MVP Profile: Buster Posey, 2012

Catcher/First Baseman, San Francisco Giants

Age:  25

3^rd season with Giants

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 213 

Prior to 2012:

A native of Leesburg, Georgia, Gerald Dempsey Posey inherited the nickname “Buster” from his father. A star pitcher and shortstop at Lee County High School, Posey chose to attend Florida State University in 2005 rather than sign with the Angels, who drafted him in the 50^th round that year. He shifted to catcher as a sophomore and won the Golden Spikes Award as a junior as the top collegiate baseball player as he batted .346 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs. In one 2008 game, he was the starting catcher and went on to play all nine positions. Chosen by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 amateur draft, he signed for a $6.2 million bonus. Playing 10 games with teams at the Rookie and Class A levels in ’08, Posey batted .351 with a home run and 6 RBIs. He also played winter ball in Hawaii and in 2009 went from advanced Class A to AAA, hitting a combined .325 with 18 home runs and 80 RBIs, earning a late-season call-up to the Giants. He started the 2010 season in Class AAA until promoted due to an injury to starting catcher Benjie Molina, who he quickly supplanted. He ended up hitting .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs as the Giants topped the NL West and went on to win the World Series. Posey was named NL Rookie of the Year. He had impressed as a rookie with his strong throwing arm and ability to handle the pitching staff. His 2011 season was cut short when he suffered a broken leg in a home plate collision in May after only 45 games. He thus finished at .284 with 4 home runs and 21 RBIs.

2012 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

C – 114, 1B – 29, PH – 5, DH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 610

At Bats – 530

Runs – 78

Hits – 178 [8, tied with David Wright]

Doubles – 39 [8, tied with Yonder Alonso]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 24

RBI – 103 [6]

Bases on Balls – 69 [10]

Int. BB – 7 [15, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 96

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .336 [1]

OBP - .408 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .549 [3]

Total Bases – 291 [7, tied with Adam LaRoche]

GDP – 19 [2, tied with Martin Prado, Brandon Phillips & David Freese]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 9 [1, tied with five others]

League-leading batting average was +.009 ahead of runner-up Andrew McCutchen

League-leading OBP was +.008 ahead of runner-up Andrew McCutchen

Midseason snapshot: HR – 10, RBI – 43, AVG – .289, SLG PCT - .458

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Philadelphia 7/21 – 10 innings, (in 5 AB) at Washington 7/10, (in 5 AB) at Colorado 8/3

Longest hitting streak – 13 games

Most HR, game – 1 on 24 occasions

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 17

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Atlanta 7/17

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 4 (.250) with 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding (C )

Chances – 932

Put Outs – 855

Assists – 69

Errors – 8

DP – 9

Pct. - .991

Postseason Batting: 16 G (NLDS vs. Cincinnati, 5 G, NLCS vs. St. Louis, 7 G, World Series vs. Detroit, 4 G)

PA – 68, AB – 60, R – 5, H – 12, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 3, RBI – 9, BB – 8, IBB – 1, SO – 15, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .200, OBP - .294, SLG - .350, TB – 21, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

NL Comeback Player of the Year

Silver Slugger

All-Star: (Started for NL at C )

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Buster Posey, SF: 422 points - 27 of 32 first place votes, 94% share

Ryan Braun, Mil.: 285 points – 3 first place votes, 64% share

Andrew McCutchen, Pitt.: 245 points – 55% share

Yadier Molina, StL.: 241 points – 2 first place votes, 54% share

Chase Headley, SD: 127 points – 28% share

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Giants went 94-68 to finish first in the NL Western Division by 8 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers, while leading the league in triples (57). The Giants battled the Dodgers and nailed down the NL West title during a 19-8 September. Posey became the first catcher to win the NL batting title in 70 years. Won NLDS over the Cincinnati Reds, 3 games to 2. Won NLCS over the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 games to 3. Won World Series over the Detroit Tigers, 4 games to 0. 

