Highlighted Year: Win Mercer, 1902

Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Age:  28 (June 20)

1^st season with Tigers

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 154 

Prior to 1902:

Born in West Virginia, George Barclay Mercer’s family moved several times and eventually ended up in East Liverpool, Ohio. Mercer pitched well for factory teams in the area and was nicknamed “Winner”, which came to be shortened to “Win”. At 19 in 1893, he turned professional and pitched for teams in the New England League, compiling a record of 20-13. The thin and clean-shaven Mercer looked younger than his age and joined the National League’s Washington Senators in 1894. With a poor club, he lost his first nine decisions but went on to post a 17-23 tally with a 3.85 ERA, 30 complete games, and 72 strikeouts. He had fair speed on his fastball which he mixed effectively with a deceptive slow ball as well as straight and drop pitches that he threw with reportedly decent control, although he issued a significant number of walks. In 1895 he slipped to 13-23 with a 4.42 ERA, 32 complete games, and 85 strikeouts. Mercer rebounded in 1896 to 25-18 with a 4.13 ERA, 38 complete games, 366.1 innings pitched, and 94 strikeouts. The Senators remained a losing club overall and again in 1897 when Mercer posted a 21-20 tally with a 3.18 ERA while leading NL pitchers in appearances (47), starts (43), shutouts (3), and hit batters (28). Popular with fans due to his outgoing personality and handsome appearance (which made him a favorite Ladies Day starter), he was a crafty pitcher who had added an effective curve to his repertoire. Having accumulated a lot of innings and thrown many pitches, Mercer slumped in 1898 to 12-18 with a 4.81 ERA. With his workload reduced in 1899, he went 7-14 with a 4.60 ERA. A good hitter (without power), he filled in at other positions, typically third base and in the outfield, when not pitching to keep his bat in the lineup. The Washington club was disbanded following the 1899 season as the NL downsized and Mercer joined the New York Giants in 1900 where his record improved to 13-17 with a 3.86 ERA, 26 complete games, and 39 strikeouts in 242.2 innings pitched. In 1901 he jumped to the new Washington Senators franchise in the American League for $3000 and compiled a 9-13 tally with a 4.56 ERA. He also batted .300 while used as a utility player when not on the mound. He was sold to the Tigers in 1902.

1902 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35 [9, tied with Jimmy Callahan, Red Donahue & George Mullin]

Games Started – 33 [9]

Complete Games – 28 [11, tied with Bill Carrick & Addie Joss]

Wins – 15 [14, tied with Lewis Wiltse, Jack Harper & Clark Griffith]

Losses – 18 [3, tied with Al Orth & Earl Moore]

PCT - .455

Saves – 1 [2, tied with nine others]

Shutouts – 4 [2, tied with Earl Moore & Ed Siever]

Innings Pitched – 281.2 [11]

Hits – 282 [12, tied with George Mullin]

Runs – 129 [17, tied with Wiley Piatt]

Earned Runs – 95 [16]

Home Runs – 5 [19, tied with seven others]

Bases on Balls – 80 [11]

Strikeouts – 40

ERA – 3.04 [12]

Hit Batters – 10 [10, tied with Rube Waddell]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1    

Midseason Snapshot: 9-8, ERA - 2.79, SO - 21 in 151.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. Cleveland 5/3, (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/5

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Washington 8/2

Batting

PA – 112, AB – 100, R – 8, H – 18, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 6, SO – 7, SB – 1, CS – N/A, AVG - .180, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 124

Put Outs – 13

Assists – 103

Errors – 8

DP – 2

Pct. - .935

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The Tigers went 52-83 to finish seventh in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics. The punchless Tigers were 16-14 at the end of May but slid downward the rest of the way, wasting good pitching performances by Mercer, George Mullin, and ERA champ Ed Siever.

Aftermath of 1902:

Following the 1902 season it was announced that Mercer would manage the Tigers in 1903. He then helped organize a barnstorming tour of the western United States. While in San Francisco in January, he committed suicide at the age of 28. The reason for his suicide remains a mystery but speculation at the time blamed gambling. A cryptic note stated “beware of women and a game of chance.” It appears that he suffered from bouts of depression. For his major league career he posted a record of 132-164 with a 3.98 ERA, 253 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 532 strikeouts and 755 walks over the course of 2484.2 innings. As a batter he hit .285 with a .344 on-base percentage. A good pitcher with mediocre teams, he ultimately came to a tragic end that remains shrouded in mystery.    

