Rookie of the Year: Eric Hinske, 2002

Third Baseman, Toronto Blue Jays

Age:  25 (Aug. 5)

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 235 

Prior to 2002:

A native of Manesha, Wisconsin, where his grandfather founded the local Little League and Babe Ruth League, Hinske lettered in basketball and football, as well as baseball, in high school. He also was all-state in baseball. At the University of Arkansas, he played baseball for three years. Chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 1998 amateur draft, Hinske played for two teams at the Class A level in ’98 and batted a combined .310 with 10 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .397 on-base percentage. Advancing to Daytona of the advanced Class A Florida State League in 1999, he hit .297 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, and a .385 OBP. He was selected to the league All-Star team. Hinske finished up the year with four games for Iowa of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. Having typically played at first base and in the outfield, he spent considerable time at third base, which would become his regular position. In 2000 he was with West Tennessee of the Class AA Southern League. He led the circuit in triples (9) while batting .259 with 20 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a .373 OBP. In 2001 Hinske was traded to the Oakland Athletics who assigned him to the Sacramento River Cats of the PCL, where he hit .282 with 27 doubles, 25 home runs, 79 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a .373 OBP. In the offseason he was dealt to the Blue Jays where he became the starting third baseman for 2002.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared in 151 games

3B – 148, PH – 10

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 650

At Bats – 566

Runs – 99 [17, tied with Darin Erstad, Troy Glaus & Rafael Palmeiro]

Hits – 158

Doubles – 38 [10, tied with Shannon Stewart]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 24

RBI – 84

Bases on Balls – 77 [13]

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 138 [7]

Stolen Bases – 13

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .279

OBP - .365

Slugging Pct. - .481

Total Bases – 272

GDP – 12

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 5

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 21, HR – 14, RBI – 46, AVG – .273, OBP – .362

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 7/13, (in 5 AB) vs. Seattle 8/6, (in 5 AB) vs. NY Yankees 8/30

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. Tampa Bay 6/4, (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 7/14

HR at home – 15

HR on road – 9

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 3 on six occasions

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 9 (.222) with 1 R, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 368

Put Outs – 103

Assists – 245

Errors – 20

DP - 14

Pct. - .946

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA 

AL ROY Voting (Top 5):

Eric Hinske, Tor.: 122 points – 19 of 28 first place votes, 87% share

Rodrigo Lopez, Balt.: 97 points –9 first place votes, 69% share

Jorge Julio, Balt.: 14 points – 10% share

Bobby Kielty, Min.: 5 points – 4% share

John Lackey, Ana.: 5 points – 4% share

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The Blue Jays went 78-84 to finish third in the AL Eastern Division, 25.5 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees. The Blue Jays were 20-33 when manager Buck Martinez was replaced by Carlos Tosca on June 3 and went 58-51 the rest of the way. The fair-to-middling team with a restricted payroll climbed back to a solid third place in September. Hinske settled down after a rough start defensively at third base.

Aftermath of 2002:

In 2003 Hinske suffered a broken bone in his left hand in May that landed him on the Disabled List until late June. He returned to reclaim his starting job at third base, but his batting production dropped to .243 with 12 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .329 OBP over the course of 124 games. In 2004 Hinske, despite questions regarding his defensive play, led all American League third basemen with his .978 fielding percentage. He also batted .246 with 15 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a .312 OBP. With Toronto’s acquisition of third baseman Corey Koskie in 2005, Hinske appeared mostly at first base, or as Designated Hitter or a pinch hitter, and hit .262 with 31 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .333 OBP. His tenure with the Blue Jays came to an end during the 2006 season when he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in August. For the most part appearing as an outfielder or first baseman, he batted a combined .271 with 13 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .353 OBP. With the pennant-winning Red Sox in 2007, Hinske was a part-time player who appeared in 84 games and hit .204 with 6 home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .317 OBP. Appearing in the postseason for the first time, he was hitless in two pinch-hitting appearances during Boston’s advance to a World Series title. A free agent in the offseason, Hinske caught on with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and batted .247 with 20 home runs, 60 RBIs, and a .333 OBP. The Rays reached the World Series and Hinske was activated due to an injury to DH Cliff Floyd. He homered in Game 4 and struck out in Game 5 as the Rays lost to Philadelphia. Hinske split 2009 between the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees and hit a combined .242 with 8 home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .348 OBP. Appearing in the World Series for the third straight year (each with a different club), he walked in his only plate appearance. He spent the next three seasons as a reserve with the Atlanta Braves and finished up his playing career with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013. For his major league career, which failed to achieve its initial promise, Hinske batted .249 with 947 hits that included 240 doubles, 18 triples, and 137 home runs. He scored 549 runs and compiled 522 RBIs, 61 stolen bases, and a .332 OBP. With Toronto he batted .259 with 584 hits, 146 doubles, 12 triples, 78 home runs, 313 RBIs, 353 runs scored, 46 stolen bases, and a .337 OBP. Appearing in 10 postseason games, he hit .286 with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs. Following his playing career he became a coach with several teams.