Aftermath of 2012:

In 2013 Posey signed an eight-year contract extension for $159 million. He had a poor second half as San Francisco fell out of contention, finishing at .294 with 34 doubles, 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .371 on-base percentage, and still placed twentieth in league MVP balloting. The Giants returned to the postseason as a wild card entry in 2014 and went on to win the World Series. Posey hit .311 with 22 home runs, 89 RBIs, and a .364 OBP while remaining a quality defensive backstop. He placed sixth in NL MVP voting. San Francisco missed the postseason in 2015 but Posey batted .318 with 19 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a .379 OBP while being used more at first base to reduce wear and tear. He received his only Gold Glove in 2016, in a year in which he hit .288 with 14 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .362 OBP. The Giants were a last-place club in 2017 despite Posey batting .320 with a .400 on-base percentage along with 12 home runs and 67 RBIs. Following injury-riddled seasons in 2018 and ’19, Posey sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Posey returned for one last season in 2021, in which he hit .304 with 18 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .390 OBP for a Giants team that won 107 games. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Giants, he batted .302 with 1500 hits that included 293 doubles, 9 triples, and 158 home runs. He scored 663 runs and compiled 729 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. Appearing in 58 postseason games, Posey hit .252 with 5 home runs and 25 RBIs. Posey was a seven-time All-Star and received five Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. A key member of championship teams, his all-around ability as a hitter and catcher made him a much-appreciated player.

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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: Todd Worrell, 1986

Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  27 (Sept. 28)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’5”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1986:

A native of Arcadia, California, Worrell was a multi-position player at Biola University, where as a pitcher in his last two seasons he produced a 12-10 record with a 3.46 ERA. Selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 1982 amateur draft, he was with Erie of the short-season Class A New York-Pennsylvania League in ’82 where he started 8 games and finished up with a 4-1 tally and 3.31 ERA while striking out 57 batters in 51.2 innings. Playing in AA and AAA in 1983, and still primarily a starting pitcher, Worrell was a combined 9-4 with a 3.96 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 150 innings. In Class A and AAA in 1984, he struggled to a combined 6-12 record with a 3.72 ERA. Effective for the first three or four innings of his starts, his performance typically dropped off from there. The trend continued in 1985 with Louisville of the Class AAA American Association until he was shifted to the bullpen with good results, picking up 11 saves. He joined the Cardinals’ bullpen-by-committee during the September stretch run and became the closer as the club nailed down the NL East title. In 17 appearances, he was 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA and 5 saves. He pitched well in the NLCS vs. the Dodgers, but he took the loss in a crucial Game 6 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals in which a disputed call by the first base umpire allowed a baserunner that set the stage for the Royals to scratch out a win. Still, Worrell entered 1986 with his rookie eligibility intact, and as the bullpen closer from the start, utilizing his fastball, slider, and changeup to good effect.

1986 Season Summary

Appeared in 74 games

P – 74, RF – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 74 [3, tied with John Franco]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 60 [1]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 9

Losses – 10

PCT - .474

Saves – 36 [1]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 103.2

Hits – 86

Runs – 29

Earned Runs – 24

Home Runs – 9

Bases on Balls – 41

Strikeouts – 73

ERA – 2.08 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1

League-leading games finished were +1 ahead of runner-up Lee Smith

League-leading saves were +1 ahead of runner-up Jeff Reardon

Midseason Snapshot: 6-8, ERA - 1.73, SV – 15, SO - 47 in 62.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 4 (in 2 IP) at Pittsburgh 6/16, (in 1.2 IP) at Philadelphia 6/21, (in 1.1 IP) at Philadelphia 6/22, (in 2 IP) vs. Philadelphia 9/25

Batting

PA – 7, AB – 7, R – 0, H – 1, 2B – 0, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 0, SO – 5, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .143, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding 

Chances – 15

Put Outs – 5

Assists – 8

Errors – 2

DP – 0

Pct. - .867

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

NL Relief Man of the Year: Rolaids

16^th in NL MVP voting (7 points, 2% share)

NL ROY Voting (Top 5):

Todd Worrell, StL.: 118 points – 23 of 24 first place votes, 98% share

Rob Thompson, SF: 46 points – 38% share

Kevin Mitchell, NYM: 22 points – 1 first place vote, 18% share

Charlie Kerfeld, Hou.: 17 points – 14% share

Will Clark, SF: 5 points – 4% share

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Cardinals went 79-82 to finish third in the NL Eastern Division, 28.5 games behind the division-winning New York Mets. The pitching staff led the league in fewest walks surrendered (485) and fewest strikeouts (761). The Cardinals, after getting off to a 7-1 start, sputtered to 36-50 by the All-Star break and injuries to pitchers were a significant factor in their struggles.

