow Perry, who seemed to embrace the controversy and the psychological effect on opposing batters. He went 19-19 with the last-place Indians in 1973 with a 3.38 ERA, 29 complete games, and 238 strikeouts. Perry had a strong season in 1974, the same year in which he released Me and the Spitter, An Autobiographical Confession in which he claimed to no longer be using the illegal pitch, which did not allay the suspicions. He compiled a 21-13 record in ’74 that included a 15-game winning streak. The 1975 season was highlighted by feuding with new manager Frank Robinson. He had a 6-9 record when he was traded to the Texas Rangers in June. He finished with a combined tally of 18-17 with a 3.24 ERA and 233 strikeouts while still completing 25 games, five of them shutouts. In 1976 he went 15-14 with a 3.24 ERA and 143 strikeouts while pitching 250 innings and completing 21 games. In 1977 the Rangers finished a surprising second in the AL West and the 38-year-old Perry was 15-12 with a 3.37 ERA and 177 strikeouts over 238 innings. Seeking an infusion of youth, the Rangers traded Perry to the Padres just prior to spring training.


1978 Season Summary
Appeared in 37 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching
Games – 37
Games Started – 37 [2]
Complete Games – 5
Wins – 21 [1]
Losses – 6
PCT - .778 [1]
SV – 0
Shutouts – 2 [18, tied with thirteen others]
Innings Pitched – 260.2 [4]
Hits – 241 [3]
Runs – 96 [17, tied with Dennis Lamp]
Earned Runs – 79
Home Runs – 9
Bases on Balls – 66
Strikeouts – 154 [9, tied with Don Sutton]
ERA – 2.73 [6]
Hit Batters – 2
Balks – 3 [11, tied with twelve others]
Wild Pitches – 4

League-leading wins were +1 ahead of runner-up Ross Grimsley
League-leading winning pct was +.078 ahead of runner-up Don Robinson

Midseason Snapshot: 9-4, ERA - 3.11, SO - 79 in 127.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 10 IP) vs. LA Dodgers 10/1
10+ strikeout games – 1
Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) vs. Montreal 6/14, (in 9 IP) vs. Houston 6/23, (in 7 IP) vs. San Francisco 9/21

Batting
PA – 102, AB – 87, R – 5, H – 8, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 2, SO – 31, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .092, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 13, SF – 0

Fielding
Chances – 55
Put Outs – 13
Assists – 40
Errors – 2
DP – 6
Pct. - .964

Awards & Honors:
NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA
8th in NL MVP voting (45 points, 13% share)

NL Cy Young voting (Top 5):
Gaylord Perry, SD: 116 pts. – 22 of 24 first place votes, 97% share
Burt Hooton, LAD: 38 pts. – 32% share
Vida Blue, SF: 17 pts. – 1 first place vote, 14% share
J.R. Richard, Hou.: 13 pts. – 1 first place vote, 11% share
Kent Tekulve, Pitt.: 12 pts. – 10% share

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Padres went 84-78 to finish fourth in the NL Western Division, 11 games behind the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers, for the first winning record in franchise history. The pitching staff led the league in saves (55).

Aftermath of ‘78:
Perry followed up in 1979 with another solid season in which he posted a 12-11 record with a 3.06 ERA and 140 strikeouts. However, he feuded with manager Roger Craig and, never one to tolerate defensive miscues, publicly berated the poor defensive play behind him. Desiring to be traded, Perry quit the club in September and got his wish just prior to spring training in 1980 when he was dealt back to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Willie Montanez. Perry started 24 games for the Rangers, battled with another manager (Pat Corrales) and was 6-9 with a 3.43 ERA when he was traded to the New York Yankees in August. He went 4-4 the rest of the way with a 4.44 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the Atlanta Braves for 1981 and was 8-9 during the strike-interrupted season with a 3.94 ERA. He signed with the Seattle Mariners for 1982 and compiled a 10-12 record that included his 300th career win, along with a 4.40 ERA. He was also ejected from a game for allegedly throwing illegal pitches for the only time in his long career. He split the 1983 season between Seattle and the Kansas City Royals, posting a combined record of 7-14 with a 4.64 ERA, after which he retired. Overall for his major league career, Perry was 314-265 with a 3.11 ERA and struck out 3534 batters over 5350 innings pitched. He further hurled 303 complete games that included 53 shutouts. With the Padres he went 33-17 with a 2.88 ERA and 294 strikeouts over the course of 493.1 innings. A five-time All-Star who won a Cy Young Award in each league, Perry was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. His #36 was retired by the San Francisco Giants.


