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On this date (May 3) in 2011, Twins’ southpaw Francisco Liriano twirled a gem against the White Sox (in Chicago). It was the first complete game in Liriano’s then six-season MLB career, also his  first shutout and – most important – a no-hitter.  As the Twins triumphed in a tight 1-0 game, Liriano went nine innings, giving up six walks, fanning two and, of course, allowing no hits and no runs.

Liriano’s performance makes its way into the pages of Baseball Roundtable because it was one of the most unexpected and unpredictable no-hitters in MLB history.

Why unexpected?  Coming into the game, Liriano’s record on the season (in five starts) was 1-4, with a 9.13 ERA. In 23 2/3 innings (averaging about 4 2/3 per start), he had given up 27 hits, 24 runs (all earned),  18 walks and one hit-by-pitch,  while also fanning 18 batters. In the start immediately before the no-hitter (April 27), Liriano had lasted just three innings and given up seven runs on six hits and four walks.  To further make my case for the unexpected nature of this no-no, in the start immediately after the no-hitter (May 19), Liriano had again lasted just three frames, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks.  So, his no-hitter was “book-ended” by two games in which he lasted a total of six innings and surrendered 11 runs.

Getting back to that no hitter. In that game,  Liriano threw 122 pitches (66 strikes and 56 balls).  Despite command issues (hence, the six walks), only one White Sox player reached second base. Liriano  was aided by three double plays: 2B Alexi Casilla to SS Matt Tolbert to 1B Justin Morneau in the first and second innings and 3B Danny Valencia to Casilla to Morneau in the eighth.

Liriano finished the 2011 season 9-10,with a 5.09 ERA.  It was a bit of an “up-and-down” campaign for him.  Among his 26 starts, on the upside, he had nine starts in which he pitched at least six innings and gave up two or fewer runs – and, on the downside, six starts in which he pitched less than five frames and gave up four or more tallies.  His two relief appearance were also up and down. In one, he pitched two scoreless innings and in the other gave up five earned runs in two innings.  Also, on the downside was a trip to the disabled list in late August – he didn’t pitch from August 26-September 17 and, in September, made just two relief appearances.

The up-and-down nature of Liriano’s career is reflected in the fact that, since the Comeback Player of the Year Award was established in 1965, Liriano is one of only seven players to win it twice and one of only two  to win it in both leagues. (Note: It was the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award from 1965-2006 and the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award from 2005-current – with overlapping awards in 2005-06).

So, let’s look briefly at Liriano’s career. Seventeen-year-old Liriano signed with the Giants as an international free agent (out of the Dominican Republic) in 2000.  In the minors, from 2001-2003, he  went 8-12, 3.88 with 170 strikeouts in 160 innings. In November of 2003, the Giants traded Liriano to the Twins (Liriano, Boof Bonser and Joe Nathan for A.J. Pierzynski and cash). The Twins saw Liriano as a top prospect with a hard, tailing fastball, a sharp-breaking slider and an effective curve (as well as with an unorthodox delivery).   After working his way up through High-A, Double-A and Triple-A (in 2005, he was 12-7, 2.63 with 204 strikeouts and just 50 walks at Double-A and Triple-A), Liriano got in six Twins game as a September call up (1-2, 5.70).

In 2005, Francisco Liriano was the International  League (AAA) Rookie of the Year.

In 2006, Liriano had one of his biggest ups, going 12-3. 2.16, in 28 games (16 starts) with the Twins. Observers will agree, his stuff was electric. However, the season was not without its downs. Liriano (known for an unorthodox – often  described as violent – delivery) – came down with arm (elbow) trouble and pitched in only one MLB game after August 7.  After the season, he underwent Tommy John Surgery – and missed all of 2007.

Liriano was back in 2008, but suffered through the down of starting the season in the minors, got an April call up and put down an 0-3, 11.32 record in three April starts for the Twins.   In late April, he was sent back down. However, putting up a 10-2, 3.28 record at Triple-A earned him a call back up to the Twins – where he went  went 6-1, 2.74, with 60 whiffs in 65 2/3 innings (11 starts) the rest of the way.  Plenty of smiles in Minnesota.

Observers point to Francisco Liriano’s original violent delivery, efforts to (alter) smooth that delivery, injury issues and some just plain hard-luck as factors in Liriano’s up-and-down career.

After that strong finish to 2008, things went a bit south in 2009 – a 5-13, 5.80 record in 29 games (24 starts).

Liriano’s 2010 season was primarily an up year (but still had its down moments). He started out 3-0, 0.93 in four April starts, with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings. Then, in six May starts, he seemed to lose his way (2-3, 5.15), but still there was solid promise – as he recorded 39 strikeouts and just nine walks in 36 2/3 May innings.  He righted the ship and was 14-7, 3.28 on September 15 – before losing his last three starts, giving up 12 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings. He finished the season 14-10, 3.62 – and to add another up – won his first Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Then came the 2011 no-hitter season (that we’ve already looked at). This was followed by  a 2012 season in which Liriano went 6-12, 5.34 for the Twins and White Sox. In October of 2012, the White Sox released Liriano and in December, he signed as a free-agent with the Pirates.  Then, another downer.  Shortly after signing with the Pirates, Liriano  broke his non-throwing arm playing with his children. Liriano started the 2013 season (after the Pirates’ contract was voided and renegotiated) on the disabled list and didn’t make  his first start until May 11. It was pretty much all up from there, as Liriano finished the season at 16-8, 3.02 in 26 starts, fanning 163 batters in 161 innings – winning his second Comeback Player of the Year Award.

In 2014-15, Liriano was pretty steady – going a combined 17-17, and putting up a 3.38 ERA in both seasons (for the Pirates).   Still, there were ups and downs.  In 2014, Liriano was 1-7, 4.72 through mid-July and then 6-3, 2.20 the rest of the way.

Liriano pitched until 2019 (suiting up for the Pirates, Blue Jays, Astros and Tigers). Over his final four seasons, he went 24-35, 4.68.   His final stat line was 112-114, 4.15, with 1,815 strikeouts and 816 walks in 1,813 2/3 innings. He also went 2-1, 3.96 in 11 post-season games (three starts) for the Twins, Pirates, Blue Jays and Astros.

As a Twins fan, I was privileged to see Liriano in action and when he was on his game, it was a beauty to watch – and he could, at times,  make batters look helpless “up or down” in the strike zone.

Primary Resources: Baseball-References.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; “Roberts Report: Liriano of old won’t be back soon,” April 24, 2008, ESPN.com; “Twins’ Liriano trying to slow down,” Associated Press, August 25, 2009.

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Yesterday (April 29, 2022),  five Mets’ pitchers combined to no-hit the Phillies (in New York), as the Metropolitans triumphed 3-0. Tyler Megill started the game and went five innings (three walks, five whiffs), picking up the win. He as followed by Drew Smith, who faced five batters, walking one and fanning four); Joely Rodriguez (one inning pitched, two walks); Seth Lugo (2/3 of an inning); and Edwin Diaz, who fanned the side on 13 pitches in the ninth to save the game and the no-no.

