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As regular readers know, when Baseball Roundtable looks into a trivia tidbit, “one thing always leads to another.”<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0In this case, it led to a look into teammates who finished atop the MVP voting in the same season.\u00a0 I learned that the last time, MLB saw teammates finish 1-2-3 in Most Valuable Player race was in 1966<\/strong><\/em>\u2013 when Frank Robinson, Brook Robinson and Boog Powell of the World Champion Orioles earned the top three spots in the American League MVP balloting.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with a look at teammates who finished 1-2-3 in the MVP balloting.<\/p>\n 1966 \u2013 OF Frank Robinson, Orioles, MVP \u2026 3B, Brooks Robinson, Orioles, second \u2026 1B Boog Powell, third<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 1966 World Champion Orioles (97-63) were clearly led by OF Frank Robinson.<\/p>\n Notably, three Twins finished 4-5-6: Harmon Killebrew, Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva.\u00a0 Also finishing in the top ten for the Orioles that year was shortstop Luis Aparicio at number nine.<\/p>\n From 1964-66, Brooks Robinson never finished lower than third in the AL MVP voting. One first, one second, one third.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n ______________________________________<\/p>\n 1959 \u2013 2B Nellie Fox, White Sox, MVP \u2026 SS Luis Aparicio, White Sox, second \u2026 P Early Wynn, White Sox, third<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 1959 White Sox used defense and pitching to upend the favored Yankees and finish first in the American League (94-60-2) \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n ________________________________<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 1941 \u2013 1B Dolph Camilli, Dodgers, MVP \u2026 CF Pete Reiser, Dodgers, second \u2026 pitcher Whit Wyatt Dodges, third<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 1941 Dodgers went 101-54-3, finishing atop the National League –\u00a0 boasting a potent attack\u00a0 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\u2019s \u00a0lowest ERA (3.14), That was reflected in the MVP balloting.<\/p>\n Dodgers\u2019 Kirby Higbe and OF Dixie Walker also finished in the balloting\u2019s top ten at seven and ten, respectively.<\/p>\n __________________________<\/p>\n 1914 \u2013 2B Johnny Evers, Braves, MVP \u2026 SS Rabbit Maranville, Braves, second \u2026 P Bill James, Braves, third<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 1914 World Champion Braves finished the regular season 94-59-5. They were dubbed the Miracle Braves<\/em> after finishing in fifth place the previous year and being 16 games out of first place on July 4 and\u00a0 in last place (11 games out) as late as July 18.\u00a0 In fact, the Braves did not drop their deficit into single digits until July 31 \u2013 and yet they finished the season 10 \u00bd games ahead of the second-place Giants.\u00a0 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 \u00a0(and led the league in double plays), while also contributing on offense.<\/p>\n Brave\u2019 pitcher Dick Rudolph also finished in the top ten, seventh in the voting.<\/p>\n Bill \u00a0James pitched in only four MLB seasons, with a career line of 37-21, \u00a02.28. 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. <\/strong>Side note: James career was cut short by chronic arm fatigue which surfaced\u00a0 in 1915.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n ______________________________________<\/p>\n Now, a look at teammates who finished\u00a0 1-2 in the MVP vote.<\/p>\n 2000 \u2013 2B Jeff Kent, Giants, MVP \u2026 LF Barry Bonds Giants, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In 2000, as the Giants won 97 games to lead the NL West.<\/p>\n Kent received 392 points in the balloting (with 22 first-place votes); Bonds was at 279 (six first-place votes). \u00a0They were at the heart of the Giants\u2019 potent attack \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 2000 was truly a \u201cpower 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. \u00a0The top four finishers\u00a0 in the AL MVP race all hit 40+ homer and drove in 130+ runs. Pitcher Pedro Martinez broke the string, by finishing\u00a0 fifth in the voting.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n __________________________________<\/p>\n 1989 \u2013 LF Kevin Mitchell, Giants, MVP\u2026 1B Will Clark, Giants, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Giants went 92-70, finishing first in the NL West, with Clark and Mitchell each driving in 100+ runs.<\/p>\n On the season:<\/p>\n Mitchell outpaced Clark in balloting 314 to 222 in points and 20-to-three in first-place votes.