MVP Profile: Bryce Harper, 2015

Outfielder, Washington Nationals

Age:  22

4^th season with Nationals

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 2015:

A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Harper was a baseball prodigy who made the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old catcher/outfielder who dominated high school competition to the point that he dropped out of high school following his sophomore year to get his GED and fast-track his way into college. Highly driven and heavily hyped, Harper had impressive size and strength as he moved on to the Community College of Southern Nevada in 2010 where he batted .442 with 29 home runs and 89 RBIs in 62 games. Recipient of the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best amateur player, a rare achievement for a community college ballplayer, Harper was the first overall pick of the 2010 amateur player draft by the Nationals. He signed for $9.9 million. Criticized while an amateur for his attitude and idiosyncratic behavior that included an elaborate batting ritual and heavy use of eye black, he hit .343 in 9 games with Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League and vowed to make Washington’s opening day roster while hitting well in spring training in 2011. Being developed as an outfielder, he was instead assigned to Hagerstown of the Class A South Atlantic (or “Sally”) League where he batted .318 with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .423 on-base percentage in 72 games before being promoted to the Harrisburg Senators of the Class AA Eastern League where he finished out the season. Confident of playing for the Nationals in 2012, a spot was cleared for him in the outfield, although a hamstring injury slowed his progress in spring training and he started the season with Syracuse of the Class AAA International League, although he was soon called up to the Nationals. He put in considerable time in center field as well as in right on his way to receiving NL Rookie of the Year recognition. He finished by batting .270 with 22 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .340 OBP, and a .477 slugging percentage. In his first taste of postseason action, he hit .130 and struck out eight times in the NLDS loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Criticized for his cockiness as a rookie, Harper was plagued by injuries in 2013 and, limited to 118 games, he batted .274 with 20 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .368 OBP, although he was voted onto the NL All-Star team. In 2014 a thumb injury that required surgery shelved him from late April until late June. Harper struggled at the plate upon his return to action although he hit 10 home runs in his last 46 games, finishing at .273 with 13 homers, 32 RBIs, and a .344 OBP. In the postseason loss to San Francisco in the NLDS, he hit .294 with three home runs.

2015 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

RF – 140, CF – 13, DH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 654 [13]

At Bats – 521

Runs – 118 [1]

Hits – 172 [9]

Doubles – 38 [5, tied with four others]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 42 [1, tied with Nolan Arenado]

RBI – 99 [5, tied with Kris Bryant]

Bases on Balls – 124 [2]

Int. BB – 15 [2, tied with Joey Votto]

Strikeouts – 131

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .330 [2]

OBP - .460 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .649 [1]

Total Bases – 338 [2]

GDP – 15

Hit by Pitches – 5

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 4

League-leading runs scored were +7 ahead of runner-up A.J. Pollock

League-leading OBP was +.001 ahead of runner-up Joey Votto

League-leading slugging pct was +.074 ahead of runner-up Nolan Arenado

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 21, HR- 26, RBI- 61, AVG - .339., OBP - .464,  SLG – .704

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Most hits, game – 3 on thirteen occasions

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 3 (in 4 AB) vs. Miami 5/6

HR at home – 23

HR on road – 19

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Miami 5/6, vs. Atlanta 5/8

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 313

Put Outs – 297

Assists – 9

Errors – 7

DP - 2

Pct. - .978

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

Silver Slugger

All-Star (Started for NL in RF)

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Bryce Harper, Wash.: 420 points – 30 of 30 first place votes, 100% share

Paul Goldschmidt, Ari.: 234 points – 56% share

Joey Votto, Cin.: 175 points – 42% share

Anthony Rizzo, ChiC.: 162 points – 39% share

Andrew McCutchen, Pitt.: 139 points – 33% share

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The Nationals went 83-79 to finish second in the NL Eastern Division, 7 games behind the division-winning New York Mets while leading the league in fewest triples (13). Amid high expectations, the Nationals struggled through a 10-13 April but caught fire in May and entered June in first place in the NL East at 28-22. With injuries taking a toll, the club had difficulty holding on to first and entered the All-Star break at 48-39. A two-game series sweep by the Mets in early August knocked the Nationals into second place, where they remained the rest of the way but the failure to meet expectations led to the dismissal of manager Matt Williams. Harper’s outstanding performance could not be dimmed by a dugout fight with reliever Jonathan Popalbon that occurred near the end of the season.