A few side notes:

• It was just the 17th combined no-hitter in AL/N L history.
• It just the second no-hitter  (by the Mets) in Mets’ ‘history.
• The five pitchers used was just one shy of the record for a no-hitter.
• The Mets’ pitchers threw 159 pitches (98 strikes), the most pitches in a no-hitter since accurate pitch counts began in the late 1980s.
• It was the 20th no-hitter tossed against the Phillies – tied for the most against any franchise in MLB history (per the Elias Sports Bureau).

Now, in honor of the Mets’ combined no-hitter, let’s revisit the  sixteen AL/NL combined no-hitters that preceded the Mets’ effort – and the touch upon circumstances that made many of them unique.  Baseball Roundtable has lo0ked at combined no-hitter before, but this seems like a good time for review. 

The First-Ever Combined No-Hitter – Babe Ruth Didn’t Hang Around Long

This took place on June 23, 1917 – with the Red Sox topping the Senators 4-0 in Boston. This game is special for several reasons:

• It was the first MLB combined no-hitter;
• Babe Ruth started on the mound;
• It involved the most meager contribution by the starting pitcher (zero innings pitched- one batter faced); and
• It is arguably the most “perfect” combined no-hitter ever.

Babe Ruth, at that time plying his trade as a left-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, opened the game by walking Washington’s lead-off hitter Roy Morgan.  Ruth, and his catcher Pinch Thomas, took issue with umpire Brick Owens’ strike zone and, during the argument, Ruth made contact with the umpire (a glancing blow, it was reported).  The ultimate result of the confrontation was the ejection of both Ruth and Thomas (with Ruth earning a $100 fine and ten-game suspension).  Red Sox’ pitcher Ernie Shore was called in to replace Ruth and Sam Agnew took Thomas’ spot behind the plate. Morgan decided to test Agnew’s arm and was thrown out stealing, after which Shore retired the next 26 hitters in order – completing the first combined no-hitter within the minimum 27 total batters.  Ruth, by the way, ended the season 24-13, with a 2.01 ERA and a league-leading 35 complete games in 38 starts.

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Second Combined No-Hitter – A Long Time A-comin’

Given the past propensity for pitchers finishing what they started, MLB’s second combined no-hitter came 50 seasons and 70 no-hitters later – on April 30, 1967, with the Tigers defeating the Orioles 2-1 in Baltimore.  This combined no-hitter is unique because:

• It was not a shutout.
• The team that threw the no-hitter lost (the only combined no-hitter loss); and
• It involved the briefest contribution by the relief staff (one pitcher/one-third inning pitched).

Orioles’ starter Steve Barber was effectively wild, walking ten hitters and hitting two in 8 2/3 innings. The opposing hurler was Detroit’s Earl Wilson – who matched goose eggs with Barber for seven innings. In the eighth, Baltimore pushed across a run on three walks and a sacrifice fly (Wilson gave up only two hits and four walks in his eight innings of work) and victory was there if Barber could take it. He didn’t.  Barber walked Tigers’ 1B Norm Cash to start the ninth. He then walked SS Ray Oyler. Earl Wilson, a good-hitting pitcher, bunted the runners to second and third, before Barber got the second out of the inning, inducing PH Willie Horton to pop up to the catcher.  Now, just one out away from a 1-0, no-hit win, Barber uncorked a wild pitch that brought the tying run home. He then walked CF Mickey Stanley, ending his day on the mound. Stu Miller came in to get the final out, but not until an error allowed the go-ahead run to score.

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Combined No-Hitter Number Three – Waiting Until the Last Possible Day

This no-hitter came on September 28, 1975, with the A’s topping the Angels 5-0 in Oakland.  This game was unique in that:

• It is one of only three no-hitters thrown on the final day of an MLB season;
• It made starting pitcher Vida Blue the first hurler to take part in both a solo and combined no-hitter. (Blue had thrown a solo no-hitter on September 21, 1970.); and
• It was the first time more than two pitchers were involved in a combined no-hitter.

Blue went five innings  (two walks, two strikeouts) and was followed by Glenn Abbott (one inning,), Paul Lindblad (one inning, one whiff) and Rollie Fingers (two innings, two strikeouts). Note: Blue has been joined by Kevin Millwood, Kent Mercker and Mike Witt as pitchers with both solo and combined no-hitters.)

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Combined No-Hitter Number Four – Tea for Two

The next combined no-hitter went back to the two-pitcher formula, as Blue Moon Odom (five innings, nine walks, three strikeouts) and Francisco Barrios (four innings, two walks, two strikeouts) of the White Sox topped the A’s 2-1 in Oakland.  In this July 28, 1976 game, Odom walked seven different players at least once in his five innings of work.

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Combined No-hitter Number Five –  At Witt’s End

MLB’s fifth combined no-hitter came on April 11, 1990 (again just two pitchers), with the Angels topping the Mariners 1-0 in Anaheim.  Mark Langston started the game and went seven (four walks, three strikeouts) and Mike Witt (the only pitcher to throw a perfect game – September 30, 1984 – and take part in a combined no-hitter ) threw the final two (two strikeouts.)

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1991 – The First “Year of the Combined No-Nos” (plural that is)

1991 saw seven MLB no-hitters, including two combined no-nos. On July 13, the Orioles no-hit the A’s 2-0 in Oakland behind Bob Milacki (who threw six no-hit innings – three walks/three whiffs) and was pulled after being hit by a Willie Wilson line drive. Mike Flanagan (one inning, one walk), Mark Williamson (one inning) and Gregg Olson (one inning, two strikeouts) finished up the no-no.

Then, on September 11, the Braves no-hit the Padres 1-0 in Atlanta, led by Kent Mercker (six innings, two walks, six strikeouts), Mark Wohlers (two innings) and Alejandro Pena (one inning).  Greg Harris, who started for the Padres, threw a complete-game seven-hitter.

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Combined No-Hitter Number Eight –  Working Overtime

Combined no-hitter number eight came on July 12, 1997 – with the Pirates topping the Astros 3-0 in Pittsburgh.  It was unique in that it is:

• The only extra-inning combined “no-no;” and
• Made Francisco Cordova the (still) only  pitcher to start a combined no-hitter by pitching nine full innings.

Francisco Cordova started and went nine hitless frames (two walks, ten whiffs) and Ricardo Rincon threw one hitless inning in relief (for the win).

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Combined No-Hitter Number Nine … Nearly the Whole Bullpen

The next combined no-hitter was a record breaker – as the then-National League Astros used a record six pitchers (since tied) to no-hit the Yankees 8-0 in an inter-league game at Yankee Stadium (the last no-hitter at Old Yankee Stadium). On June 11, 2003. Roy Oswalt started, but succumbed to a groin injury after just one completed inning (two strikeouts). Joining in the no-hitter were: Pete Munro (2 2/3 innings, three walks, two strikeouts ); Kirk Saarlos (1 1/3 innings, one strikeout); Brad Lidge (two innings, two strikeouts); Octavio Dotel (one inning, four strikeouts); and Billy Wagner (one inning, two whiffs).