<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n 1983 \u2013 SS Cal Ripken, Jr., Orioles, MVP \u2026 1B Eddie Murray, Orioles, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Orioles finished 98-64 and went on to win the World Series behind these two MVP candidates:<\/p>\n It was a close vote (322-290), with Ripken getting 15 first-place nods and Murray ten. \u00a0The only other first-place votes went to White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk (three), who finished third (.286-26-86).<\/p>\n _________________________________<\/p>\n 1976 \u2013 2B Joe Morgan, Reds, MVP \u2026 OF George Foster, Reds, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Reds went 102-60 and won the nL West (and World Series).<\/p>\n The clinchers for Morgan were likely his 60 steals (to Foster\u2019s 17) and 114 walks to Foster\u2019s 54. Those walks gave Morgan a league-topping .444 on-base percentage (to Foster\u2019s .364). \u00a0Morgan got 311 points in the full ranked voting to 221 for Foster. Morgan got 19 first-place votes to Foster\u2019s five. A third Reds’ player, Pete Rose, finished fourth in the balloting.<\/p>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n 1971 \u2013 P Vida Blue, A\u2019s, MVP \u2026 3B Sal Bando, A\u2019s, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The A’s went 101-60 in winning the AL West, as Vida Blue won the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards.<\/p>\n Blue outpaced Bando 268-182 in the full ranked voting and had 14 first-place votes to Bando\u2019s four. Reggie Jackson, who hit .277-32-80, with 87 runs scored and 16 steals (outpacing Bando in all those categories) finished 14th<\/sup> in the balloting.<\/p>\n ___________________________________<\/p>\n 1968 \u2013 P Denny McLain, Tigers, MVP \u2026. C Bill Freehan, Tigers, MVP<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1960 was the “Year of the Pitcher,” with Denny McLain (AL) and Bob Gibson (NL) each capturing their league\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n McLain outpaced Freehan 280 to 161 in the ranked voting and got all 20 first-place votes.\u00a0 Boston\u2019s 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.)<\/p>\n Denny McLain and Bill Freehan are the only battery mates to finish 1-2 in he MVP voting in the same season.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n ____________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n 1967 – 1B Orlando Cepeda, Cardinals, MVP \u2026 C Tim McCarver, Cardinals, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 For the season:<\/p>\n Cepeda got all 20 first-place votes and outpaced McCarver 280-136 in the balloting.<\/p>\n ___________________________________<\/p>\n 1965 \u2013 SS Zoilo Versalles, Twins, MVP \u2026 RF Tony Oliva, Twins, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Twins went 102-60 in 1965, taking the AL Pennant. SS Zoilo Versalles was selected AL MVP, topping teammate Tony Oliva.<\/p>\n In 1965, when Zoilo Versalles won the AL Most Valuable Player Award, he led the American League in strikeouts and errors.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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.<\/p>\n ___________________________________________<\/p>\n 1962 \u2013 CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, MVP \u2026 2B Bobby Richardson, Yankees, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Mantle got 13 first-place votes and 234 points in the balloting. Richardson got five first place votes and 152 points.\u00a0 The remaining two first-place votes went to the Twins\u2019 Harmon Killebrew and the Yankees\u2019 Tom Tresh.<\/p>\n Bobby Richardson is the only player to win the World Series MVP Award while playing on the losing team (1960).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n 1961 \u2013 RF Roger Maris, Yankees, MVP \u2026 CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Okay, how do you not give the MVP Award to the player who broke Babe Ruth\u2019s hallowed home run record?\u00a0 But, despite the record, the vote was a lot closer than you might think. Here are the stats.<\/p>\n In the voting, Maris got seven first-place votes and 202 points; Mantle got six first-place votes and 198 points.\u00a0 (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.<\/p>\n __________________________________________<\/p>\n 1960 \u2013 RF Roger Maris, Yankees, MVP \u2026 CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In the balloting Mantle got ten first-place votes to Maris\u2019 eight, but lost 225 to 222 in total points.<\/p>\n The 1960 MVP race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle was the closest ever among teammates \u2013 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) \u2013 despite the fact that Williams won the Triple Crown.