Cy Young Profile: Pat Hentgen, 1996

Pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

Age:  27

5^th season with Blue Jays

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 1996:

A Michigan native, Hentgen pitched and played shortstop at Fraser High School in the Detroit area. The Blue Jays selected Hentgen in the fifth round of the 1986 amateur draft and he passed up a scholarship offer from Western Michigan University to sign with Toronto. Initially assigned to St. Catherines of the Class A New York-Pennsylvania League, he posted a disappointing 0-4 record with a 4.50 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched. Moving on to Myrtle Beach of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1987 he improved to 11-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 188 innings. In 1988 Hentgen was with Dunedin of the Class A Florida State League where, due to poor run support, his record was an unimpressive 3-12, but he had a 3.45 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 151.1 innings. He also started a combined no-hitter among his wins. Still with Dunedin in 1989, his tally improved to 9-8 with a 2.68 ERA and 148 strikeouts. Moving up to Knoxville of the Class AA Southern League in 1990, he went 9-5 with a 3.05 ERA and 142 strikeouts while accumulating 153.1 innings. In 1991 he was with the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League where he topped the circuit in strikeouts with 155 while posting an 8-9 mark and a 4.47 ERA. In a late-season call-up to the Blue Jays, he appeared in three games and had no decisions. Catching on as a member of Toronto’s bullpen in 1992, Hentgen appeared in 28 games, two of them starts, and spent some time back in Syracuse due to roster moves during the season. For his first major league season, he went 5-2 with a 5.36 ERA but was shut down in mid-August due to injury and missed Toronto’s postseason run that resulted in a World Series title. He started 1993 in the bullpen but soon moved into the starting rotation where he excelled with a 19-9 record and 3.87 ERA with 122 strikeouts. He was prone to giving up home runs, with his 27 surrendered leading the staff, but as Toronto reached the postseason again, he followed a poor ALCS outing with a win in the World Series against Philadelphia, where he pitched six innings of one-hit ball. With his fine fastball, curve, and changeup, Hentgen performed well in the strike-shortened 1994 season, compiling a 13-8 tally with a 3.40 ERA, 147 strikeouts,6 complete games, and 3 shutouts. The Blue Jays dropped into the AL East cellar in 1995 and Hentgen was a disappointing 10-14 with a 5.11 ERA and led the league by giving up 236 hits and 114 earned runs while he struggled with his control. The club was hoping for a return to his previous form in 1996.

1996 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 35 [2, tied with ten others]

Complete Games – 10 [1]

Wins – 20 [2]

Losses – 10

PCT - .667 [4]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [1, tied with Ken Hill & Rich Robertson]

Innings Pitched – 265.2 [1]

Hits – 238 [12, tied with Tim Wakefield & Orel Hershiser]

Runs – 105

Earned Runs – 95

Home Runs – 20

Bases on Balls – 94 [8, tied with Chuck Finley]

Strikeouts – 177 [7]

ERA – 3.22 [2]

Hit Batters – 5

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 8 [19, tied with four others]

League-leading complete games were +3 ahead of runners-up Ken Hill & Roger Pavlik

League-leading innings pitched were +7.2 ahead of runner-up Alex Fernandez

Midseason Snapshot: 8-6, ERA - 3.86, SO - 81 in 133 IP

---

Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 9 IP) vs. Texas 9/9, (in 8 IP) at Detroit 9/24

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) at Oakland 6/20

Fielding

Chances – 43

Put Outs – 11

Assists – 31

Errors – 1

DP – 6

Pct. - .977

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

AL Cy Young voting (top 5):

Pat Hentgen, Tor.: 110 points – 16 of 28 first place votes, 79% share

Andy Pettitte, NYY.: 104 points – 11 first place votes, 74% share

Mariano Rivera, NYY: 18 points – 1 first place vote, 13% share

Charles Nagy, Clev.: 12 points – 9% share

Mike Mussina, Balt.: 5 points – 4% share

---

The Blue Jays went 74-88 to finish fourth in the AL Eastern Division, 18 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (19, tied with Texas). Following an April home run tear, the Blue Jays cooled off in May and remained inconsistent in producing runs the rest of the way.

Aftermath of 1996:

In 1997, Hentgen topped the AL in complete games (9, tied with new teammate Roger Clemens), shutouts (3, also tied with Clemens), and innings pitched (264, again tied with Clemens) on his way to a 15-10 record with a 3.68 ERA and 160 strikeouts. A bout with shoulder tendinitis in 1998 limited him to a 12-11 tally with a 5.17 ERA and 94 strikeouts. 1999 proved to be another underwhelming season in which Hentgen went 11-12 with a 4.79 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 199 innings pitched. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason. With the NL Central-winning Cardinals in 2000 he produced a 15-12 record with a 4.72 ERA and lost his only postseason start. A free agent in the offseason, Hentgen returned to the American League with the Baltimore Orioles in 2001. He started only nine games before undergoing “Tommy John” surgery in August. He appeared in a total of 32 games for Baltimore in 2002 and ’03 with unimpressive results and returned to Toronto in 2004 where he went 2-9 with a 6.95 ERA before retiring in July. For his major league career Hentgen compiled a 131-112 record with a 4.32 ERA, 34 complete games, 10 shutouts, and 1290 strikeouts in 2075.1 innings pitched. With the Blue Jays he was 107-85 with a 4.28 ERA, 31 complete games, 9 shutouts, and 1028 strikeouts over 1636 innings. Appearing in 3 postseason games, his record was 1-2 with a 9.24 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. A three-time All-Star, he twice received Cy Young Award votes, including the one win, and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. He later coached and scouted for the Blue Jays.  