Notably, the no-hitter also broke up the Yankee’s record streak of 6,980 games without being held hitless. They had not been held without a safety since September 20, 1958.  The five relievers combined for eight innings pitched, with three walks and 11 strikeouts.  The Houston Chronicle reported that the Yankees took the whitewashing well and that, when the Astros returned to the visiting clubhouse there was a bottle of champagne (courtesy of the Yankees) at each pitchers’ locker.

In the eighth inning of this game, Octavio Dotel recorded a four-whiff frame. He struck out Juan Rivera and Alfonso Soriano on three pitches each; fanned Derek Jeter on a 3-2 pitch only to see him awarded first base on catcher’s interference; and then got Jason Giambi on a 2-2 pitch.  All four were swinging strikeouts.

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Combined No-Hitter Number Ten – Evening Up the Score

The very next combined no-hitter – another inter-league game – saw the six-pitcher record tied, as the Mariners topped the Dodgers 1-0 in Seattle on June 8, 2012.  In addition, the AL evened up the score in combined inter-league no-hitters at one apiece. Kevin Millwood started that one (six innings, one walk, six strikeouts), followed by Charlie Furbush (2/3 inning, one strikeout), Stephen Pryor (1/3 inning, two walks, one strikeout), Lucas Luetge (1/3 inning), Brandon League (2/3 inning, one strikeout) and Tom Wilhelmsen (one inning).

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Combined No-Hitter Number 11 – The Fab Four

On September 1, 2014, the Phillies used four pitchers to no-hit the Braves 7-0 in Atlanta.  The pitchers involved were Cole Hamels, who started and went six innings (issuing five walks versus seven strikeouts); Jake Diekman (one inning, two strikeouts); Ken Giles (one inning, three strikeouts); and Jonathan Papelbon (one inning, no strikeouts).

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Combined No-Hitter Number 12 – On New Turf

This one took place on May 4, 2018, as the Dodgers no-hit the Padres 4-0 in a regular-season MLB game played in Monterrey, Mexico – the first official MLB no-hitter ever thrown outside the United State or Canada.

Right-hander Walker Buehler started for the Dodgers, and the 23-year-old – making just his third major-league start (11th appearance) – went six innings (93 pitches), walking three and fanning eight.  He was followed by relievers Tony Cingrani (one inning, two walks, one whiff); Yimi Garcia (one inning, no walks, two strikeouts) and Adam Libertore (one inning, no walks, two strikeouts).  Buehler, by the way, also collected an unusual sixth-inning single – as his groundball hit base runner Alex Verdugo between first and second, resulting in Verdugo being called out (for the final out of the inning) and Buehler being credited with a single. That single, of course, meant Buehler outhit the entire Padres’ lineup.

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Combined No-hitter number 13 – A Lucky Number

Thirteen was a lucky number for the Angels.  On July 12, 2019, their staff put together MLB’s 13th combined no-hitter and their offense scored 13 runs on 13 hits. Taylor Cole started the game (in the “opener” role) and pitched two clean frames with two strikeouts.  Felix Pena the came on for the Halos and went seven innings (one walk, six strikeouts).

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Combined No Hitter Number 14 – An Unlikely Starter

On August 3, 2019, four Astros’ pitcher no-hit the Mariners 9-0 in Houston. Starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez seemed an unlikely hurler to start off a no-no – he came into the game with a 3-14, 6.07 record in 23 starts (with batters hitting .290 against him – a .382 on-base percentage). Sanchez shut down the  Astros, walking two and fanning six over six no-hit innings, then giving way to Will Harris (one inning pitched, one walk); Joe Biagini (one inning pitched, one walk, one whiff); and Chris Devinski (one inning pitched, one strikeout).

It was, notably, the first appearance for the Astros for Sanchez and Biagini – both had been included in a Blue Jays/Astros trade on July 31 (Sanchez, Biagini and minor-leaguer Cal Stevenson for OF Derek Fisher).  Thanks to this effort, 2019 became just the second season with two combined no-hitters.

Combined No-Hitter Number 15 – Everyone Issued at least one Free pass

On June 24, 2021, the Chicago Cubs no-hit the Dodgers 4-0 in Los Angeles.  Zach Davies started for the Cubs and went six innings, walking five and fanning four. He was followed by Ryan Tepera (one inning, one walk); Andrew Chafin (one inning, one walk); and closer Craig Kimbrel (one inning, one walk, three strikeouts). That these three should close out a no-no is no surprise, coming into the game their earned run averages, respectively, were 2.02, 1.72 and 0.61.

More Proof of that “In Baseball, We Count Everything.” 

STATS, Inc. reported that this was the first no-hitter thrown against a lineup with three former MVP’s (Mookie Betts, Al Pujols, Cody Bellinger).

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Combined No-Hitter Number 16 – You’ve Been Burned

On September 11, 2021), Brewers’ ace right-hander Corbin Burnes faced off against the Indians in Cleveland. Burnes tossed eight innings of no-hit ball, before yielding the mound to southpaw reliever Josh Hader, who finished off the no-hitter with a 1-2-3 ninth.  It was the ninth no-hitter of the 2021 season, breaking the MLB single-season record of eight (set back in 1884.)

Burnes tossed eight innings, walking one and fanning 14 – eleven swinging and three looking.  He went to a three-ball count on just five batters and four of those struck out (Cleveland CF Myles Straw walked on a 3-1 pitch to open the seventh inning –  the only Indians’ base runner in the game.  Hader came on in the ninth and retired the Indians on nine pitches (two strikeouts and a foul pop.)

Here are a few tidbits about the Burnes-Hader no-no.

• The Indians became the first team to be no-hit three times in a single season.
• Burnes became just the third pitcher in (American League / National League) to be pulled to open the ninth inning after eight hitless frames (Elias Sports Bureau).
• It was the record seventh no-hitter thrown on the road in a season (an MLB single-season record – although 2021 already had the record at six).

Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer:  The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change as Major League Baseball recognizes and incorporates Negro League records from 1920-46 into the MLB record book.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

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Today (April 18, 2022) marks the tenth anniversary of a remarkable pitching achievements.  On April 18, 2012, Oakland A’s Bartolo Colon started on the mound against Ervin Santana and the Angels.  During one stretch of that game, won by A’s 6-0, Colon threw 38 consecutive strikes.  (The longest such streak since pitch-by-pitch data began being accurately tracked in 1988.) Were all 38 offerings in the strike zone? Perhaps not, but all those pitches that were outside the zone were close enough that the batters offered at them.