Aftermath of 2015:

Harper’s fast start in 2016 dwindled to 24 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .243 average, although his 108 walks drawn helped him to a .373 OBP. Washington topped the NL East and fell to the Dodgers in the first round. In 2017 Harper hit .319 with 29 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a .413 OBP, although a knee injury cost him significant late season playing time. Entering 2018 in the final year of his contract with the Nationals, there was speculation that he might be dealt, although he finished out the season with Washington and batted .249 with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a .393 OBP thanks to his league-leading 130 walks drawn. Although healthy, he had uncharacteristic difficulties defensively. Turning down a reported 10-year, $300 million offer to stay with the Nationals, Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies during 2019 spring training for 13 years and $330 million. The Phillies finished at .500 for the first time in seven years and Harper overcame a slow start to hit .260 with 35 home runs, 114 RBIs, and a .372 OBP. In 2020’s pandemic-shortened season, Harper hit .268 with 13 home runs, 33 RBIs, and drew a league-leading 49 walks to produce a .420 OBP. In 2021 he batted .309 with 35 home runs, 84 RBIs, and a .429 OBP while leading the league with 42 doubles and a .615 slugging percentage. He received NL MVP recognition for a second time. Harper started the 2022 season in right field but a shoulder injury caused him to be used as the club’s Designated Hitter the rest of the way (courtesy of major league baseball adopting the DH universally). He hit .286 with 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a .364 OBP as the Phillies qualified for the postseason as the final wild card entry and made a surprising run to the World Series, losing to Houston in six games. Harper hit 6 home runs in 17 postseason games and was MVP of the NLCS win against San Diego. Following the season, he had major elbow surgery and had to miss the start of the 2023 season. He returned sooner than anticipated and was the team’s DH through the All-Star break. Having worked out at first base during his recovery, he played the position for the first time later in July. He went on to bat .293 with 21 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .401 OBP and .499 slugging percentage in 126 games. The Phillies again made the postseason, falling short of a return to the World Series with a ALCS loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Harper contributed 5 home runs and 8 RBIs in the playoffs. For his major league career through 2023, Harper has batted .281 with 1513 hits that include 327 doubles, 24 triples, 306 home runs with 997 runs scored, 889 RBIs, 133 stolen bases, a .391 OBP, and a .521 slugging percentage. With the Nationals he batted .279 with 610 runs scored, 922 hits, 183 doubles, 18 triples, 184 home runs, 521 RBIs, 75 stolen bases, a .388 OBP, and a .512 slugging percentage. Appearing in 49 postseason games, he has hit .276 with 16 home runs, 31 RBIs, a .383 OBP, and a .613 slugging percentage. A seven-time All-Star, he has received two Silver Sluggers and twice been National League MVP.

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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: Josh Donaldson, 2015

Third Baseman, Toronto Blue Jays

Age:  29

1^st season with Blue Jays

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 2015:

A Florida native, following his first year of high school Donaldson, whose father was in prison, was sent by his mother to Faith Academy in Mobile, Alabama, where he excelled in football as well as baseball. As a senior in 2004 who pitched and played shortstop, he batted .515 in 32 games with 21 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Heading on to college at Auburn University, he hit .294 with a .347 on-base percentage as a freshman while splitting time between catching and playing third base. Appearing in 56 games in 2006 he batted .276 with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .331 OBP. In the ensuing summer he played in the Cape Cod League with the Harwich Mariners and finished fifth in batting. Following another productive college season in 2007, Donaldson was selected in the first round of that year’s amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs. He signed for $625,000 and after four games in the Rookie-level Arizona League, he advanced to the Boise Hawks of the Class A Northwest League where, in 49 games, he hit .346 with 9 home runs, 35 RBIs, a .470 OBP, and a .605 slugging percentage. He also led all of the league’s catchers with a .990 fielding percentage and threw out 39.7% of baserunners who attempted to steal against him. In 2008, he started out with Peoria of the Class A Midwest League where he hit only .217 in 63 games before being traded by the Cubs to the Oakland Athletics. Assigned by the A’s to Stockton of the advanced Class A California League, Donaldson’s bat came alive and in 47 games he batted .330 with 9 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .391 OBP. He played in the Arizona Fall League in the offseason and saw action at first base. Donaldson spent 2009 with the Midland RockHounds of the Class AA Texas League where he appeared as catcher and at first and third base and hit .270 with 37 doubles, 9 home runs, 91 RBIs, and a .379 OBP thanks to drawing 80 walks. He started the 2010 season with the Sacramento River Cats of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League before being called up to Oakland at the end of April. In 14 games, where he saw most of his action as a catcher, he batted .156 with a home run before returning to Sacramento where he hit .238 for the year with 18 home runs, 67 RBIs, and a .336 OBP. He was back with Sacramento in 2011, batting .261 with 17 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .344 OBP. In 2012 Donaldson split time between Sacramento and the A’s, who lacked depth at third base. He hit a mere .153 in two stints with Oakland but when called up again in August due to an injury to starting third sacker Brandon Inge, he hit far better and proved to be acceptable defensively. He ended up batting .241 in 75 games for the A’s with 9 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .289 OBP. Starting the 2013 season as Oakland’s regular third baseman, Donaldson had a breakout year hitting .301 with 37 doubles, 24 home runs, 93 RBIs, and a .384 OBP. His defensive play at third base was outstanding and he placed fourth in league MVP voting, receiving one first-place vote. He was an All-Star for the first time in 2014 on his way to batting .255 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .342 OBP, and a .456 slugging percentage while still performing impressively at third base. In the offseason he was traded to the Blue Jays for four players.

2015 Season Summary

Appeared in 158 games

3B – 150, DH – 7, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 711 [2]

At Bats – 620 [9]

Runs – 122 [1]

Hits – 184 [5]

Doubles – 41 [4, tied with Kendrys Morales]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 41 [3, tied with Mike Trout]

RBI – 123 [1]

Bases on Balls – 73 [10]

Int. BB – 0

Strikeouts – 133 [19, tied with Adam LaRoche]

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .297 [10, tied with Eric Hosmer]

OBP - .371 [9]

Slugging Pct. - .568 [2]

Total Bases – 352 [1]

GDP – 16

H by Pitches – 6

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 10 [1, tied with Edwin Encarnacion & Melky Cabrera]

League-leading runs scored were +14 ahead of runner-up Jose Bautista

League-leading RBIs were +6 ahead of runner-up Chris Davis

League-leading total bases were +13 ahead of runner-up Mike Trout

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 22, HR – 21, RBI – 60, AVG - .293, OBP - .351, SLG – .532

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Tampa Bay 4/15, (in 4 AB) vs. Chi. White Sox 5/26, (in 5 AB) at LA Angels 8/22

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Atlanta 4/17, (in 4 AB) vs. Chi. White Sox 5/26, (in 4 AB) at Philadelphia 8/18

HR at home – 24

HR on road – 17

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 6 at LA Angels 8/22

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 442

Put Outs – 137

Assists – 287

Errors – 18

DP – 32

Pct. - .959

Postseason Batting: 11 G (ALDS vs. Texas – 5 G; ALCS vs. KC Royals – 6 G)

PA – 48, AB – 41, R – 9, H – 10, 2B – 3,3B – 0, HR – 3, RBI – 8, BB – 6, IBB – 0, SO – 10, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .244, OBP – .354, SLG – .537, TB – 22, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

AL Hank Aaron Award

Silver Slugger

All-Star (Started for AL at 3B)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Josh Donaldson, Tor.: 385 points – 23 of 30 first place votes, 92% share

Mike Trout, LAA: 304 points – 7 first place votes, 72% share

Lorenzo Cain, KCR: 225 points  – 54% share

Manny Machado, Balt.: 158 points – 38% share

Dallas Keuchel, Hou.: 107 points – 25% share

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The Blue Jays went 93-69 to finish first in the AL Eastern Division by 6 games over the New York Yankees while leading the league in runs scored (891), doubles (308), home runs (232), bases on balls drawn (570), OBP (.340), slugging (.457), and total bases (2518). With a 23-29 record at the end of May, the Blue Jays put together an 11-game June winning streak that put them into contention although they were only 45-46 at the All-Star break. An August surge boosted them into first place to stay on August 23 and they clinched the AL East title on Sept. 30. Won ALDS over the Texas Rangers, 3 games to 2. Lost ALCS to the Kansas City Royals, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 2015:

The Blue Jays reached the postseason again in 2016 and Donaldson contributed another strong season while batting .284 with 37 home runs, 99 RBIs, a .404 OBP, and a .549 slugging percentage. He placed fourth in league MVP voting. A calf injury put him on the disabled list in 2017 and upon his return he went on to hit .270 with 33 home runs, 78 RBIs, a .385 OBP, and a .559 slugging percentage over 113 games. Donaldson embraced the nickname “Bringer of Rain” which was inspired by a television character. After signing a $23 million one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration in 2018, he was hindered by shoulder and calf injuries during the season and was traded to the Cleveland Indians at the end of August. For the year he ended up appearing in only 52 games and batted .246 with 8 home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .352 OBP. He hit poorly in Cleveland’s loss to Houston in the ALDS. A free agent in the offseason, he signed a one-year, $23 million contract with the Atlanta Braves for 2019. Donaldson stayed healthy and rebounded to hit .259 with 37 home runs, 94 RBIs, 100 walks drawn, a .379 OBP, and a .521 slugging percentage for the division-winning Braves. In addition to placing eleventh in league MVP balloting, he received NL Comeback Player of the Year recognition. A free agent once again in the offseason, Donaldson signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2020 for four years and $92 million. In the pandemic-shortened season, Donaldson was limited to 28 games by a chronic calf injury and batted .222 with 6 home runs, 11 RBIs, a .373 OBP, and a .469 slugging percentage while continuing to perform well defensively. The Twins had a poor season in 2021 but Donaldson stayed healthy, helped by occasionally DHing aside from his usual duty at third base. He hit .247 with 26 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .475 slugging percentage. Prior to the 2022 season he was traded to the New York Yankees as part of a five-player deal. Getting off to a good start with the Yankees, he also became embroiled in a controversy over a racially disrespectful comment made to shortstop Tim Anderson of the White Sox that cost him a fine and one-game suspension. For the season he finished at .222 with 15 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .308 OBP. The decline continued into 2023 as he appeared in only 33 games for the Yankees due to hamstring and calf injuries and he was released in late August, moving on to the Milwaukee Brewers as they entered their division-winning stretch run. For the year he batted a combined .152 with 13 home runs and 26 RBIs. For his major league career through 2023 Donaldson has batted .261 with 1310 hits that include 287 doubles, 12 triples, and 279 home runs. He has scored 816 runs and compiled 816 RBIs, a .358 OBP, a .489 slugging percentage, and drawn 725 walks. With Toronto he batted .281 with 331 runs scored, 492 hits, 105 doubles, 7 triples, 116 home runs, 279 walks drawn, a .383 OBP, and a .548 slugging percentage. Appearing in 50 postseason games he has hit .247 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs. A three-time All-Star, he has placed in the top 11 of league MVP voting five times, including the single win. He has also received two Silver Slugger awards.  

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

MVP Profile: Mickey Mantle, 1962

Outfielder, New York Yankees

Age:  30

12^th season with Yankees

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 195 

Prior to 1962:

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, in 1952 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 became 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. The Yankees won another AL pennant in 1957 and Mantle was again the MVP, batting .365 with 34 home runs and 94 RBIs while leading the circuit with 146 walks drawn. Hindered by a leg injury during the seven-game World Series loss to the Milwaukee Braves, Mantle still hit .263 with a home run. 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 although 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.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 123 games

CF – 94, RF – 23, PH – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 502

At Bats – 377

Runs – 96 [7, tied with Rich Rollins & Leon Wagner]

Hits – 121

Doubles – 15

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 30 [7]

RBI – 89 [15, tied with Norm Cash]

Bases on Balls – 122 [1]

Int. BB – 9 [6, tied with four others]

Strikeouts – 78 [20, tied with Roger Maris]

Stolen Bases – 9 [16, tied with Jackie Brandt, Willie Kirkland & Bob Johnson]

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .321 [2]

OBP - .486 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .605 [1]