Aftermath of 1986:

The Cardinals returned to the top of the NL East in 1987 and Worrell contributed an 8-6 record with a 2.66 ERA and 33 saves, although he also blew 14 save opportunities. He picked up another save in the NLCS victory over the Giants and two more in the 7-game World Series loss to Minnesota. Worrell was an All-Star for the first time in 1988, a down year for the team, and posted a 5-9 tally with 32 saves and a 3.00 ERA. Injuries hindered his performance in 1989 including a groin injury early in the season and a sore elbow that cost him the last four weeks. He finished at 3-5 with 20 saves and 39 games finished in 47 appearances along with a 2.96 ERA. Offseason elbow surgery cost him the entire 1990 season. A torn rotator cuff shelved him for 1991 as well. Returning to the Cardinals as a set-up man in 1992 he produced a 5-3 record in 67 appearances along with a 2.11 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, Worrell signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1993 he struggled through an injury-plagued season and, in 35 appearances, went 1-1 with 5 saves and a 6.05 ERA. Difficulties continued during the strike-shortened 1994 season in which Worrell paced the club with 11 saves in 19 opportunities in addition to a 6-5 tally with a 4.29 ERA. He regained All-Star form in 1995 as he compiled 32 saves and a 4-1 record with a 2.02 ERA. In 1996 he led the NL with 44 saves. But, after blowing 9 of 44 save opportunities in 1997, Worrell retired. For his major league career, he appeared in 617 games and went 50-52 with 256 saves, a 3.09 ERA, and 628 strikeouts in 693.2 innings pitched. With the Cardinals he made 348 appearances and was 33-33 with 129 saves, a 2.56 ERA, and 365 saves in 425.2 innings. Pitching in 15 postseason games, his record was 1-1 with 4 saves, and 19 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. He was a three-time All-Star (once with St. Louis). His younger brother Tim pitched for nine major league clubs between 1993 and 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.  

 

Cy Young Profile: Barry Zito, 2002

Pitcher, Oakland Athletics

 

Age:  24 (May 13)

3^rd season with A’s

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 205

Prior to 2002:

Born in Las Vegas to two music professionals, Zito moved to San Diego with his family where he began his development as a pitcher and received private instruction from former Padres star Randy Jones. Following high school he enrolled at the Univ. of California, Santa Barbara. After transferring to Pierce College in Los Angeles, he received a baseball scholarship to USC. From there he was drafted by the A’s in 1999. Zito signed and advanced from Class A to AAA during 1999, producing a combined 6-1 record with a 3.16 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched. He started the 2000 season with Sacramento of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and was 8-5 with a 3.19 ERA when he was called up to Oakland in June. Zito went 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA for the A’s the rest of the way. He also picked up a win against the Yankees in the ALDS. In 2001, his first full major league season, his excellent fastball, curve, and changeup propelled him to 17-8 with a 3.49 ERA, while teaming with LHP Mark Mulder and RHP Tim Hudson to create a highly effective trio of young starters.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 35 [1]

Complete Games – 1

Wins – 23 [1]

Losses – 5

PCT - .821 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 229.1 [5]

Hits – 182

Runs – 79

Earned Runs – 70

Home Runs – 24 [18, tied with Eric Milton & Joel Pineiro]

Bases on Balls – 78 [5, tied with Chan Ho Park]

Strikeouts – 182 [3, tied with Mike Mussina]

ERA – 2.75 [3]

Hit Batters – 9 [11, tied with nine others]