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

MVP Profile: Roger Maris, 1961

Outfielder, New York Yankees

Age:  27 (Sept. 10)

2^nd season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 197 

Prior to 1961:

Born in Minnesota, Maris moved with his family to Fargo, North Dakota at a young age. A star athlete at Bishop Shanley High School, in football he once returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single game. Playing American Legion baseball, he impressed scouts with his all-around ability. Signed by the Cleveland Indians at age 18 in 1953, he was initially assigned to Fargo-Morehead of the Class C Northern League where he appeared in 114 games and batted .325 with 9 home runs and 80 RBIs. Advancing to the Keokuk Kernels of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1954, Maris hit .315 with 32 home runs and 111 RBIs. In the field he tied the league record for put outs by an outfielder with 305. Having gone from being a contact hitter to a pull hitter who could hit for power, he hit a total of 20 home runs in 1955 for Reading of the Class A Eastern League and Tulsa of the Class AA Texas League while batting a combined .278. Promoted to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association in 1956, Maris batted .293 with 17 home runs and 75 RBIs. The team won the Junior World Series and Maris made it to the Indians in 1957 where he flashed more of his potential by hitting 14 home runs with 51 RBIs while batting a disappointing .235 as he played in pain from broken ribs suffered in May. He appeared in 116 games, 99 of them starts. During the 1958 season, Maris was traded to the Kansas City Athletics where he moved into right field and proved to be a star in the making as he batted a combined .240 with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs. An All-Star for the first time in 1959, Maris hit .273 with 16 home runs and 72 RBIs. In the offseason, the Yankees swung a deal for him, and taking over Hank Bauer’s vacated spot in right field he paired up well with star center fielder Mickey Mantle in the middle of the batting order, batting .283 with 39 home runs (one behind Mantle’s league-leading total), and league-best totals in RBIs (112) and slugging (.581). His performance earned him American League MVP recognition. In his first taste of postseason action, he hit .267 with two home runs in the seven-game World Series loss to Pittsburgh.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 161 games

RF – 150, CF – 17, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 698 [7]

At Bats – 590 [12, tied with Frank Malzone]

Runs – 132 [1]

Hits – 159 [16]

Doubles – 16

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 61 [1]

RBI – 141 [1, tied with Jim Gentile]

Bases on Balls – 94 [8]

Int. BB – 0

Strikeouts – 67

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .269

OBP - .372 [15]

Slugging Pct. - .620 [4]

Total Bases – 366 [1]

GDP – 16 [14, tied with Norm Cash, Al Kaline & Jackie Jensen]

Hit by Pitches – 7 [7]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 7 [10, tied with five others]

League-leading runs scored were +1 ahead of runner-up Mickey Mantle

League-leading home runs were +7 ahead of runner-up Mickey Mantle

League-leading total bases were +12 ahead of runner-up Norm Cash

Midseason snapshot: HR - 33, RBI - 80, AVG - .282, SLG - .648, OBP – .388

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 6/22

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 30

HR on road – 31

Most home runs, game – 2 on seven occasions

Multi-HR games – 7

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Chi. White Sox 7/25

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 284

Put Outs – 266

Assists – 9

Errors – 9

DP – 1

Pct. - .968 

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

PA – 23,AB – 19, R – 4, H – 2, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 4, IBB – 1, SO – 6, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .105, OBP - .261, SLG - .316, TB – 6, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star (Started for AL in RF in first game)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Roger Maris, NYY.: 202 points - 7 of 20 first place votes, 72% share

Mickey Mantle, NYY: 198 points – 6 first place votes, 71% share

Jim Gentile, Balt.: 157 points – 5 first place votes, 56% share

Norm Cash, Det.: 151 points – 1 first place vote, 54% share

Whitey Ford, NYY: 102 points – 36% share

(1 first place vote for Luis Arroyo, NYY who ranked sixth)

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The Yankees, under new manager Ralph Houk, went 109-53 to win the AL pennant by 8 games over the Detroit Tigers, while leading the league in home runs (240), RBIs (781), slugging (.442) & total bases (2455). The Yankees surged to the pennant in a season dominated by the home run race between Maris and Mickey Mantle. From May 17 to June 22, Maris hit 24 home runs in 38 games, taking the lead over his teammate. The low-key Maris became tense and testy from the pressure fed by the media frenzy. His hair began falling out and he became short-tempered. With expansion having caused the AL to expand the schedule from 154 to 162 games (the NL would follow in 1962), commissioner Ford Frick ruled that any home run record would need to be accomplished in 154 games or would be accompanied by an asterisk in the record books. Maris entered September with 51 homers, but his pace began to slow down the stretch. An injury took Mantle out of the race, putting the spotlight entirely on Maris. He hit his 59^th home run at Baltimore in the 154^th game of the season. Number 60 came at Yankee Stadium on September 26 and the record-breaking 61^st in the season finale at home against the Red Sox and RHP Tracy Stallard. Won World Series over the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 1. The Series was highlighted by New Yotk LHP Whitey Ford’s record string of 33 consecutive shutout innings pitched. Maris contributed a home run while garnering only two hits.

Aftermath of 1961:

Maris followed up with a respectable season in 1962 in which he hit .256 with 33 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also made a big defensive play in Game 7 of the World Series against the Giants when, in the ninth inning with two outs, a one-run lead, and the fleet-footed Matty Alou on first, batter Willie Mays hit a ball into the right field corner. Maris cut the ball off and threw to second baseman Bobby Richardson to force Alou to hold at third. First baseman Willie McCovey lined out to end the game and the Series in the Yanks’ favor. Limited to 90 games in 1963 due to an assortment of injuries, Maris still managed to slug 23 home runs along with 53 RBIs and a .269 average. Rebounding somewhat in 1964, when he occasionally filled in for the ailing Mantle in center field, Maris batted .281 with 26 home runs and 71 RBIs. With the drop of the Yankees to sixth place in 1965, Maris, who was limited to 46 games by a hand injury, hit just .239 with 8 home runs. Following another injury-marred season in 1966, in which he batted .233 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs while playing in 119 games, the Yankees traded Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals for nondescript third baseman Charley Smith. Pleased with the opportunity for a fresh start, he was an effective player for a pennant-winning club in 1967, hitting .261 with 18 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, and 55 RBIs. He also batted .385 with 7 RBIs in the seven-game World Series victory over the Red Sox. Dealing with injuries again in 1968, he hit .255 in 100 games and retired following one last World Series appearance at age 34. For his major league career, Maris batted .260 with 1325 hits that included 195 doubles, 42 triples, and 275 home runs. He further scored 826 runs and compiled 850 RBIs and drew 652 walks. With the Yankees he hit .265 with 797 hits, 520 runs scored, 110 doubles, 17 triples, 203 home runs, 547 RBIs, and a .356 OBP with 413 walks drawn. Appearing in 41 World Series games, Maris hit .217 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs. An All-Star during four seasons as well as a two-time MVP, the Yankees eventually retired his #9 and placed a plaque in his honor at Monument Park in Yankee Stadium. In retirement, Cardinals owner Gussie Busch set Maris up with a beer distributorship in Florida that he operated until his death from cancer at age 51 in 1985. A player too-often dismissed as a one-year wonder, Maris was a productive hitter and very good outfielder. A small-town man, he was uncomfortable dealing with newfound notoriety in New York, although he came to be held in greater esteem in retrospect. His 61 home runs in 1961 remained as the AL record until 2022.