---

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: Albert Pujols, 2008

First Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  28

8^th season with Cardinals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 240 

Prior to 2008:

A native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Pujols immigrated to Independence, Missouri with his father and grandmother at age 16. Impressive in high school and after attending Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods, he was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1999 amateur draft. He spent most of 2000 with the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League and batted .324 with 32 doubles, 17 home runs, and 84 RBIs, earning quick advancement to the Carolina League and Memphis of the Pacific Coast League to finish out the year. He primarily played third base in his quick rise through the minors. Entering 2001 he was expected to be a reserve for the Cardinals but played his way into the lineup. He started out fast by driving in 27 RBIs in April on the way to batting .329 with a .403 on-base percentage, 47 doubles, 37 home runs, and 130 RBIs. In addition to his hitting prowess, Pujols displayed versatility in filling four positions, primarily appearing at third base, first base, and in the outfield. He received NL Rookie of the Year honors in addition to being an All-Star and placing fourth in league MVP voting. Playing primarily in left field in 2002 following his outstanding rookie season, Pujols again produced impressively at the plate, batting .314 with a .394 on-base percentage along with 40 doubles, 34 home runs, and 127 RBIs. He placed second in league MVP voting. Settling in at first base in 2003, Pujols was an All-Star for the second time as he topped the National League in runs scored (137), hits (212), doubles (51), batting (.359), and total bases (394). He again was the runner-up for MVP in the NL and received a Silver Slugger. He also proved to be a good fit defensively at first base (defense had been considered the weakest aspect of his game in the earliest part of his career). The Cardinals topped the NL Central and won the league pennant in 2004 as Pujols again led the NL in runs scored (133) and total bases (389) to go along with 51 doubles, 46 home runs, 123 RBIs, a .331 average,.415 OBP, and a .657 slugging percentage. This time he placed third in MVP balloting. In the postseason Pujols was the MVP of the NLCS win over Houston with his .500 average, 4 home runs, and 9 RBIs in the seven games. St. Louis again won the NL Central title in 2005 but came up short against Houston in the NLCS. Pujols topped the league in runs scored (129) while batting .330 with 41 home runs, 117 RBIs, a .430 OBP, and a .609 slugging percentage. This time he also gained selection as the NL MVP. The Cardinals topped the NL Central in 2006 with a mediocre 83-78 record, which was only the fifth best in the league, and went on to win the NL pennant and the World Series. Pujols had a typically productive season, leading the league in slugging (.671) while hitting .331 with 49 home runs, 137 RBIs, and a .431 OBP. He even received a Gold Glove for his defensive performance at first base while placing second in league MVP voting. In a down year for the team in 2007 in the wake of the championship season, Pujols remained a steady force in the lineup batting .327 with 32 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .429 OBP, and a .568 slugging percentage.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

1B – 144, PH – 4, DH – 3, 2B – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 641

At Bats – 524

Runs – 100 [14]

Hits – 187 [3]

Doubles – 44 [4, tied with Stephen Drew & Aramis Ramirez]

Triples – 0

Home Runs – 37 [4, tied with Ryan Ludwick & Ryan Braun]

RBI – 116 [4]

Bases on Balls – 104 [2]

Int. BB – 34 [1]

Strikeouts – 54

Stolen Bases – 7

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .357 [2]

OBP - .462 [2]

Slugging Pct. - .653 [1]

Total Bases – 342 [1]

GDP – 16 [19, tied with four others]

Hit by Pitches – 5

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 8 [7, tied with four others]

League-leading int. bases on balls drawn were +15 ahead of runners-up Prince Fielder & Carlos Delgado

League-leading slugging percentage was +.062 ahead of runner-up Ryan Ludwick

League-leading total bases were +4 ahead of runner-up Ryan Braun

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 20, HR – 18, RBI – 50, AVG - .350, SLG – .608, OBP – .466

---

Most hits, game – 5 (in 8 AB) at NY Mets 7/26 – 14 innings

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Houston 4/9, (in 5 AB) at San Diego 5/19, (in 4 AB) at Cincinnati 8/16

HR at home – 19

HR on road – 18

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 4 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 2 (.500) with 1 HR, 2 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 1438

Put Outs – 1297

Assists – 135

Errors – 6

DP - 119

Pct. - .996 

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

Silver Slugger

All-Star (Started for NL at DH)

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Albert Pujols, StL.: 369 points – 18 of 32 first place votes, 82% share

Ryan Howard, Phila.: 308 points – 12 first place votes, 69% share

Ryan Braun, Mil.: 139 points – 31% share

Manny Ramirez, LAD: 138 points – 31% share

Lance Berkman, Hou.: 126 points – 28% share

(2 first place votes cast for Brad Lidge, Phila., who ranked eighth)

---

The Cardinals went 86-76 to finish fourth in the NL Central Division, 11.5 games behind the division-winning Chicago Cubs, while leading the league in hits (1585) and batting (.281). The Cardinals rode an 18-11 April into first place in the NL Central entering May when they fell off the pace. Benefiting from the hitting of Pujols and RF Ryan Ludwick, but hindered by a poor bullpen, the club remained in contention until tailing off during the season’s second half.