Overall, the streak lasted from the second pitch of the fifth innings until the seventh pitch of the eight frame.  Surprisingly, Colon struck out just two batters during the streak.  He also gave up two hits during the streak of strikes.

For the game, Colon threw 108 pitches – 82 strikes. For those who like such details, the first strike of Colon’s run came on his second pitch to SS Maicer Izturis leading off the Angels’ fifth. His streak ended on his second pitch to LF Bobby Abreu in the eighth. For the game, Colon pitched eight shutout innings – four hits, no walks and five whiffs – running his record to 3-1, 2.63. A few notable stats from the game:

• 35 of the 38 pitches were fastballs (two changeups and one slider).
• There was only one swing and miss (17 strikes looking).
• There were ten foul fouls and ten balls put in play.

Colon pitched in 21 MLB seasons (1997-2009, 2011-18 … Indians, Expos, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, A’s, Mets, Braves, Twins, Rangers) – winnings 247 games (188 losses),  with a 4.12 ERA. He  fanned 2,535 batters and walked  948 in 3,461 2/3 innings. Between 2012-2016 he averaged just 1.3 walks per nine innings –  twice recording the NL’s lowest walks/nine rate.  He averaged fewer than two walks per nine frames in nine seasons.

Now, as always, with Baseball Roundtable, one thing leads to another. So, imagine my surprise, when I saw Colon as the most recent entry in Baseball Almanac’s list of pitchers to start a game and walk four consecutive batters before recording an out. It happened on June 29, 2000, as Colon started for the Indians in Kansas City. Colon opened the bottom of the first inning by walking  Royals’ LF Johnny Damon, 2B Jeff Roboulet, 1B Mike Sweeney and RF Jermaine Dye on a total of 24 pitches.  He actually survived the inning, following the four walks  with a sacrifice fly, run-scoring groundout and a strikeout. Side note: This was a pretty good hitting Royals team. Among those first-inning walks, Roboulet was hitting .309, Sweeney .347 and Dye .320.   Colon lasted five innings in the game, giving up five earned runs on two hits and six walks.

Well, that bit of research sent me on another tangent – a look at pitchers who gave  up at  least ten walks in a game, without surrendering a run.  Turns out it happened  a manageable nine times.  So, here they are, with some very subjective rankings.

1. Jim Maloney. Reds … August 19, 1965 versus Cubs (in Chicago)

Maloney tops this list because his game was a ten-inning no-hitter – in which Maloney gave up ten walks, hit one batter and fanned  a dozen. Maloney’s toughest inning was the third, when he walked 2B Glenn Beckert and SS Don Kessinger to open the inning; then fanned P Larry Jackson and got CF Don Landrum to hit into a P-SS fielder’s choice; then walked LF Doug Clemens to load the bases, before getting RF Billy Williams on a groundout to second.  In the game, Maloney walked three in the third, two in the fourth, eighth and ninth and one in the tenth.  The Reds and Maloney won the game 1-0, scoring in the top of the tenth on a home run by number-eight hitter SS Leo Cardenas.

Maloney enjoyed a 12-season MLB career (1960-71) – all but the final year (Angels) with the Reds. He went 134-84, 3.19, twice winning 20 or more games in a season and logging six seasons of 15 or more victories.  He finished in the league’s top five in walks five times and top three in wild pitches six times (leading the league twice).

2. Bill James, Tigers … May 12, 1916 versus Athletics (in Philadelphia)

James takes the number-two spot on this list because he managed  to not allow a run, while walking ten batters in just five innings.

• James walked the first two batters in the first inning, but pitched out of the jam (sacrifice, fielder’s choice, strikeout).
• He gave up a walk and a single to put runners on first and third to start the second frame, but again worked his way out (runner caught stealing, fly out, strikeout).
• In the third, he again started the inning by putting two runners on base (walks), but slipped the hook with two ground outs and a fly out.
• Fourth frame, guess what? First two batters get on again (walks). James then got a groundout and a strikeout (leaving runners on second and third), before another walk to load the bases. A flyball to right then ended the inning.
• The fifth was uneventful, a lone two-out single.
• James started the sixth with a pair of walks before being pulled – and reliever Bernie Boland got out of the inning without a run touching the plate.

So, despite two hits and ten walks in five innings, James left with a 2-0 lead.  The bullpen, oweer, eventually gave up the lead and James got a no-decision.  (The Tigers eventually won 8-6 in 11 innings.)

James pitched in eight MLB seasons (1911-12, 1914-19 … Indians, Browns, Tigers, Red Sox, White Sox). He went 64-71, 3.21.

3. J.R. Richard, Astros … July 6, 1976 versus Mets (in Houston)

Photo: Public Domain via WikiCommons

Richard’s  qualifying game featured a ten-inning, compete-game shutout – despite eight hits, ten walks and two wild pitches.  In the first inning, Richard gave up a single and a double (3B Make Phillips and CF Bruce Boisclair), but avoided a run with Philips cut down at the plate. Richard pitched in and out of trouble all game,  but the seventh and eighth innings were especially tense. In the seventh , after getting the first out (2B Felix Milan on a grounder to short), Richard walked SS Bud Harrelson and wild pitched him to second. He then walked P Jon Matlock and 3B Mike Phillips to load the bases – but a fly out to  short center and a grounder to first got him out of the inning.  The eighth started out smooth, with two out and no one on, but Richard then walked C Jerry Grote, Milan and Harrelson to load the bases before fanning Matlock to end the inning.

Mets’ starter Jon Matlock matched Richard goose egg for goose egg  through nine, but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the tenth. Mets’ Reliever Skip Lockwood gave up a run on two singles and an error in the bottom of the tenth and Richard had a hard-fought 1-0 win.

Richard pitched 10 MLB seasons (1971-80), all for the Astros. He went 107-71, 3.15 – once winning 20 games (20-15, 2.75 in 1976) and three times notching 18 wins.  He led the NL in  strikeouts twice – both times topping 300 whiffs – and led in walks and wild pitches three times each.

4. Gary Peters, Whites Sox …. September 13, 1967 versus the Indians (in Chicago)

Peters worked hard for little return (a no decision) – pitching 11 one-hit, no-run innings (with, of course, ten walks and one hit by pitch) – in a game the White Sox eventually won ( 17 innings) 1-0.  Peters gave up his lone hit in the top of the second –  a triple to C Joe Azcue with only one out. Peters  then walked CF Jose Vidal and 2B Vern Fuller to load the bases – before a short fly to LF and a grounder to SS got him out of the inning unscathed.  While the raw numbers would seem to dispute it, Peters really seemed to be in control, despite all the free passes.  From the third through the eleventh innings, only two runners reached second base.

Peters pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1959-72 … White Sox, Red Sox). He was a two-time All Star and went 124-103, 3.25, once leading the AL in wins (20-8 in 1964) and twice in ERA (2.33 in 1963 and 1.98 in 1966). He won 15 or more games in four seasons.