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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.

Cy Young Profile: Sandy Koufax, 1965

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  29

10^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 1965:

A native of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Koufax (who was originally named Sanford Braun until he took his stepfather’s name), excelled at basketball in high school and played sandlot baseball where his pitching talent was first exhibited. Following high school he attended the Univ. of Cincinnati on a basketball scholarship. He performed well at basketball in college but caught the interest of major league baseball scouts by posting a 3-1 record with 51 strikeouts in 30 innings, with blazing speed, although having difficulty with his control he walked 30 batters as well. While all three New York teams were interested (not least because his being Jewish would add to his fan appeal), and he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 for $6000 plus a $14,000 bonus. He transferred to Columbia University to continue his college education but dropped out due to the problem of having to fulfill his military obligation during the offseason. The bonus rules of the time required him to play for the major league club rather than spend time in the minors. Following an ankle injury that put him on the disabled list early during the 1955 season, the 19-year-old Koufax saw his first action as a reliever in June. His first start was derailed by wildness, but he struck out 14 batters in a later game against Cincinnati. In his first two seasons he made 28 appearances (15 of them starts) and went 4-6 with 60 strikeouts and 57 walks in 100.1 innings pitched. He saw no World Series action in either 1955 or ’56. Playing winter ball in Puerto Rico helped in his development. He saw more action in 1957, the last year for the Dodgers in Brooklyn, going 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA and 122 strikeouts with 51 walks while pitching 104.1 innings. Moving with the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958, he started 26 of 40 games and compiled an 11-11 tally with a 4.48 ERA and 131 strikeouts with 105 walks in 158.2 innings pitched. He got off to a poor start in 1959 until he strung together three straight complete game wins in June and had an 18-strikeout performance against the Giants at the end of August on his way to an 8-6 mark with a 4.05 ERA and 173 strikeouts with 92 walks over the course of 153.1 innings. The Dodgers won the NL pennant and Koufax saw his first World Series action against the Chicago White Sox, appearing in two games, losing a 1-0 decision in Game 5 in which he pitched 7 innings and surrendered just five hits while striking out 6 batters before a crowd of 92,706 at the LA Coliseum. 1960 was a more disappointing season in which he pitched 175 innings and went 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA and 197 strikeouts while issuing 100 walks. Frustrated with his career thus far, Koufax worked to improve his delivery, mechanics, and control. Strong, with long arms and fingers, he refined his rising fastball and developed an excellent overhand curve. The result in 1961 was an 18-13 record with a 3.52 ERA, 15 complete games, and a league-leading 269 strikeouts. He also was an All-Star for the first time. The move by the Dodgers from the LA Coliseum to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium in 1962 also proved beneficial. Off to a strong start in 1962, Koufax suffered a career-threatening circulatory problem with his index finger which went numb as a result. He still managed his first career no-hitter against the expansion New York Mets shortly before being shelved until September at the cost of his endurance and effectiveness. The Dodgers faded down the stretch and ended up tied for first with the Giants, necessitating a season-extending playoff, won by San Francisco. In his abbreviated season, Koufax went 14-7 with a league-leading 2.54 ERA while striking out 216 batters in 184.1 innings pitched. Entering 1963 there were concerns about Koufax’s condition, although he had finally developed into an outstanding pitcher. The Dodgers won the pennant in ’63 and Koufax contributed a sterling 25-5 record, again leading the league with a 1.88 ERA, as well as 11 shutouts and 306 strikeouts. Along the way he threw a no-hitter against the arch-rival Giants. His performance earned him NL MVP recognition as well as the major league Cy Young Award. In the four-game World Series sweep of the Yankees, Koufax was MVP. His winning effort in Game 1 included 15 strikeouts, which set a World Series record at the time. He also won the decisive Game 4, going the distance in winning 2-1. Already bothered by arthritis in his left arm that required special treatment, in 1964 Koufax remained extremely effective until a sore elbow finished him for the season in August. He still ended up with a 19-5 record in just 28 starts and won his third straight National League ERA title with a 1.74 ERA while pitching 223 innings. He also pitched his third career no-hitter, this time against the Phillies, and struck out 223 batters while hurling seven shutouts and 15 complete games. The Dodgers dropped to sixth place. By this point, the star southpaw was utilizing ice baths to reduce swelling in his elbow.