Balks – 1 [14, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 2

League-leading games started were +1 ahead of five runners-up

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Derek Lowe

Midseason Snapshot: 11-3, ERA - 3.49, SO - 108 in 121.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 8 IP) at Tampa Bay 6/1

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) vs. Milwaukee 6/11, (in 8 IP) vs. Seattle 9/13, (in 7 IP) vs. Tampa Bay 5/26

Batting

PA – 6, AB – 4, R – 0, H – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 0, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .000, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 2, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 45

Put Outs – 11

Assists – 31

Errors – 3

DP – 3

Pct. - .933

Postseason Pitching: G – 1 (ALDS vs. Minnesota)

GS – 1, CG – 0, Record – 1-0, PCT – 1.000, ShO – 0, SV – 0, SH – 0, IP – 6, H – 5, R – 3, ER – 3, HR – 0, BB – 4, SO – 8, ERA – 4.50, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 1

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

13^th in AL MVP voting (22 points, 6% share)

AL Cy Young voting:

Barry Zito, Oak: 114 points – 17 of 28 first place votes, 81% share

Pedro Martinez, Bos.: 96 points – 11 first place votes, 69% share

Derek Lowe, Bos: 41 points – 29% share

Jarrod Washburn, Ana.: 1 point – 1% share

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Athletics went 103-59 to finish first in the AL Western Division by 4 games over the Anaheim Angels. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.68) and shutouts (19). In making it to the postseason for the third straight year, the A’s were in fourth place on May 23, 10 games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners, before going 83-33 the rest of the way to take over first place on August 22 and held off the Angels down the stretch. Lost ALDS to the Minnesota Twins, 3 games to 2.

Aftermath of 2002:

Zito’s record dipped to 14-12 in 2003, but his ERA was still a respectable 3.30 and he again was an All-Star selection. A fanatic for mental preparation, Zito would meditate and do yoga in the outfield before games. He struggled somewhat during 2004 and finished at 11-11 with a 4.48 ERA. With Hudson and Mulder gone in 2005, Zito produced a 14-13 tally with a 3.86 ERA and 171 strikeouts. In the final year of his contract in 2006, he raised his record to 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA and 151 strikeouts. In the offseason Zito signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent for seven years and $126 million. He tinkered with his delivery in 2007 and slumped to 11-13 with a 4.53 ERA. 2008 was even worse as his ERA rose to 5.15 and his 10-17 record gave him the league lead in losses. There was slight improvement in 2009 as Zito posted a 10-13 tally with a 4.03 ERA. Off to a good start in 2010, he faded down the stretch, ended up at 9-14 with a 4.15 ERA, and was left off the postseason roster as the Giants went on to win the World Series. Having taken much criticism for failing to meet expectations in San Francisco, Zito was also recognized for his charitable giving off the field. After suffering through a poor season in 2011, he went 15-8 with a 4.15 ERA in 2012, another championship year for the Giants. His fine performance in Game 5 of the NLCS at St. Louis was a turning point on the way to winning the series and the pennant. Zito played one more season for the Giants in 2013 and was 5-11 with a 5.74 ERA. Released following the season, he took a year off before signing a minor league deal with the A’s. Pitching for Nashville of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, he produced an 8-7 record with a 3.46 ERA before being called up to Oakland in September. He had no decisions in three appearances before retiring. For his major league career, Zito compiled a 165-143 record with a 4.04 ERA and 1885 strikeouts in 2576.2 innings pitched. He had 12 complete games and 5 shutouts. With Oakland he was 102-63 with a 3.58 ERA and 1098 strikeouts in 1437.1 innings. He pitched in 10 postseason games and went 6-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. Zito was a three-time All-Star, all with the A’s. Following a baseball career that started with such great promise, Zito became a professional musician in retirement.