Total Bases – 228

GDP – 4

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 2

League-leading bases on balls drawn were +12 ahead of runner-up Norm Siebern

League-leading OBP was +.074 ahead of runner-up Norm Siebern

League-leading slugging pct was +.060 ahead of runner-up Harmon Killebrew

Midseason snapshot: HR – 17, RBI – 36, AVG - .333, SLG – .721, OBP – .515

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Cleveland 8/27, (in 4 AB) vs. Washington 9/25

Longest hitting streak – 15 games

HR at home – 16

HR on road – 14

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 7 at KC A’s 8/19

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 6 (.167) with 1 HR & 3 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 223

Put Outs – 214

Assists – 4

Errors – 5

DP – 1

Pct. - .978

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. San Francisco)

PA – 29,AB – 25, R – 2, H – 3, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 4, IBB – 0, SO – 5, SB – 2, CS – 0, AVG - .120, OBP - .241, SLG - .160, TB – 4, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

Gold Glove

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

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Mickey Mantle, NYY.: 234 points - 13 of 20 first place votes, 84% share

Bobby Richardson, NYY: 152 points – 5 first place votes, 54% share

Harmon Killebrew, Min.: 99 points – 1 first place vote, 35% share

Leon Wagner, LAA: 85 points – 30% share

Dick Donovan, Clev.: 64 points – 23% share

(1 first place vote for Tom Tresh, NYY who ranked 12^th)

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The Yankees went 96-66 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the Minnesota Twins while leading the league in runs scored (817), hits (1509), RBIs (791), batting (.267), slugging (.426), and total bases (2404). The Yankees were among the leaders in the AL from the start and took over first place to stay on July 8, although they faltered in August and September. A May leg injury sidelined Mantle for five weeks, but when healthy he helped to spur the club along with 2B Bobby Richardson and RHP Ralph Terry. Rookie Tom Tresh performed ably at shortstop until Tony Kubek returned from his military commitment, at which time he moved to left field in a Rookie of the Year performance. Won World Series over the San Francisco Giants, 4 games to 3. Terry and Tresh were heroes in a key fifth-game win.

Aftermath of 1962:

In the offseason, the club gave Mantle 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. 

MVP Profile: Joe DiMaggio, 1947

Outfielder, New York Yankees

Age:  32

9^th season with Yankees

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 193 

Prior to 1947:

Born in California as the son of an Italian immigrant fisherman, DiMaggio was raised in San Francisco where he played for several amateur and semi-pro baseball teams before he followed his older brother Vince onto the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League near the end of the 1932 season. Signed for $225 per month to play for the Seals in 1933 he was shifted from shortstop to the outfield. His 1933 season was highlighted by a PCL-record 61-game hitting streak on his way to a .340 average with 28 home runs and 169 RBIs. DiMaggio hit .341 in 101 games for the Seals in 1934 until he was sidelined by a knee injury that made major league teams leery of pursuing him. The Yankees offered the Seals five players and $25,000 for DiMaggio’s contract, under the provision that he would play for the Seals in 1935 and prove that his knee was healthy. He had a big year with 34 home runs, 154 RBIs, and a .398 batting average. Joining the Yankees in 1936 he made an immediate impact, batting .323 with 44 doubles, a league-leading 15 triples, 29 home runs, and 125 RBIs. He also led AL outfielders with 22 assists and started for the AL in the All-Star Game and finished eighth in league MVP voting while the Yankees returned to the top of the AL for the first time in four years and won the World Series. DiMaggio had a bigger year in 1937, placing second in AL MVP voting while leading the circuit in runs scored (151), home runs (46), slugging percentage (.673), and total bases (418) while also hitting .346 and accounting for 18 outfield assists. He had a third straight All-Star season in 1938 in which he batted .324 with 32 doubles, 13 triples, 32 home runs, and 140 RBIs. In the field he contributed 20 assists. He ranked sixth in AL MVP voting as the Yankees made it three straight World Series titles. An excellent all-around batter who hit for power and average out of a wide stance, DiMaggio was also a formidable baserunner and covered much ground in center field with his speed and as his outfield assist numbers reveal, he had a strong throwing arm. In 1939, DiMaggio hit a league-leading .381 along with 30 home runs, 126 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage, and a .671 slugging percentage. He received league MVP honors for the first time as the Yankees won another title. He capped the four-game sweep of Cincinnati in the World Series when he scored the winning run in Game 4 as Cincinnati catcher Ernie Lombardi lay dazed next to home plate following a collision with another scoring baserunner. The Yankees dropped to third place in the AL in 1940, but DiMaggio was not at fault as he again topped the league’s batters with a .352 average while also compiling 28 doubles, 9 triples, 31 home runs, and 133 RBIs. His 1941 season was highlighted by a record 56-game hitting streak and he finished with a .357 average along with 43 doubles, 11 triples, 30 home runs, and a league-leading 125 RBIs. The Yankees won the pennant and World Series and DiMaggio, known as “Joltin’ Joe” and “the Yankee Clipper”, received his second AL MVP award. In 1942 DiMaggio saw his batting average drop to .305 while he still contributed 29 doubles, 13 triples, 21 home runs, and 114 RBIs. He missed the next three seasons as a result of World War II duty in the Army Air Force. Returning to the Yankees in 1946 he had a relative off-year, batting .290 with 25 home runs and 95 RBIs for the third-place team. In the offseason, a bone spur was surgically removed from his left heel. Further surgery kept DiMaggio out of action until mid-April of the 1947 season.