Aftermath of 2008:

Pujols repeated as NL MVP in 2009, leading the league in runs scored (124), home runs (47), OBP (.443), slugging percentage (.658), and total bases (374) while batting .327 with 45 doubles and 135 RBIs. In the field he recorded a record 185 assists at first base. With the Cardinals trying to lock up their star first baseman with a contract extension (which failed) he had another excellent season in 2010, topping the NL in runs scored (115), home runs (42), and RBIs (118) while hitting .312 with a .414 OBP and .596 slugging percentage. He placed second in league MVP voting. The wild card-qualifying Cardinals won the NL pennant and the World Series in 2011 with Pujols contributing 37 home runs, 99 RBIs, a .299 average, .366 OBP, and .541 slugging percentage. He had a three-home run, 6-RBI performance in Game 3 of the World Series against Texas. A free agent in the offseason, he rejected a 10-year, $210 million offer from the Cardinals and signed with the Los Angeles Angels for 10 years and $254 million. Off to a slow start with his new club in 2012 that had home fans booing him, he rallied to finish at .285 with 50 doubles, 30 home runs, 105 RBIs, a.343 OBP, and a .516 slugging percentage. In the offseason he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Pujols followed up with a poor season in 2013 in which a foot injury limited him to 99 games and he hit .258 with 17 home runs, 64 RBIs, and a .330 OBP. He was utilized primarily as a Designated Hitter. Pujols performed better in 2014, appearing more regularly at first base and batting .272 with 37 doubles, 28 home runs, 105 RBIs, and a .324 OBP. Hitting well in 2015, Pujols was among the American League’s home run leaders in June and was an All-Star for the only time with the Angels. Although hindered by a foot injury that required offseason surgery, he hit .244 for the year with 40 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a .307 OBP while appearing in 157 games (95 at first base and 62 as a DH due to the foot injury). Primarily a DH in 2016, Pujols batted .268 with 31 home runs, 119 RBIs, and a .323 on-base percentage. He had one last 100-RBI season in 2017 (totaling 101) and his production continued to dwindle until he was dealt to the Dodgers during the 2021 season. A free agent in the offseason Pujols returned to the Cardinals for one last season in 2022 where, with the universal DH now in play, the 42-year-old could continue to contribute with his bat, overcoming a slow first half of the season to hit .270 with 24 home runs, 68 RBIs, a.345 OBP, and a .550 slugging percentage. Upon retirement, for his major league career Pujols batted .296 with 3384 hits that included 686 doubles, 16 triples, and 703 home runs. He scored 1914 runs and compiled 2218 RBIs and drew 1373 walks. His OBP was .374 and his slugging percentage .544. Usually able to make contact during his at bats, his strikeout total of 1404 included no 100-strikeout seasons, a rarity for sluggers in the modern era. With the Cardinals his totals were a .326 batting average with 2156 hits, 469 doubles, 15 triples, 451 home runs, 1349 RBIs, a .417 OBP, a .614 slugging percentage, and 1003 walks drawn. Pujols appeared in 88 postseason games and hit .319 with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs. An 11-time All-Star, he received six Silver Sluggers. Along with winning three MVP awards, he finished in the top 10 eleven times. 

---

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: Joe DiMaggio, 1941

Outfielder, New York Yankees

Age:  26

6^th season with Yankees

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 193 

Prior to 1941:

Born in California as the son of an Italian immigrant fisherman, DiMaggio was raised in San Francisco where he played for several amateur and semi-pro baseball teams before he followed his older brother Vince onto the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League near the end of the 1932 season. Signed for $225 per month to play for the Seals in 1933 he was shifted from shortstop to the outfield. His 1933 season was highlighted by a PCL-record 61-game hitting streak on his way to a .340 average with 28 home runs and 169 RBIs. DiMaggio hit .341 in 101 games for the Seals in 1934 until he was sidelined by a knee injury that made major league teams leery of pursuing him. The Yankees offered the Seals five players and $25,000 for DiMaggio’s contract, under the provision that he would play for the Seals in 1935 and prove that his knee was healthy. He had a big year with 34 home runs, 154 RBIs, and a .398 batting average. Joining the Yankees in 1936 he made an immediate impact, batting .323 with 44 doubles, a league-leading 15 triples, 29 home runs, and 125 RBIs. He also led AL outfielders with 22 assists and started for the AL in the All-Star Game and finished eighth in league MVP voting while the Yankees returned to the top of the AL for the first time in four years and won the World Series. DiMaggio had a bigger year in 1937, placing second in AL MVP voting while leading the circuit in runs scored (151), home runs (46), slugging percentage (.673), and total bases (418) while also hitting .346 and accounting for 18 outfield assists. He had a third straight All-Star season in 1938 in which he batted .324 with 32 doubles, 13 triples, 32 home runs, and 140 RBIs. In the field he contributed 20 assists. He ranked sixth in AL MVP voting as the Yankees made it three straight World Series titles. An excellent all-around batter who hit for power and average out of a wide stance, DiMaggio was also a formidable baserunner and covered much ground in center field with his speed and as his outfield assist numbers reveal, he had a strong throwing arm. In 1939, DiMaggio hit a league-leading .381 along with 30 home runs, 126 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage, and a .671 slugging percentage. He received league MVP honors for the first time as the Yankees won another title. He capped the four-game sweep of Cincinnati in the World Series when he scored the winning run in Game 4 as Cincinnati catcher Ernie Lombardi lay dazed next to home plate following a collision with another scoring baserunner. The Yankees dropped to third place in the AL in 1940, but DiMaggio was not at fault as he again topped the league’s batters with a .352 average while also compiling 28 doubles, 9 triples, 31 home runs, and 133 RBIs.