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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: Alex Rodriguez, 2005

Third Baseman, New York Yankees

Age:  30 (July 27)

2^nd season with Yankees

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 230 

Prior to 2005:

Rodriguez was born in New York City to Dominican parents who returned to Santo Domingo when he was four. The family returned to the US a few years later, this time in Miami where Rodriguez played youth league baseball. At Westminster Christian High School, he excelled in football and basketball, as well as baseball. The Seattle Mariners made him the first overall pick in the 1993 amateur draft and he signed for a $1.3 million bonus. The 18-year-old Rodriguez was first assigned to Appleton of the Class A Midwest League in 1994 where he batted .319 in 65 games and was promoted to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League. He played in 17 games at Class AA and was promoted to the Mariners in July. Overmatched in his first exposure to the big leagues, Rodriguez was sent to the Calgary Cannons of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he hit .311 in 32 games with 6 home runs and 21 RBIs. Following a winter of play in the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez was assigned to Tacoma of the PCL in 1995. He moved back-and-forth between Tacoma and the Mariners during the season and by August he was back with Seattle full-time. In Class AAA he batted .360 in 54 games with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs and in 48 appearances with the Mariners he hit .232 with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs. Rodriguez became the starting shortstop in 1996 and led the AL in runs scored (141), doubles (54), batting (.358), and total bases (379) in addition to compiling 36 home runs and 123 RBIs. The player known as “A-Rod” also was an All-Star for the first time, was awarded a Silver Slugger, finished second in league MVP voting by a narrow margin, and was named MLB Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Rodriguez started strong in 1997 but, bothered by a chest injury, overall his numbers dropped to a .300 average with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs. In the field he led all AL shortstops by committing 24 errors. He started at shortstop for the AL in the All-Star Game. In 1998 “A-Rod” batted .310 with a league-leading 213 hits as well as 42 home runs, 124 RBIs, and 46 stolen bases. He also topped all AL shortstops with 731 total chances and ranked second with 268 put outs and 445 assists. In 1999, Rodriguez suffered a knee injury that required surgery early in the season and ended up hitting .285 in 129 games with 42 home runs and 111 RBIs. With center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr. gone in 2000, “A-Rod” became the key player in Seattle’s lineup and batted .316 with 41 home runs and 132 RBIs. He finished third in AL MVP balloting. A free agent in the offseason, Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers. He had an outstanding season with a losing team in 2001, hitting .318 with a league-leading 133 runs scored and 52 home runs, plus 135 RBIs. He also led all AL shortstops with 279 put outs and finished sixth in league MVP voting. “A-Rod” placed second for AL MVP in 2002 after batting .300 with 57 home runs and 142 RBIs. He also received a Gold Glove for outstanding play in the field. In 2003 he hit .298 and led the league in runs scored (124), home runs (47), and slugging (.600), while also compiling 181 hits, 118 RBIs, and a .396 OBP. In the offseason, “A-Rod” was traded to the Yankees for power-hitting second baseman Alfonso Soriano. Shifted to third base due to the presence of Derek Jeter at shortstop, Rodriguez adjusted well in the field and at the plate batted .286 in 2004 with 36 home runs and 106 RBIs. New York won the AL East and “A-Rod” hit well in the ALDS triumph over the Twins. The Yanks lost the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox despite breaking out to a 3 games-to-0 lead and Rodriguez was part of the collapse, managing only two hits in his last 17 at bats.

2005 Season Summary

Appeared in 162 games

3B – 161, SS – 3, DH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 715 [6]

At Bats – 605

Runs – 124 [1]

Hits – 194 [6, tied with Mark Teixeira & Carl Crawford]

Doubles – 29

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 48 [1]

RBI – 130 [4]

Bases on Balls – 91 [3]

Int. BB – 8 [11, tied with Justin Morneau & Garret Anderson]

Strikeouts – 139 [3]

Stolen Bases – 21 [12, tied with Orlando Cabrera]

Caught Stealing – 6 [16, tied with eight others]

Average - .321 [2]

OBP - .421 [2]

Slugging Pct. - .610 [1]

Total Bases – 369 [2]

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 16 [5, tied with Lew Ford & Reed Johnson]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 3