1965 Season Summary

Appeared in 43 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 43

Games Started – 41 [2]

Complete Games – 27 [1]

Wins – 26 [1]

Losses – 8

PCT - .765 [1]

Saves – 2

Shutouts – 8 [2]

Innings Pitched – 335.2 [1]

Hits – 216 [18]

Runs – 90

Earned Runs – 76

Home Runs – 26 [5, tied with Ray Sadecki, Bob Buhl & Warren Spahn]

Bases on Balls – 71 [10]

Strikeouts – 382 [1]

ERA – 2.04 [1]

Hit Batters – 5

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 11 [7, tied with Don Drysdale & Bo Belinsky]

League-leading complete games were +3 ahead of runner-up Juan Marichal

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Tony Cloninger

League-leading win pct was +.065 ahead of runner-up Bob Bolin

League-leading innings pitched were +27.1 ahead of runner-up Don Drysdale

League-leading strikeouts were +106 ahead of runner-up Bob Veale

League-leading ERA was -0.09 lower than runner-up Juan Marichal

Midseason Snapshot: 15-3, ERA - 2.13, SO - 195 in 169 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 14 (in 9 IP) vs. NY Mets 8/10, (in 9 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 9/9

10+ strikeout games – 21

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 0 (in 9 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 9/9 (Perfect Game with 14 strikeouts. Dodgers won 1-0. Chicago’s Bob Hendley pitched 8 innings and gave up 1 hit. The Dodgers scored the game’s only run thanks to an unearned run in the fifth inning.)

Batting

PA – 127, AB – 113, R – 4, H – 20, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 7, BB – 10, SO – 44, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .177, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – 1

Fielding

Chances - 46

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 36

Errors – 0

DP – 2

Pct. - 1.000

Postseason Pitching: G – 3 (World Series vs. Minnesota)

GS – 3, CG – 2, Record – 2-1, PCT – .667, SV – 0, ShO – 2, IP – 24, H – 13, R – 2, ER – 1, HR – 0, BB – 5, SO – 29, ERA – 0.38, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0    World Series MVP

Awards & Honors:

MLB Cy Young Award: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

2^nd in NL MVP voting (177 points, 6 first place votes, 63% share)

MLB Cy Young voting:

Sandy Koufax, LAD: 20 of 20 votes, 100% share

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The Dodgers went 97-65 to win the NL pennant by 2 games over the San Francisco Giants. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (2.81), complete games (58), shutouts (23), fewest hits allowed (1223) and fewest runs allowed (521). The light-hitting Dodgers benefited from pitching, speed, and defense to keep pace in a torrid pennant race with the Giants, countering a 14-game San Francisco winning streak in September with a 13-game streak of their own to nail down the pennant. In the stretch run of the hot pennant race Koufax threw four complete game wins in his final five starts. Won World Series over the Minnesota Twins, 4 games to 3, rebounding after losing the first two games thanks to LHP Claude Osteen’s Game 3 shutout and, except for a Game 6 win by Minnesota RHP Jim “Mudcat” Grant, Koufax (who refused to pitch on the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur) and RHP Don Drysdale shut the Twins down the rest of the way.

Aftermath of 1965:

In 1966, Koufax and star RHP Don Drysdale staged a spring joint contract holdout which resulted in a raise for Koufax from $110,000 to $130,000. That season he topped the NL in wins with his 27-9 mark, in ERA for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year (1.73), in complete games (27), shutouts (5), innings pitched (323), and strikeouts (317). LA won another pennant, although the Dodgers were swept by Baltimore in the World Series. “The Left Arm of God”, as he was sometimes referred to, won a third Cy Young Award and placed a close second in NL MVP balloting. Fearful that the arthritis would cripple him for life if he continued to pitch, Koufax retired at age 30 while still at the top of his game. Efforts by the Dodgers to lure him back failed, and the quiet and unassuming Koufax went on to a short broadcasting career. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Dodgers, he compiled a 165-87 record with a 2.76 ERA and 2396 strikeouts in 2324.1 innings pitched. He further pitched 137 complete games with 40 shutouts, including the four no-hitters. Concerned about causing serious injury, he avoided throwing knockdown pitches and hit only 18 batters during his career. In World Series action, he appeared in 8 games (7 of them starts) and produced a 4-3 record with a 0.95 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 57 innings, and he was a two-time World Series MVP. His Series record of 15 strikeouts in a game lasted until 1968. A seven-time All-Star, Koufax was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 at age 36, making him the youngest person to become a Hall of Famer. The Dodgers retired his #32. In retirement he spent time as a special pitching instructor for the Dodgers. He also maintained a low public profile.

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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. 

 

Highlighted Year: Jimmy Barrett, 1900

Outfielder, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  25

2^nd season with Reds

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’7”    Weight: 170 

Prior to 1900:

A Massachusetts native who was orphaned at age six, Barrett was raised by uncles and began playing baseball professionally in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont when he was 21. In 1898 he joined the Oswego Grays of the New York State League and played shortstop until committing six errors in two games, which caused him to be shifted to third base. Moving on to Taunton in July, Barrett was moved to right field and impressed with his hitting and speed. He batted .330 with 20 outfield assists in 53 games. He started 1899 with Detroit of the Western League, scored 117 runs and hit .331 until his contract was sold to the Reds at the end of August. An immediate success as a leadoff-hitting right fielder for the Reds, he batted .370 in 26 games with a .477 on-base percentage and 30 runs scored. His speed and aggressiveness made him a fan favorite. Barrett moved to center field 30 games into the 1900 season.