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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: Norman “Kid” Elberfeld, 1901

Shortstop, Detroit Tigers

Age: 26 (April 13)

1^st major league season with Tigers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’7”    Weight: 158 

Prior to 1901:

An Ohio native who grew up in Cincinnati, Norman Elberfeld had little formal schooling and played hockey and baseball in his youth. After playing for an independent team in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1895, he joined the Dallas Navigators of the Texas Association in 1896 until a leg injury in May prematurely ended his season. Moving on to Richmond of the Atlantic League in 1897, he batted .335 with 45 stolen bases and the National League’s Philadelphia Phillies purchased his contract. A knee injury delayed Elberfeld’s first appearance with the Phillies in 1898 until May 30. He played in only 14 games for the Phillies until being sold to the Tigers (a club in the minor Western League at the time) where he hit .238 and established his reputation for aggressive and scrappy play. With Detroit in 1899, Elberfeld batted .308 with 23 stolen bases before the Cincinnati Reds bought his contract in August. Hindered by a back injury and experiencing difficulties with his fielding, he hit .261 and was unimpressive. Returning to Detroit in 1900, which was now part of the not-yet-major American League, he excelled in the field while batting .263 with 28 stolen bases. With the American League now a major league in 1901, Elberfeld was a key component of the “most aggressive and scrappiest” club in the new circuit.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 121 games

SS – 121

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 509

At Bats – 432

Runs – 76

Hits – 133

Doubles – 21

Triples – 11 [18, tied with John Farrell, Billy Hoy & Clarence Foster]

Home Runs – 3

RBI – 76 [12, tied with Harry Davis]

Bases on Balls – 57 [7]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 18

Stolen Bases – 23

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .308 [17]

OBP - .397 [6, tied with Socks Seybold]

Slugging Pct. - .428 [14]

Total Bases – 185

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 7 [16, tied with four others]

Sac Hits – 12 [19, tied with five others]

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 9, 3B – 7, HR – 2, RBI – 14, SB – 14, AVG - .342,. OBP - .444

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Most hits, game – 3 on ten occasions

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 1

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 3 AB) at Chi. White Sox 4/29, (in 4 AB) vs. Phila. A’s 6/2, (in 4 AB) vs. Baltimore 7/28

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Milwaukee 8/11

Fielding

Chances – 819

Put Outs – 332

Assists – 411

Errors – 76

DP – 62

Pct. - .907

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In their first year as a major league team the Tigers went 74-61 to finish third in the AL, 8.5 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox. The scrappy Tigers got off to a fast start and led the AL through most of May but fell back into the middle of the pack during a 10-14 June that included a season-high six-game losing streak. After recovering somewhat in July, the club settled into fourth place in August before a seven-game September winning streak pulled them into third to stay.

Aftermath of 1901:

Nicknamed “Kid” because he was an undersized player who played aggressively, Elberfeld followed up in 1902 by batting .260 with a .348 on-base percentage and ranked second among AL shortstops in putouts (67) and fourth in assists (459) and double plays (63). The NL’s New York Giants raided the Detroit roster and reportedly signed Elberfeld, whose temperament and style of play appealed to Giants manager John McGraw. The 1903 peace agreement between the leagues voided the deal and Elberfeld returned to the Tigers. He got off to a good start in 1903 but slumped both at bat and defensively, running afoul of manager Ed Barrow, who suspended him for “loaferish conduct” on June 2 and dealt him to the New York Highlanders (now Yankees) a few days later. He finished strong with the Highlanders, batting .287 in 90 games with a .346 OBP, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 45 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Elberfeld got in trouble off the field by being charged with disorderly conduct for throwing a bottle (or knife) at a waiter in a hotel. A New York sportswriter dubbed him “the Tabasco Kid” for his hot temper and “peppery” style of play. The Highlanders were pennant contenders in 1904 and “the Tabasco Kid” contributed by hitting .263 with a .337 OBP while ranking fifth among AL shortstops in assists (432) and third in double plays (44). He also damaged the club’s pennant chances due to missing numerous games due to injuries and suspensions for his conduct on the field. Elberfeld was also adept at getting on base by being hit by pitches, all while appearing to be seeking to avoid being struck, and then berating the offending hurlers after being hit. In 1905 he batted .262 with a .329 OBP, 18 doubles, 18 stolen bases, and 53 RBIs. The Highlanders were strong pennant contenders in 1906, but Elberfeld was suspended for eight key September games following the second of two incidents involving him and umpire Silk O’Laughlin. For the year he hit .306 in 99 games with a .378 OBP. Fearless in the face of oncoming baserunners in turning double plays, Elberfeld was often spiked and began wearing a shin guard on his right leg in 1907. He also feuded with several teammates and ran afoul of owner Frank Farrell, who suspended him for several weeks in July and August due to lackadaisical play until he apologized to manager Clark Griffith. For the season he batted .271 with a .343 OBP, placed third among AL shortstops in putouts (295), and second in errors (52). Offered a $2700 contract in 1908, with a $1000 incentive bonus for staying out of trouble, Elberfeld suffered an injury that effectively ended his season on May 1. But with the forced resignation of Griffith as manager in June, “the Tobasco Kid” was named manager of the Highlanders with disastrous results. The club went 27-71 under his direction and he was replaced in 1909, although he remained as a player. Often playing at third base to reduce wear on his oft-injured legs, he hit .237 and was sold to the Washington Senators in the offseason. He lasted two seasons with Washington before being sold to Montgomery of the Southern Association in 1912. He played and managed for several more minor league seasons and proved effective at developing young talent. For his major-league career, Elberfeld batted .271 with 1235 hits that included 169 doubles, 56 triples, and 10 home runs. He scored 647 runs and compiled 535 RBIs, 213 stolen bases, 427 walks, and was hit by 165 pitches. His OBP was .355. With the Tigers he batted .290 with 305 hits, 175 runs scored, 43 doubles, 20 triples, 4 home runs, 159 RBIs, 48 stolen bases, 123 walks, a .376 OBP, and was hit by 23 pitches. A fiery, aggressive, and temperamental player, he proved surprisingly adept at working with youths, and regularly directed baseball camps until his death at age 68 due to pneumonia in 1944. His five daughters were also very athletic and competed in various sports, also forming a basketball team in Chattanooga called the “Elberfeld Sisters”. One wonders if they were as aggressive as their father.