1941 Season Summary

Appeared in 139 games

CF – 139

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 622 [19]

At Bats – 541 [18]

Runs – 122 [2]

Hits – 193 [3]

Doubles – 43 [2]

Triples – 11 [4, tied with Buddy Lewis, Mickey Vernon & Gee Walker]

Home Runs – 30 [4]

RBI – 125 [1]

Bases on Balls – 76 [17]

Int. BB – 21 [2]

Strikeouts – 13

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .357 [3]

OBP - .440 [3]

Slugging Pct. - .643 [2]

Total Bases – 348 [1]

GDP – 6

Hit by Pitches – 4 [7, tied with Joe Gordon & Jeff Heath]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading RBIs were +2 ahead of runner-up Jeff Heath

League-leading total bases were +5 ahead of runner-up Jeff Heath

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 21, 3B – 5, HR - 19, RBI - 71, AVG - .357, SLG - .650, OBP – .434

---

Most hits, game – 4 on seven occasions

Longest hitting streak – 56 games (MLB record)

HR at home – 16

HR on road – 14

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at St. Louis Browns 6/8, (in 4 AB) vs. Phila. A’s 9/24

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Phila. A’s 4/20

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 410

Put Outs – 385

Assists – 16

Errors – 9

DP – 5

Pct. - .978 

Postseason Batting: 5 G (World Series vs. Brooklyn)

PA – 21,AB – 19, R – 1, H – 5, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .263, OBP - .333, SLG - .263, TB – 5, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL in CF)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Joe DiMaggio, NYY.: 291 points - 15 of 24 first place votes, 87% share

Ted Williams, BosRS.: 254 points – 8 first place votes, 76% share

Bob Feller, Clev.: 174 points – 52% share

Thornton Lee, ChiWS.: 144 points – 1 first place vote, 43% share

Charlie Keller, NYY: 126 points – 38% share

---

The Yankees went 101-53 to win the AL pennant by 17 games over the Boston Red Sox while leading the league in home runs (151). The Yankees started slowly but surged during DiMaggio’s record hitting streak to a 48-26 first half record. They clinched their fourth consecutive pennant on Sept. 2, despite losing DiMaggio for a month due to an August ankle sprain. Won World Series over the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4 games to 1. The turning point in the Series came in the ninth inning of Game 4 when, with the Dodgers on the cusp of victory with a 4-3 lead a third strike passed ball by Brooklyn catcher Mickey Owen sparked a 4-run Yankee rally that put the Yanks up by a 3-games-to-1 margin and they clinched the next day with a 3-1 win in Game 5.

Aftermath of 1941:

In 1942 DiMaggio, known as “Joltin’ Joe” and “the Yankee Clipper”, saw his batting average drop to .305 while he still contributed 29 doubles, 13 triples, 21 home runs, and 114 RBIs. He missed the next three seasons as a result of World War II duty in the Army Air Force. Returning to the Yankees in 1946 he had a relative off-year, batting .290 with 25 home runs and 95 RBIs for the third-place team. In the off-season, a bone spur was surgically removed from his left heel. Further surgery kept DiMaggio out of action until mid-April of the 1947 season. He ended up hitting .315 with 31 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs, and 97 RBIs for the pennant-winning Yankees, and in the outfield committed only one error and had a league-best .997 fielding percentage. He won his third AL MVP award by a single vote over Boston’s Triple Crown-winning Ted Williams. In the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, DiMaggio hit two home runs and most memorably was robbed of a potential third in Game 6 on a spectacular catch by obscure reserve outfielder Al Gionfriddo, eliciting a rare display of emotion from the typically reserved and undemonstrative DiMaggio, who kicked the dirt near second base in frustration upon seeing the catch had been made. The Yankees finished third in a torrid AL pennant race in 1948 although DiMaggio batted .320 and topped the league in home runs (39), RBIs (155), and total bases (355). He placed second in league MVP voting. The chronic heel injury caused him to miss the first 65 games of the 1949 season and a bout with pneumonia put him in the hospital in September. Appearing in just 76 games he hit .346 with 14 home runs and 67 RBIs. DiMaggio played in 139 games in 1950 and batted .301 with 32 home runs and 122 RBIs. With age and injuries catching up to him, he played one more season in 1951, hitting .263 with 12 home runs and 71 RBIs. He retired and for his major league career that was spent entirely with the Yankees, DiMaggio batted .325 with 2214 hits that included 389 doubles, 131 triples, and 361 home runs. He also compiled 1537 RBIs, a .398 on-base percentage, and a .579 slugging percentage. Playing in ten World Series (9 of which the Yanks won), “the Yankee Clipper” hit .271 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs. DiMaggio was a 13-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. The Yankees retired his #5 and after his death in 1999 a monument was placed in his honor at Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park. Classy and dignified, DiMaggio personified the Yankee championship teams of his time. In retirement he had a short marriage to glamorous actress Marilyn Monroe that kept his name in the public eye and fell victim to his private nature and discomfort with the trappings of celebrity. He later served as a vice president and coach for the Oakland Athletics and a commercial spokesperson for several businesses. His brothers Vince and Dom also played major league baseball and were each fine center fielders.