 

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 137 games

CF – 115, RF – 22

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 632 [7, tied with Ginger Beaumont]

At Bats – 545 [10, tied with Elmer Flick]

Runs – 114 [3, tied with George Van Haltren]

Hits – 172 [11]

Doubles – 11

Triples – 7

Home Runs – 5 [13, tied with six others]

RBI – 42

Bases on Balls – 72 [5, tied with Kip Selbach]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 63 [1]

Stolen Bases – 44 [3]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .316 [13, tied with Patsy Donovan & Roy Thomas]

OBP - .400 [11]

Slugging Pct. - .389

Total Bases – 212 [15]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 5

Sac Hits – 10

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading batting strikeouts were +2 ahead of runner-up Bill Bradley

Fielding

Chances – 336

Put Outs – 287

Assists – 25

Errors – 24

DP – 6

Pct. - .929

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The Reds went 62-77 to finish seventh in the NL, 21.5 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas, while leading the league in batting strikeouts (408). Following a 6-3 start, the Reds slumped and were 12-20 by the end of May. The rebuilding club was never able to rise into contention the rest of the way.

Aftermath of 1900:

Barrett jumped to the Detroit Tigers of the new American League in 1901, signing a contract for $3000. He batted .293 with 16 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs, and a .385 OBP, and as in Cincinnati, he became popular with Detroit fans for his style of play. Following an offseason of barnstorming, he returned to the Tigers in 1902 despite the threat of legal action by the Reds, seeking to regain his services. He hit .303 with a .397 OBP. Barrett also signed a two-year contract extension to stay with Detroit. In 1903 he led the AL in walks drawn (74) and OBP (.407) while batting .315 with 13 doubles, 10 triples, and 2 home runs. Defensively he topped the league with 19 outfield assists. He ran afoul of manager Ed Barrow for being “too cocky” and was nearly traded. With the Tigers in 1904 he again led the league in walks drawn with 79 while he hit .268 with a .353 OBP. Plagued by a knee injury in 1905, Barrett was limited to 20 games, and he was still bothered by the injury in 1906 when the Reds purchased his contract on a conditional basis. After failing to produce a hit in 12 at bats, he acted as a player/manager for Dayton of the Central League for a month, when he was released. Moving on to Rochester of the Eastern League a few weeks later, Barrett managed to play in 74 games and batted .277, although his range in the outfield was significantly reduced. Returning to the American League with the Boston Americans in 1907, he hit .244 in 106 games. Released by Boston early in the 1908 season, he played three years with Milwaukee of the American Association and retired in 1913. For his major league career, Barrett batted .291 with 962 hits that included 83 doubles, 47 triples, and 16 home runs. He scored 580 runs and compiled 255 RBIs, a .379 OBP, and 143 stolen bases. With Cincinnati he batted .317 with 145 runs scored, 206 hits, 13 doubles, 11 triples, 5 home runs, 52 RBIs, a .407 OBP, and 48 stolen bases. He went into a business career following baseball and died from a stroke at age 46 in 1921. A good and popular player at his best, his failure to fully recover from a severe knee injury brought his career to an end (if only he had the benefits of modern sports medicine at that time).

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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.

Highlighted Year: Frank “Noodles” Hahn, 1899

Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  20 (April 29)

1^st season with Reds

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 160 

Prior to 1899:

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Hahn picked up his nickname “Noodles” in his youth as a result of his mother’s chicken noodle soup, which he either repeatedly expressed a particular liking for, brought to his father for lunch each day at a nearby piano factory, or delivered to a poor neighbor. Whatever the reason, the nickname stuck. At age 16 he joined a Southern Association team that moved from Chattanooga to Mobile during the 1895 season. Staying on with Mobile in 1896, he produced a 7-4 record with a 1.44 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched. In 1897 he joined Detroit of the Western Association and went 17-16 with a 2.82 ERA, 31 complete games, and 144 strikeouts over 313 innings. Splitting 1898 between Detroit and St. Paul he had a mediocre season, going 12-20 with 28 complete games and 144 strikeouts in 266 innings. Recommended to the Reds by St. Paul owner Charles Comiskey, he pitched well in spring training and made the club.

1899 Season Summary

Appeared in 38 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 38 [17, tied with Clark Griffith]

Games Started – 34 [18, tied with five others]

Complete Games – 32 [16, tied with Jim Hughey]

Wins – 23 [6, tied with Jack Powell, Wiley Piatt & Jack Dunn]

Losses – 8

PCT - .742 [3]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [2, tied with seven others]

Innings Pitched – 309 [15]

Hits – 280

Runs – 128

Earned Runs – 92

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 68

Strikeouts – 145 [1]

ERA – 2.68 [3, tied with Joe McGinnity & Jay Hughes]

Hit Batters – 10

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 3

League-leading strikeouts were +3 ahead of runner-up Cy Seymour

Batting

PA – 121, AB – 109, R – 12, H – 16, 2B – 3, 3B – 2, HR – 0, RBI – 11, BB – 8, SO – 31, SB – 3, CS – N/A, AVG - .147, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – N/A 

Fielding

Chances – 76

Put Outs – 12

Assists – 51

Errors – 13

DP – 3

Pct. - .829

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The Reds went 83-67 to finish sixth in the NL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas. The Reds got off to a promising 14-7 start but slumped in the second half of May and were 29-28 by the end of June. They were never able to contend again the rest of the way. Hahn established himself as the ace of the pitching staff. 