League-leading runs scored were +2 ahead of runner-up Derek Jeter

League-leading home runs were +1 ahead of runner-up David Ortiz

League-leading slugging percentage was +.006 ahead of runner-up David Ortiz

Midseason snapshot: HR – 23, RBI – 72, AVG - .317, SLG - .582, OBP - .416

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 6 AB) vs. Tampa Bay 4/18

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 26

HR on road – 22

Most home runs, game – 3 (in 5 AB) vs. LA Angels 4/26

Multi-HR games – 4

Most RBIs, game – 10 vs. LA Angels 4/26

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 2 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 415

Put Outs – 115

Assists – 288

Errors – 12

DP – 26

Pct. - .971 

Postseason Batting: 5 G (ALDS vs. LA Angels)

PA – 23, AB – 15, R – 2, H – 2, 2B – 1,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 6, IBB – 0, SO – 5, SB – 1, CS – 1, AVG - .133, OBP - .435, SLG -.200, TB – 3, GDP – 2, HBP – 2, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Silver Slugger

All-Star (started for AL at 3B)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Alex Rodriguez, NYY.: 331 points - 16 of 28 first place votes, 84% share

David Ortiz, Bos.: 307 points – 11 first place votes, 78% share

Vladimir Guerrero, LAA: 196 points – 1 first place vote, 50% share

Manny Ramirez, Bos.: 156 points – 40% share

Travis Hafner, Clev.: 151 points – 39% share

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Yankees went 95-67 to finish tied for first in the AL Eastern Division with the Boston Red Sox, with the Yankees winning the division title due to a 10-9 record against Boston in head-to-head meetings. The Yankees lagged behind for most of the season, finally moving into first place in the AL East on Sept. 21. They nailed down their eighth straight division title by defeating the Red Sox in the season’s next to last game, assuring themselves of the tiebreaker advantage. Lost ALDS to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 3 games to 2.

Aftermath of 2005:

Rodriguez had another strong performance in 2006, batting .290 with 35 home runs and 121 RBIs. He and the Yankees again came up short in the postseason. “A-Rod” got off to a fast start with the slow-starting Yanks in 2007 and rode that to his third MVP season, batting .314 and topping the AL in runs scored (143), home runs (54), RBIs (156), slugging (.645), and total bases (376). Following the season, he chose to exercise an opt-out clause in his contract but then re-signed with the Yankees for $270 million over 10 years. Rodriguez encountered injury problems in 2008, as well as off-field controversy. He ended up producing solidly (35 home runs, 103 RBIs, .302 average) while leading the AL in slugging (.573). Surgery for a hip condition limited Rodriguez to 124 games in 2009, with his production dropping to 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a .286 batting average. He played well in the postseason as the Yankees reached the World Series and defeated the Phillies. In 2010 “A-Rod” reached the 600-home run milestone during a season in which he batted .270 with 30 home runs and 125 RBIs. A knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery limited him to 99 games in 2011 as well as 16 home runs and 62 RBIs. Following another injury-plagued season in 2012, Rodriguez underwent further hip surgery in 2013. After a minor league rehabilitation assignment, he joined the Yankees in August facing a suspension by major league baseball for his use of performance-enhancing drugs and his related involvement with the Biogenesis scandal. He ended up appearing in just 44 major league games with 7 home runs and 19 RBIs. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season. Reinstated in 2015, Rodriguez played in 151 games, primarily as a Designated Hitter, and hit .250 with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs. He played one last season in 2016. Overall, for his career, “A-Rod” batted .295 with 3115 hits that included 548 doubles, 31 triples, and 696 home runs. He also struck out 2287 times and compiled 2086 RBIs and 329 stolen bases. Often criticized for a lack of postseason production, he appeared in 76 postseason games and hit .259 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. In addition to being a three-time AL MVP, Rodriguez was a 14-time All-Star (five with the Yankees) and won two Gold Gloves and 10 Silver Slugger Awards. 