---

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: Maury Wills, 1962

Shortstop, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  29

4^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1962:

A native of Washington, DC, Wills played semipro baseball at age 14 and excelled in baseball and football at Washington’s Cardozo High School. Pursued by colleges to play football, he signed with the then-Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950. With Hornell of the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League in 1951, the 18-year-old infielder batted .280 and stole 54 bases. Staying with Hornell in 1952 he hit .300 and again stole 54 bases. With teams at Class A and B in 1953, Wills batted a combined .286 and stole 28 bases. With Pueblo of the Class A Western League in 1954, he hit .279 with another 28 stolen bases. Promoted to the Fort Worth Cats of the Class AA Texas League in 1955, what proved to be a long and frustrating minor league journey for Wills took an especially frustrating turn when, batting just .203 he was demoted back to Pueblo in 1956 where he stole 34 bases and hit .302 with a .373 on-base percentage. Purchased by the Seattle Rainiers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1957, Wills batted .267 with a .337 OBP and 21 stolen bases. Back in the Dodger fold in 1958, he remained in the PCL, now with Spokane, where he was mentored by manager Bobby Bragan and began switch-hitting (he was a natural righthanded batter). With an improved outlook and attitude, Wills hit .253 with a .300 OBP and stole 25 bases. Sold on an option basis to the Detroit Tigers (who chose not to retain him) in 1959, the 26-year-old shortstop was hitting .313 when the Dodgers called him up in June to fill in at short for the injured Don Zimmer. After initially struggling as a hitter for the Dodgers, Wills proved adept at beating out ground balls for base hits with his speed and performed well down the stretch, hitting .260 with 7 stolen bases in 83 games. The Dodgers won the NL pennant and Wills appeared in all 6 games of the World Series against the White Sox, performing well defensively while batting .250 in his first taste of postseason action. With Zimmer traded to the Cubs in 1960, Wills established himself at shortstop and, turned loose on the basepaths, he stole a league-leading 50 bases, the most in the senior circuit since 1923, while hitting .295 with a .342 OBP, and performing exceptionally in the field. In 1961, he was an All-Star for the first time, although his batting average dipped slightly to .282 and his reduced stolen base total of 35 was enough to again top the National League. He also received his first Gold Glove for his play at shortstop.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 165 games

SS – 165

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 759 [1]

At Bats – 695 [1]

Runs – 130 [2, tied with Willie Mays]

Hits – 208 [2, tied with Frank Robinson]

Doubles – 13

Triples – 10 [1, tied with Bill Virdon, Johnny Callison & Willie Davis]

Home Runs – 6

RBI – 48

Bases on Balls – 51

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 57

Stolen Bases – 104 [1]

Caught Stealing – 13 [1, tied with Bill Virdon]

Average - .299 [15]

OBP - .347

Slugging Pct. - .373

Total Bases – 259 [20]

GDP – 7

Hit by Pitches – 2

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

Sac Flies – 4

League-leading plate appearances were +36 ahead of runner-up Dick Groat

League-leading at bats were +17 ahead of runner-up Dick Groat

League-leading stolen bases were +72 ahead of runner-up Willie Davis

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 6, HR - 2, RBI - 29, SB – 46, AVG - .281, OBP - .329

---

Most hits, game – 4 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 19 games

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 6

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 6 AB) at NY Mets 5/30

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Houston 5/15

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 824

Put Outs – 295

Assists – 493

Errors – 36

DP – 86

Pct. - .956 

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

Gold Glove

All-Star

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Maury Wills, LAD: 209 points - 8 of 20 first place votes, 75% share

Willie Mays, SF: 202 points – 7 first place votes, 72% share

Tommy Davis, LAD: 175 points – 3 first place votes, 63% share

Frank Robinson, Cin.: 164 points – 2 first place votes, 59% share

Don Drysdale, LAD: 85 points – 30% share

---

The Dodgers went 101-61 to finish tied for first in the NL with the San Francisco Giants, which necessitated a season-extending best-of-3 playoff. The teams split the first two contests, but the Giants won the deciding game. LA finished second in the NL with a final record of 102-63 while leading the league in triples (65, tied with Pittsburgh) and stolen bases (198). In their first season in Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers were in first place in September despite the loss of LHP Sandy Koufax with an index finger injury. They slumped badly, going 1-6 to close out the schedule while the Giants finished at 5-2 to catch LA and force the climactic playoff. Wills passed Ty Cobb’s 1915 major league record total of 96 stolen bases in a season in his 156^th game.