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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.  

Dec 3, 2019

MVP Profile: Dizzy Dean, 1934

Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals


Age:  24
3rd season with Cardinals
Bats – Right, Throws – Right
Height: 6’2”    Weight: 182

Prior to 1934:
A native of Arkansas, Jay (which he later changed to Jerome) Hanna Dean was raised in a family of migrant farmers whose regular moving kept him from obtaining much steady formal schooling. Dean became schooled in hard work picking cotton and playing baseball. While still underage he joined the Army in 1926 and, playing barracks league baseball, he put his outstanding fastball, which he called “fogger” to good use and also developed a fine curve. He also picked up the nickname “Dizzy”. Upon leaving the Army, Dean joined the San Antonio Public Service Corp. where he was a meter reader and pitcher for the company’s team. Signed by a scout for the Cardinals for $100 per month, he was first assigned to St. Joseph of the Class A Western League in 1930 where he went 17-8 with a 3.69 ERA before being promoted to the Houston Buffaloes of the Class A Texas League, where he produced an 8-2 record with a 2.86 ERA. Called up to the Cardinals in late September, Dean pitched a complete game victory in his lone start for the NL pennant-winning club. Brash and carefree, Dean was returned to Houston in 1931 and went 26-10 with a 1.57 ERA. He was promoted to the Cardinals to stay in 1932, earning a spot in the rotation and posting an 18-15 record with a 3.30 ERA and a league-leading 191 strikeouts. The Cards contended in 1933 and finished fifth, and Dean went 20-18 and topped the NL with 26 complete games and 199 strikeouts (including 17 in one game) to go with his 3.04 ERA. For 1934 he was joined in the rotation by his brother Paul, a righthander and quieter person who was ironically tagged with the nickname “Daffy”.

1934 Season Summary
Appeared in 51 games
P – 50, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching
Games – 50 [2, tied with Snipe Hansen]
Games Started – 33 [7]
Complete Games – 24 [2]
Wins – 30 [1]
Losses – 7
PCT - .811 [1]
Saves – 7 [2, tied with Dolf Luque]
Shutouts – 7 [1]
Innings Pitched – 311.2 [3]
Hits – 288 [5, tied with Benny Frey]
Runs – 110 [15]
Earned Runs – 92 [15]
Home Runs – 14 [13, tied with four others]
Bases on Balls – 75 [7]
Strikeouts – 195 [1]
ERA – 2.66 [2]
Hit Batters – 6 [5, tied with Ed Holley & Roy Parmelee]
Balks – 0
Wild Pitches – 2

League-leading wins were +7 ahead of runner-up Hal Schumacher
League-leading winning percentage was +.097 ahead of runner-up Waite Hoyt
League-leading shutouts were +2 ahead of runners-up Carl Hubbell & Paul Dean
League-leading strikeouts were +11 ahead of runner-up Van Lingle Mungo

Midseason Snapshot: 14-3, ERA - 5.53, SO - 90 in 155.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 9 IP) vs. Cincinnati 7/8
10+ strikeout games – 1
Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) at Brooklyn 9/5, (in 9 IP) at Brooklyn 9/21

Batting
PA – 126, AB – 118, R – 15, H – 29, 2B – 3, 3B – 1, HR – 2, RBI – 9, BB – 1, SO – 15, SB – 1, CS – N/A, AVG - .246, GDP – 5, HBP – 0, SH – 7, SF – N/A

Fielding
Chances - 66
Put Outs – 18
Assists – 46
Errors – 2
DP – 1
Pct. - .970

Postseason Pitching: (World Series vs. Detroit)
G – 3 GS – 3
CG – 2, Record – 2-1, PCT – .667, SV – 0, ShO – 1, IP – 26, H – 20, R – 6, ER – 5, HR – 2, BB – 5, SO – 17, ERA – 1.73, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 0

Awards & Honors:
NL MVP:BBWAA
All-Star

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:
Dizzy Dean, StLC.: 78 pts. – 98% share
Paul Waner, Pitt.: 50 pts. – 63% share
Jo-Jo Moore, NYG: 42 pts. – 53% share
Travis Jackson, NYG.: 39 pts. – 49% share
Mel Ott, NYG: 37 pts. – 46% share

