Cy Young Profile: Clayton Kershaw, 2011

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  23

4^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 225 

Prior to 2011:

A native of Dallas, Texas, Kershaw produced a 13-0 record with a 0.77 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched as a senior at Highland Park High School. Chosen by the Dodgers as the seventh overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft, he started out professionally in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in ’06 and in 10 games went 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 37 innings. He split 2007 with the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League and the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League and compiled a combined tally of 8-7 with a 2.95 ERA and 163 strikeouts over the course of 122 innings. Kershaw started the 2008 season with Jacksonville prior to being called up to the Dodgers where he flashed his potential but appeared to be a bit raw yet on his way to a 5-5 tally with a 4.26 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 107.2 innings. Still seeking to fine-tune his control in 2009, he was again a .500 pitcher at 8-8 while his ERA improved to 2.79. He recorded 185 strikeouts in 171 innings pitched, but also issued 91 walks. The Dodgers won the NL West title and, in his first postseason start against St. Louis in the NLDS, he pitched well in notching a win, but he was shelled by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. Kershaw developed further in 2010 as he produced a 13-10 record with a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts while dropping his walks to 81 in 204.1 innings pitched.   

2011 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33

Games Started – 33 [4, tied with sixteen others]

Complete Games – 5 [3]

Wins – 21 [1, tied with Ian Kennedy]

Losses – 5

PCT - .808 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [2, tied with Jaime Garcia, Chris Carpenter & Anibal Sanchez]

Innings Pitched – 233.1 [3]

Hits – 174

Runs – 66

Earned Runs – 59

Home Runs – 15

Bases on Balls – 54

Strikeouts – 248 [1]

ERA – 2.28 [1]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 1 [18, tied with many others]

Wild Pitches – 5

League-leading strikeouts were +10 ahead of runner-up Cliff Lee

League-leading ERA was -0.07 lower than runner-up Roy Halladay

Midseason Snapshot: 9-4, ERA - 3.03, SO - 147 in 130.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 8 IP) at San Francisco 7/20

10+ strikeout games – 7

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) vs. Florida 5/29, (in 9 IP) vs. Detroit 6/20

Batting

PA – 86, AB – 71, R – 10, H – 16, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 3, SO – 13, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .225, GDP – 1, HBP – 1, SH – 11, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances - 47

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 38

Errors – 0

DP – 2

Pct. - 1.000

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

Gold Glove

All-Star

12^th in NL MVP voting (29 points, 6% share)

NL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Clayton Kershaw, LAD: 207 points – 27 of 32 first place votes, 92% share

Roy Halladay, Phila.: 133 points – 4 first place votes, 59% share

Cliff Lee, Phila.: 90 points – 40% share

Ian Kennedy, Ariz.: 76 points – 1 first place vote, 34% share

Cole Hamels, Phila.: 17 points – 8% share

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The Dodgers went 82-79 to finish third in the NL Western Division, 11.5 games behind the division-winning Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers were 26-30 at the end of May, but rode Kershaw’s pitching and the hitting of CF Matt Kemp to a surprising third-place finish.

Aftermath of 2011:

With his outstanding fastball, slider, and curve, Kershaw utilized a consistent overhand motion while adept at keeping the ball hidden from opposing batters  and has also been difficult to steal against. He continued to excel in 2012, posting a 14-9 record while again leading the NL in ERA (2.53) while also hurling two shutouts and striking out 229 batters for the second-place Dodgers. LA topped the NL West in 2013 and Kershaw put together another Cy Young-winning season with a 16-9 tally, league-best 1.83 ERA and 232 strikeouts. His postseason performance was a mixed bag, including a win against Atlanta in the NLDS and a battering by the Cardinals in the NLCS. In the offseason he signed a seven-year, $215 million contract extension. Kershaw won a fourth straight ERA title in 2014 with his 1.77 mark, and produced a 21-3 record with six complete games, including a no-hitter against Colorado, and 239 strikeouts. He was league MVP as well as recipient of a third NL Cy Young Award, although he encountered further postseason problems, losing twice to St. Louis in the NLDS. In 2015 Kershaw was hit in the head by a line drive during spring training, which did not cause any ill effects. During the ensuing season he led the league in innings pitched (232.2), complete games (4), shutouts (3), and strikeouts (301), while producing a 16-7 tally. He placed third in league Cy Young voting and earned a split in his two NLDS starts against the New York Mets. Kershaw encountered injury problems in 2016 due to a herniated disc in his back that sidelined him during July and August. He returned to action in September and pitched well down the stretch to finish at 12-4 with a 1.69 ERA, three shutouts, and 172 strikeouts in 149 innings pitched. The Dodgers won a fourth straight NL West title and fell short, once more, in the postseason as Kershaw lost the NLCS-deciding Game 6 to the eventual World Series-winning Chicago Cubs. Although hindered by a strained back muscle in 2017, he led the NL in wins with his 18-4 record and in ERA (2.31). He recorded 202 strikeouts and finished second in NL Cy Young balloting. LA reached the World Series and he pitched well in winning Game 1 against the Houston Astros. He was hit hard in a Game 5 start and Houston won in a Series that came to later be mired in controversy over a sign-stealing scandal involving the Astros. Injuries limited Kershaw to 26 starts in 2018, and while his fastball appeared to lose some velocity, he remained effective while posting a 9-5 record with a 2.73 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 161.1 innings. The Dodgers again advanced to the World Series where Kershaw lost both of his starts against the Boston Red Sox, who came away with the title. In the offseason he agreed to a contract extension for three years and $93 million. He produced a 16-5 mark in 2019 with a 3.03 ERA and 189 strikeouts while accumulating 178.1 innings. In the postseason, he was brought into the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS vs. Washington in relief but gave up two home runs that allowed the Nationals to tie the score in a game they ultimately won. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he went 6-2 in 10 starts covering 58.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA and 62 strikeouts. The Dodgers defeated Tampa Bay in the World Series and Kershaw won both of his starts. 2021 was an injury-riddled season for Kershaw, who was 10-8 in 22 starts with a 3.55 ERA and 144 strikeouts while compiling 121.2 innings. In his first start of 2022, Kershaw pitched seven perfect innings at Minnesota before being removed by manager Dave Roberts for exceeding his pitch count and innings limit. A reliever lost the no-hit bid in the eighth inning. Placed on the injured list in May, he returned to take another no-hit bid through seven innings in July against the Angels, giving up a hit in the eighth prior to being removed and still picking up the win. He finished the season with a 12-3 tally and a 2.28 ERA with 137 strikeouts over 126.1 innings. The pitcher known as “The Claw”, “The Minotaur”, and “Kersh” was a free agent in the offseason but returned to the Dodgers for 2023. For his major league career through 2022, spent entirely with the Dodgers, he posted a 197-87 record with a 2.48 ERA, 25 complete games, 15 shutouts, and 2807 strikeouts in 2581 innings pitched. A nine-time All-Star, he has received three Cy Young Awards. Appearing in 38 postseason games, his record is 13-12 with a 4.22 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 194 innings pitched.

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league. 

Highlighted Year: Clark Griffith, 1900

Pitcher, Chicago Orphans

Age:  30

7^th season with Colts/Orphans

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’6”    Weight: 156 

Prior to 1900:

Born in a Missouri log cabin, Griffith was a sickly youth in a farming family who first learned about baseball from Civil War veterans. Small and unhealthy, he acted as a mascot and water boy for the local town team. Moving with his family to Illinois at age 12, he was considered too small for his high school team and played in local pickup games as a catcher and pitcher. In 1887 he joined the nearby Bloomington Reds as a pitcher. In an 1888 exhibition game against Milwaukee of the Western Association, his pitching performance impressed the Milwaukee manager and he signed a contract for $225 per month. The 18-year-old hurler produced a 12-12 record for Milwaukee in 1888 with a 2.45 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 228 innings pitched. In 1889 his tally improved to 23-18 with 34 complete games, a 3.81 ERA, and 214 strikeouts. In 1891 he was lured into the American Association, which was a major league at the time, and was 11-8 with St. Louis until a sore arm led to his release in July. He was picked up by the Boston Reds late in the season and found himself out of work when the league disbanded. He headed west to play minor league ball in 1892 and ’93 and joined the National League with the then-Chicago Colts late in the 1893 season. He developed into a star, posting a 21-14 mark in 1894 and improving to 26-14 with a 3.93 ERA in 1895. Lacking a powerful fastball, Griffith got by on control, as he commanded a variety of breaking balls. He also utilized trick pitches like a scuff ball, often ostentatiously scratching the ball against his spikes, which was not illegal at the time, but caused one opposing team to bill him for the cost of eleven damaged baseballs. He was also adept at quick-pitching batters, not always allowing a hitter to get set prior to throwing the first strike. Wily and crafty on the mound, he tried to outwit his opponents, typically with success. His records from 1896 through 1899 were 23-11, 21-18, 24-10, and 22-14. He led the NL with 38 complete games in 1897, and with a 1.88 ERA in 1898. By 1898 the team was known as the Orphans, following the departure of long-time player and manager Cap Anson, and was no longer as successful. Griffith went 22-14 with a 2.79 ERA for the eighth-place Orphans in 1899.