Aftermath of 1962:

Wills followed up with another All-Star season in 1963, although his stolen base total dropped to 40 (which was again a league-leading total) as injuries sidelined him for 28 games. He also batted .302 with a .355 OBP and remained proficient defensively, although he played in 33 games at third base in addition to his regular duty at shortstop. The Dodgers won the NL pennant and swept the Yankees in the World Series in which Wills hit .133 with one stolen base. LA slumped in 1964 and Wills hit .275 with a .318 OBP and again topped the circuit with 53 stolen bases. The club rebounded in 1965 and Wills batted .286 with a .330 OBP and stole 94 bases, his sixth consecutive league-leading season total. He scored the winning run for the Dodgers 19 times (among his total of 92 runs scored) and placed third in league MVP voting. In the field he led NL shortstops with 535 assists. In the seven-game World Series victory over the Minnesota Twins, Wills hit .367 with 3 stolen bases (although he was caught stealing twice). With catchers and pitchers catching up to Wills’ base stealing style, his total dropped to 38 in 1966, and he was caught stealing 24 times. He hit .273 with a .314 OBP as well. In the offseason, Wills was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for third baseman Bob Bailey and shortstop prospect Gene Michael. Wills had drawn the ire of owner Walter O’Malley for quitting an exhibition tour of Japan and had run afoul of the front office several seasons earlier due to his affair with actress Doris Day. Pittsburgh had contended in 1966 and felt Wills would provide the necessary spark to rise to the top of the National League. Already having a top defensive shortstop in Gene Alley, the Pirates shifted Wills to third base. He batted .302 in 1967 with a .334 OBP, 186 hits, and 29 stolen bases. His performance at third base was outstanding, and his enthusiasm was appreciated, but his presence failed to lead Pittsburgh to a title. The team finished in sixth. The Pirates placed sixth again in 1968 and Wills batted .278 with a .326 OBP and 52 stolen bases. In the 1969 expansion draft, Wills was taken by the Montreal Expos who returned him to shortstop. After 47 games with the Expos, and hitting just .222 with 15 stolen bases, Wills was dealt back to the Dodgers to fill their need at shortstop, where he performed very well. He batted .297 with a .356 OBP the rest of the way and stole 24 bases, to give him a combined total of 40 for the season. Wills continued to play well in 1970, hitting .270 and stealing 28 bases. In 1971, the 38-year-old shortstop performed well down the stretch and finished at .281 with a .323 OBP and 15 stolen bases. He placed sixth in league MVP balloting. Wills started off poorly at the plate in 1972 and he gave way to young Bill Russell at shortstop. He ended up appearing in only 71 games and batted .129. Released by the Dodgers after the season, he retired to become a broadcaster. For his major league career, Wills batted .281 with 2134 hits that included 177 doubles, 71 triples, and 20 home runs. He scored 1067 runs and further compiled 458 RBIs, 586 stolen bases, and a .330 OBP. With the Dodgers his totals were .281 with 1732 hits, 876 runs scored, 150 doubles, 56 triples, 17 home runs, 374 RBIs, 490 stolen bases, and a .331 OBP. Appearing in 21 World Series games, he hit .244 and stole 6 bases. In addition to leading the NL in stolen bases six times, Wills was a seven-time All-Star and received two Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess. He later managed the Seattle Mariners with poor results, producing a 26-56 record until his firing. He overcame years of drug and alcohol abuse in the early 1980s and served as a spring training instructor for the Dodgers. Wills died in 2022 at the age of 89. His son Elliott “Bump” Wills was a major league second baseman, primarily with the Texas Rangers.

---

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.

Highlighted Year: Joe Coleman, 1954

Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Age:  32 (July 30)

1^st season with Orioles

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1954:

A Massachusetts native, Coleman pitched impressively at Malden Catholic High School, and after a brief time at Boston College, he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1941. Assigned initially to Newport News of the Class C Virginia League in ’41, he produced a 15-12 record with a 4.36 ERA. Moving on to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class B Interstate League in 1942, Coleman was 18-9 with a 3.04 ERA, and he was called up to the A’s in September where he pitched impressively in his one appearance out of the bullpen. After spending the next three years in the Navy, he pitched for Toronto of the Class AAA International League in 1946. He compiled a 14-10 tally with a 2.95 ERA and was again a late-season call-up to the Athletics. He was 0-2 in his first two major league starts but joined the starting rotation in 1947. While his 9 complete games included two shutouts, his overall record was only 6-12 with a 4.32 ERA. With a good fastball and curve, owner/manager Connie Mack advised Coleman to abandon his off-speed pitch, and he got off to a good start in 1948 and was 6-1 by the end of May. Named as an All-Star for the only time during his career, he went on to a 14-13 mark with a 4.09 ERA and 86 strikeouts for the fourth-place A’s. Off to another solid start in 1949, Coleman struggled during June and July and then injured his right shoulder while running the bases in an August game. He finished the season with a 13-14 record and 3.86 ERA along with 109 strikeouts and a career-best 18 complete games. Sidelined by a sore arm for most of the first half of the 1950 season, he appeared in only 15 games, covering 54 innings, and was 0-5 with a miserable 8.50 ERA. In 1951 he had an 11.81 ERA as of June 10, when he was relegated to the bullpen for the rest of the year, ending up at 1-6 with a 5.98 ERA. Ostensibly healthy upon arriving for spring training in 1952, Coleman had an unimpressive spring showing and was sent to Ottawa of the Class AAA International League. He continued to have difficulty with Ottawa and was demoted to Savannah of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League. His combined record for the season in the minors was 3-19 with a 4.44 ERA. Coleman persevered to return to the Athletics in 1953. Sidelined for two months by an appendectomy in May, he appeared in 21 games (9 of them starts) and posted a 3-4 tally that included two complete games and a shutout, along with a 4.00 ERA. In the offseason he was traded to the Orioles. No longer possessing a good fastball, and pitching in Cuba over the winter, Coleman added a slider and sinker to his repertoire. A good spring solidified a spot for him in Baltimore’s starting rotation.   