5. Garland Buckeye, Indians … September 16, 1926 … versus Yankees in Cleveland

Have to put Garland Buckeye up here – great name and he managed a complete-game shutout against the Yankees of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri – despite giving up two hits, ten walks and a hit by pitch (and fanning only one). Buckeye spent considerable time in trouble during  the game – and Babe Ruth seemed to always be in the middle of it.

• In the second inning, Buckeye walked RF Ruth and then gave up a double to LF Meusel (Ruth stopping a third). Buckeye then walked SS Lazzeri to load the bases. He got out of the jam with a pop up and a groundball double play.
• In the fourth, Buckeye surrendered a single to 1B Gehrig and a walk to Ruth, before Meusel sacrificed them to second and third. A pop up and line out got Buckeye back to the bench without a run.
• In the sixth, Buckeye walked Gehrig and Ruth with one out and pitched out of it with a couple of easy fly balls.
• The seventh saw Buckeye issue three walks and bring Lou Gehrig to the plate with the sacks full and two out. It was then that Buckeye notched his only strikeout of the game.
• Buckeye walked Ruth to open the eighth and followed up by hitting Meusel with a pitch – but got a double play and an infield pop up to again escape.

The game was tied 0-0 until the seventh, when the Indians put up five  runs against Yankee starter Herb Pennock. (Pennock came into the game 22-9, Buckeye at 4-8).

Garland Buckeye pitched in five MLB seasons He got a cup of coffee for the Washington Senators in 1918 (against the Yankees), and gave up three hits, six walks and four earned runs in two innings.  A big man for his time, Buckeye moved to football, where he played center and guard for the Chicago Tigers (1920) and Chicago Cardinals (1921-24)  of the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League). He returned to MLB in 1925 and played through 1928 (Indians, Giants). His career MLB stats read 30-39, 3.91 in 108 games (67 starts). As a hitter he was .230-5-23 in 204 at bats. His best season on the mound was 1925, when he went 13-8, 3.65 for the Indians.

6. Hank Aguirre, Indians … September 24, 1955 … versus the Tigres (in Detroit)

This outing was Aguirre’s first MLB start (and just his fourth appearance).  The 24-year-old rookie struggled a bit, but managed a complete-game shutout – as his Indians prevailed 7-0.  Aguirre got off to a rocky start walking the first three batters he faced – SS Harvey Kuenn, 1B Earl Torgeson and RF Al Kaline. He wiggled out of the jam with two foul pop outs and a fly to right. He had another tough inning in the seventh, walking three of the first four batters before getting Kaline on a liner to first base and CF Bill Tuttle on a strikeout. With six of his ten free passes coming in two innings, the game was not as stressful as a ten-walk outing might seem.

Aguirre pitched 16 MLB seasons (1955-70 … Indians, Tigers, Dodgers, Cubs). He went 75-72, 3.25 and won 14 or more games in three campaigns. In 1962, he was an AL All Star (Tigers) and went 16-8, with a league-low 2.21 ERA.

7. George Brunet, Angels … July 6, 1966 versus Tigers (in Detroit)

Brunet worked just a bit of overtime in a tight contest (the Angels won 1-0 in ten innings) to pick up a victory – giving up no runs, despite allowing three hits and 10 walks. Brunet had eight strikeouts in the game.  In the second inning, with runners on second and third and one out, Brunet fanned C Bill Freehan and SS Dick McAuliffe to escape. In the eighth, a double and a pair of walks (after two outs) loaded the bases, but Brunet coaxed a ground out to third from  LF Willie Horton. The Angels scored in the  top of the tenth to give Brunet a 1-0 lead, but  after he walked the first batter in the bottom of the inning (3B Don Wert), got 2B Jake Wood to pop out and then gave up a single to 1B Norm Cash, Brunet was relieved by Jack Sanford who got the final two outs.

George Brunet pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1956-57, 1959-71 … Athletics, Braves, Astros, Orioles, Angels, Pilots, Senators, Pirates, Cardinals). He went 69-93, 3.62.

George Brunet  is a member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame. After leaving the major leagues, he pitched Mexico until 1989 (age 54).

8. Mel Stottlemyre, Yankees … May 21, 1970 versus Senators (in New York)

This falls just a little short of one-run game.  Stottlemyre got a 2-0 win, despite six hits, 11 walks and two wild pitches.

Stottlemyre was  in trouble right from the start, giving  up two walks and two singles in a scoreless first (one runner was erased trying to advance to second on a single).  Things calmed down until the fourth, when Stottlemyre again managed to escape scoreless, despite two singles and a walk (one runner called out after being struck by a fair ball).  In the fifth, Stottlemyre gave up two walks, one hit, a stolen base and tossed a wild pitch – but a key runner caught stealing  enabled  him to escape again.  In the ninth, a single and two walks had the bases loaded with one out (in a 2-0 game) and  Stottlemyre was pulled.  Reliever Steve Hamilton came in and fanned 1B Mike Epstein and 2B Bernie Allen (the number-four and number-five hitters) to save the game.

Stottlemyre pitched in 11 MLB seasons (1964-70), all for the Yankees.  He was a five-time All Star and won 20 or more games in three seasons (15 or more games in seven seasons).  He also led the AL in losses twice. His overall record was 164-139, 2.97.

Mel Stottlemyre was an All Star in 1966, when he led the AL in losses ( 12-20, 3.80). He was 7-8, 3.15 at the break and 5-12, 4.51 in the second half.

9. Lefty Gomez, Yankees … August 1, 1941 versus Browns (In New York)

Gomez  gave up five hits and 11 walks (one wild pitch) and still managed to shut down the Browns  in a lopsided 9-0 Yankee win. (There wasn’t a lot of pressure on Gomez, it was 3-0 after one inning and 6-0 after three.)

Really,  despite  all the walks, Gomez did not seem to be in a lot of trouble. The most bothersome innings  were bookends – the first and the ninth.  In the first, Gomez gave up a leadoff single to 2B Don Heffner, then retired the next two batters before walking a pair (Wally CF Judnich and LF Roy Cullenbine) to load the bases. This brought up RF Chet Laabs (remember that name, he’ll come up again) with the bases full and two outs. Gomez  got him on a foul pop out.  In the ninth, Gomez walked the bases full with two outs, and Chet Laabs was again the batter (told you he’d be back).  This time it was a fly out to center to end the game.

Hall  of Famer Gomez pitched in 14 MLB seasons (1930-43), all but the final one for the Yankees. (He was 0-1, 5.79 in one start for the Senators in 1943).  Gomez was 189-102, 3.34 for his career. A seven-time All Star, he led the AL in wins twice (and four times won 20+ games), and also led in ERA twice, in complete games twice, in shutouts three times and in strikeouts three times.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Bartolo Colon Throws 38 Consecutive Strikes in A’s Win, The Washington Post, April 20, 2012, by Matt Brooks

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More pre-season musings.  I was looking at rosters and noted that the Dodgers – for the second year in a row – had four former MVPs on the team: Freddie Freeman; Cody Bellinger; Mookie Betts; and Clayton Kershaw.   They did it a year ago, as well – with Albert Pujols replacing Freeman – and are the first team to achieve that distinction in consecutive seasons. Notably, of the five teams to boast four former MVPs on their Opening Day rosters, only one – the 1978 Reds – had four players who earned their MVP recognition with the team.