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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. 

Cy Young Profile: Max Scherzer, 2016

Pitcher, Washington Nationals

Age:  32 (July 27)

2^nd season with Nationals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 2016:

A Missouri native, Scherzer starred at Parkway Central High School, where he received all-conference recognition as a pitcher and outfielder and was the team’s co-captain as a senior. Selected by the hometown St. Louis Cardinals in the 2003 amateur draft, Scherzer chose to attend the University of Missouri instead of turning professional. As a sophomore in 2005, he led the Big 12 Conference in ERA (1.86) and strikeouts (131). He also was part of a combined no-hitter against Texas Tech on April 1 and was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, Scherzer signed and was assigned to the Visalia Oaks of the advanced Class A California League in 2007 where he went 2-0 with an 0.53 ERA before being promoted to the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League where he posted a 4-4 record with a 4.64 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched. Advancing to the Tucson Sidewinders of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 2008, he was 1-1 with a 2.72 ERA when he was called up by the Diamondbacks in late April. Scherzer got off to an impressive major league start where in a relief outing against Houston, he was perfect for 4.1 innings, retiring all 13 batters that he faced, striking out 7. He ended up appearing in 16 games, 7 of them starts, and while producing only an 0-4 tally, he had a 3.05 ERA and 66 strikeouts over 56 innings. He was in Arizona’s starting rotation for all of 2009, going 9-11 for a last-place club with a 4.12 ERA and 174 strikeouts. In the offseason he was traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of a three-team deal and was 12-11 in 2010, with a 3.50 ERA and 184 strikeouts while accumulating 195.2 innings. Scherzer’s ERA rose to 4.43 in 2011, but he still produced a winning record of 15-9 for the division-winning Tigers along with 174 strikeouts. In his first taste of postseason action, he picked up a win against the Yankees in the ALDS but struggled against Texas in the ALCS, won by the Rangers. In 2012 Scherzer compiled a 16-7 tally with a 3.74 ERA and 231 strikeouts while pitching 187.2 innings. Detroit won the AL pennant and Scherzer picked up a win over the Yankees in the ALCS but could not prevent the Tigers from being swept by the Giants in the World Series. By 2013 “Mad Max” had established himself as a top-of-the-line starting power pitcher with command of a fastball, slider, and changeup. Off to a 13-1 first half in 2013, Scherzer finished at 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 214.1 innings pitched for the division-winning Tigers. He received his first Cy Young Award as a result. Following a somewhat slow start in 2014, he put together another outstanding season with an 18-5 record, 3.15 ERA, and 252 strikeouts. The Tigers again topped the AL Central but lost to Baltimore in the ALDS, with Scherzer losing the opening game. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the Nationals for seven years and $210 million. In June of 2015 he pitched a no-hitter against Pittsburgh in which he was perfect through 26 batters until hitting pinch-hitter Jose Tabata, who became the only baserunner for the Pirates before Scherzer picked up the final out. This followed a one-hit shutout at Milwaukee, giving him a stretch of just one hit and one walk allowed over the course of 18 innings, the best performance since Johnny Vander Meer of the Reds pitched back-to-back no-hitters in 1938. “Mad Max” pitched a second no-hitter in October against the New York Mets to cap a 14-12 record with a 2.79 ERA and 276 strikeouts.

2016 Season Summary

Appeared in 34 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 34

Games Started – 34 [1, tied with Madison Bumgarner]

Complete Games – 1 [8, tied with seventeen others]

Wins – 20 [1]

Losses – 7

PCT - .741 [3]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 228.1 [1]

Hits – 165

Runs – 77

Earned Runs – 75

Home Runs – 31 [1, tied with Dan Straily]

Bases on Balls – 56

Strikeouts – 284 [1]

ERA – 2.96 [8]

Hit Batters – 6

Balks – 1 [13, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 2

 

League-leading wins were +1 ahead of runner-up Jon Lester

League-leading innings pitched were +1.2 ahead of runner-up Madison Bumgarner

League-leading strikeouts were +31 ahead of runner-up Jose Fernandez

Midseason Snapshot: 10-6, ERA – 3.03, SO – 164 in 127.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 20 (in 9 IP) vs. Detroit 5/11 (Tied MLB record)

10+ strikeout games – 13

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) vs. Baltimore 8/25, (in 7.1 IP) vs. NY Mets 6/29, (in 7 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 6/13