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n 1956 \u2013 CF Mickey Mantle, Yankees, MVP \u2026 C Yogi Berra, Yankees, second <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n Mantle got 336 points and all 24 first-place votes and Berra accumulated 186 points.\u00a0 The Yankees went 97-57 \u2013 and went on to win the World Series (over the Dodgers) four games-to-three.<\/p>\n In an 18-season MLB career, Mickey Mantle finished among the top three in AL MVP voting seven times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n __________________________________________<\/p>\n 1956 \u2013 P Don Newcombe, Dodgers, MVP \u2026 P Sal Maglie, Dodgers Second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A pair of Dodgers pitchers finished 1-2 in the MVP balloting.<\/p>\n Newcombe got eight first-place votes and 223 points to Maglie\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n ___________________________________<\/p>\n 1955 \u2013 C Roy Campanella, Dodgers, MVP \u2026 CF Duke Snider, Dodgers, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In 1955, the Dodgers finally knocked off the crosstown rival Yankees in the World Series.\u00a0 They got there on a 98-55-1 regular-season record fueled, in great part, by Roy Campanella and Duke Snider.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n _________________________________<\/p>\n Bobby Shantz In the Lead<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In 1952, the Athletics\u2019 Bobby Shantz won the AL Most Valuable Player Award on the strength of a 24-7, 2.48 record \u2026 despite the Athletics\u2019 79-75 fourth place finish (or maybe because of it \u2026 the Athletics were 25-8 in games in which Shantz pitched and 54-67 when he didn\u2019t 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.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n ______________________________________<\/p>\n 1945 \u2013 P Hal Newhouser, Tigers, MVP \u2026 2B Eddie Mayo, Tigers, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 1945 World Champion\u00a0 Tigers won the AL pennant with an 88-65-2 record, behind the big arm of Hal Newhouser.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s nine – and was outscored 236-164 in the full voting.<\/p>\n _________________________________<\/p>\n 1944 \u2026 P Hal Newhouser, Tigers, MVP\u2026 P Dizzy Trout, Tigers, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Tigers finished second in 1944 (88-66-2), despite having the number-one and two finishers in the MVP balloting \u2013 a pair of pitchers who combined for 56 wins.<\/p>\n 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.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In the balloting, Trout got 10 first-place votes to Newhouser\u2019s seven, but lost out in the full ranked voting 236-232.<\/p>\n _________________________________________<\/p>\n 1943 \u2026 OF Stan Musial, Cardinals, MVP \u2026 C Walker Cooper Cards, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 They also posted the league\u2019s best earned run average (2.57) \u2013 more than a half run better than the second-best team.<\/em><\/p>\n Musial got 13 first-place votes and 267 ranked points to Cooper\u2019s five and 192, respectively,<\/p>\n 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 \u201cThe Man,\u201d indeed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n _________________________________________<\/p>\n 1942 \u2013 P Mort Cooper, Cardinals \u2026 OF Enos Slaughter, Cardinals, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2019\u00a0 pitcher and batter would find their way to the top of the MVP balloting.<\/p>\n Cooper got 13 first place votes and 263 points to Slaughter\u2019s six first-place recognitions and 200 ranked points.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n _________________________________<\/p>\n 1934 \u2013 C Mickey Cochrane, Tigers, MVP \u2026 2B Charlie Gehringer, Tigers, second<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The 1934 Tigers finished first in the AL with a 101-53 record \u2013 led by player-manager Mickey Cochrane (who was also the AL MVP). All Star second baseman Charlie Gehringer finished second in the balloting.<\/p>\n Cochrane edged Gehringer 67 points to 65 in the voting.<\/p>\n Primary Resource: BaseballReference.com<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/4MVP.jpg\")
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<\/a>Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.\u00a0 To see the full list, click\u00a0here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nI tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n