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 30 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 30

Games Started – 30 [13, tied with Frank Kitson & Al Orth]

Complete Games – 27 [12]

Wins – 14 [18, tied with Al Orth]

Losses – 13 [18, tied with six others]

PCT - .519 [14]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [1, tied with Cy Young, Kid Nichols & Noodles Hahn]

Innings Pitched – 248 [15]

Hits – 245

Runs – 126

Earned Runs – 84

Home Runs – 6 [16, tied with Red Donahue]

Bases on Balls – 51

Strikeouts – 61 [19]

ERA – 3.05 [9]

Hit Batters – 16 [9, tied with Wiley Piatt]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 [19, tied with Cowboy Jones, Jack Dunn & Jim Hughey]

 

Batting

PA – 104, AB – 95, R – 16, H – 24, 2B – 4, 3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 7, BB – 8, SO – 7, SB – 2, CS – N/A, AVG - .253, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 72

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 57

Errors – 6

DP – 0

Pct. - .917

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The Orphans went 65-75 to finish tied for fifth with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (137) and placed second in ERA (3.23). The good pitching, including by Griffith, was offset by weak hitting that kept the Orphans well out of contention.

Aftermath of 1900:

Griffith, who had become knowledgeable about the business side of baseball, became involved in the plans to turn the American League into a rival major league. He worked to recruit several NL players to sign with AL clubs for 1901, and he himself became player/manager of the new league’s Chicago White Sox, owned by his friend Charles Comiskey. The White Sox became the first AL pennant-winners, and Griffith contributed a 24-7 record with a 2.67 ERA, 26 complete games, and 5 shutouts. The club dropped to fourth place in 1902, although still with a winning record, and Griffith posted a 15-9 tally with a 4.18 ERA. Now nicknamed “The Old Fox” for his cleverness, he moved on as player/manager of the New York Highlanders in 1903. The future Yankees had been moved from Baltimore to New York with the hope of establishing the American League in the nation’s biggest market. In his last season as a full-time pitcher, Griffith went 14-11 with a 2.70 ERA as the Highlanders finished fourth with a 72-62 record. New York strongly contended in 1904 and, pitching in 16 games (11 of them starts) “The Old Fox” compiled a 7-5 mark with a 2.87 ERA. Inserting himself primarily as a reliever in 1905 and ’06, Griffith produced records of 9-6 and 2-2, with ERAs of 1.68 and 3.02. He resigned as manager during the 1908 season, unhappy with his team’s performance and his treatment by the club’s ownership (which led to lasting animosity toward the renamed Yankees in later years). Much sought to manage other teams, he chose to return to the National League with the Cincinnati Reds in 1909. Following a disappointing tenure in Cincinnati, Griffith returned to the American League as manager of the Washington Senators in 1912. Adept at developing new talent, he guided the revamped Senators to a surprising second-place finish. In his first few years as manager, Griffith purchased a 10% interest in the team for $27,000. Making a pitching appearance a year from 1912 to 1914, he ended his role as a playing manager permanently in the latter year. For his major league pitching career, he produced a 237-146 record with a 3.31 ERA, 337 complete games, 22 shutouts, and 955 strikeouts in 3385.2 innings. With Chicago in the NL his tally was 152-96 with a 3.40 ERA, 240 complete games, 9 shutouts, and 573 strikeouts in 2188.2 innings. He continued to manage the Senators through 1920, when, in partnership with William M. Richardson, he purchased 80% of the team’s stock. As a manager his record was 1491-1367 with one pennant. The Senators won AL pennants in 1924, ’25, and 1933 including a World Series title in 1924. He became known as a shrewd talent evaluator, who pioneered in the signing of Cuban players, and who was resourceful, stubborn, and outspoken. Griffith was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. His adopted son, Calvin, took over as the team’s owner following Griffith’s death in 1955 at age 85, and moved the franchise to Minnesota in 1961. He retained ownership of the Twins until 1984.

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

Highlighted Year: Ned Garvin, 1900

Pitcher, Chicago Orphans

Age:  26

2^nd season with Orphans

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 160 

Prior to 1900:

A native of Navasota, Texas (hence his later nickname “The Navasota Tarantula”), Garvin began playing baseball professionally with Sherman of the Texas League in 1895. Moving on to New Haven and Newark in the Atlantic League in 1896, he posted a combined record of 14-17 with a 2.18 ERA and 119 strikeouts while compiling 239.2 innings pitched. Garvin also briefly saw action in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies where he was unimpressive in two appearances. Returning to the Atlantic League in 1897, he went 5-10 with a 2.22 ERA for Reading. Lanky and with notably long fingers, Garvin developed an early version of a screwball (or fadeaway). After performing well at Reading, he joined Chicago in 1899 and produced a 9-13 tally with a 2.85 ERA for the eighth-place club. 