Cardinals went 95-58 to win the NL pennant by two games over the New York Giants. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (78), shutouts (15) and strikeouts (689). The “Gas House Gang” trailed the Giants throughout the summer, not helped when the Dean brothers (who ended up winning 49 games) briefly quit the team after being fined for insubordination. A 13-2 finish allowed them to catch and surpass the Giants. Won World Series over the Detroit Tigers, 4 games to 3 as the Dean brothers won two games apiece. The Cardinals had a scare in Game 4 when Dizzy was knocked unconscious by a thrown ball while pinch running.

Aftermath of ‘34:
A natural public speaker and raconteur, Dean was not shy about talking off-the-cuff to sportswriters and presenting himself to the public. In the offseason he went barnstorming several times with a group of players that included Negro League stars such as RHP Satchel Paige, whose abilities Dean much admired. Following up on his big 1934 season, Dean produced a 28-12 record in 1935 while leading the NL in complete games (29), innings pitched (325.1) and strikeouts (190), to go along with a 3.04 ERA. He placed second in league MVP voting while the Cardinals finished second in the standings, four games out of first place. Dean had another strong season in 1936, going 24-13 with a 3.17 ERA and 195 strikeouts, and again leading the league in complete games (28) and innings pitched (315). He started well in 1937 and was selected to start the All-Star Game for the NL. In the third inning Cleveland outfielder Earl Averill hit a line drive that broke a toe on Dean’s left foot that forced him out of the lineup for several weeks. When he returned, he changed his pitching motion, which resulted in a sore arm and cost him his fastball and effectiveness. He finished the season with a 13-10 record and 2.69 ERA. In the offseason Dean was dealt to the Chicago Cubs for three players and cash. Used as a spot starter and relying on his curve and changeup, he was 7-1 with a 1.81 ERA for the pennant-winning Cubs. In 1939 he was 6-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 19 games and spent some time in the minors in 1940 trying to develop a new sidearm motion. With the Cubs he was ineffective and finished at 3-3 with a 5.17 ERA, after which he retired at age 30. He was lured out of retirement for one game, the 1947 season finale, by the St. Louis Browns, and pitched four shutout innings. For his all-too-brief career, Dean produced a 150-83 record with a 3.02 ERA, 154 complete games, and 26 shutouts along with 1163 strikeouts over 1967.1 innings pitched. He led the NL in strikeouts in four consecutive seasons. With the Cardinals he was 134-75 with a 2.99 ERA and 1095 strikeouts over 1737.1 innings. In five World Series games he had a 2-2 record with a 2.88 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. Dean was a four-time All-Star who finished in the top two in NL MVP voting on three occasions, with the one win. The Cardinals retired his #17 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953. He was later elected to the Cardinals Hall of Fame in its inaugural class. Following his playing career, Dean became a radio broadcaster, initially for St. Louis Cardinals and Browns games. Popular with the public, he drew the ire of English teachers for his poor grammar and colloquial speech. Moving on to television in the 1950s he was color commentator for the Saturday Game of the Week, first on ABC and later CBS. Dean died in 1974 at the age of 64.

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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.

Nov 27, 2019

MVP Profile: Dave Parker, 1978

Outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates


Age:  27 (June 9)
6th season with Pirates
Bats – Left, Throws – Right
Height: 6’5”    Weight: 230