 

Batting

PA – 85, AB – 70, R – 4, H – 13, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 12, BB – 2, SO – 30, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .186, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 13, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 32

Put Outs – 12

Assists – 19

Errors – 1

DP – 1

Pct. - .969

Postseason Pitching: G – 2 (NLDS vs. LA Dodgers)

GS – 2, CG – 0, Record – 0-1, PCT – .000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 12, H – 10, R – 5, ER – 5, HR – 3, BB – 2, SO – 12, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 1, ERA – 3.75

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

10^th in NL MVP voting (39 points, 9% share)

NL Cy Young voting (top 5):

Max Scherzer, Wash.: 192 points – 25 of 30 first place votes, 91% share

Jon Lester, ChiC.: 102 points – 1 first place vote, 49% share

Kyle Hendricks, ChiC: 85 points. – 2 first place votes, 40% share

Madison Bumgarner, SF: 46 points – 22% share

Clayton Kershaw, LAD: 30 points – 2 first place votes, 14% share

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The Nationals went 95-67 to finish first in the NL Eastern Division by 8 games over the New York Mets. The well-balanced Nationals moved into first place in the NL East during a 16-7 April and remained at, or near, the top the rest of the way, sealing the division title with a 17-12 finish. Lost NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 games to 2 with Scherzer losing the opening game and pitching 6 one-hit innings without getting a decision in Game 5, won by the Dodgers.

Aftermath of 2016:

Scherzer followed up with another Cy Young-winning season in 2017 in which he compiled a 16-6 record with a 2.51 ERA and league-leading 268 strikeouts. Washington returned to the pinnacle of the NL East but fell to the Cubs in the NLDS, with Scherzer pitching very well in Game 3, won by Chicago after Scherzer was relieved, and he took the loss in relief in the decisive Game 5. The outstanding pitching continued in 2018 as Scherzer started out strong on his way to an 18-7 mark with a 2.53 ERA. In addition to leading the NL in wins, he also topped the circuit in innings pitched (220.2) and strikeouts (300). He finished second in league Cy Young voting. The slow-starting Nationals won the World Series in 2019 and Scherzer contributed an 11-7 record and 2.92 ERA with 243 strikeouts despite missing a month due to a back injury. He picked up three more wins in the postseason. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season he finished at 5-4 with a 3.74 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched. The subject of trade rumors in 2021, he got off to an 8-4 start before the reeling Nationals dealt him along with shortstop Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer went 7-0 for LA to end up at a combined 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA and 236 strikeouts in 179.1 innings. He was 0-1 in the postseason as the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS before being eliminated. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the New York Mets for three years and $130 million. Scherzer started off well with the Mets in 2022, winning his first four starts. But after reaching 5-1 in May, he went on the injured list with a muscle strain. Overall, Scherzer produced an 11-5 record with a 2.29 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 145.1 innings pitched. He started one game in the NL Wild Card series loss against San Diego and gave up seven runs in 4.2 innings. In his fourth start for the Mets in 2023 he was ejected for having a foreign substance on his hand, resulting in a ten-game suspension. With the team underachieving at the approach to the trade deadline, Scherzer was dealt to the Texas Rangers. His record at the time of the trade was 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 107.2 innings.  For his major league career through August 20, 2023, Scherzer has produced a 213-107 record with a 3.14 ERA, 12 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 3344 strikeouts in 2813.1 innings. With the Nationals he was 92-47 with a 2.80 ERA, 11 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 1610 strikeouts over the course of 1229 innings. Appearing in 27 postseason games, 22 of them starts, his record has been 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 133.1 innings. An eight-time All-Star, he has finished in the top 5 in league Cy Young voting eight times, winning on three occasions. One physical oddity of Scherzer’s is that his right eye is blue and his left eye is brown.

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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: Yogi Berra, 1955

Catcher, New York Yankees

Age:  30 (May 12)

9^th season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’7”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1955:

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri Lawrence Berra, who dropped out of high school, starred on his American Legion baseball team along with his neighbor Joe Garagiola. Christened with the nickname “Yogi” as a youth, Berra was short and stocky and had an awkward batting style. The Cardinals signed Garagiola to a contract with a bonus and when they made an offer to Berra that didn’t include a bonus, he turned them down. He also turned down the other St. Louis team, the Browns of the AL. The Yankees offered a $500 bonus along with a salary of $90 per month, so Berra signed with them in 1942. He played for the Norfolk Tars of the Class B Piedmont League in 1943, hitting .253 in 111 games, after which he enlisted in the Navy. Following the completion of his World War II military service, Berra reported to the Newark Bears of the Class AAA International League in 1946 where he hit .314 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs in 77 games. A raw talent who was defensively limited as a catcher at this point, he received a late September call-up to the Yankees following the completion of Newark’s season. Appearing in seven games, Berra hit .364 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. He was used primarily as an outfielder during spring training in 1947, where he was a defensive liability. Splitting time between the outfield and catcher, he played in 83 games and hit .280 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs.  In the World Series against the Dodgers, Berra was benched after getting off to an 0-for-7 start at the plate in the first two games, but came on to hit the first pinch home run in World Series history as he batted .158 overall. He followed up with a .305 average with 14 home runs and 98 RBIs in 1948 and was chosen to his first All-Star Game along the way, while appearing in 125 games (71 at catcher) for the third place Yanks. With the arrival of Casey Stengel as manager in 1949, ex-Yankee great Bill Dickey was given the task of tutoring Berra on his technique behind the plate. Berra hit .277 that season with 20 home runs and 91 RBIs and was again selected as an All-Star. Much improved as a catcher, Berra had a strong year in 1950, producing 28 home runs and 124 RBIs with a .322 batting average. He placed third in AL MVP voting in addition to garnering All-Star honors once again. Berra received league MVP recognition in 1951 after batting .294 with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, and a .350 on-base percentage as the Yankees made it three straight titles. Berra had another strong season in 1952, hitting 30 home runs with 98 RBIs, a .273 average, and a .358 OBP. The Yankees won their fourth straight pennant and World Series and Berra finished fourth in the AL MVP balloting. The Yanks made it five straight in 1953 with Berra contributing 27 home runs, 108 RBIs, a .296 average, and .363 OBP, placing second in the league MVP vote. The ungainly-looking Berra was a notorious “bad-ball” hitter who rarely struck out and performed well in clutch situations. While the Yankees lost the AL pennant to the Indians in 1954, Berra won his second MVP award after batting .307 with 22 home runs and 125 RBIs, also performing well behind the plate.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 147 games

C – 145, PH – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 615 [12, tied with Jim Finigan, Gil McDougald & Minnie Minoso]

At Bats – 541 [11, tied with Billy Klaus]

Runs – 84 [12]

Hits – 147 [14]

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 27 [4, tied with Al Kaline & Norm Zauchin]

RBI – 108 [3]

Bases on Balls – 60

Int. BB – 6 [10, tied with nine others]

Strikeouts – 20

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .272

OBP - .349

Slugging Pct. - .470 [10]

Total Bases – 254 [8]

GDP – 13 [18, tied with Al Kaline, Billy Goodman & Red Wilson]

Hit by Pitches – 7 [7, tied with Sammy White]

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 5 [18, tied with nine others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, HR - 15, RBI - 62, AVG - .288, OBP - .358, SLG – .498

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Most hits, game – 3 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 20

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. Baltimore 5/22, (in 4 AB) vs. KC A’s 9/8, (in 5 AB) vs. Boston 9/16

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. KC A’s 9/8

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 4 (.250) with 2 R, 1 HR & 4 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 815

Put Outs – 748

Assists – 54

Errors – 13

Passed Balls – 3

DP – 10

Pct. - .984

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. Brooklyn)

PA – 28, AB – 24, R – 5, H – 10, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 3, IBB – 0, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .417, OBP - .500, SLG - .583, TB – 14, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL at C)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Yogi Berra, NYY.: 218 points - 7 of 24 first place votes, 65% share

Al Kaline, Det.: 201 points – 4 first place votes, 60% share

Al Smith, Clev.: 200 points – 7 first place votes, 60% share

Ted Williams, Bos.: 143 points – 1 first place vote, 43% share

Mickey Mantle, NYY: 113 points – 34% share

(2 first place votes for Gil McDougald, NYY who ranked 12^th &1 first place vote apiece for Ray Narleski, Clev., who ranked sixth, Hank Bauer, NYY, who ranked eighth & Vic Power, KCA, who ranked ninth)

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The Yankees went 96-58 to win the AL pennant by 3 games over the Cleveland Indians while leading the league in triples (55), home runs (175), slugging (.418), and total bases (2156). With an infusion of young talent and the combination of Berra and CF Mickey Mantle in the middle of the lineup, the Yankees were 30-13 by the end of May. They slipped a bit in June and early July as they battled the Indians and White Sox into September, regaining first place to stay thanks to an eight-game winning streak that included a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at home in the middle of the month. Lost the World Series to the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4 games to 3, with Brooklyn LHP Johnny Podres winning two games, including the climactic seventh, in which his shutout was preserved when Brooklyn LF Sandy Amoros made an outstanding catch on a line drive by Berra in the sixth inning.

Aftermath of 1955:

The highest-paid player on the Yankees in 1955 at $48,000 Berra was an amiable and colorful character noted for his malapropisms that came to be known as “Yogi-isms”, he was also referred to as the “assistant manager” by manager Casey Stengel in recognition of his level of baseball knowledge. Berra tied his career high with 30 home runs in 1956 and hit .298 with 105 RBIs while finishing second to teammate Mickey Mantle in AL MVP voting. In the World Series he caught Don Larsen’s Game 5 perfect game. He continued to be a perennial All-Star with a team that typically topped the American League until his retirement following the 1963 season. In later years he was utilized more in the outfield as Elston Howard became the team’s primary catcher. With the Yankees overall, Berra hit .285 with 2148 hits that included 321 doubles, 49 triples, and 358 home runs. He drove in 1430 runs and scored 1174, while only striking out 411 times. Thanks to the team’s success, Berra appeared in a record 75 World Series games and produced 71 hits in 259 at bats (also records) for a .274 average with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. He excelled as a fielder after his rough start behind the plate and in one stretch of 148 games handled 950 chances without an error. Berra was an 18-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. After his initial retirement in 1963 he became manager of the Yankees in 1964 and was fired following their World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was hired by the Mets as a player/coach in 1965 and played in just four games, hitting .222 in what proved to be his final year as a player. He remained a coach with the Mets until being elevated to manager in 1972 after the death of Gil Hodges during spring training. The Mets won the NL pennant in 1973 and Berra stayed on as manager until being relieved during the ’75 season, the club having produced an overall record of 292-296 under his guidance. He returned to the Yankees as a coach for several years until being elevated once again to manager in 1984. His tenure came to a bitter end 16 games into the ’85 season. Overall, in two stints with the Yankees Berra’s managerial record was 192-148. He returned to coaching with the Houston Astros through 1989 until finally retiring from baseball for good. An iconic and popular figure, Berra lived until 2015 when he died at age 90 after which he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. The Yankees retired his #8 and further honored him with a plaque in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park. His son Dale was a shortstop and third baseman in the major leagues from 1977 to ‘87, primarily with Pittsburgh.

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

MVP Profile: Jackie Robinson, 1949

Second Baseman, Brooklyn Dodgers

Age:  30

3^rd season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 195 

Prior to 1949:

Born in Georgia, Jack Roosevelt Robinson moved with his family to Pasadena, California in 1920. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, Robinson was often harassed and got into fights with white boys and had some early encounters with the police. He and his brother Mack distinguished themselves as athletes early on, with Mack going on to participate in the 1936 Olympics. Jackie also excelled in track, football, and basketball, as well as baseball at Muir Technical High School. After graduating and moving on to Pasadena Junior College, Robinson enrolled at UCLA in 1939 where he continued to be a multi-sport star. In football, he teamed up with halfback Kenny Washington, who would go on to break the National Football League’s color line with the Rams in 1946. In track, he was the NCAA champion in the long jump. Robinson twice topped the Pacific Coast Conference in scoring in basketball. He played shortstop on the baseball team. Robinson dropped out of college during his senior year due to financial issues and played minor league football with the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League. He also played for the Honolulu Bears in 1941. Popular in the African-American community for his sports exploits, Robinson was drafted into the Army in 1942, where he became an officer and faced court martial for refusing to move to the back of a bus when ordered to by a driver. Acquitted at trial, he was honorably discharged from the Army in 1944. Joining the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League in 1945, Robinson was scouted by the Dodgers, whose president and GM, Branch Rickey was quietly seeking players to break organized baseball’s color line. As a shortstop, there were questions as to his having the throwing ability to play the position in the major leagues. Otherwise, his background and ability were good fits from Rickey’s standpoint. Following the ’45 season and a meeting with Rickey, who insisted that the naturally combative Robinson would need to resist the urge to respond to racial abuse, it was announced that he had signed to play for Brooklyn’s top minor league team, the Montreal Royals of the International League. With Montreal in 1946, he led the league by batting .349 and scoring 113 runs. He further stole 40 bases and proved to be an able fielder at second base. Blocked at second base by Eddie Stanky, a capable veteran, with the Dodgers, Robinson was shifted to first base to make his historic debut with Brooklyn in 1947. A 42-31 first half allowed Robinson, who batted .310 with a .399 on-base percentage, to win over any recalcitrant teammates. Brooklyn won the NL pennant as Robinson finished the season at .297 with a .383 OBP, 31 doubles, 5 triples, 12 home runs, 125 runs scored, 48 RBIs, and a league-leading 29 stolen bases. He received Rookie of the Year recognition in addition to placing fifth in league MVP voting. Robinson was at second base in 1948 due to Eddie Stanky being dealt to the Braves. Overcoming a slow start at the plate he batted .296 with 38 doubles, 8 triples, 12 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 108 runs scored. Aggressive on the base paths and able to resist the barbs from opposing bench jockeys while also being the recipient of numorous inside pitches he made the “Great Experiment” of integration a success and paved the way for other black players.

1949 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

2B – 156

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 704 [4]

At Bats – 593 [10]

Runs – 122 [3]

Hits – 203 [2]

Doubles – 38 [3, tied with Grady Hatton]

Triples – 12 [3]

Home Runs – 16 [18, tied with Pee Wee Reese]

RBI – 124 [2]

Bases on Balls – 86 [7]

Int. BB – 12 [3, tied with Ralph Kiner & Gil Hodges]

Strikeouts – 27

Stolen Bases – 37 [1]

Caught Stealing – 16 [1]

Average - .342 [1]

OBP - .432 [2, tied with Ralph Kiner]

Slugging Pct. - .528 [3]

Total Bases – 313 [5]

GDP – 22 [2]

Hit by Pitches – 8 [2, tied with Elbie Fletcher]