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 30 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 30

Games Started – 28 [19]

Complete Games – 25 [15, tied with Sam Leever, Kid Nichols & Jack Taylor]

Wins – 10

Losses – 18 [5, tied with Cy Young & Pink Hawley]

PCT - .357

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1

Innings Pitched – 246.1 [16]

Hits – 225

Runs – 126

Earned Runs – 66

Home Runs – 4

Bases on Balls – 63

Strikeouts – 107 [4, tied with Bill Dinneen]

ERA – 2.41 [2]

Hit Batters – 18 [7]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 6 [16, tied with Kid Nichols & Brickyard Kennedy]

Batting

PA – 95, AB – 91, R – 12, H – 14, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 3, SO – 16, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .154, GDP – N/A, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 89

Put Outs – 5

Assists – 78

Errors – 6

DP – 1

Pct. - .933

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The Orphans went 65-75 to finish tied for fifth with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL, 46.5 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (137) and placed second in ERA (3.23). The good pitching, most significantly by Garvin, was offset by weak hitting that kept the Orphans well out of contention. 

Aftermath of 1900:

Garvin jumped to the original Milwaukee Brewers of the new American League in 1901 and compiled an 8-20 record for the last-place club, with a 3.46 ERA and 122 strikeouts over 257.1 innings. Prone to heavy drinking and with a fierce temper, he became involved in several violent confrontations. While with the Chicago White Sox in 1902, he shot a bar owner and was released by owner Charles Comiskey for the protection of the other players on the team. His tally for the season was 10-10 with a 2.21 ERA. He returned to the NL with Brooklyn later in the ’02 season and went 1-1 in two appearances. Still with Brooklyn in 1903, Garvin went 15-18 with a 3.08 ERA, 30 complete games, and 154 strikeouts. In 1904, while compiling an excellent ERA of 1.72, his record was only 5-15, as his penchant for bad luck on the mound continued. His penchant for violent behavior continued as well, as he had a fight with the team’s traveling secretary as the club traveled by train to St. Louis. He wrapped up the season pitching in two games with the New York Highlanders (now Yankees). Garvin pitched in the Pacific Coast League in 1905 (Portland) and ‘06 (Seattle) where he performed well. In 1907 he finished his career with the Butte Miners of the Northwestern League where his record was 20-14. Shortly thereafter he contracted tuberculosis and died at age 34 in 1908. For his major league career, he posted a 58-97 record with a 2.72 ERA, 134 complete games, 13 shutouts, and 612 strikeouts in 1400.2 innings pitched. With the Orphans he was 19-31 with a 2.61 ERA, 47 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 176 strikeouts in 445.1 innings. A talented pitcher prone to experiencing bad luck (and playing for losing teams), Garvin was also a man with a violent temper that led to many unfortunate situations in his short life.

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

Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, 2012

Outfielder, Washington Nationals

Age:  19

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 2012:

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.

2012 Season Summary

Appeared in 139 games

CF – 92, RF – 65, LF – 7, PH – 2, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 597

At Bats – 533

Runs – 98 [5]

Hits – 144

Doubles – 26

Triples – 9 [8]

Home Runs – 22

RBI – 59

Bases on Balls – 56

Int. Walks – 0

Strikeouts – 120

Stolen Bases – 18

Caught Stealing – 6

Average - .270

OBP - .340

Slugging Pct. - .477

Total Bases – 254

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 3

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, 3B – 4, HR- 8, RBI- 25, AVG - .282., OBP - .354

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at NY Mets 9/11

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Miami 8/29, (in 3 AB) vs. Chi. Cubs 9/5

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 12

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting/running – 1 for 1 (1.000) with 3 R, 1 SB & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 326

Put Outs – 311

Assists – 8

Errors – 7

DP - 3

Pct. - .979

Postseason Batting: 5 G (NLDS vs. St. Louis)

PA – 23, AB – 23, R – 2, H – 3, 2B – 1,3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 8, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .130, OBP - .130, SLG - .391, TB – 9, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

30^th in NL MVP voting, tied with Johnny Cueto, Cin. (2 points, 0% share)

NL ROY voting (Top 5):

Bryce Harper, Wash.: 112 points – 16 of 32 first place votes, 70% share

Wade Miley, Ariz.: 105 points – 12 first place votes, 66% share

Todd Frazier, Cin.: 45 points – 3 first place votes, 28% share

Wilin Rosario, Col.: 12 points – 1 first place vote, 8% share

Nori Aoki, Mil.: 11 points – 7% share

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The Nationals went 98-64 to finish first in the NL Eastern Division by 4 games over the Atlanta Braves. With a deep and impressive roster that benefitted from Harper’s hitting and the pitching of Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg, who was shut down in September, the Nationals started fast and were in first place to stay by May 22. Lost NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals, 3 games to 2, as the Cardinals put together a four-run rally in the ninth inning of the decisive Game 5 to win 9-7.