As regular readers know, when Baseball Roundtable looks into a trivia tidbit, “one thing always leads to another.”   In this case, it led to a look into teammates who finished atop the MVP voting in the same season.  I learned that the last time, MLB saw teammates finish 1-2-3 in Most Valuable Player race was in 1966– when Frank Robinson, Brook Robinson and Boog Powell of the World Champion Orioles earned the top three spots in the American League MVP balloting.  In this post, Baseball Roundtable will take a look at all those instances in which teammates finished 1-2 or 1-2-3 in the Most Valuable Player balloting.

Let’s start with a look at teammates who finished 1-2-3 in the MVP balloting.

1966 – OF Frank Robinson, Orioles, MVP … 3B, Brooks Robinson, Orioles, second … 1B Boog Powell, third

The 1966 World Champion Orioles (97-63) were clearly led by OF Frank Robinson.

• Frank Robinson hit .316-49-122, winning the AL Triple Crown. He also led the league in runs scored (122).
• Brooks Robinson, won his seventh straight Gold Glove, and also had a solid offensive year (.269-23-100).
• Boog Powell came in at .287-34-109.

Notably, three Twins finished 4-5-6: Harmon Killebrew, Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva.  Also finishing in the top ten for the Orioles that year was shortstop Luis Aparicio at number nine.

From 1964-66, Brooks Robinson never finished lower than third in the AL MVP voting. One first, one second, one third.

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1959 – 2B Nellie Fox, White Sox, MVP … SS Luis Aparicio, White Sox, second … P Early Wynn, White Sox, third

The 1959 White Sox used defense and pitching to upend the favored Yankees and finish first in the American League (94-60-2) – despite having only one player with at least 20 home runs (C Sherm Lollar , 22) and no player with more than 84 RBI or 98 runs scored. In fact, only one regular member of the lineup hit higher than .275. It’s no surprise that two Gold Glove middle infielders and a pitcher were their top MVP vote getters.

• Nellie Fox hit .306-2-70, with 84 runs scored.
• Luis Aparicio it .257-6-51, with 98 runs scored and 56 steals.
• Early Wynn led the league with 22 wins (ten losses) and put up a 3.17 ERA in 37 starts.

The White Sox won the Al pennant in 1959 despite finishing sixth (out of eight teams) in runs scored and batting average and last in home runs. The ChiSox had five of the top ten finishers in the MVP balloting that year, with CF Jim Landis at number-seven and C Sherm Lollar at number-nine joining the top three.

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1941 – 1B Dolph Camilli, Dodgers, MVP … CF Pete Reiser, Dodgers, second … pitcher Whit Wyatt Dodges, third

The 1941 Dodgers went 101-54-3, finishing atop the National League –  boasting a potent attack  that led the league in runs scored (800), home runs (101) and average (.272), and a pitching staff that boasted two 20-game winners and the league’s  lowest ERA (3.14), That was reflected in the MVP balloting.

• 1B Dolph Camilli hit .285 and led the league in home runs (34) and RBI (120), while scoring 92 runs.
• CF Pete Reiser led the league in batting (.343), runs scored (117), doubles (39), triples (17) and tossed in 14 home runs and 76 RBI.
• P Whit Wyatt led the league with 22 wins (10 losses) and seven shutouts. His 2.34 ERA was second in the league, as were his 23 complete games and 176 strikeouts.

Dodgers’ Kirby Higbe and OF Dixie Walker also finished in the balloting’s top ten at seven and ten, respectively.

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1914 – 2B Johnny Evers, Braves, MVP … SS Rabbit Maranville, Braves, second … P Bill James, Braves, third

The 1914 World Champion Braves finished the regular season 94-59-5. They were dubbed the Miracle Braves after finishing in fifth place the previous year and being 16 games out of first place on July 4 and  in last place (11 games out) as late as July 18.  In fact, the Braves did not drop their deficit into single digits until July 31 – and yet they finished the season 10 ½ games ahead of the second-place Giants.  No wonder they had the top three MVP vote-getters in Bill James (one of two 26-game winners on the pitching staff) and infielders Johnny Evers and Rabbit Maranville, who provided sparkling defense up the middle  (and led the league in double plays), while also contributing on offense.

• Johnny Evers hit .279-1-40 , with 12 steals and 81 runs scored in 139 games.
• Rabbit Maranville hit .246-4-78, with 74 runs and 28 steals in 156 games.
• Bill James went 26-7, 1.90, with 30 complete games in 37 starts.

Brave’ pitcher Dick Rudolph also finished in the top ten, seventh in the voting.

Bill  James pitched in only four MLB seasons, with a career line of 37-21,  2.28. Outside of that 1914 miracle season, he was 11-14, 2.88. In Game Two of the 1914 World Series, James pitched a two-hit shutout, as the Braves topped the Athletics 1-0. Side note: James career was cut short by chronic arm fatigue which surfaced  in 1915.

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Now, a look at teammates who finished  1-2 in the MVP vote.

2000 – 2B Jeff Kent, Giants, MVP … LF Barry Bonds Giants, second

In 2000, as the Giants won 97 games to lead the NL West.

• Jeff Kent hit .334, with 33 home runs, 125 RBI, 114 runs scored and 12 steals.
• Barry Bonds hit .306-49-106, with 129 runs scored and 11 steals.

Kent received 392 points in the balloting (with 22 first-place votes); Bonds was at 279 (six first-place votes).  They were at the heart of the Giants’ potent attack – and a solid case could be made for either player. After finishing second to Kent in the 2000 MVP voting, Bonds went on to win the National League MVP Award in each of the next four seasons.

2000 was truly a “power year in the balloting, as every one of the top 11 National League vote-getters hit at least 33 home runs (seven hit 40+) and drove in at least 104. The Rockies’ Todd Helton finished sixth in the balloting, despite leading the league in average (.373), RBI (147) and hits (216), while also stroking 42 homers.  The top four finishers  in the AL MVP race all hit 40+ homer and drove in 130+ runs. Pitcher Pedro Martinez broke the string, by finishing  fifth in the voting.

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1989 – LF Kevin Mitchell, Giants, MVP… 1B Will Clark, Giants, second

The Giants went 92-70, finishing first in the NL West, with Clark and Mitchell each driving in 100+ runs.

On the season:

• Kevin Mitchell hit .291, and led the NL in home runs (47) and RBI (125), while also scoring 100 runs.
• Will Clark hit .333-23-111, and led the NL with 104 runs scored.