1954 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33

Games Started – 32 [7, tied with Steve Gromek & Ned Garver]

Complete Games – 15 [8]

Wins – 13 [15, tied with Bob Porterfield, Bob Feller & Allie Reynolds]

Losses – 17 [3, tied with Alex Kellner]

PCT - .433

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [3, tied with six others]

Innings Pitched – 221.1 [10]

Hits – 184 [17]

Runs – 102 [6, tied with Willard Nixon]

Earned Runs – 86 [9]

Home Runs – 16 [10, tied with Alex Kellner, Willard Nixon & Bob Keegan]

Bases on Balls – 96 [5, tied with Jack Harshman]

Strikeouts – 103 [13]

ERA – 3.50

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1

Midseason Snapshot: 9-8, ERA - 3.04, SO - 74 in 136 IP

---

Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) at NY Yankees 6/6, (in 9 IP) at Boston 6/10, (in 9 IP) vs. Detroit 7/2, (in 7 IP) at Detroit 7/10

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. NY Yankees 9/9

Batting

PA – 81, AB – 74, R – 4, H – 13, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 5, BB – 3, SO – 22, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .176, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 59

Put Outs – 15

Assists – 41

Errors – 3

DP – 5

Pct. - .949

Awards & Honors:

19^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Mike Garcia, Clev. & Billy Goodman, BosRS (6 points, 2% share)

---

The relocated Orioles went 54-100 to finish seventh in the AL, 57 games behind the pennant-winning Cleveland Indians, thus matching their last record as the St. Louis Browns the previous year. The pitching staff led the league in walks issued (688). The offensively challenged Orioles were 14-26 by the end of May and continued to struggle through the summer, including an August 14-game losing streak, to finish only three games out of the cellar. Coleman pitched the first shutout for the Orioles on May 11 against his former team, the Philadelphia Athletics, and barely missed no-hitting the New York Yankees in September.

Aftermath of 1954:

A sore arm derailed Coleman in 1955 and he was released by the Orioles on July 1. He signed with the Detroit Tigers, and utilized exclusively as a reliever, he appeared in 17 games and produced a 2-1 record with 3 saves and a 3.20 ERA. Released by the Tigers just prior to the 1956 season, he signed with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League. Pitching out of the bullpen, he appeared in 46 games and posted a 4-2 tally with a 4.22 ERA. When San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast league purchased his contract in 1956 and he failed to make the club, Coleman’s injury-plagued career came to an end. His major league totals were 52-76 with a 4.38 ERA, 60 complete games, 11 shutouts, 5 saves, and 444 strikeouts in 1134 innings pitched. Occasionally displaying flashes of the potential that had drawn the interest of the Athletics originally, Coleman’s arm problems ultimately derailed his career. He remained active in non-profit community organizations, including those involving youth baseball, following his playing career. He died at the age of 74 in 1997. His son, also named Joe, was a major league pitcher between 1965 and 1979, most notably playing for the expansion Washington Senators and the Detroit Tigers, and his grandson Casey Coleman pitched briefly for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.

Cy Young Profile: David Price, 2012

Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays

 

Age:  27 (Aug. 26)

4^th season with Rays

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’5”    Weight: 215

Prior to 2012:

A native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Price received Rutherford County Male Athlete of the Year recognition three times while a student at Blackman High School. Moving on to Vanderbilt University, he had a 2.86 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched as a freshman. He was 9-5 as a sophomore and led the Southeastern Conference with 110 strikeouts in 110 innings. 11-0 as a junior in 2007 he was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best amateur baseball player. Chosen first overall by Tampa Bay in the 2007 amateur draft, he signed for six years and $11.25 million. An elbow strain delayed the start of his 2008 season with Vero Beach of the Class A Florida State League, but he rapidly advanced through Class AA and AAA, producing a combined record of 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. He received a September call-up to Tampa Bay and earned a spot on the postseason roster, contributing a solid relief performance in the Rays’ only win against Philadelphia in the World Series. With command of a fastball and slider, Price started the 2009 season in Class AAA but moved into the Rays’ starting rotation in short order, starting 23 games and compiling a 10-7 tally with a 4.42 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 128.1 innings. He broke out in 2010 by going 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 208.2 innings pitched. He was an All-Star for the first time and finished second in league Cy Young voting, although he lost both of his starts in the ALDS matchup with Texas. Price was an All-Star once again in 2011, although his record dipped to 12-13 along with a 3.49 ERA and 218 strikeouts.   