Aftermath of 2012:

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. Harper followed up with a strong season in 2015 in which he led the NL in runs scored (118), home runs (42), OBP (.460), and slugging (.649) while batting .330 with 99 RBIs. In an otherwise disappointing season for the Nationals, he received unanimous league MVP recognition. A dugout fight with reliever Jonathan Popalbon that occurred near the end of the season provided a down note to Harper’s performance. A 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 a 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 now 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. For his major league career through 2022, Harper has batted .280 with 1379 hits that include 298 doubles, 23 triples, 285 home runs with 913 runs scored, 817 RBIs, 122 stolen bases, a .390 OBP, and a .523 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 36 postseason games, he has hit .273 with 11 home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .358 OBP. A seven-time All-Star, he has received two Silver Sluggers and twice been National League MVP.

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

MVP Profile: Albert Pujols, 2009

First Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  29

9^th season with Cardinals

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 240 

Prior to 2009:

A native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Pujols immigrated to Independence, Missouri with his father and grandmother at age 16. Impressive in high school and after attending Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods, he was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1999 amateur draft. He spent most of 2000 with the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League and batted .324 with 32 doubles, 17 home runs, and 84 RBIs, earning quick advancement to the Carolina League and Memphis of the Pacific Coast League to finish out the year. He primarily played third base in his quick rise through the minors. Entering 2001 he was expected to be a reserve for the Cardinals but played his way into the lineup. He started out fast by driving in 27 RBIs in April on the way to batting .329 with a .403 on-base percentage, 47 doubles, 37 home runs, and 130 RBIs. In addition to his hitting prowess, Pujols displayed versatility in filling four positions, primarily appearing at third base, first base, and in the outfield. He received NL Rookie of the Year honors in addition to being an All-Star and placing fourth in league MVP voting. Playing primarily in left field in 2002 following his outstanding rookie season, Pujols again produced impressively at the plate, batting .314 with a .394 on-base percentage along with 40 doubles, 34 home runs, and 127 RBIs. He placed second in league MVP voting. Settling in at first base in 2003, Pujols was an All-Star for the second time as he topped the National League in runs scored (137), hits (212), doubles (51), batting (.359), and total bases (394). He again was the runner-up for MVP in the NL and received a Silver Slugger. He also proved to be a good fit defensively at first base (defense had been considered the weakest aspect of his game in the earliest part of his career). The Cardinals topped the NL Central and won the league pennant in 2004 as Pujols again led the NL in runs scored (133) and total bases (389) to go along with 51 doubles, 46 home runs, 123 RBIs, a .331 average,.415 OBP, and a .657 slugging percentage. This time he placed third in MVP balloting. In the postseason Pujols was the MVP of the NLCS win over Houston with his .500 average, 4 home runs, and 9 RBIs in the seven games. St. Louis again won the NL Central title in 2005 but came up short against Houston in the NLCS. Pujols topped the league in runs scored (129) while batting .330 with 41 home runs, 117 RBIs, a .430 OBP, and a .609 slugging percentage. This time he also gained selection as the NL MVP. The Cardinals topped the NL Central in 2006 with a mediocre 83-78 record, which was only the fifth best in the league, and went on to win the NL pennant and the World Series. Pujols had a typically productive season, leading the league in slugging (.671) while hitting .331 with 49 home runs, 137 RBIs, and a .431 OBP. He even received a Gold Glove for his defensive performance at first base while placing second in league MVP voting. In a down year for the team in 2007 in the wake of the championship season, Pujols remained a steady force in the lineup batting .327 with 32 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .429 OBP, and a .568 slugging percentage. Pujols received MVP recognition for a second time in 2008 as he hit .357 with 44 doubles, 37 home runs, 116 RBIs, a .462 OBP, and NL-leading totals in slugging (.653) and total bases (342).