1947 Season Summary

Appeared in 141 games

CF – 139, PH – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 601

At Bats – 534

Runs – 97 [5]

Hits – 168 [5, tied with Bob Dillinger]

Doubles – 31 [4]

Triples – 10 [4, tied with Bobby Doerr & Dale Mitchell]

Home Runs – 20 [6]

RBI – 97 [3]

Bases on Balls – 64 [18, tied with Luke Appling & Elmer Valo]

Int. BB – 15 [2, tied with George McQuinn]

Strikeouts – 32

Stolen Bases – 3

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .315 [7]

OBP - .391 [8]

Slugging Pct. - .522 [2]

Total Bases – 279 [2, tied with Joe Gordon]

GDP – 14 [15, tied with six others]

Hit by Pitches – 3 [10, tied with eight others]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 19, 3B – 3, HR - 11, RBI - 50, AVG - .338, SLG - .559, OBP – .422

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Bos. Red Sox 5/25, (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 6/1, (in 5 AB) at Detroit 6/3, (in 5 AB) at Bos. Red Sox 9/3

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 11

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 6/1

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Cleveland 6/1

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 319

Put Outs – 316

Assists – 2

Errors – 1

DP – 0

Pct. - .997 

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

PA – 32,AB – 26, R – 4, H – 6, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 5, BB – 6, IBB – 1, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .231, OBP - .375, SLG - .462, TB – 12, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL in CF)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Joe DiMaggio, NYY.: 202 points - 8 of 24 first place votes, 60% share

Ted Williams, BosRS.: 201 points – 3 first place votes, 60% share

Lou Boudreau, Clev.: 168 points – 1 first place vote, 50% share

Joe Page, NYY: 167 points – 7 first place votes, 50% share

George Kell, Det.: 132 points – 39% share

(3 first place votes for George McQuinn, NYY who ranked sixth; 2 first place votes for Eddie Joost, PhilaA who ranked 11^th)

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The Yankees went 97-57 to win the AL pennant by 12 games over the Detroit Tigers while leading the league in runs scored (794), hits (1439), triples (72), home runs (115), RBIs (748), batting (.271), slugging (.407) and total bases (2158). In first place by 4.5 games following a loss at Washington in the first game of a June 29 double header, the Yankees proceeded to win 19 straight games to increase their margin to 11.5 games. The double-digit lead held up the rest of the way. Won World Series over the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4 games to 3 in a hard-fought Series filled with memorable moments. Aside from hitting two home runs DiMaggio most memorably was robbed of a potential third in Game 6 on a spectacular catch by obscure reserve outfielder Al Gionfriddo, eliciting a rare display of emotion from the typically reserved and undemonstrative DiMaggio, who kicked the dirt near second base in frustration upon seeing the catch had been made.

