Tigers-MVP history

Posted: 3:09 a.m. Nov. 21, 2010
Tigers-MVP history

BY JOHN LOWE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Seven times since 1940, a Tigers hitter has finished second in the AL MVP voting. Some have missed winning narrowly; others have finished way back. Here are those seven instances, with first-place votes for the winner and the Tiger runner-up. In some instances, other players besides the top-two finishers received first-place votes.


2007: New York’s Alex Rodriguez 26, Magglio Ordoñez 2

1991: Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. 15, Cecil Fielder 9

1990: Oakland’s Rickey Henderson 14, Fielder 10

1987: Toronto’s George Bell 16, Alan Trammell 12

1968: Tigers pitcher Denny McLain 20 (unanimous), Bill Freehan 0 (he was the distant runner-up)

1963: New York’s Elston Howard 15, Al Kaline 1

1955: New York’s Yogi Berra 7, Kaline 4 (in the overall voting, Kaline lost, 218-201)

SOURCE: Baseball-Reference.com

Second place, first loser

Seven times since 1940, a Tigers hitter has finished second in the AL MVP voting. Some have missed winning narrowly; others have finished way back. Here are those seven instances, with first-place votes for the winner and the Tiger runner-up. In some instances, other players besides the top-two finishers received first-place votes.

2007: New York's Alex Rodriguez 26, Magglio Ordoñez 2

1991: Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr. 15, Cecil Fielder 9

1990: Oakland's Rickey Henderson 14, Fielder 10

1987: Toronto's George Bell 16, Alan Trammell 12

1968: Tigers pitcher Denny McLain 20 (unanimous), Bill Freehan 0 (he was the distant runner-up)

1963: New York's Elston Howard 15, Al Kaline 1

1955: New York's Yogi Berra 7, Kaline 4 (in the overall voting, Kaline lost, 218-201)

The arms had it

Four Tigers pitchers have won the MVP since 1940, when Hank Greenberg became the most recent Tigers hitter to win the award:

1944 - Hal Newhouser

1945 - Hal Newhouser

1968 - Denny McLain

1984 - Willie Hernandez


A look back

In 1940, when Hank Greenberg became the most recent Tigers hitter to win the MVP, there were 16 teams in the majors. Here are the most recent hitters to win the MVP on each of those other 15 respective teams. Note that except for Cleveland, every other team has had an MVP since ’88, when Kirk Gibson — in his first year away from the Tigers — won the NL MVP with the Dodgers.

Senators-Twins
2009
Joe Mauer

Red Sox
2008
Dustin Pedroia

Yankees
2007
Alex Rodriguez

Athletics
2002
Miguel Tejada

White Sox
1994
Frank Thomas

Browns-Orioles
1991
Hal Ripken Jr.

Indians
1953
Al Rosen

Cardinals
2009
Albert Pujols

Phillies
2007
Jimmy Rollins

Giants
2004
Barry Bonds

Braves
1999
Chipper Jones

Cubs
1998
Sammy Sosa

Reds
1995
Barry Larkin

Pirates
1992
Barry Bonds

Dodgers
1988
Kirk Gibson

SOURCE: Baseball-Reference.com

Contact JOHN LOWE: 313-223-4053 or jlowe@freepress.com. Read more in his Tigers blog at freep.com/tigersblog and follow him on Twitter @freeptigers.


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Posted: Nov. 21, 2010
Breaking down the AL MVP race

By MATTHEW CAMMARATA
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

Miguel Cabrera

Pro: In the Triple Crown categories, Cabrera led Hamilton and Cano in home runs and RBIs. By far, Cabrera had the worst supporting cast protecting him in the lineup compared with Hamilton and Cano. Cabrera also led the American League in on-base percentage and finished ahead of Hamilton and Cano in runs, total bases, doubles, walks and extra-base hits.

Con: Cabrera played on the worst team of the three candidates and didn't have to deal with the pressure the others faced in playoff races. Cabrera made the most errors of the three while arguably playing the least challenging position of the three.

Josh Hamilton

Pro: Hamilton led the majors in batting average (.359) and won the batting title by .023. Hamilton also led the league in slugging percentage. Hamilton played on a better team than Cabrera and helped Texas to its first division title since 1999. Hamilton played stellar defense in center and leftfield. Hamilton could get the sympathy vote because of his recovery story from drug and alcohol abuse.

Con: Hamilton missed four weeks in September with a rib-cage injury and played in only 133 games. He finished behind Cabrera and Cano in RBIs, runs and walks. Hamilton also benefitted from strong lineup support.

Robinson Cano

Pro: Cano had one of the best statistical seasons for a second baseman in major league history. Cano finished in the top 10 in the American League in batting (.319), home runs (29), RBIs (109), OPS (.914), doubles (41) and runs (103). Cano won his second Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove.

Con: Cano plays in the best hitter's park in the AL and benefits from the short rightfield porch at Yankee Stadium. Cano also hits in a lineup surrounded by All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. Cano finished behind Cabrera and Hamilton in home runs, batting average, extra-base hits, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.


Read more: Breaking down the AL MVP race | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20101121/SPORTS02/11210719/Breaking-down-the-AL-MVP-race#ixzz15yajPq1d