2009 Season Summary

Appeared in 160 games

1B – 159, PH – 2, DH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 700 [5]

At Bats – 568

Runs – 124 [1]

Hits – 186 [6]

Doubles – 45 [2]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 47 [1]

RBI – 135 [3]

Bases on Balls – 115 [3]

Int. BB – 44 [1]

Strikeouts – 64

Stolen Bases – 16

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .327 [3]

OBP - .443 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .658 [1]

Total Bases – 374 [1]

GDP – 23 [5, tied with Adrian Gonzalez]

Hit by Pitches – 9 [16, tied with eight others]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 8 [9, tied with four others]

League-leading runs scored were +11 ahead of runner-up Ryan Braun

League-leading home runs were +1 ahead of runner-up Prince Fielder

League-leading int. bases on balls drawn were +22 ahead of runner-up Adrian Gonzalez

League-leading OBP was +.017 ahead of runner-up Nick Johnson

League-leading slugging percentage was +.056 ahead of runner-up Prince Fielder

League-leading total bases were +18 ahead of runner-up Prince Fielder

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 22, HR – 32, RBI – 87, AVG - .332, SLG – .723, OBP – .456

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 5/6, (in 5 AB) at KC Royals 6/21, (in 5 AB) at NY Mets 8/4 – 10 innings

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

Most HR, game – 2 on ten occasions

HR at home – 22

HR on road – 25

Multi-HR games – 10

Most RBIs, game – 7 vs. Houston 4/11

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

Fielding

Chances – 1671

Put Outs – 1473

Assists – 185

Errors – 13

DP - 150

Pct. - .992

Postseason Batting: 3 G (NLDS vs. LA Dodgers)

PA – 13, AB – 10, R – 0, H – 3, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 3, IBB – 3, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .300, OBP - .462, SLG -.300, TB – 3, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

Silver Slugger

All-Star (Started for NL at 1B)

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Albert Pujols, StL.: 448 points – 32 of 32 first place votes, 100% share

Hanley Ramirez, Fla.: 233 points – 52% share

Ryan Howard, Phila.: 217 points – 48% share

Prince Fielder, Mil.: 203 points – 45% share

Troy Tulowitzki, Col.: 172 points – 38% share

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The Cardinals went 91-71 to finish first in the NL Central Division by 7.5 games over the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals led the NL Central or stayed in close contention from the season’s start, but the hitting declined in September, not denying the club a division title, but presaging postseason defeat. Lost NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 games to 0.

Aftermath of 2009:

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

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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: Lou Gehrig, 1936

First Baseman, New York Yankees

Age:  33 (June 19)

12^th season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1936:

A New York City native, Gehrig played sandlot baseball as a youth, and starred at Commerce High School before receiving a scholarship to attend Columbia University. His college baseball career was interrupted by being suspended for a year due to playing under an assumed name for the Hartford Senators of the Class A Eastern League in 1921 following a failed tryout with the major league Giants. Despite that setback he performed brilliantly when he took the field for Columbia, both as a hitter and as a pitcher. Gehrig signed with the Yankees in 1923 but following a brief trial with the Yankees he was sent to the minors, where he was once again with Hartford, minus any subterfuge. In 59 games with Hartford, the 20-year-old Gehrig batted .304 with 24 home runs. Returning to the Yankees late in the season, he hit impressively in six games. With no spot available for him in the lineup in 1924, Gehrig was again sent to Hartford and batted .369 with 40 doubles, 13 triples, and 37 home runs. He had another brief September appearance with the Yankees and he stuck with the Yanks in 1925 as a reserve first baseman. With the club mired in seventh place and regular first baseman Wally Pipp hitting poorly (the reality as opposed to mythology that later developed as to how Gehrig came to replace Pipp), manager Miller Huggins inserted Gehrig in the lineup and he went on to hit .295 for the year with 23 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs, and 68 RBIs. Gehrig continued to develop in 1926 as the Yankees returned to the top in the American League, batting .313 with a league-leading 20 triples, along with 47 doubles, 16 home runs, and 109 RBIs. He also hit .348 in the seven-game World Series loss to the Cardinals. He finished tenth in AL MVP voting, tied with teammate Tony Lazzeri. In 1927 Gehrig was the cleanup hitter in the legendary “Murderers Row” lineup that propelled the Yankees to a 110-44 record atop the AL and a World Series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Gehrig hit .373 and led the league with 52 doubles, 173 RBIs, and 447 total bases. His 47 home runs ranked second to teammate Babe Ruth’s then-record 60 and he further contributed 18 triples, a .474 on-base percentage, a .765 slugging percentage, and drew 109 walks on his way to receiving AL MVP recognition. In the World Series whitewash of the Pirates, he hit .308 with 4 RBIs. In the offseason, Gehrig and Babe Ruth partnered in a barnstorming tour in which they captained teams of local all-stars named the “Bustin’ Babes” and the “Larrupin’ Lous” that proved lucrative for both players. Gehrig also signed a three-year contract extension with the Yankees for $25,000 per year. New York again won the AL pennant in 1928 and Gehrig contributed a .374 batting average along with a league-leading 47 doubles (tied with Heinie Manush of the Browns) and 147 RBIs, along with 13 triples and 27 home runs. In the ensuing four-game World Series sweep of the Cardinals, he batted .545 with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs. Another strong season for Gehrig followed in 1929, this despite playing with a broken finger and bone chips in his left elbow, both of which required off-season surgery, as well as the death of manager Miller Huggins. He once more appeared in every game and hit .300 with 35 home runs and 125 RBIs. Gehrig led the league in RBIs in both 1930 (173) and ‘31 (185). His 46 home runs also topped the AL in 1931. Despite his league-leading numbers in 1931, he took a $2000 pay cut due to effects of the Great Depression on Yankee finances. Gehrig hit 34 home runs in 1932, including a record-tying four in one game against the Athletics, and drove in 151 RBIs while batting .349. The Yankees returned to the top of the AL standings for the first time since 1928, and Gehrig had another outstanding World Series performance in the sweep of the Cubs. He finished second in league MVP voting. Gehrig reached a milestone in 1933 as he appeared in a record 1308^th consecutive game, setting a major league record at the time. He also appeared in the first All-Star Game, where he started at first base for the American League. He finished the season with 41 doubles, 12 triples, 32 home runs, 140 RBIs, and a .334 batting average, and placed fourth in MVP balloting. 1934 marked the last season in which Gehrig and Babe Ruth were teammates, and while Ruth was fading, Gehrig won the AL Triple Crown with 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, and a .363 average. He was an All-Star once again and placed fifth in league MVP voting. With the second-place Yankees in 1935 Gehrig led the league in runs scored (125), walks drawn (132), and on base percentage (.466) while batting .329 with 30 home runs and 120 RBIs. He finished fifth in MVP voting again.

1936 Season Summary

Appeared in 155 games

1B – 155

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 719 [4]

At Bats – 579

Runs – 167 [1]

Hits – 205 [7]

Doubles – 37 [16, tied with Jack Burns]

Triples – 7

Home Runs – 49 [1]

RBI – 152 [2]

Bases on Balls – 130 [1]

Int. BB – 9 [4, tied with Zeke Bonura]

Strikeouts – 46 [20, tied with Mike Kreevich, Jack Burns & Buddy Lewis]

Stolen Bases – 3

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .354 [3, tied with Charlie Gehringer]

OBP - .478 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .696 [1]

Total Bases – 403 [2]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 7 [4, tied with Harlond Clift & Marv Owen]

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading runs scored were +22 ahead of runner-up Harlond Clift

League-leading home runs were +7 ahead of runner-up Hal Trosky

League-leading bases on balls drawn were +13 ahead of runner-up Lyn Lary

League-leading OBP was +.004 ahead of runner-up Luke Appling

League-leading slugging pct. was +.052 ahead of runner-up Hal Trosky

League-leading total bases were +30 ahead of runner-up Babe Ruth

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 22, HR – 20, RBI – 61, AVG – .389, SLG – .708, OBP – .494

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Most hits, game – 4 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

HR at home – 27

HR on road – 22

/Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 7 at Cleveland 9/9

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 1468

Put Outs – 1377

Assists – 82

Errors – 9

DP – 128

Pct. - .994

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. NY Giants)

PA – 28, AB – 24, R – 5, H – 7, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 7, BB – 3, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .292, OBP - .393, SLG - .583, TB – 14, GDP – N/A, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL at 1B) 

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Lou Gehrig, NYY: 73 points – 4 of 8 first place votes, 91% share

Luke Appling, ChiWS.: 65 points – 3 first place votes, 81% share

Earl Averill, Clev.: 48 points – 1 first place vote, 60% share

Charlie Gehringer, Det.: 39 points – 49% share

Bill Dickey, NYY: 29 points – 36% share

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The Yankees went 102-51 to win the AL pennant by 19.5 games over the Detroit Tigers while leading the league in runs scored (1065), home runs (182), RBIs (997), walks drawn (700), OBP (.381), slugging (.483), and total bases (2703). With a strong lineup anchored by Gehrig and bolstered by the addition of rookie CF Joe DiMaggio, the Yankees were 17-7 at the point they took over first place to stay on May 10. Won World Series over the New York Giants, 4 games to 2, with Gehrig’s two-run home run off ace LHP Carl Hubbell in Game 4 putting the Yankees in command.