Aftermath of 1947:

The Yankees finished third in a torrid AL pennant race in 1948 although DiMaggio batted .320 and topped the league in home runs (39), RBIs (155), and total bases (355). He placed second in league MVP voting. The chronic heel injury caused him to miss the first 65 games of the 1949 season and a bout with pneumonia put him in the hospital in September. Appearing in just 76 games he hit .346 with 14 home runs and 67 RBIs. DiMaggio played in 139 games in 1950 and batted .301 with 32 home runs and 122 RBIs. With age and injuries catching up to him, he played one more season in 1951, hitting .263 with 12 home runs and 71 RBIs. He retired and for his major league career that was spent entirely with the Yankees, DiMaggio batted .325 with 2214 hits that included 389 doubles, 131 triples, and 361 home runs. He also compiled 1537 RBIs, a .398 on-base percentage, and a .579 slugging percentage. Playing in ten World Series (9 of which the Yanks won), “the Yankee Clipper” hit .271 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs. DiMaggio was a 13-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. The Yankees retired his #5 and after his death in 1999 a monument was placed in his honor at Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park. Classy and dignified, DiMaggio personified the Yankee championship teams of his time. In retirement he had a short marriage to glamorous actress Marilyn Monroe that kept his name in the public eye and fell victim to his private nature and discomfort with the trappings of celebrity. He later served as a vice president and coach for the Oakland Athletics and a commercial spokesperson for several businesses. His brothers Vince and Dom also played major league baseball and were each fine center fielders.

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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: Roy Campanella, 1955

Catcher, Brooklyn Dodgers

Age:  33

8^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1955:

The product of an interracial marriage and a native of Philadelphia, Campanella played football and basketball, as well as baseball, in school. A fine ballplayer he signed with the semipro Bacharach Giants at age 15 in 1937 to play on weekends. His good performance caught the attention of the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League who signed him to back up at catcher on weekends while he continued his schooling. After spending the summer barnstorming with the Elite Giants he quit school at 16 to play baseball full-time. He became the regular catcher for the Elite Giants in 1939 and batted .273. Campanella stayed with the team until 1942 when he jumped to the Monterrey Sultans of the Mexican League due to a contract dispute. With a low draft status during 1942 due to his being married with two young children, he was never called to military service and stayed with Monterrey through the 1943 season before returning to the Elite Giants for two years. He was chosen to catch for a black all-star team that played a series of exhibition games against a team made up of NL and AL players in Brooklyn. Coming to the attention of the Dodgers as a result, Campanella was signed in 1946. Originally slated to play in the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, he was rejected because the league refused to integrate. Instead assigned to Nashua of the Class B New England League, Campanella took a pay cut from the $600 per month that he was paid by the Elite Giants to $185 per month to compete against far less experienced players. Campanella distinguished himself by hitting .290 with 13 home runs and 90 RBIs and was chosen as the league’s MVP. In 1947 with Jackie Robinson integrating the NL with the Dodgers, Campanella was assigned to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League and batted .273 with 13 home runs and 75 RBIs. With Brooklyn already in possession of an outstanding catcher in Bruce Edwards, the plan for 1948 was to keep Campanella in the minors. Edwards suffered an arm injury before the season and Campanella started the year with the Dodgers as a backup to Gil Hodges, who filled in behind the plate for Edwards. Campanella was sent down to St. Paul of the Class AAA American Association in May where he went on a tear, hitting .325 with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs over the course of 35 games before he was recalled to Brooklyn. The Dodgers were struggling in seventh place at the point that Campanella returned in July. Hodges was moved to first base and Jackie Robinson to second and the team rallied to third place following Campanella’s installation at catcher. In his time with the Dodgers he batted .258 with 9 home runs and 45 RBIs in 83 games. “Campy” followed up with a strong season in 1949, batting .287 with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the first time and proved to be adept defensively, with great quickness despite his portly build, leading all NL catchers in chances (750) and put outs (684) as well as by throwing out 59% of baserunners who attempted to steal on him. He also proved to be an adept handler of pitchers. Campanella produced a .281 batting average in 1950 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs. A broken thumb in September cost him 11 games in which the Dodgers struggled on the way to finishing a close second to the Phillies in the NL pennant race. Despite dealing with some injuries in 1951, Campanella contributed significantly to Brooklyn taking a sizeable lead in the NL pennant race, which was whittled away by a strong second-half surge by the New York Giants, resulting in a first-place tie and a season-extending best-of-three playoff, which the Giants won in dramatic fashion. Campanella sat out the last two playoff games due to a leg injury. For the year he batted .325 with 33 home runs, 108 RBIs, a .393 on-base percentage, and a .590 slugging percentage, and he received NL MVP recognition for the first time. He suffered through an injury-plagued season in 1952 and his batting average dropped to .269 with 22 home runs and 97 RBIs. He rebounded strongly in 1953 to hit 41 home runs with a league-leading 142 RBIs and batted .312, winning his second NL MVP award as a result. A hand injury that required surgery significantly marred Campanella’s 1954 performance. Appearing in only 111 games he batted just .207 with 19 home runs and 51 RBIs. There was again a solid rebound in 1955.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 123 games