Prior to 1978:
A native of Mississippi, Parker moved with his family to Cincinnati where he starred at Courter Technical High School in football and basketball, in addition to baseball. A knee injury as a senior that required surgery finished him as a football player and wiped out his senior year of baseball. The Pirates still chose him in the 1970 amateur draft. A catcher in high school, Parker was shifted to the outfield when he reported to the Pirates of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League in ’70. In 61 games he batted .314 with 6 home runs and 41 RBIs and was selected as a league All-Star. Advanced to Waterbury of the Class AA Eastern League in 1971, Parker hit only .228 in 30 games before being sent down to Monroe of the Class A Western Carolinas League where over 71 games he batted .358 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs. In 1972 he was with Salem of the Class A Carolina League and hit .310 with 22 home runs and 101 RBIs and was once more a league All-Star. He got off to a strong start with Charleston of the Class AAA International League in 1973 and was called up to the Pirates in July where he batted .288 the rest of the way with 9 home runs and 57 RBIs in a platoon role. Parker was on the disabled list with a hamstring injury for a significant stretch in 1974 and was again platooned when healthy and over 73 games he hit .282 with four home runs and 29 RBIs. Finally an every day player in 1975 he led the NL with a .541 slugging percentage while batting .308 with 35 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs, and 101 RBIs. He finished third in league MVP voting as a result. Nicknamed “The Cobra”, Parker was a big man with a big and boisterous personality. He hit .313 in 1976 with 13 home runs and 90 RBIs although hindered by a knee injury. Parker was an All-Star for the first time in 1977 during a season in which he topped the NL in hits (215), doubles (44), and batting (.338) while also accounting for 21 home runs and 88 RBIs. He also received his first Gold Glove for his fine play in right field that included 26 assists, a testament to his strong throwing arm. He also placed third in league MVP balloting.

1978 Season Summary
Appeared in 148 games
RF – 147, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting
Plate Appearances – 642
At Bats – 581
Runs – 102 [3]
Hits – 194 [4]
Doubles – 32 [14, tied with six others]
Triples – 12 [2, tied with Gene Richards]
Home Runs – 30 [3]
RBI – 117 [2]
Bases on Balls – 57
Int. BB – 23 [1]
Strikeouts – 92 [16, tied with Willie Montanez, Jeff Burroughs & Gary Matthews]
Stolen Bases – 20
Caught Stealing – 7
Average - .334 [1]
OBP - .394 [2]
Slugging Pct. - .585 [1]
Total Bases – 340 [1]
GDP – 8
Hit by Pitches – 2
Sac Hits – 0
Sac Flies – 2

League-leading intentional bases on balls drawn were +3 ahead of runner-up Dave Winfield
League-leading batting average was +.018 ahead of runner-up Steve Garvey
League-leading slugging pct was +.026 ahead of runner-up Reggie Smith
League-leading total bases were +10 ahead of runner-up George Foster

Midseason snapshot: HR - 13, RBI - 47, AVG. - .316, SLG - .535

Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Chicago Cubs 8/8
Longest hitting streak – 15 games
Most HR, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. Cincinnati 8/16, (in 4 AB) at Philadelphia 9/12, (in 6 AB) at Chi. Cubs 9/19 – 11 innings
HR at home – 14
HR on road – 16
Multi-HR games – 3
Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Cincinnati 8/16
Pinch-hitting – 0 of 0 (.000) with 1 BB

Fielding
Chances – 327
Put Outs – 302
Assists – 12
Errors – 13
DP - 3
Pct. - .960

Awards & Honors:
NL MVP: BBWAA
Gold Glove

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:
Dave Parker, Pitt.: 320 pts. – 21 of 24 first place votes, 95% share
Steve Garvey, LAD: 194 pts. – 58% share
Larry Bowa, Phila.: 189 pts. – 3 first place votes, 56% share
Reggie Smith, LAD: 164 pts. – 49% share
Jack Clark, SF: 107 pts. – 32% share

Pirates went 88-73 to finish second in the NL Eastern Division, 1.5 games behind the division-winning Philadelphia Phillies while leading the league in triples (54) & stolen bases (213). Mired in fourth place on August 12, 11.5 games behind the Phillies, the Pirates turned hot with 10-game and 11-game winning streaks to close the gap, only being eliminated from contention in the season’s final weekend. Parker was briefly disabled by a fractured cheekbone at midseason (which eliminated him from All-Star Game consideration), but wearing a batting helmet with a facemask allowed him to ultimately play through the injury.