Aftermath of 1936:

The Yankees repeated as champs in 1937 and the classy, dignified, and highly-respected team captain contributed 37 home runs, 158 RBIs, and a .351 average and ranked fourth in league MVP balloting. “The Iron Horse” dealt with nagging injuries and a prolongued slump in 1938 and ended up hitting .295 with 29 home runs and 114 RBIs. By spring training of 1939 it was apparent that Gehrig was seriously off his game, both at the plate and in the field. After getting off to a poor start during the season, he opted to sit out and end his consecutive game streak at 2130 games. He did not return to the lineup and announced his retirement in June, after he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) an incurable neuromuscular disease. The Yankees honored him with a sendoff between games of a July 4 doubleheader in which he delivered a memorable address to the crowd. He died two years later at age 37 from the malady that would forever after be referred to as “Lou Gehrig disease”. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Yankees, he batted .340 with 2721 hits that included 534 doubles, 163 triples, and 493 home runs. He further scored 1888 runs, and compiled 1995 RBIs, a .447 OBP, and a .632 slugging percentage. In addition to the 2130-game streak, which remained the major league record until surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995, Gehrig also retired as the career leader in grand slams with 23, a record which lasted until 2013. He finished with 150 or more RBIs in seven seasons. Gehrig was a seven-time All-Star, including 1939 when he was a non-playing reserve and AL team captain. Appearing in 34 World Series games, he hit .361 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. He was a two-time league MVP who finished in the top ten on nine occasions. The Yankees retired his #4 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by special election in 1939. The team further honored him with a monument in center field at Yankee Stadium. A biographical movie, The Pride of the Yankees in which Gehrig was portrayed by actor Gary Cooper, was released in 1942.

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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, 1953

Catcher, Brooklyn Dodgers

Age:  31

6^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1953:

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 major leaguers 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 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.

1953 Season Summary

Appeared in 144 games

C – 140, PH – 11

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 590

At Bats – 519

Runs – 103 [11]

Hits – 162

Doubles – 26 [16, tied with Danny O’Connell]

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 41 [3]

RBI – 142 [1]

Bases on Balls – 67 [14]

Int. BB – 13 [2, tied with Del Ennis, Del Rice & Billy Cox]

Strikeouts – 58

Stolen Bases – 4 [20, tied with four others]

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .312 [10]

OBP - .395 [7, tied with Enos Slaughter]

Slugging Pct. - .611 [3]

Total Bases – 317 [6]

GDP – 13 [19, tied with five others]

Hit by Pitches – 4 [11, tied with eight others]

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading RBIs were +7 ahead of runner-up Eddie Mathews

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, HR – 22, RBI – 73, AVG – .302, SLG – .601

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. St. Louis Cards 7/18, (in 5 AB) vs. St. Louis Cards 8/30

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 22

HR on road – 19

Most home runs, game – 2 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 5

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Cincinnati 8/8

Pinch-hitting – 5 for 11 (.455) with 3 R, 3 2B, 1 HR & 6 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 874

Put Outs – 807

Assists – 57

Errors – 10

Passed Balls – 3

DP – 9

Pct. - .989 

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 25, AB – 22, R – 6, H – 6, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 2, IBB – 1, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .273, OBP - .360, SLG - .409, TB – 9, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for NL at C )

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Roy Campanella, Brook.: 297 points - 17 of 24 first place votes, 88% share

Eddie Mathews, Mil.: 216 points – 3 first place votes, 64% share

Duke Snider, Brook.: 157 points – 1 first place vote, 47% share

Red Schoendienst, StLC.: 155 points – 2 first place votes, 46% share

Warren Spahn, Mil.: 120 points – 36% share

(1 first place vote for Robin Roberts, PhilaP., who ranked sixth)

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The Dodgers went 105-49 to win the NL pennant by 13 games over the Milwaukee Braves, while leading the league in runs scored (955), hits (1529), home runs (208), RBIs (887), stolen bases (90), bases on balls drawn (655), batting (.285), OBP (.366), slugging (.474), and total bases (2545). The Dodgers moved immediately into contention and were 42-25 when they moved into first place to stay on June 28. Lost World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 1953:

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 as he won his third MVP award after hitting .318 with 32 home runs and 107 RBIs. The Dodgers won the pennant and the ensuing World Series for the first time in franchise history and Campanella contributed two home runs to the effort. Hand and thumb injuries held him 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 National League career, played entirely 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.