2012 Season Summary

Appeared in 31 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 31

Games Started – 31 [17, tied with six others]

Complete Games – 2 [10, tied with seven others]

Wins – 20 [1, tied with Jered Weaver]

Losses – 5

PCT - .800 [1, tied with Jered Weaver]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1 [7, tied with seventeen others]

Innings Pitched – 211 [8]

Hits – 173

Runs – 63

Earned Runs – 60

Home Runs – 16

Bases on Balls – 59 [17, tied with Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Harrison & Luis Mendoza]

Strikeouts – 205 [6]

ERA – 2.56 [1]

Hit Batters – 5

Balks – 1 [20, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 8 [12, tied with six others]

League-leading ERA was -0.08 lower than runner-up Justin Verlander

Midseason Snapshot: 11-4, ERA – 2.82, SO - 105 in 111.2 IP

---

Most strikeouts, game – 13 (in 9 IP) at Boston 9/25

10+ strikeout games – 4

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) vs. Baltimore 8/5, (in 7IP) vs. Cleveland 7/19

Most strikeouts, game – 13 (in 9 IP) at Boston 9/25

10+ strikeout games – 4

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) vs. Baltimore 8/5, (in 7IP) vs. Cleveland 7/19

Batting

PA – 5, AB – 4, R – 0, H – 0, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 1, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .000, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 37

Put Outs – 6

Assists – 28

Errors – 3

DP – 4

Pct. - .919

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

12^th in AL MVP voting (26 points, 7% share)

AL Cy Young voting (top 5):

David Price, TB: 153 points – 14 of 28 first place votes, 78% share

Justin Verlander, Det.: 149 points – 13 first place votes, 76% share

Jered Weaver, LAA: 70 points – 36% share

Felix Hernandez, Sea.: 41 points – 21% share

Fernando Rodney, TB: 38 points – 1 first place vote, 19% share

---

Rays went 90-72 to finish third in the AL Eastern Division, 5 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.19), strikeouts (1383), fewest hits allowed (1233), and fewest runs allowed (577). The Rays started fast with a three-game sweep of the Yankees at home, on their way to a 15-8 April that had them briefly leading the AL East. They remained in contention through a 14-14 May but dropped to third during June after being swept by the New York Mets in a three-game series and were 10.5 games back by July 18. A 17-11 August pulled them back into contention but a 17-10 September that included an 8-game winning streak was not enough to catch the Yankees or secure a Wild Card slot.  

Aftermath of 2012:

Price got off to a slow start in 2013 and a triceps strain put him on the disabled list for 47 days and upon his return he relied less on his fastball and finished with a 10-8 record, including 4 complete games over 27 starts with a 3.33 ERA and 151 strikeouts. Back in good form in 2014, although the Rays struggled, Price was 11-8 with a 3.11 ERA when he was dealt to Detroit at the trade deadline. He ended up with a combined tally of 15-12 with a 3.26 ERA and led the American League with 271 strikeouts and 248.1 innings pitched. Price started out strong with a mediocre Detroit club in 2015 and was again traded just prior to the end-of-July deadline, this time to the Toronto Blue Jays for three players. 9-4 at the time of the deal, he went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA for the Blue Jays to finish with a combined record of 18-5 and a league-leading 2.45 ERA with 225 strikeouts. Less dominant in the postseason, he departed the Blue Jays as a free agent and signed with the Boston Red Sox for seven years and $217 million. With the first-place Red Sox in 2016, Price produced a 17-9 record with a relatively high 3.99 ERA over an AL-best 230 innings. He also topped the circuit by allowing 227 hits and struggled in the postseason as Boston was swept by Cleveland in the ALDS. Pain in his elbow caused Price to not make his first 2017 appearance until May and, limited to 74.2 innings, he finished at 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA. He rebounded in 2018 with a 16-7 tally and 3.58 ERA with 177 strikeouts in 176 innings pitched. Boston won the AL pennant and, overcoming years of disappointment in the postseason, Price was at his best in the World Series against the Dodgers, going 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA, including the decisive victory in Game 5. In 2019, elbow tendinitis limited him to 22 starts and a 7-5 mark and 4.28 ERA. In the offseason, he and outfielder Mookie Betts were dealt to the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade. Price chose to opt out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Returning to action in 2021, he was utilized primarily out of the bullpen and went 5-2 over the course of 39 appearances and 73.2 innings with a 4.03 ERA. Used exclusively as a reliever by the Dodgers in 2022 and beset by injuries, he appeared in 40 games and went 2-0 with 2 saves and a 2.45 ERA. As a free agent, he made clear his intention to not pitch in 2023, putting the future of his playing career in doubt. For his major league career through 2022, Price has compiled a 157-82 record with a 3.32 ERA, 17 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 2076 strikeouts in 2143.2 innings. With the Rays he went 82-47 with a 3.18 ERA, 10 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 1065 strikeouts in 1143.2 innings. Often experiencing problems in the postseason, Price pitched in a total of 23 games and was 5-9 with a 4.62 ERA and 91 strikeouts over 99.1 innings pitched. A five-time All-Star, he won two ERA titles and topped the AL in innings pitched twice.

---

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.