Mitchell outpaced Clark in balloting 314 to 222 in points and 20-to-three in first-place votes.

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1983 – SS Cal Ripken, Jr., Orioles, MVP … 1B Eddie Murray, Orioles, second

The Orioles finished 98-64 and went on to win the World Series behind these two MVP candidates:

• Cal Ripken, Jr. went .318-27-102, and led the AL in hits (211) and runs scored (121), while playing in all 162 games;
• Eddie Murray was close, ending at .306-33-111, with 115 runs scored.

It was a close vote (322-290), with Ripken getting 15 first-place nods and Murray ten.  The only other first-place votes went to White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk (three), who finished third (.286-26-86).

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1976 – 2B Joe Morgan, Reds, MVP … OF George Foster, Reds, second

The Reds went 102-60 and won the nL West (and World Series).

• Joe Morgan hit .320, with 27 home runs, 111 RBI and 113 runs scored (and picked up his third straight Gold Glove).
• George Foster hit .306, with 29 home runs and a league-leading 121 RBI.

The clinchers for Morgan were likely his 60 steals (to Foster’s 17) and 114 walks to Foster’s 54. Those walks gave Morgan a league-topping .444 on-base percentage (to Foster’s .364).  Morgan got 311 points in the full ranked voting to 221 for Foster. Morgan got 19 first-place votes to Foster’s five. A third Reds’ player, Pete Rose, finished fourth in the balloting.

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1971 – P Vida Blue, A’s, MVP … 3B Sal Bando, A’s, second

The A’s went 101-60 in winning the AL West, as Vida Blue won the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards.

• Vida Blue went 24-8, with a league-leading 1.82 earned run average. He threw 24 complete games in 39 starts and led the league with eight shutouts.
• Bando went .271-24-94 (leading the A’s in RBI).

Blue outpaced Bando 268-182 in the full ranked voting and had 14 first-place votes to Bando’s four. Reggie Jackson, who hit .277-32-80, with 87 runs scored and 16 steals (outpacing Bando in all those categories) finished 14^th in the balloting.

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1968 – P Denny McLain, Tigers, MVP …. C Bill Freehan, Tigers, MVP

1960 was the “Year of the Pitcher,” with Denny McLain (AL) and Bob Gibson (NL) each capturing their league’s Cy Young and MVP Awards. McLain may have pulled his battery mate Bill Freehan along for the ride. The Tigers went 103-59-2 (and went on to win the World Series).

• Denny McLain went 31-6, 1.96, leading the AL in wins (31), complete games (28) and innings pitched (336).
• Bill Freehan went .263-25-84 in 155 games (138 behind the plate).

McLain outpaced Freehan 280 to 161 in the ranked voting and got all 20 first-place votes.  Boston’s 1B/OF Ken Harrelson finished third despite outhitting Freehan (.275, with 35 home runs and a league-topping 109 RBI). That season a .275 average was good for ninth-best in the AL.)

Denny McLain and Bill Freehan are the only battery mates to finish 1-2 in he MVP voting in the same season.

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1967 – 1B Orlando Cepeda, Cardinals, MVP … C Tim McCarver, Cardinals, second

The Cardinals went 101-60 in 1967 (and won the World Series) and Orlando Cepeda was the big bat in the lineup, leading the team in average, home runs and RBI.  For the season:

• Orlando Cepeda hit .325-25-111, with 11 steals and 91 runs scored;
• Tim McCarver hit .295-14-69, with eight steals and 68 runs scored and was an acknowledged team leader.

Cepeda got all 20 first-place votes and outpaced McCarver 280-136 in the balloting.

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1965 – SS Zoilo Versalles, Twins, MVP … RF Tony Oliva, Twins, second

The Twins went 102-60 in 1965, taking the AL Pennant. SS Zoilo Versalles was selected AL MVP, topping teammate Tony Oliva.

• Zoilo Versalles led the AL in plate appearances (728); at bats (666); runs scored (126), doubles (45), triples (12) and total bases (308), while batting .273, popping 19 home runs and stealing 27 bags.
• Tony Oliva won the AL batting Championship (.321) and led the league in hits (185), popped 16 home runs, drove in 98 and scored 107.

In 1965, when Zoilo Versalles won the AL Most Valuable Player Award, he led the American League in strikeouts and errors.

Versalles got 19 of the twenty first-place votes and 275 total points in the balloting. Oliva got the remaining first-place vote and 174 points.

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1962 – CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, MVP … 2B Bobby Richardson, Yankees, second

The World Champion Yankees went 96-66 in the regular season in 1962, as Mickey Mantle won his third MVP Award and first Gold Glove.

• Mickey Mantle hit .321-30-89, with 96 runs scored and nine steals in 123 games.
• Bobby Richardson hit .302-8-59, with 99 runs scored and a league-topping 209 hits in 161 one games (and was the glue in the Yankee infield).

Mantle got 13 first-place votes and 234 points in the balloting. Richardson got five first place votes and 152 points.  The remaining two first-place votes went to the Twins’ Harmon Killebrew and the Yankees’ Tom Tresh.

Bobby Richardson is the only player to win the World Series MVP Award while playing on the losing team (1960).

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1961 – RF Roger Maris, Yankees, MVP … CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, second

Okay, how do you not give the MVP Award to the player who broke Babe Ruth’s hallowed home run record?  But, despite the record, the vote was a lot closer than you might think. Here are the stats.

• Roger Maris hit just .269, but led the AL in home runs (61), RBI (141) and runs scored (132), as he captured his second straight MVP Award.
• Mickey Mantle hit .317-54-128, with 131 runs scored and 12 steals.

In the voting, Maris got seven first-place votes and 202 points; Mantle got six first-place votes and 198 points.  (Jim Gentile, who tied Maris for the RBI lead and had 46 home runs and a .302 average picked up five first-lace votes in a third-place finish.) The Yankees won 109 regular-season games (53 losses, one tie) and the World Championship behind the M&M boys.

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1960 – RF Roger Maris, Yankees, MVP … CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, second

In a precursor to the 1961 MVP results, Roger Maris edged teammate Mickey Mantle for the AL MVP Award as the Yankees went 97-57-1 to lead the American League.

• Roger Maris hit .281, with 39 homers and a league-topping 112 RBI (98 run scored).
• Mickey Mantle hit .275, hit an AL-best 40 homers, drove in 94 runs and scored an AL-leading 119.

In the balloting Mantle got ten first-place votes to Maris’ eight, but lost 225 to 222 in total points.

The 1960 MVP race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle was the closest ever among teammates – a three-point difference among 447 points for the two leaders. The closest vote ever came in 1947, when Joe DiMaggio edged Ted Williams by one point (202-201) – despite the fact that Williams won the Triple Crown.

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1956 – CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, MVP … C Yogi Berra, Yankees, second

Another Yankee 1-2 punch in the MVP chase. Finishing atop the MVP balloting for the World Champion Yankees (970-57 in the regular season) were:

• Triple Crown winner Mickey Mantle (.353-52-130, with a league-leading 132 runs scored); and
• Yogi Berra (.298-30-105, with 93 runs scored).