C – 121, PH – 4

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 522

At Bats – 446

Runs – 81 [20]

Hits – 142

Doubles – 20

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 32 [8]

RBI – 107 [8]

Bases on Balls – 56

Int. BB – 9 [9, tied with Toby Atwell & Alex Grammas]

Strikeouts – 41

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .318 [4]

OBP - .395 [6]

Slugging Pct. - .583 [6]

Total Bases – 260 [15]

GDP – 14 [9, tied with five others]

Hit by Pitches – 6 [4, tied with Jim Gilliam, Sandy Amoros & Andy Seminick]

Sac Hits – 5

Sac Flies – 9 [2, tied with Willie Jones, Bill Virdon & Del Ennis]

Midseason snapshot: HR – 19, RBI – 64, AVG – .335, SLG– .641, OBP – .399

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at St. Louis 6/17, (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 6/21, (in 5 AB) at St. Louis 7/31

Longest hitting streak – 13 games

HR at home – 21

HR on road – 11

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Cincinnati 7/28, (in 4 AB) vs. Milwaukee 8/30

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 4 at NY Giants 4/14, vs. St. Louis 5/4, at Milwaukee 8/4

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 3 (.667) with 2 R, 1 BB & 2 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 732

Put Outs – 672

Assists – 54

Errors – 6

Passed Balls – 4

DP – 8

Pct. - .992 

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

PA – 31, AB – 27, R – 4, H – 7, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 4, BB – 3, IBB – 0, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .259, OBP - .333, SLG - .593, TB – 16, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Roy Campanella, Brook.: 226 points - 8 of 24 first place votes, 67% share

Duke Snider, Brook.: 221 points – 8 first place votes, 66% share

Ernie Banks, ChiC.: 195 points – 6 first place votes, 58% share

Willie Mays, NYG: 165 points – 49% share

Robin Roberts, Phila.: 159 points – 1 first place vote, 47% share

(1 first place vote for Pee Wee Reese, Brook., who ranked ninth)

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The Dodgers went 98-55 to win the NL pennant by 13.5 games over the Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in runs scored (857), doubles (230), home runs (201), RBIs (800) stolen bases (79), bases on balls drawn (674), batting (.271), OBP (.356), slugging (.448) & total bases (2327). The fast-starting Dodgers were in first place by 9.5 games with a 22-2 record on May 10. A month later, after their lead had dropped mildly, they opened a double-digit lead that held up for the remainder of the season. Won World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3. LHP Johnny Podres won two games, including the decisive seventh, to give the Dodgers the first World Series title in franchise history (and the only one in Brooklyn).

Aftermath of 1955:

Hand and thumb injuries held Campanella to 124 games in 1956 and his production dropped to 20 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a .219 average in what was his last All-Star season. Having had an offseason hand operation Campanella had another down year in 1957, the last year for the Dodgers in Brooklyn. He appeared in 103 games and batted .242 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs. In January of 1958 Campanella was involved in a car accident in which he suffered a broken neck and spinal cord damage that left him paralyzed from the chest down. For his major league career with the Dodgers, he batted .276 with 1161 hits that included 178 doubles, 18 triples, and 242 home runs. He also accumulated 856 RBIs. Campanella was an eight-time All-Star as well as three-time National League MVP. The Dodgers retired his #39 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. The wheelchair-bound Campanella worked for the Dodgers in community relations and as a special instructor during spring training and died at age 71 in 1993.

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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: 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.