Sac Hits – 17 [1, tied with Marty Marion]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading stolen bases were +11 ahead of runner-up Pee Wee Reese

League-leading times caught stealing were +4 ahead of runner-up Johnny Hopp

League-leading batting average was +.004 ahead of runner-up Stan Musial

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 20, 3B – 6, HR – 8, RBI - 65, SB – 20, AVG - .362, OBP - .430, SLG – .544

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Most hits, game – 3 on eighteen occasions

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Pittsburgh 5/24

HR at home – 8

HR on road – 8

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 6 at St. Louis Cards 5/21

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 832

Put Outs – 395

Assists – 421

Errors – 16

DP - 119

Pct. – .981 

Postseason Batting: 5 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 21, AB – 16, R – 2, H – 3, 2B – 1,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 4, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .188, OBP - .350, SLG - .250, TB – 4, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for NL at 2B)

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Jackie Robinson, Brook.: 264 points – 12 of 24 first place votes, 79% share

Stan Musial, StLC: 226 points – 5 first place votes, 67% share

Enos Slaughter, StLC: 181 points – 2 first place votes, 54% share

Ralph Kiner, Pitt.: 133 points – 40% share

Pee Wee Reese, Brook.: 118 points – 2 first place votes, 35% share

(2 first place votes cast for Carl Furillo, Brook., who ranked sixth & 1 first place vote cast for Ken Heintzelman, PhilaP., who ranked ninth)

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The Dodgers went 97-57 to win the NL pennant by 1 game over the St. Louis Cardinals while leading the league in runs scored (879), home runs (152), RBIs (816), stolen bases (117), OBP (.354), slugging (.419), and total bases (2263). In a tight race with the Cardinals down the stretch, the Dodgers were a game-and-a-half behind St. Louis on Sept. 25. Winning their last four games on the road including a 10-inning 9-7 victory over the Phillies in the season finale allowed them to win the pennant by just a single game. Lost the World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 1. 

Aftermath of 1949:

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

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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: Andres Galarraga, 1993

First Baseman, Colorado Rockies

Age:  32 (June 18)

1^st season with Rockies

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 235 

Prior to 1993:

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Galarraga played sandlot baseball before joining the Venezuelan Winter League at age 16. Initially the stocky youth played as a third baseman and catcher. Signed as a first baseman by the Montreal Expos in 1979, he was tagged with his enduring nickname “the Big Cat” (“El Gran Gato” in Spanish) while playing for Calgary of the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 1979 and ’80 due to his agility and quickness while playing first base. Not speaking any English when he first arrived in the minors, Galarraga taught himself the language by using a dictionary and watching television, also receiving help from teammates. Struggling with the language and adjusting to a new culture, his baseball performance suffered. Initially playing with West Palm Beach of the Class A Florida State League in 1979, he was soon demoted to Calgary where he hit .214 with 4 home runs in 42 games. Improving to .263 in 1980, he was promoted to Jamestown of the Class A New York-Pennsylvania League in 1981 and returned to West Palm Beach in 1982 and ’83. Advancing to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League in 1984, Galarraga batted .289 with 27 home runs, 87 RBIs, a .508 slugging percentage, and a .367 on-base percentage. He was named league MVP. His next minor league stop was Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association in 1985. He hit .269 with 25 home runs, 87 RBIs, a .344 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Called up to the Expos in late August, he appeared in 24 games and slugged his first two major league home runs. The Expos installed “the Big Cat” at first base in 1986 and he started well but was hindered by knee and rib injuries during his rookie season. Appearing in 105 games he batted .271 with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .338 OBP. He followed up with a solid year in 1987, hitting .305 with 40 doubles, 13 home runs, 90 RBIs, and a .361 OBP while also performing well defensively at first base. Galarraga was an All-Star for the first time in 1988 as he batted .302 while leading the NL in hits (184), doubles (42), total bases (329), and less fortunately batting strikeouts (153) to go along with 29 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .540 slugging percentage. He was awarded a Silver Slugger and finished seventh in league MVP voting. Although he received his first Gold Glove in 1989, it was otherwise a disappointing season for Galarraga, who hit .257 with a .327 OBP, 30 doubles, 23 home runs, 85 RBIs, and again topped the circuit in striking out (158). “The Big Cat” received another Gold Glove in 1990 while batting .256 with 29 doubles, 20 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a .306 OBP while again leading the NL in striking out (169). Galarraga suffered through an injury-plagued 1991 season in which his average slid to .219 with a .268 OBP in 107 games along with 9 home runs and 33 RBIs. In the offseason he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for RHP Ken Hill. The 1992 season with his new team got off to a bad start when he suffered a broken wrist in the season’s second game. He ended up playing in 95 games and batted .243 with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .282 OBP. He was at his best in his last 45 games due to alterations made in his stance by hitting coach Don Baylor. A free agent after the season, he signed with the expansion Rockies, now managed by Baylor, who urged the front office to sign him. 