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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: Jackie Robinson, 1947

First Baseman, Brooklyn Dodgers

Age:  28

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 195 

Prior to 1947:

Born in Georgia, Jack Roosevelt Robinson moved with his family to Pasadena, California in 1920. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, Robinson was often harassed and got into fights with white boys and had some early encounters with the police. He and his brother Mack distinguished themselves as athletes early on, with Mack going on to participate in the 1936 Olympics. Jackie also excelled in track, football, and basketball, as well as baseball at Muir Technical High School. After graduating and moving on to Pasadena Junior College, Robinson enrolled at UCLA in 1939 where he continued to be a multi-sport star. In football, he teamed up with halfback Kenny Washington, who would go on to break the National Football League’s color line with the Rams in 1946. In track, he was the NCAA champion in the long jump. Robinson twice topped the Pacific Coast League in scoring in basketball. He played shortstop on the baseball team. Robinson dropped out of college during his senior year due to financial issues and played minor league football with the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League. He also played for the Honolulu Bears in 1941. Popular in the African-American community for his sports exploits, Robinson was drafted into the Army in 1942, where he became an officer and faced court martial for refusing to move to the back of a bus when ordered to by a driver. Acquitted at trial, he was honorably discharged from the Army in 1944. Joining the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League in 1945, Robinson was scouted by the Dodgers, whose president and GM, Branch Rickey was quietly seeking players to break organized baseball’s color line. As a shortstop, there were questions as to his having the throwing ability to play the position in the major leagues. Otherwise, his background and ability were good fits from Rickey’s standpoint. Following the ’45 season and a meeting with Rickey, who insisted that the naturally combative Robinson would need to resist the urge to respond to racial abuse, it was announced that he had signed to play for Brooklyn’s top minor league team, the Montreal Royals of the International League. With Montreal in 1946, he led the league by batting .349 and scoring 113 runs. He further stole 40 bases and proved to be an able fielder at second base. Blocked at second base by Eddie Stanky, a capable veteran, with the Dodgers, Robinson was shifted to first base to make his historic debut with Brooklyn in 1947.

1947 Season Summary

Appeared in 151 games

1B – 151

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 701 [3]

At Bats – 590 [5]

Runs – 125 [2]

Hits – 175 [9]

Doubles – 31 [6, tied with Enos Slaughter & Dixie Walker]

Triples – 5

Home Runs – 12

RBI – 48

Bases on Balls – 74 [13, tied with Johnny Mize]

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 36

Stolen Bases – 29 [1]

Caught Stealing – 11 [1, tied with Pete Reiser]

Average - .297 [13, tied with Frankie Gustine]

OBP - .383 [13]

Slugging Pct. - .427 [19, tied with Dixie Walker]

Total Bases – 252 [10, tied with Frankie Gustine]

GDP – 5

Hit by Pitches – 9 [2]

Sac Hits – 28 [1]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading stolen bases were +15 ahead of runner-up Pete Reiser

League-leading sac hits were +10 ahead of runner-up Harry Walker

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, HR - 4, RBI - 19, SB – 14, AVG - .310, OBP - .399, SLG – .398 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Cincinnati 6/11, (in 5 AB) at NY Giants 6/29, (in 5 AB) at Phila. Phillies 8/15

Longest hitting streak – 21 games

Most HR, game – 1 on twelve occasions

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 6

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. St. Louis Cards 7/18, at Pittsburgh 7/27

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 1431

Put Outs – 1323

Assists – 92

Errors – 16

DP - 144

Pct. – .989

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 30, AB – 27, R – 3, H – 7, 2B – 2,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 4, SB – 2, CS – 0, AVG - .259, OBP - .310, SLG - .333, TB – 9, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

MLB Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

5^th in NL MVP voting (106 points, 1 first place vote, 32% share)

MLB ROY Voting:

Jackie Robinson, Brook.: 129 points – 78% share

Larry Jansen, NYG: 105 points – 64% share

Spec Shea, NYY: 67 points – 41% share

Ferris Fain, PhilaA.: 43 points – 26% share

Frank Baumholtz, Cin.: 42 points – 25% share

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Dodgers went 94-60 to win the NL pennant by 5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals, while leading the league in stolen bases (88), bases on balls drawn (732), and OBP (.364). The Dodgers suffered the suspension of manager Leo Durocher prior to the season, causing Burt Shotton to manage the club. A 42-31 first half allowed Robinson to win over any recalcitrant teammates with his strong performance. A 13-game July winning streak put them solidly in first place. Lost World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3 in a hard-fought Series filled with memorable moments.