Aftermath of 1899:

Hahn ran into difficulty coming to terms on a contract with the Reds for 1900 but settled and produced a 16-20 record for the 62-77 Reds along with a 3.27 ERA and again led the NL in strikeouts with 132. Along the way he pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the league’s best-hitting teams. With an effective, if not overpowering, fastball and good control, Hahn was again successful in 1901, producing a 22-19 tally for the last-place Reds, along with a 2.71 ERA and 239 strikeouts, once again a league-leading total that included a then-record 16 in a game against the Boston Beaneaters. He also topped the NL with 41 complete games and 375.1 innings pitched. Resisting an offer to jump to the rival American League, he signed a $4200 contract to stay with the Reds, making him the team’s highest-paid player. Cincinnati improved to 70-70 in 1902 and Hahn went 23-12 with a 1.77 ERA, 35 complete games, 6 shutouts, 321 innings pitched, and 142 strikeouts. He continued to perform well in 1902 with a 23-12 record, a 1.77 ERA that ranked second in the NL, and 142 strikeouts over 321 innings. Hahn was 22-12 in 1903 with a 2.52 ERA, 34 complete games, and 127 strikeouts. Showing signs of slippage in 1904, he posted a 16-18 tally with a still outstanding 2.06 ERA, 33 complete games among his 297.2 innings, and 98 strikeouts. A sore arm limited Hahn to 77 innings and a 5-3 mark with a 2.81 ERA in 1905, and the Reds released him in August. After pitching semi-professionally for the remainder of ’05, he caught on with the AL’s New York Highlanders in 1906. He appeared in just six games before requesting his release and deciding to end his major league career. For his career, he compiled a 130-94 record with a 2.55 ERA, 212 complete games, 25 shutouts, and 917 strikeouts over 2029.1 innings. Virtually all of his production came with the Reds. Having attended Cincinnati Veterinary College during his playing days, he became a veterinary inspector for the US government in Cincinnati for over 30 years. He pitched semi-professionally on the side for a time and also regularly pitched batting practice for the Reds at Crosley Field until he was well into his 60s. He also had a reputation as a skillful pianist. Moving to North Carolina after retiring from his government job, he died at age 80 in 1960.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20), pitching wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10), or have been participants in the annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include 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: Felix Hernandez, 2010

Pitcher, Seattle Mariners

Age:  24 (April 8)

6^th season with Mariners

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 220

Prior to 2010:

A native of Valencia in Venezuela, Hernandez drew the interest of scouts as a 14-year-old with a 90 mph fastball. Signed by the Mariners when he turned 16 in 2002, he commenced his professional career in 2003 by pitching with two Class A teams where the 17-year-old compiled a combined record of 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 69 innings pitched. He also pitched winter league ball back in Venezuela with promising results. Advancing to the Inland Empire 66ers of the advanced Class A California League in 2004, he posted a 9-3 tally with a 2.74 ERA before being promoted to San Antonio of the Class AA Texas League where he went 5-1 with a 3.30 ERA. Moving up to Class AAA in 2005 with the Tacoma Rainiers, he spent time on the disabled list with shoulder bursitis and was 9-4 with a 2.25 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched prior to being called up to the Mariners once recovered from the injury. The youngest player in the major leagues at the time of his Seattle debut, the 19-year-old who had already been dubbed “King Felix” went 4-4 in 12 starts with a 2.67 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched. In his first full major league season in 2006, his record was 12-14 with a 4.52 ERA and 176 strikeouts. Hernandez lowered his ERA to 3.92 in 2007, also producing a 14-7 tally with 165 strikeouts while pitching 190.1 innings. His ability with a fastball, sinker, slider, changeup, and curve, inspired much praise but he sometimes had difficulty with consistency. In 2008 his record dropped to 9-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 175 strikeouts over 200.2 innings. In a rare batting appearance he hit a grand slam against the New York Mets, the only home run of his career. Hernandez had a strong season in 2009, producing a 19-5 tally and a 2.49 ERA along with 217 strikeouts in 238.2 innings pitched. He placed second in AL Cy Young Award voting.

2010 Season Summary

Appeared in 34 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 34

Games Started – 34 [1, tied with C.C. Sabathia & Jered Weaver]

Complete Games – 6 [3]

Wins – 13 [18, tied with seven others]

Losses – 12 [15, tied with eight others]

PCT - .520

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1 [3, tied with eighteen others]

Innings Pitched – 249.2 [1]

Hits – 194 [15, tied with Nick Blackburn]

Runs – 80

Earned Runs – 63

Home Runs – 17

Bases on Balls – 70 [16, tied with Max Scherzer & John Danks]

Strikeouts – 232 [2]

ERA – 2.27 [1]

Hit Batters – 8 [14, tied with five others]

Balks – 1 [16, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 14 [3]

League-leading inning pitched were +12 ahead of runner-up C.C. Sabathia

League-leading ERA was -0.06 lower than runner-up Clay Buchholz

Midseason Snapshot: 7-5, ERA - 2.88, SO - 131 in 137.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 13 (in 8 IP) vs. Oakland 8/10

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at NY Yankees 6/30, (in 8 IP) vs. Chi. White Sox 7/21, (in 8 IP) at Toronto 9/23

Batting

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

Fielding

Chances – 54

Put Outs – 15

Assists – 37

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .963

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

AL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

16^th in AL MVP voting (6 points, 2% share)

AL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Felix Hernandez, Sea.: 167 points – 21 of 28 first place votes, 85% share

David Price, TB: 111 points – 4 first place votes, 57% share

C.C. Sabathia, NYY: 102 points – 3 first place votes, 52% share

Jon Lester, Bos.: 33 points – 17% share

Jered Weaver, LAA: 24 points – 12% share

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The Mariners went 61-101 to finish fourth (last) in the AL Western Division, 29 games behind the division-winning Texas Rangers. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (11). The offensively-challenged Mariners (despite the presence of consistent hitting outfielder Ichiro Suzuki) were 19-31 by the end of May, and went 42-70 the rest of the way, providing little run support for Hernandez, who still excelled due to his fine ERA and strikeout ratio.