Mantle got 336 points and all 24 first-place votes and Berra accumulated 186 points.  The Yankees went 97-57 – and went on to win the World Series (over the Dodgers) four games-to-three.

In an 18-season MLB career, Mickey Mantle finished among the top three in AL MVP voting seven times.

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1956 – P Don Newcombe, Dodgers, MVP … P Sal Maglie, Dodgers Second

The 1955 Dodgers edged the Milwaukee Braves by one game for the NL pennant going 93-61. Overall, the Dodgers outscored the Braves 720-709 on the season and gave up 32 fewer runs.

A pair of Dodgers pitchers finished 1-2 in the MVP balloting.

• Don Newcombe, led the NL in wins with 27 (seven losses), put up a 3.06 ERA and tossed 18 complete games in 36 starts.
• Sal Maglie went 13-5, 2.87 for the Dodgers after coming over from the Indians in May.

Newcombe got eight first-place votes and 223 points to Maglie’s four first-place votes and 183 points. Notably, two pretty well-known Braves finished third and fourth: Hank Aaron (.328-26-92) and Warren Spahn (20-11, 2.78).

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1955 – C Roy Campanella, Dodgers, MVP … CF Duke Snider, Dodgers, second

In 1955, the Dodgers finally knocked off the crosstown rival Yankees in the World Series.  They got there on a 98-55-1 regular-season record fueled, in great part, by Roy Campanella and Duke Snider.

• Roy Campanella hit .318-32-107, with 81 runs scored.
• Duke Snider hit .309, with 42 home runs, a league-leading 136 RBI and a NL-best 126 runs scored.

Each of these two Dodgers got eight first-place votes (the Cubs Ernie Banks got six), with Campanella winning the total point count 226-221.

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Bobby Shantz In the Lead

In 1952, the Athletics’ Bobby Shantz won the AL Most Valuable Player Award on the strength of a 24-7, 2.48 record … despite the Athletics’ 79-75 fourth place finish (or maybe because of it … the Athletics were 25-8 in games in which Shantz pitched and 54-67 when he didn’t take the mound). Shantz gets a shout out here because the next three finishers in the MVP balloting were all from the World Champion Yankees: Allie Reynolds, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra.

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1945 – P Hal Newhouser, Tigers, MVP … 2B Eddie Mayo, Tigers, second

The 1945 World Champion  Tigers won the AL pennant with an 88-65-2 record, behind the big arm of Hal Newhouser.

• Hal Newhouser led the AL with 25 wins (nine losses) and a 1.81 ERA. He also led in starts (36), complete games (29), shutouts (8); innings pitched (313 1/3) and strikeouts (212).
• Tigers’ 2B Eddie Mayo hit .285-10-54, with 71 runs scored.

Although the statistics would seem to say otherwise, the vote was closer than you might expect, as Mayo was rewarded for sparkling defense, on-field leadership and solid offensive numbers for a middle infielder (at the time). Mayo got seven fist place votes to Newhouser’s nine – and was outscored 236-164 in the full voting.

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1944 … P Hal Newhouser, Tigers, MVP… P Dizzy Trout, Tigers, second

The Tigers finished second in 1944 (88-66-2), despite having the number-one and two finishers in the MVP balloting – a pair of pitchers who combined for 56 wins.

• Southpaw Hall Newhouser led the league with 29 wins (nine losses) and 187 strikeouts, while putting up a 2.22 ERA, 25 complete games and six shutouts.
• Righty Dizzy Trout nearly matched Newhouser with 27 wins (14 losses) and led the league in ERA (2.12), complete games (33) shutouts (7) and innings pitched (314).

In 1944, Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout finished 1 & 2 in the AL (in varying order) in wins, ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, complete games and shutouts.

In the balloting, Trout got 10 first-place votes to Newhouser’s seven, but lost out in the full ranked voting 236-232.

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1943 … OF Stan Musial, Cardinals, MVP … C Walker Cooper Cards, second

Stan Musial, in just his second full MLB season, captured his first batting crown and MVP Award as the Cardinals finished on top of the NL with a 105-9-3 record.

Side note: Sign of the times, the Cardinals had no batter with more than 13 home runs and no hitter with more than 81 RBI (Musial and Walker Cooper tied for the team lead). Still, they finished second in the NL in runs scored and home runs.  They also posted the league’s best earned run average (2.57) – more than a half run better than the second-best team.

• Stan Musial led the league in average (.357), hits (220), doubles (48) and triples (20); while scoring 108 runs, hitting 13 home runs, driving in 81 and stealing nine bases.
• Walker Cooper hit .318-9-81, with 52 runs scored – and caught the pitching staff that led the league in ERA.

Musial got 13 first-place votes and 267 ranked points to Cooper’s five and 192, respectively,

In the six seasons Between 1946 and 1951, Stan Musial finished in the top two in the NL MVP race five times. In those six campaigns, he averaged .349-28-112, with an season-average 122 runs scored, 40 doubles, 14 triples, 87 walks and just 34 strikeouts. Stan “The Man,” indeed.

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1942 – P Mort Cooper, Cardinals … OF Enos Slaughter, Cardinals, second

The World Champion Cardinals went 106-48-2 on the season , topping the league in run scored (755) and ERA (2.55). It seems appropriate that a Cardinals’  pitcher and batter would find their way to the top of the MVP balloting.

• Mort Cooper had a solid season going 22-7, 1.78 (although, truth be told, the Cardinals’ Johnny Beasley was not far behind at 21-6, 2.13). Cooper also had 22 complete games and ten shutouts. Cooper led the NL in wins, ERA and shutouts.
• Enos Slaughter led the Cardinals’ lineup in average (.318), RBI (98), home runs (13), runs scored 100, hits (188) and triples (17). He led the NL in hits and triples, was second in average and runs scored and third in runs batted.

Cooper got 13 first place votes and 263 points to Slaughter’s six first-place recognitions and 200 ranked points.

In 1942 Mort Cooper won the NL Most Valuable Award. A year later, his brother Walker Cooper nearly duplicated the feat – finishing second in the MVP voting to Stan Musial. 

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1934 – C Mickey Cochrane, Tigers, MVP … 2B Charlie Gehringer, Tigers, second

The 1934 Tigers finished first in the AL with a 101-53 record – led by player-manager Mickey Cochrane (who was also the AL MVP). All Star second baseman Charlie Gehringer finished second in the balloting.

• Mickey Cochrane played in 129 games and hit .320, with two home runs and 75 RBI, while also managing and, of course, handling backstop duties.
• Gehringer hit .356-11-127, scored a league-leading 135 runs and posted an NL-best 214 hits.

Cochrane edged Gehringer 67 points to 65 in the voting.

Primary Resource: BaseballReference.com

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