Aftermath of 1947:

Robinson was at second base in 1948 due to Eddie Stanky being dealt to the Braves. Overcoming a slow start at the plate, Robinson batted .296 with 38 doubles, 8 triples, 12 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 108 runs scored. Aggressive on the base paths and able to resist the barbs from opposing bench jockeys while also being the recipient of numorous inside pitches he made the “Great Experiment” of integration a success and paved the way for other black players. In 1949 he had an MVP season as he hit a NL-best .342, also topping the circuit with 37 stolen bases while compiling 38 doubles, 12 triples, 16 home runs, 124 RBIs, a .432 OBP, and a .528 slugging percentage. The Dodgers won the NL pennant, losing the World Series to the New York Yankees in five games, and were close second-place finishers in 1950 as Robinson batted .328 with 39 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs, 81 RBIs, and 99 runs scored along with 12 stolen bases (in 17 attempts), a .423 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage. He placed fifteenth in league MVP voting. Esteemed for his competitive fire as well as his batting and fielding skills, Robinson was impressive again in 1951 as he hit .338 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, 19 home runs, and 88 RBIs as well as 106 runs scored, a .429 on-base percentage, and a .527 slugging percentage. The Dodgers led comfortably for most of the season until the arch-rival New York Giants came from behind to overtake them. Robinson’s late-season heroics helped Brooklyn to tie the Giants atop the NL standings and force a season-extending best-of-three playoff that the Giants won with a walk-off home run by Bobby Thomson. Robinson placed sixth in league MVP balloting. Brooklyn won the NL pennant in 1952 and Robinson contributed a .308 batting average and league-best .440 OBP, helped along by drawing 106 walks. He also hit 19 home runs and drove in 75 RBIs while stealing 24 bases and scoring 104 runs. He finished seventh in MVP voting. Having developed into a fine defensive second baseman, in 1953 Robinson agreed to a position switch to accommodate the arrival of rookie second sacker Jim Gilliam. Playing primarily in left field and third base, Robinson batted .329 with 34 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs, 95 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, a .424 OBP, and a .502 slugging percentage. He had one last All-Star season in 1954, hitting .311 with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .413 OBP, and a .505 slugging percentage, as age and injuries cost him 30 games. Defensively, he still split most of his time between left field and third base. In 1955, as the Dodgers won their first World Series title, Robinson had a mediocre season as his average dropped to .256 with 8 home runs and 36 RBIs. Robinson played one more year for the Dodgers in 1956, batting .275 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. In the offseason, the Dodgers engineered a trade with the Giants, but Robinson announced his retirement instead in an article in Look magazine. For his major league career, including his Negro League season, he batted .313 with 1563 hits that included 286 doubles, 55 triples, and 141 home runs. He scored 972 runs and compiled 761 RBIs, 200 stolen bases, a .410 OBP, and a .477 slugging percentage. With the Dodgers his totals were .311, with 1518 hits, 273 doubles, 54 triples, 137 home runs, 947 runs scored, 734 RBIs, 197 stolen bases, a .409 OBP, and a .474 slugging percentage. Appearing in 38 World Series games with the Dodgers, he hit .234 with 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 6 RBIs, while drawing 21 walks (including 5 in his last World Series in 1956). As part of his 6 World Series stolen bases, he stole home once in the 1955 Series. He stole home 19 times during regular season play. A six-time National League All-Star, Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Prior to the end of his playing career, Robinson had already hosted a radio program, authored a weekly newspaper column, and portrayed himself in the first movie version of his life, “The Jackie Robinson Story”. Afterward he remained active and outspoken in the civil rights movement until his death from the effects of diabetes in 1972 at age 53. The Dodgers had already retired his #42, and major league baseball retired his number for all teams in 1997. A courageous, determined, proud, and dynamic pioneer, he paved the way for players of color who have followed.

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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.