Aftermath of 2010:

Hernandez followed up with another solid season in 2011, still dealing with an offensively challenged club that limited his record to 14-14 with a 3.47 ERA and 222 strikeouts. His 233.2 innings included five complete games. His 2012 season was highlighted by a perfect game against Tampa Bay, one of his league-leading five shutouts. Seattle ranked at the bottom of the American League in scoring, although fourth in ERA as Hernandez posted a 13-9 tally with a 3.06 ERA and 223 strikeouts in 232 innings pitched. In the offseason the Mariners signed him to a seven-year $175 million contract extension. With the club having reconfigured Safeco Field to make it more hitter-friendly in 2013, Hernandez remained solid, going 12-10 with a 3.04 ERA and 216 strikeouts for the fourth-place team. He broke out to an 8-1 start in 2014 on his way to a final record of 15-6 with a league-leading 2.14 ERA as well as 248 strikeouts in 236 innings pitched. He placed second in AL Cy Young balloting and was named AL Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. In 2015 the 29-year-old Hernandez became the fourth youngest pitcher to reach 2000 career strikeouts while producing an 18-9 tally and 3.53 ERA with 191 strikeouts while totaling 201.2 innings. In 2016, hindered by a calf injury, “King Felix” dropped to 25 starts and 153.1 innings. His record fell to 11-8 with a 3.82 ERA and 122 strikeouts. Hernandez had two stints on the disabled list in 2017, and limited to 16 starts and 86.2 innings, finished at 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA and 78 strikeouts. The decline continued in 2018 as the no-longer king-like Hernandez compiled an 8-14 tally with a 5.55 ERA and 125 strikeouts over 155.2 innings. Limited by injury to 15 starts in 2019, he went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves but chose to opt out due to the pandemic in 2020. Failing to catch on with Baltimore in 2021, his career came to an end. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Mariners, Hernandez compiled a 169-136 record with a 3.42 ERA, 25 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 2524 strikeouts in 2729.2 innings. A dominant pitcher at his best, performing with a typically mediocre team, he never appeared in the postseason. “King Felix” was a six-time All-Star and received Cy Young Award votes six times, including the one win. Highly popular with Seattle fans, he had a special cheering section at Safeco Field that was called “the King’s Court”. He was elected to the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2023.

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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: Mickey Mantle, 1957

Outfielder, New York Yankees

Age:  25

7^th season with Yankees

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 195 

Prior to 1957:

An Oklahoma native, Mantle was named after star catcher Mickey Cochrane, his father’s favorite player. Growing up in the town of Commerce (hence a later nickname, “the Commerce Comet”), his father taught him baseball and developed the natural right-hander into a switch hitter. He honed his skills playing sandlot ball, where he was a shortstop and drew the attention of a scout for the Yankees, who signed him following his high school graduation in 1949 for an $1100 signing bonus and $400 for the remainder of the ’49 season. Assigned to Independence of the Class D Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League he batted .313 in 89 games with 15 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs, and 63 RBIs, while also stealing 20 bases. While his hitting was impressive, he had difficulty with his throwing accuracy at shortstop, with bad throws being the cause of most of his 47 errors. Advancing to the Joplin Miners of the Class C Western Association in 1950, Mantle hit a league-best .383 with 30 doubles, 12 triples, 26 home runs and 136 RBIs while committing 55 errors in the field. Called up to the Yankees in September, he rode the bench and observed as the club nailed down the AL pennant. Invited to spring training with the Yankees in 1951, he began the transition to the outfield and drew rave newspaper stories with his batting power from both sides of the plate and great running speed. With Joe DiMaggio’s announcement that the ’51 season would be his last, manager Casey Stengel named Mantle as his successor in center field, putting added pressure on the 19-year-old phenom. Starting the season in right field, he initially hit well until encountering a severe slump in June and July, at which time he was sent down to Kansas City of the Class AAA American Association. In 40 Class AAA games Mantle hit .361 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs. Recalled by the Yankees, he hit well the rest of the way and ended up batting .267 in 96 major league games with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs. In Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Giants, Mantle tore ligaments in his right knee when he caught his spikes on a drainage outlet while chasing a fly ball, bringing his season to an end, and commencing a long string of injuries that would afflict him during his career. Following surgery in the offseason, he transitioned to center field in May and went on to hit .311 with 37 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, and 87 RBIs while striking out a league-leading 111 times. He was an All-Star for the first time and finished third in AL MVP voting. Mantle hit two more home runs in the World Series triumph over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Powerfully built and capable of driving the ball long distances from either side of the plate, he also impressed with his speed and throwing arm. He also was a target of vocal fan criticism at times, not helped by receiving a deferment from the military draft due to osteomyelitis in his left leg which seemed incongruous in relation to his baseball performance. In 1953 Mantle batted .295 with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs. One of the homers, hit while batting right-handed at Washington’s spacious Griffith Stadium, traveled an estimated 565 feet. The Yankees faced the Dodgers in the World Series again, winning while Mantle contributed another two home runs, one of them a grand slam. While the Bronx Bombers lost out in the 1954 pennant race, “the Mick” topped the AL with 129 runs scored and hit .300 with 27 home runs and 102 RBIs. The Yankees regained the pennant in 1955 while Mantle led the AL in triples (11), home runs (37), walks drawn (113), on-base percentage (.431), and slugging percentage (.611). A hamstring injury limited him to three games in the World Series loss to Brooklyn. By 1956, he was established as a budding superstar who had improved his game with each season despite dealing with nagging injuries and he had received a salary increase from $17,000 to $33,000. Mantle came through with an outstanding season in which he won the Triple Crown by batting .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs. He also topped the AL in runs scored (132), slugging (.705), and total Bases (376), and received league MVP recognition. He added three more home runs in the seven-game World Series victory over Brooklyn, one of which came in support of RHP Don Larsen in his Game 5 perfect game.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in 144 games

CF – 139, PH – 5

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 623 [13]

At Bats – 474

Runs – 121 [1]

Hits – 173 [4, tied with Harvey Kuenn]

Doubles – 28 [7, tied with Ted Williams]