Aftermath of ‘78:
In the wake of his MVP season, Parker received a five-year contract extension worth $7.75 million. After three straight second place finishes in the NL East, the Pirates returned to the top in 1979 and went on to win the World Series. Parker contributed a .310 average along with 45 doubles, 7 triples, 25 home runs, and 94 RBIs along with continued Gold Glove play in the field. He placed tenth in league MVP voting. He also hit .345 in the hard-fought World Series triumph over Baltimore. Pittsburgh dropped to third place in 1980 and Parker, playing on a sore knee and further dogged by off-field problems and an increasingly rancorous relationship with the team’s fans, dropped to .295 with 17 home runs and 79 RBIs. Knee surgery was performed prior to the 1981 season but “The Cobra” appeared in just 67 games during the strike-interrupted campaign and batted .258 with 9 home runs and 48 RBIs. His significantly increased weight also became an issue. Increasingly injury prone, Parker appeared in only 73 games in 1982 and hit .270 with 6 home runs and 29 RBIs. Relatively healthy in 1983 and having lost weight, he played in 144 games and batted .279 with 12 home runs and 69 RBIs, overcoming a slow start with a strong second half. A free agent in the offseason, Parker signed a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Returning to his hometown seemed to reinvigorate his career and in 1984 he hit .285 with 16 home runs and 94 RBIs. He followed up with a bigger year in 1985 in which he led the NL in RBIs (125), doubles (42), and total bases (350) while also hitting 34 home runs and batting .312. He was an All-Star for the first time since 1981 and placed second in league MVP voting. Off the field, in a federal drug trial in Pittsburgh Parker testified to his cocaine use while with the Pirates and was sued by the team for violating the terms of his big 1979 contract as a result. Parker had another productive season in 1986 in which he appeared in every game and batted .273 with 31 home runs and 116 RBIs while leading the league with 304 total bases. This time he was fifth in NL MVP balloting. Parker dropped to .253 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs in 1987, after which he was traded to Oakland for LHP Tim Birtsas and RHP Jose Rijo. Utilized primarily as a Designated Hitter and left fielder by the pennant-winning A’s in 1988 he batted .257 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs. The A’s again topped the AL in 1989 on the way to winning the World Series and Parker contributed 22 home runs, 97 RBIs, and a .264 average as the regular DH. He signed a two-year free agent contract with Milwaukee in the offseason. In 1990 with the Brewers he was again almost exclusively a DH and hit .289 with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs. At age 39 he was dealt in the offseason to the California Angels, where he struggled in 1991. Released in September after batting .232 with 11 home runs and 56 RBIs in 119 games, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and hit .333 in 13 games, which marked the end of his major league career. Overall, Parker batted .290 with 2712 hits that included 526 doubles, 75 triples, and 339 home runs. He further scored 1272 runs and compiled 1493 RBIs. With the Pirates he batted .305 with 296 doubles, 62 triples, 166 home runs, and 758 RBIs. A seven-time All-Star (four with Pittsburgh), Parker finished in the top ten in league MVP voting on six occasions (winning once). He also received three Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger Awards. In 30 postseason games he batted .234 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Parker was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2014.

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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.

Nov 22, 2019

MVP Profile: Chuck Klein, 1932

Outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies


Age:  27
5th season with Phillies
Bats – Left, Throws – Right
Height: 6’0”    Weight: 185

Prior to 1932:
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Klein was notable at Southport High School for his pitching and power hitting. Working at a steel mill following high school, he played semipro baseball where he was an outfielder for the next three years. In 1927 he was signed by Evansville of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League. 15 games into the season he broke his ankle and was sidelined for the remainder of the year. At the time he was batting .327 with six extra base hits. His contract was sold to the Fort Wayne Chiefs of the Class B Central League for $200 in 1928 and in 88 games Klein hit .331 with 26 home runs. He was signed by the Phillies in July, who purchased his contract for $7500. Over the course of 64 games the powerfully built young slugger hit .360 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs for a team that lost 109 games and finished at the bottom of the NL standings. He quickly learned to take advantage of the Baker Bowl’s right field wall that stood just 281 feet from home plate and was topped by a screen that raised its overall height to 60 feet (balls hit off the wall remained in play). Overcoming a slow start in 1929, Klein topped the league with 43 home runs to go along with 126 runs scored and 145 RBIs. He tied for eleventh in NL MVP voting while the Phillies rose to fifth place. The team returned to the cellar in 1930 (despite a .315 team batting average) although Klein topped the circuit with 158 runs scored,59 doubles, and 445 total bases. He also clubbed 40 home runs (26 at home) and compiled 170 RBIs. In 1931 he topped the NL with 121 runs scored, 31 home runs, 121 RBIs, and a .584 slugging percentage. He placed second in NL MVP balloting and the Phillies rose to sixth. By 1932 Klein was one of the most productive hitters in the National League.