1993 Season Summary

Appeared in 120 games

1B – 119, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 506

At Bats – 470

Runs – 71

Hits – 174 [13, tied with Mike Piazza, Eddie Murray & Jeff Conine]

Doubles – 35 [11, tied with Jeff King & Darren Daulton]

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 22 [17, tied with Larry Walker]

RBI – 98 [12, tied with Charlie Hayes, Mark Grace & Jeff King]

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – 12 [8, tied with Darren Daulton & David Justice]

Strikeouts – 73

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .370 [1]

OBP - .403 [6]

Slugging Pct. - .602 [2]

Total Bases – 283 [12, tied with Dante Bichette]

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 6 [18, tied with nine others]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 6

League-leading batting average was +.012 ahead of runner-up Tony Gwynn

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 24, HR – 13, RBI – 65, AVG – .391 SLG – .646, OBP – .424

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 6/14, (in 5 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 6/15, (in 5 AB) vs. St. Louis 7/23, (in 6 AB) vs. San Diego 9/21

Longest hitting streak – 15 games

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 9

Most home runs, game – 1 on twenty-two occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Florida 4/30, at Pittsburgh 9/10 – 11 innings

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 1132

Put Outs – 1018

Assists – 103

Errors – 11

DP – 88

Pct. - .990

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

10^th in NL MVP voting (45 points, 11% share)

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In their inaugural season, the Rockies went 67-95 to finish sixth in the NL Western Division, 37 games behind the division-winning Atlanta Braves, while leading the league in triples (59) and fewest walks drawn (388). The hard-hitting Rockies started off slowly during a 33-54 first half, which included a 2-17 stretch in May. Following a 13-game losing streak from July 25 to August 6, the club turned things around and went 31-21 from August 8 to season’s end. They drew a record attendance of 4,483,350 to their temporary home at Mile High Stadium. Galarraga became the first player from an expansion team to win a batting championship.

Aftermath of 1993:

Popular with fans and a key member of the Colorado lineup, Galarraga received a four-year, $12 million contract extension following his outstanding 1993 season. He missed the last 13 games of the strike-shortened 1994 season due to a broken hand suffered on July 28, and the Rockies lost 10 of their last 13 games leading up to the strike without him in the lineup. At the time his season ended, he was hitting .319 with 31 home runs, 85 RBIs, a .356 OBP, and a .592 slugging percentage. The club moved into the new Coors Field in 1995, and “the Blake Street Bombers” (a reference to the new ballpark’s location, as well as the club’s batting prowess) reached the postseason. Galarraga contributed by batting .280 with 31 home runs, 106 RBIs, a .331 OBP, and a .511 slugging percentage while remaining an asset defensively. Along the way he hit a record-tying three home runs in consecutive innings in a game at San Diego. The team accomplished less in 1996, but remained a power-hitting powerhouse at home, helped by Denver’s altitude, and Galarraga led the NL in home runs (47) and RBIs (150) while hitting .304 with a .357 OBP and .601 slugging percentage. He placed sixth in NL MVP balloting. In 1997 he again topped the circuit in RBIs (140) while batting .318 with 41 home runs, a .389 OBP, and a .585 slugging percentage. Finishing seventh in league MVP voting, and with Colorado ready to hand the first base job over to hot prospect Todd Helton, Galarraga departed the Rockies as a free agent in the offseason. “The Big Cat” signed with the Atlanta Braves and had another productive season in 1998, hitting .305 with 44 home runs, 121 RBIs, a .397 OBP, and a .595 slugging percentage. Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during spring training, he missed the entire 1999 season while undergoing treatment. Desiring to play baseball again and with his cancer in remission, “the Big Cat” returned to the Braves in 2000 and batted .302 with 28 home runs, 100 RBIs, a .369 OBP, and a .526 slugging percentage while appearing in 141 games, drawing kudos for his comeback in a season in which he turned 39. A free agent in the offseason, the Braves turned down his request for a two-year contract and Galarraga signed with the Texas Rangers. Unable to dislodge Rafael Palmeiro at first base, Galarraga spent most of his time with the Rangers in 2001 as a Designated Hitter and batted only .235 with 10 home runs in 72 games before being dealt to San Francisco where he hit .288 with 7 homers and 35 RBIs the rest of the way. A return to Montreal as a free agent in 2002 only served to highlight his declining skills and he was back with the Giants in 2003, where he batted .301 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs in 110 games. Another bout with cancer ensued and following a final seven appearances with the Anaheim Angels in 2004 and a spring trial with the Mets in 2005, “the Big Cat’s” career came to an end. For his major league career, Galarraga batted .288 with 2333 hits that included 444 doubles, 32 triples, and 399 home runs. He scored 1195 runs and compiled 1425 RBIs, a .347 OBP, and a .499 slugging percentage. With Colorado he batted .316 with 843 hits, 476 runs scored, 155 doubles, 13 triples, 172 home runs, 579 RBIs, a .367 OBP, and a .577 slugging percentage. In 18 postseason games he hit .182 with a home run and 7 RBIs. A five-time All-Star (twice with Colorado), Galarraga received two Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves apiece, and he finished in the top 10 in National League MVP voting five times.  

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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.