Triples – 6 [6, tied with seven others]

Home Runs – 34 [3]

RBI – 94 [6]

Bases on Balls – 146 [1]

Int. BB – 23 [2]

Strikeouts – 75 [12]

Stolen Bases – 16 [4]

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .365 [2]

OBP - .512 [2]

Slugging Pct. - .665 [2]

Total Bases – 315 [2]

GDP – 5

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 3

League-leading runs scored were +11 ahead of runner-up Nellie Fox

League-leading bases on balls drawn were +27 ahead of runner-up Ted Williams

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, 3B – 2, HR - 22, RBI - 57, AVG - .369, SLG – .706, OBP – .533

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Most hits, game – 4 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 20

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Chi. White Sox 6/12

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Cleveland 6/6, at Chi. White Sox 6/12, vs. Chi. White Sox 7/23

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

Fielding

Chances – 337

Put Outs – 324

Assists – 6

Errors – 7

DP – 1

Pct. - .979

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. Milwaukee Braves)

PA – 22, AB – 19, R – 3, H – 5, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 3, IBB – 0, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 2, AVG - .263, OBP - .364, SLG - .421, TB – 8, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL in CF)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Mickey Mantle, NYY.: 233 points - 6 of 24 first place votes, 69% share

Ted Williams, Bos.: 209 points – 5 first place votes, 62% share

Roy Sievers, Wash.: 205 points – 4 first place votes, 61% share

Nellie Fox, ChiWS.: 193 points – 5 first place votes, 57% share

Gil McDougald, NYY: 165 points – 4 first place votes, 49% share

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The Yankees went 98-56 to win the AL pennant by 8 games over the Chicago White Sox, while leading the league in runs scored (723), hits (1412), triples (54), batting (.268), slugging (.409), and total bases (2155). Benefiting from solid hitting led by Mantle and the addition of versatile rookie Tony Kubek, as well as excellent pitching, the Yankees won their third straight AL pennant. They lost the World Series to the Milwaukee Braves, 4 games to 3, as Milwaukee RHP Lew Burdette won all three of his starts.

Aftermath of 1957:

In 1958 Mantle again topped the AL in home runs (42) as well as walks drawn (129) and total bases (307) while batting .304 with a .443 OBP. He placed fifth in league MVP balloting as the Yankees again won the pennant. He added two more homers in the World Series, as the Yanks came from behind to defeat the Braves in a rematch. In a down year for the club in 1959, Mantle, who was now earning $70,000, hit .285 with 31 home runs and 75 RBIs. Joined in the lineup by right fielder Roger Maris, who was obtained from the Kansas City Athletics in 1960, Mantle led the league with 40 home runs and 119 runs scored while batting .275 with 94 RBIs while hindered by chronic knee problems. He finished a close second to Maris in the MVP voting and further hit .400 with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs in the seven-game World Series loss to Pittsburgh. With manager Casey Stengel replaced by Ralph Houk in 1961, the Yankees won the pennant in a season highlighted by the home run race between Mantle and Maris. The two were neck-and-neck into September, with Maris finally hitting a record 61 homers to 54 for Mantle, who missed 10 of the team’s final 12 games due to injury and illness. In addition, he batted .317 with 128 RBIs and a .448 OBP and led the AL in walks drawn (126) and slugging percentage (.687). The Yankees defeated Cincinnati in the World Series with Mantle appearing in only two games. He finished second to Maris in league MVP voting once again. In 1962, a May leg injury sidelined Mantle for five weeks, but while limited to 123 games, he still hit .321 with 30 home runs and 89 RBIs and led the AL in walks drawn (122), OBP (.486), and slugging percentage (.605). Benefiting from a greater appreciation of how much Mantle dealt with injuries (his legs were wrapped in bandages prior to every game), and a realization of how important he was to the Yankees, who won another pennant, he received his third MVP award. In the offseason, the club gave him a raise to $100,000 per year, which would be his annual salary for the remainder of his career. In 1963, a broken foot limited him to 65 games and a .314 average with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs. Back in action in 1964, and despite being hindered by an August knee injury, Mantle batted .303 with 35 home runs and 111 RBIs while topping the circuit with an on-base percentage of .423. The Yankees narrowly won another pennant but lost the ensuing World Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals, despite Mantle’s 3 home runs (one of them a game-winner) and 8 RBIs. 1964 marked the end of a long, sustained stretch of success for the Yankees. In decline along with the club in 1965, Mantle, hindered by a shoulder injury in the season’s second half, missed a total of 40 games and hit just .255 with 19 home runs and 46 RBIs. While his once formidable skills continued to deteriorate, he hit .288 in 1966 with 23 home runs and 56 RBIs. Shifted to first base in 1967 in an effort to reduce wear-and-tear, Mantle appeared in 144 games and batted .245 with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs. Playing in one last season in 1968, he again made 144 appearances and hit .237 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs, reaching the end of his illustrious career at age 36. For his major league career, played entirely with the Yankees, Mantle batted .298 with 2415 hits that included 344 doubles, 72 triples, and 536 home runs. He scored 1676 runs and compiled 1509 RBIs in addition to 153 stolen bases. He drew 1733 walks and had a .421 OBP and .557 slugging percentage. Appearing in 65 World Series games, Mantle hit a record 18 home runs while batting .257 with 40 RBIs. In addition to being a three-time MVP, Mantle was a 20-time All-Star. An excellent center fielder with his speed and strong throwing arm, he twice led the AL in assists and received a Gold Glove in 1962. The Yankees retired his #7 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. In the 1980s Mantle accumulated much wealth thanks to the sports memorabilia industry, but years of late-night carousing and heavy drinking took a toll, and he died of liver cancer in 1995 at age 63.

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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.