1932 Season Summary
Appeared in 154 games
RF – 154

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting
Plate Appearances – 711 [3]
At Bats – 650 [3]
Runs – 152 [1]
Hits – 226 [1]
Doubles – 50 [2]
Triples – 15 [3]
Home Runs – 38 [1, tied with Mel Ott]
RBI – 137 [2]
Bases on Balls – 60 [5, tied with Babe Herman]
Int. BB – N/A
Strikeouts – 49 [12]
Stolen Bases – 20 [1]
Caught Stealing – N/A
Average - .348 [3]
OBP - .404 [4]
Slugging Pct. - .646 [1]
Total Bases – 420 [1]
GDP – N/A
Hit by Pitches – 1
Sac Hits – 0
Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading runs scored were +28 ahead of runner-up Bill Terry
League-leading hits were +1 ahead of runner-up Bill Terry
League-leading stolen bases were +1 ahead of runner-up Tony Piet
League-leading slugging pct. was +.045 ahead of runner-up Mel Ott
League-leading total bases were +47 ahead of runner-up Bill Terry

Midseason snapshot: HR – 25, RBI – 85, AVG - .359, SLG PCT - .722

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Brooklyn 4/29, (in 5 AB) vs. NY Giants 6/24, (in 4 AB) vs. Boston Braves 7/4
Longest hitting streak – 20 games
HR at home – 29
HR on road – 9
Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Brooklyn 6/30, (in 4 AB) at Pittsburgh 7/20, (in 4 AB) vs. Boston Braves 8/12
Multi-HR games – 3
Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. Brooklyn 4/29
Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding
Chances – 375
Put Outs – 331
Assists – 29
Errors – 15
DP – 3
Pct. - .960

Awards & Honors:
NL MVP: BBWAA

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:
Chuck Klein, Phila.: 78 pts. - 98% share
Lon Warneke, ChiC.: 68 pts. – 85% share
Lefty O’Doul, Brook.: 58 pts. – 73% share
Paul Waner, Pitt.: 37 pts. – 46% share
Riggs Stephenson, ChiC.: 32 pts. – 40% share

Phillies went 78-76 to finish fourth in the NL, 12 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago Cubs, while leading the league in runs scored (844), hits (1608), doubles (330), home runs (122), RBIs (780), walks drawn (446), batting (.292), on-base percentage (.348), slugging (.442) & total bases (2438). It was the team’s best finish between 1917 and 1949.

Aftermath of ‘32:
Klein followed up in 1932 by winning the NL Triple Crown with 28 home runs, 120 RBIs, and a .368 batting average. The Phillies dropped back to seventh place and he placed second in league MVP voting. He also started in right field for the National League in the first All-Star Game. With the team in serious financial trouble, he was dealt in the offseason to the Chicago Cubs for $65,000 and three players. Hindered by a leg injury in 1934, Klein dropped to 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .301 average, although he was once again an All-Star. Still bothered by the injured leg, he got off to a slow start in 1935, but his bat and the Cubs turned hot along with the weather and he ended up hitting .293 with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs. In the World Series loss to Detroit he batted .333 with a home run and two RBIs. 29 games into the 1936 season, Klein was traded back to the Phillies and hit a combined .306 with 25 home runs and 104 RBIs, which included a four-home run game for the Phillies at Pittsburgh. Injuries limited Klein to 115 games in 1937 and he ended up with 15 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .325 average. During the 1938 season the Phillies moved to the more spacious Shibe Park and Klein’s numbers dropped to 8 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .247 average. Struggling in 1939, Klein was released in June and signed with Pittsburgh. His bat initially came alive for the Pirates but he cooled off and ended up hitting .284 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs. Released prior to the 1940 season he returned to the Phillies and appeared to be washed up at 35 as he batted .218 with just 7 home runs. Klein remained with the Phillies until 1944 when he retired as a player and coached for the club for another year. For his major league career he batted .320 with 2076 hits that included 398 doubles, 74 triples, and 300 home runs. He further accumulated 1201 RBIs and scored 1168 runs. With the Phillies he produced 1705 hits, 963 runs, 336 doubles, 64 triples, and 243 home runs with a .326 average and 983 RBIs. In the field he accounted for 194 assists, with a high of 44 in 1930. A two-time All-Star, Klein finished in the top five in National League MVP voting three times. He was eventually inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, 22 years after his death at age 53. He has also been honored with a plaque on the Phillies Wall 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.